What's a good RGB keyboard?

[Bleeding-Edge]

I want to buy another keyboard but ThE wOrlD oF kEyboarDs is rather complex.
I do want one that has good RGB...I know, I like the pretty lights.. I want one that has two Windows keys...I want one that isn't stupidly expensive (£80+) I don't really care about the key action as long as it isn't rubbish and it must work...like a keyboard. I bought a 2nd hand Logitech G213 recently and it's The Worst Keyboard I have ever had.

I do like the steel series keyboards but can anybody recommend a keyboard that might be a stand out in terms of price, quality, feel and/or operation that might not necessarily be a big brand name one perhaps?

 

[SpittinFax]

I have the Logitech G213 somewhere, stored away I think. Yeah it's pretty rubbish.

Having tried a few mechanical keyboards over the years, always make the effort to TRY before you buy. Multiple times I've assumed I'd like a particular keyboard and then come to find out I actually don't after using it. And waste money in the process.

Have a hard look at Ducky, particularly models like the Ducky One 2 SF. It doesn't have two Windows keys or dedicated function keys, but I've got two of them with Cherry Brown switches and really like them. I got both for US$80 each. Overall compact size and solid quality, the keycaps feel great, the RGB is very bright and doesn't require software to function.

 

[onemanhitsquad]

Ducky , Filco , etc. , I believe there are some threads here on the subject

 

[Bill_Bright]

always make the effort to TRY before you buy

^^^THIS^^^

This cannot be emphasized enough. The problem with human interface devices (HIDs), like keyboards (and mice), is everyone has unique hands. What feels great at the end of my fingertips may feel uncomfortable, awkward or even painful to you. This is particularly true with keyboards and wrists.

The best anyone can give for advice is their impressions for construction/assembly quality, battery life (if wireless), warranty support, etc. For mice, they can comment on tracking precision and the like. But how it feels is too subjective and individually personal.

You need to visit shops and electronics stores and go play touchy-feely with these devices yourself. Try to position them at the same height - in relation to your body – as they will be when at your desk. Remember display models may have been abused so some mechanical functions (buttons, wheels, keys, etc.) may not work properly.

Take a bottle of hand-sanitizer with you!

As far as two Win keys, I would not get hung up on that if the keyboard supports customizations.

Also, you didn't say if you want wired or wireless. There are some newer generation wireless keyboard that are very fast and actually work great as gaming keyboards. However, opinions on battery runtimes vary - but since everyone's computing sessions are different, this spec may be difficult to qualify.

 

[sneekypeet]

I will say this much, from my experience hyperx, which is now back to Kingston has some of the brightest rgb lighting from the market, but something to ponder are pudding key caps, which allow a ton more light to pass through. The nice thing about pbt pudding caps is they will last you nearly forever and fit many switch types.

 

[Deleted member 24505]

Ducky imo

 

[sneekypeet]

I'm a fan of ducky as well, and Kingston has a couple where they paired with ducky.

I have the One 2 mini, and love it.

 

[freeagent]

I have the Logitech G213 somewhere, stored away I think. Yeah it's pretty rubbish.

Man, I just bought one of those like a month ago..

I am probably the only person who likes it?

I think its a nice, simple keyboard that has a good feel to it, and subtle RGB that isn't too bright..

It replaced my old G15, I think this is a better kb

I bought my kid a G915 I think it is.. I still like this one better

 

[Deleted member 24505]

I'm a fan of ducky as well, and Kingston has a couple where they paired with ducky.

I have the One 2 mini, and love it.

thats what mine is too, best KB i have had.

 

[Bleeding-Edge]

Man, I just bought one of those like a month ago..

I am probably the only person who likes it?

I think its a nice, simple keyboard that has a good feel to it, and subtle RGB that isn't too bright..

It replaced my old G15, I think this is a better kb

I bought my kid a G915 I think it is.. I still like this one better

I did like it for about two days but it just doesn't work, the space bar is horribly hit-a-miss and so are a few of the other keys....It's a shame really. There are some possibly fixes for it that involve taking it apart so I might give that a go soon.

 

[joemama]

Another Ducky fan here, but their products are mostly without RGB

 

[eidairaman1]

I have a Ryos MK Pro, you may look at Roccat

 

[oobymach]

Idk how much Corsair's are where you live but they have really good rgb (the higher end ones have per key lighting) and come in a variety of flavors both wired and wireless and have 2 windows keys.

 

[Chomiq]

Another Ducky fan here, but their products are mostly without RGB

Ducky One 3 has rgb. It also has a hotswap so changing switches will be easier (since it comes with Cherry MX's by default). The only "downside" are the extra keys that will make you picky if you ever want to swap keycaps.
Early on One 3 was only offered in fugly color options, but now they've added basic black and white variants.

 

[Vayra86]

I want to buy another keyboard but ThE wOrlD oF kEyboarDs is rather complex.
I do want one that has good RGB...I know, I like the pretty lights.. I want one that has two Windows keys...I want one that isn't stupidly expensive (£80+) I don't really care about the key action as long as it isn't rubbish and it must work...like a keyboard. I bought a 2nd hand Logitech G213 recently and it's The Worst Keyboard I have ever had.

