The Ultimate Guide to the Keyboards Preferred by Professional Gamers

Highlights

Gaming keyboards endorsed by major manufacturers like Logitech, Razer, and SteelSeries are often considered the best for tournament play.

Gaming professionals favor mechanical keyboards for their longevity and efficient key pressing. Exceptional gaming keyboards possess qualities such as durability, precision, swiftness, and portability.

Characteristics that allow gaming keyboards to excel during competitions include their responsive and precise key switches, customizable backlighting options, and the ability to program macros and shortcuts. Additionally, gaming keyboards often have features such as anti-ghosting and n-key rollover, which enable multiple key presses to be registered simultaneously without any input lag. These keyboards are also designed with ergonomic considerations in mind, ensuring comfort and reduced fatigue during long gaming sessions. Overall, the best gaming keyboards offer a combination of performance, durability, and customization options to enhance the gaming experience for competitive players.

Durability: Robust mechanical gaming keyboards feature durable steel or aluminum frames and keycaps that are built to endure years of intense clicking.

Accuracy: For competitive gamers, receiving inaccurate responses to their inputs can be extremely costly, potentially leading to the loss of substantial prize money.

Esports professionals prioritize mechanical switches that offer fast actuation settings to enable rapid command registration. Additionally, they favor compact devices with a layout that emphasizes the essential gaming functions, as they often need to travel extensively for competitions.

The following gaming keyboards can successfully endure a rigorous tournament schedule and are able to adapt to each professional gamer's unique play style:

Russel "Twistzz" Van Dulken- Razer Hunstman V2 Analog

At the age of 23, Russell Van Dulken, also known as "Twistzz," has already established himself as one of the most successful esports professionals from Canada. Starting his competitive career in 2015, this CS:GO player now resides in Germany and competes for the renowned FaZe clan. One of his most notable achievements took place at the 2022 CS:GO Championship in Antwerp, where Van Dulken secured his first major championship victory. Known for his unparalleled accuracy, this expert rifler effortlessly eliminates his opponents and has been recognized four times on the HLTV Top 20 Player of the Year list.

Introducing the Razer Huntsman V2 Analog keyboard, a top-tier mechanical gaming keyboard from Razer. This wired keyboard utilizes analog switches for optimal performance. With its USB 3 passthrough, customizable switches, and dedicated media keys, it offers a feature-packed experience, all powered by USB-C.

The Razer Hunstman V2 Analog keyboard, chosen by Van Dulken as his top choice for competitive gaming, has been highly praised. It is the first Razer analog keyboard to use optical switches, allowing gamers to customize the actuation levels of keys. This analog input also improves control when moving in games, with switches operating in 360 degrees like controllers. The Hunstman V2 is also durable and well-built, weighing 2.64 lbs. Despite its weight, Van Dulken finds its precise performance worth carrying around.

Ian "Crimsix" Porter- Corsair K70 RGB MK.2

The retirement announcement of Ian Porter, also known as Crimsix, in September 2022 was a devastating blow to the Call of Duty and esports community. As the most accomplished Call of Duty player in history, the 30-year-old American has secured three world championships and a remarkable total of 38 titles. Despite his retirement, Crimsix remains an active and influential figure within the competitive gaming community. Throughout his career, he consistently demonstrated exceptional gun skills and instinct, enabling him to traverse maps effortlessly and inflict significant damage. Recently, Porter made a surprising move by joining the FaZe clan, not to continue playing first-person shooter games, but to pursue a career in the competitive realm of esports racing.

Corsair K70 RGB MK.2 Gaming Keyboard

Save $17 on the Corsair K70 RGB MK.2, a low-profile mechanical gaming keyboard that prioritizes speed and accuracy. Equipped with Cherry MX Speed mechanical switches, it boasts a lightning-fast 1.2 mm actuation. Despite its slim 29 mm height, the keyboard features a durable yet lightweight aluminum frame. The FPS and MOBA keycaps are designed for optimal grip, ensuring Esports professionals stay on top of their game. With options for Cherry MX Speed and Cherry MX Red switches, customizable RGB backlighting, 104 keys, and a number pad, this Corsair keyboard weighs 2.76 lbs. Purchase it for $153 on Amazon or Walmart.

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Jaccob "Yay" Whiteaker- Logitech G915 TKL

Optic Gaming Via Wikimedia Commons

Jaccob Whiteaker, also known as Yay, exemplifies a professional gamer who effortlessly transitions from one popular esports title to another. After participating in numerous CS:GO tournaments in 2020, the 24-year-old Whiteaker ventured into Valorant and rapidly rose to become one of the world's top players.

Recognized as "Diablo" for his aggressive gameplay in Valorant, Whitewaker truly mastered the role of Chamber, the cunning French assassin. His exceptional skills were acknowledged when Yay was awarded the prestigious title of 2022 esports PC Player of the Year. However, to the surprise of many within the esports community, Cloud9 unexpectedly announced Whitewaker's departure from their team. Shortly after, Yay found a new home with Disguised, although his time with them was short-lived as the team faced relegation from the North American Valorant Challengers League in recent months.

