The best gaming keyboards with Anti-ghosting technology

The Chinese brand Redragon quickly settled into the Ukrainian market, filling store shelves with inexpensive but high-quality keyboards, mice and headphones for gamers. They were not particularly lucky with mechanical keyboards, so the brand’s products rarely appeared in the corresponding tops. The compact model Redragon Fizz changed everything, which, a year after its release, is one of the best-sellers.

Reviews often praise Fizz for its versatility. It is equally comfortable to type large amounts of text and shoot other players in a pretend Call Of Duty. This is largely due to the manufacturer, who decided not to confuse potential customers with different types of mechanical switches, using the popular red linear switches. Otherwise, this is a great option for just under $50 with all the basic goodies of affordable mechanical keyboards - anti-ghosting, N-KRO, game mode, detachable cable, quick-release keys and double-molded keycaps. To complete the picture, the only thing missing is a metal base, but judging by surveys, not everyone likes heavy keyboards.

Finally, I would like to praise the design. While most competitors are made on the principle of “black frame + black buttons + backlight,” Fizz pleasantly surprises not just with a large selection of colors, but also with an interesting combination of colors. Judging by the photos, people especially loved the Fizz version with a pink base and pink and white caps. And the manufacturer was able to visually distinguish the classic black version due to the neat red edging of the case. Only the RGB lighting with a set of often sharp, fast and chaotic special effects, reminiscent of New Year's celebrations in Dubai, caused an ambiguous impression.

The inexpensive mechanical keyboard Bloody S98 Sports is often compared online to another recent hit - Fizz from Redragon. From an ideological point of view, both models have in common the fact that they became the first truly successful mechanical models from A4Tech and Redragon. Before this, both brands frankly had no luck with the competent implementation of inexpensive mechanics. From a functional standpoint, both the Fizz and the Bloody S98 give gamers everything they need without requiring a motorcycle, a jacket, or a ton of money in return.

The S98 Sports is a full-size model with a non-standard layout, in which the function keys are combined with a Num pad. Classic red switches of our own production are the most versatile option for both work and play: they are moderately elastic, with a linear stroke and a distinct, but not annoying, clicking sound when triggered. At the same time, the keyboard surprises with its attention to detail. For example, the legs are adjustable in two positions, the detachable cable can be locked in three different positions, and the Fn + F9/F10/F11 shortcut keys can be used to quickly switch between game modes. Among the strengths of the model, we also need to highlight a high polling frequency (approx: 1000 Hz), durable hot-swappable keycaps, built-in memory, anti-ghosting, customizable RGB backlighting and several layers of internal noise insulation. Against this background, one could criticize the frankly outdated design of the proprietary software, but this is rather nit-picking.

Comparisons with Redragon Fizz also concern the appearance of both models. If most mechanical keyboards are made according to one rather boring template, when all the elements are painted black and the backlight shines from all the cracks, the A4Tech Bloody S98 Sports, on the contrary, tries to somehow stand out. It has not quite ordinary keycaps with sharpened edges, all types of keys are highlighted in different colors (note: black, gray and red or yellow), and the backlight looks neat and does not dazzle during the game. In many ways, the design of the model is reminiscent of old-school gaming keyboards from a decade ago, but at the same time it creates a neater and more cohesive impression.

The MSI Vigor GK50 Elite looks like a simple, high-quality and slightly old-school mechanical keyboard with a slightly unusual set of qualities. Firstly, its body turned out to be unusually compact thanks to the side frames cut to zero. This gives the impression that the keys are literally hanging over the table. The second point concerns experiments with unusual white Kailh switches, which combine a rare range of features: tactile feedback, a dry and loud double-click sound and linearity of travel. They are noisy, but they are very comfortable to use and easy to press. If you close your eyes to the volume, then working for them is a real pleasure.

Compared to Vigor models of previous years, normal RGB backlighting has finally appeared with individual LEDs for each key and customization options like competitors. I liked that the package, in addition to the keyboard, included a pair of replaceable “Ctrl” and “Alt” keycaps. Unlike other caps, they are not concave, but convex, which makes them more noticeable blindly. It's a pity that there is no second set for WASD. But the proprietary MSI Dragon Center command center is just as bulky and inconvenient. However, the keyboard works great without it, especially if recording macros is not required. The backlight can be controlled directly from the keyboard using a dedicated function button with a dragon design.

But the mechanical part is in complete order. The upper part of the body is made of a solid steel plate, which adds rigidity to the structure. The bottom is made of plastic. The build quality is excellent. The feeling while playing and working is purely positive: the switches are really comfortable, and the keyboard itself firmly adheres to the surface and does not fidget. Well, except that octagonal keycaps feel unusual under your fingertips, but this is a matter of habit that will not take more than a couple of days.

The HyperX Alloy MKW100 keyboard is one of the brand's budget gaming solutions. The classic full-size layout ensures convenient work with text and numbers, and comfortable gaming in different genres. The device is equipped with Anti-Ghosting technology and an additional game mode, which minimize the likelihood of accidental clicks and crashes from the game during active use or combinations. RGB backlighting is customizable for each key, offering 5 brightness levels and various effects. All functionality is conveniently collected in the HyperX NGENUITY application. It is worth noting that typing in Cyrillic in the absence of external lighting will be difficult, since transparency is implemented only for the English layout. The set includes an ergonomic removable palm rest.

The design of the HyperX Alloy MKW100 is designed to withstand increased gaming loads and ensures ease of maintenance. TTC Red linear mechanical switches are designed for 50 million operations and are protected from dust. The red series is characterized by a minimal noise level and a soft ride, although in this model there is an extraneous sound from the space bar. The Skeleton layout makes it easy to remove the keys and carry out external cleaning of dirt. The top panel is made of aluminum, eliminating sagging and deformation under strong pressure. Signal transmission is carried out without delay thanks to gold-plated USB contacts.

BlackWidow is, without the slightest exaggeration, a legendary series of gaming keyboards. Under these flags, more than a dozen different and at the same time essentially similar keyboards have been released, which follow a proven formula for success: close to ideal ergonomics, high-quality materials, reliable assembly, a flexible macro control system and branded switches.

In the case of the compact tournament model BlackWidow V3 TKL, Razer's long-proven “green” switches are used, which in terms of characteristics and tactile sensations are reminiscent of Cherry Blue switches. They have a high response speed, average actuation/reset values and a short reset distance. Only Razer has a longer failure life (80 million) and higher resistance to moisture. By the way, this combination of characteristics allows you to use the BlackWidow V3 TKL for quite comfortable printing. Unless, of course, you're not annoyed by the clicking sound of mechanical keyboards. If it bothers you, try the version with smooth and quiet yellow switches.

In terms of appearance, the third version of BlackWidow TKL differs little from its predecessors: it is still the same neat keyboard in a miniature aluminum case with slightly beveled edges. The main innovation is the reinforced Doubleshot ABS keycaps, which were created using double injection molding. As for the RGB lighting, it uses the same Razer Chroma RGB system, which can be configured to your heart’s content in the proprietary Razer Synapse application. There you can also configure sets of macros, link individual sets to each specific game, etc. We come across this software regularly and constantly praise its simple interface and fairly flexible set of settings.