I do like the steel series keyboards but can anybody recommend a keyboard that might be a stand out in terms of price, quality, feel and/or operation that might not necessarily be a big brand name one perhaps?

Budget and feature list doesn't strike me as 'you want a mechanical keyboard', but you do get almost all mech kb recommendations up here.

Personally I'd recommend you decide what kind of key you prefer before you move on, narrows things down nicely.

- Membrane (mushy keystroke but indestructible and super cheap)
- Mechanical (Cherry, Kailh, and the infinite number of spinoffs, most people prefer a 'color' of switch. Red or brown are generally the most accessible. Switches vary in actuation force, tactile (is there a noticeable bump when pressing the key or not), and noise. Mech keyboards are not maintenance free, susceptible to dust and switches can die. The price point is highest of all keyboard types. Mech keyboards are also generally 'higher' because switches need that depth.)
- Scissor switch (laptop keyboards and Apple stuff carries scissor switch, which is tactile, not mushy, has short travel and types/sounds light to the touch. Very suitable for all purposes including gaming, and priced higher than membrane but lower than mechanical. Requires cleaning like mech kb's and slightly less robust than membrane). I'm a very happy scissor switch user myself, having had both other types, I landed here for my 24/7, work, gaming, everything. RGB is problematic to find here.

 

[bug]

I want to buy another keyboard but ThE wOrlD oF kEyboarDs is rather complex.
I do want one that has good RGB...I know, I like the pretty lights.. I want one that has two Windows keys...I want one that isn't stupidly expensive (£80+) I don't really care about the key action as long as it isn't rubbish and it must work...like a keyboard. I bought a 2nd hand Logitech G213 recently and it's The Worst Keyboard I have ever had.

I do like the steel series keyboards but can anybody recommend a keyboard that might be a stand out in terms of price, quality, feel and/or operation that might not necessarily be a big brand name one perhaps?

One more aspect for you to consider: software for keyboards is usually abysmal. I like keyboards with on-board memory so I can write my settings in there and forget (and uninstall) the software. This makes it easy to use the keyboard with unsupported operating systems (i.e. Linux). Ymmv.

 

[Tarte]

RGB is not my thing.
I prefer one color LED like my Ducky One 1 whit blue LED and on Bord memory.

 

[bug]

RGB is not my think.
I prefer one color LED like my Ducky One 1 whit blue LED and on Bord memory.

Even if RGB is not your thing, you still need it if you want to use one particular color/shade all over the keyboard. White is pretty good, especially if you can dim it, but I went with two other colors. I switch between them depending on my mood.

 

[Deleted member 24505]

Just set to a single colour like i do, red

 

[Bleeding-Edge]

I just took apart my Logitech G213 and I seem to have fixed it! I think the membrane and matrix mats were out of alignment and also I put a small rubber o-ring on top of the rubber dome under the space bar and it all seems to be working a lot better. There were also some plastic bits that had broken off where screws were supposed to go so perhaps the bits were loose inside too.

This is great because I did like this keyboard. Fingers crossed it has solved the issues...

Thanks for the input here so far, I am still in the market for a posh keyboard. Re the trying before you buy thing, there really isn't anywhere to try keyboards out, all the shops in the UK are super broken right now, all they have is junk in stock in the few chain stores that are left with very poor choice. Gone are the days when PC World was a good place to go to have a look at PC gear.

 

[sneekypeet]

The best idea is to buy a switch test kit, once you get the switch type you like, it may limit choices to make selections easier.

Something along these lines...

81 SWITCH TESTER WITH ACRYLIC BASE CHERRY KAILH GATERON OUTEMU | eBay

81 Switches Tester. Total 81 switches(pls check switches type as the following pics). With Acrylic Base.

www.ebay.com

There are smaller more affordable options as well.

 

[Splinterdog]

I've had the Corsair Strafe RGB (Silent) for about five years now and apart from one key breaking, I'm very pleased with it. It's named Silent, but it isn't though.
For RGB, I keep it minimal and static.

 

[Vayra86]

Couldn't help but click on this ad when I browsed the above switch tester link...

wtf?? Does anyone know what the purpose of this is... other than having a switch in your pocket for 'that one special occasion'... or something?

Mechanical Keyboard Switch Tester Keychain New N1G1 3E8U | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Mechanical Keyboard Switch Tester Keychain New N1G1 3E8U at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

Bonus points for the chinglish

 

[joemama]

Couldn't help but click on this ad when I browsed the above switch tester link...

wtf?? Does anyone know what the purpose of this is... other than having a switch in your pocket for 'that one special occasion'... or something?


Bonus points for the chinglish

Thats just something to play with when your hands feel bored, I actually got one similar when buying my Ducky keyboard

 

[bug]

Thats just something to play with when your hands feel bored, I actually got one similar when buying my Ducky keyboard

With all the exposed edges and corners, you'll lose that keycap long before your hands start being bored.