The Logitech G915 TKL Mechanical Gaming Keyboard

$210 $250 Save $40 The Logitech G915 TKL Lightspeed is a top-of-the-line gaming keyboard designed for professional gamers. It features Lightspeed wireless connectivity, ensuring a reliable and fast connection without any wires, catering to even the most demanding esports players. With a single charge, the keyboard can last up to 40 hours of continuous usage. Moreover, the keyboard incorporates Lightsync technology, allowing users to customize RGB lighting animations and individually control the lighting of each key. The Logitech G915 TKL Lightspeed offers three mechanical switch options, namely GL Tactile, GL Linear, and GL Clicky, enabling users to find the perfect combination of tactile feedback and noise levels to suit their preferences. As one of Logitech's flagship products, the G915 TKL Lightspeed Gaming Keyboard is a must-have for gaming enthusiasts.

The Lightspeed Wireless Logitech G915 tenkeyless is favored by competitive gamer Jaccob "yay" Whiteaker, despite the common preference for wired keyboards. Its impressive wireless performance, with a 1 ms response time, has even surpassed that of certain USB-wired keyboards.

Johan "N0tail" Sundstein – SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL

The G915 offers a compact design that prioritizes portability and enhanced mouse movement by sacrificing the number pad. With its low-profile mechanical switches, players gain a tactical advantage in games like Valorant where keyboard commands are effortlessly registered. Additionally, the Logitech G gaming software provides a powerful platform to customize settings and reassign commands, solidifying the G915 as the top wireless gaming keyboard contender.

Legendary Danish Dota 2 competitor, Johan "N0tail" Sundstein, has always shown unwavering dedication to gaming. His journey to becoming the richest esports player in history started at a tender age, and his decision to leave high school prematurely to chase his aspirations was supported by his parents.

Heroes of Newerth served as his primary arena for competition, but with its waning popularity, Sundstein transitioned to the Dota scene, specializing in support roles. A key figure in the establishment of the OG esports team, the 29-year-old Sundstein contributed significantly to their triumphs in the International DOTA 2 tournaments of 2018 and 2019. Having accumulated over $7 million in prize money, Sundstein retired in 2022 after bidding farewell to team OG earlier this year. Nonetheless, N0tail continues to exert a substantial influence in the esports community.

The SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL is a high-end tenkeyless gaming keyboard by SteelSeries. This compact keyboard is a great choice for those who prioritize desk space. With adjustable OmniPoint switches, users can personalize the actuation point. The smart OLED display provides game information, Discord messages, and Spotify song display. The keyboard is durable and stable, thanks to its aircraft-grade aluminum alloy frame.

Brand: SteelSeries

Wireless: No

Backlight: RGB

Num Pad: No

Switch Type: Linear

Wired Operation: Yes

Media Controls: Yes

Number of Keys: 104

Dimensions: 40.44 mm x 355.44 mm x 139.26 mm

Available at: Amazon ($180), Walmart ($180), Best Buy ($180)

SteelSeries, the official sponsor of the OG esports team, offers the popular Apex Pro Mechanical Gaming Keyboard, which is favored by many players, including Johan Sundstein. The standout feature of the Apex Pro is its OmniPoint 2.0 switches, allowing for adjustable actuation ranging from 0.2 mm to 3.8 mm. This exceptional sensitivity gives the Apex Pro a response rate up to 11 times faster than its top competitors in the gaming keyboard industry.

The Apex Pro's ability to assign multiple actions to a single key is particularly advantageous in games like DOTA 2, which have a multitude of commands. Gamers can customize the key's functions based on the pressure applied, all through the SteelSeries Engine app. Available in both full-sized and tenkeyless models, most professional esports players prefer the more compact option for its convenience.

Alexander "s1mple" Kostylev – Logitech G Pro X

The young Ukranian talent, Alexander Kostylev, better known as s1mple, has taken the CS:GO world by storm since his discovery of the game as a teenager. With an astonishing 21 HLTV MVP trophies and countless Best Player of the Year honors under his belt, s1mple has solidified his dominance in the esports scene. Not only has he accumulated an impressive $1.7 million in prize money, but he also holds the title of the youngest player to reach the number 1 ranking in CS:GO. Despite the frequent team changes that plague the esports industry, Kostylev remains a steadfast member of the Natus Vincere team, which he joined in 2016. Renowned for his unorthodox playstyle and unmatched shooting accuracy, s1mple continues to be referred to as "The Phenom."

The Logitech G Pro X Gaming Keyboard is displayed.Logitech G PRO X

The Logitech G Pro X is specifically designed for the top Esports competitors worldwide. Its pro-grade GX mechanical switches can be easily swapped between three variations, each offering exceptional speed and durability. With its compact tenkeyless configuration, the Logitech G Pro X is the perfect companion for Esports players on the go, allowing them to dominate tournaments wherever they travel. Additionally, the keyboard can be easily personalized, thanks to the 12 programmable F-Key Macros which can be remapped using the powerful Logitech G Hub software. The Logitech G Pro X is available for $150 both on Amazon and directly from Logitech.

Nikola "Niko" Kovac – Logitech G 513 Carbon Gaming

The Logitech G Pro X keyboard is designed for optimal performance in high-pressure tournaments. Trusted by Alexander Kostylev himself, this device offers three pro-grade GX switches, giving users the choice between a clicky, linear, or tactile feel. In games like CS:GO, flexible macro keys are a must, and the Logitech G Pro X delivers with 12 programmable F-Keys through the Logitech G hub. To address the common issue of keyboards sliding during intense gameplay, Logitech has equipped this keyboard with non-slip rubber feet. The Shroud Edition is widely available at retailers, while the standard version can be purchased exclusively on the Logitech website.

Nikola "Niko" Kovac, a member of G2 Esports since 2020, has emerged as one of the most consistently impressive performers in the world of CS:GO. His early exposure to gaming comes as no surprise, considering his parents' ownership of an internet café in Bosnia. Niko's journey in the world of competitive gaming began with Counter-Strike 1.6 and eventually led to an invitation to join Mousesports in 2015. However, it was after making the move to FaZe in 2017 that Kovac truly soared, gaining recognition as a marksman renowned for his surgical precision. Alongside his incredible success in the CS:GO scene, Niko has also built a massive following as a popular Twitch streamer. Balancing his streaming commitments with a grueling competition schedule, Kovac and his current team, G2 esports, secured a monumental victory at IEM Katowice 2023.

The Logitech G513 Carbon Gaming Keyboard delivers an immersive and personalized gaming experience. Using Logitech G Hub, players can easily customize the lighting for each key, creating stunning and unique lighting effects. They also have access to a wide range of in-game integrations from a spectrum of 16.8 million colors. The keyboard is equipped with GX Brown mechanical switches, providing precise actuation and satisfying tactile feedback. For optimal comfort, the G513 Carbon includes a memory foam wrist rest that quickly recovers from pressure, ensuring consistent support during long gaming sessions. Designed with an aircraft-grade 5052 aluminum top case, the keyboard boasts a sleek and premium design while maintaining outstanding durability.

The Logitech G513 is a wired mechanical gaming keyboard designed for esports professionals like Niko, offering extensive customization options. One standout feature of the G513 is its compatibility with a range of switches. It can accommodate three different GX switches, including Blue switches for louder typing, Red switches for fast and linear typing, and Brown switches for quiet and tactile typing, making it ideal for FPS games like CS:GO. In addition, Logitech provides 12 alternative keycaps for commonly used commands, allowing competitive gamers to personalize their keyboards even further.

Mareks “YEKINDAR” Galinskis- HyperX Alloy FPS RGB

Mareks “YEKINDAR” Galinskis, a talented 23-year-old Latvian CS:GO competitor, is widely recognized for his aggressive and bold play style. Beginning his professional journey in 2017 with Elements Pro Gaming, Galinksis eventually joined pro100, a team based in Ukraine, in 2018. Currently, YEKINDAR shines as a prominent member of Team Liquid, taking on the crucial role of in-game leader. Despite his promising career still being in its early stages, Galinskis has already achieved remarkable milestones. Notably, he flourished with Virtus.pro, securing 1st place finishes in renowned events like ESL Challenger #48 and the 2021 Pinnacle Fall Series #1.

HyperX Alloy FPS RGB Gaming Keyboard

Save $10 on the HyperX Alloy FPS Pro, a durable keyboard designed for endurance and speed. It features a steel frame and linear Kailh Silver Speed mechanical switches. The compact and portable design, along with the detachable USB cable, make it perfect for gaming competitions. With its dynamic RGB backlighting, the HyperX Alloy FPS Pro is not only functional but also visually appealing. Get it for $100 on Amazon or $146 on Newegg.

For a CS:GO entry fragger like YEKINDAR, having lightning-fast speed and reaction time is crucial for a successful team performance. With the HyperX Alloy FPS RGB keyboard, enemies won't even know what hit them. The Kailh Silver Speed linear mechanical switches allow players like Galinskis to swiftly navigate the battlefield and strike with a deadly onslaught.

In order to cater to esports professionals who frequently travel to tournaments, this wired keyboard does away with dedicated media keys and a wrist rest, making it easier to carry alongside gaming headsets and mice. YEKINDAR most likely utilizes the Game Mode feature, which eliminates any chance of ghosting and optimizes the keyboard's functionality for competitive play.

FAQ

Q: What qualities do Esports pros look for in a gaming keyboard?

Gaming keyboards designed for intense competitive action need to possess both durability and portability, enabling players to effortlessly transport them across long distances for various tournaments. Additionally, esports keyboards should facilitate quick and precise inputs to match the rapid pace of intense tournament gameplay.

Q: Is a budget mechanical gaming keyboard worth it?

Certainly. Mechanical keyboards have undergone significant advancements in recent years. Even the more affordable models successfully provide an enhanced typing or gaming experience compared to their membrane counterparts.