The best mechanical keyboards

Our choice

Varmilo VA87M

The Keyless VA87M offers premium build quality and a sleek, minimalist design. It is available with a wide variety of switches and keys.

Purchase options

*At the time of publication, the price was $139.

Varmilo VA87M Mac

This version of the VA87M has a macOS-specific layout and keys. It is otherwise identical to the standard VA87M.

The Varmilo VA87M and VA87M Mac are available with a variety of Cherry switches; If you don’t already know what type of switches you like, we recommend the Cherry MX Brown switches as they offer a satisfying tactile bump without being too noisy for a shared space. Our pick comes with an easy-to-replace detachable mini-USB cable and a key puller for replacing or cleaning keys. These Varmilo keyboards aren’t fully programmable, but they do have clearly labeled media keys and you can customize a few functions.

We recommend keypadless keyboards, i.e. models without an integrated numeric keypad, because they are more ergonomic and because most people don’t use a numeric keypad often enough to justify the space they require. it occupies on the desk. If you need a numeric keypad, you can get a separate numeric keypad, such as the Leopold FC210TP, that you can move around when not in use.

Finalist

Leopold FC750R

The FC750R has equally excellent build quality and design, but it doesn’t offer as much switch or key variety as the VA87M, and its media keys aren’t labelled.

If the Varmilo VA87M is not available when shopping, we recommend the Leopold FC750R. It has an equally excellent build quality and its minimalist keyless design is equally compact. It is also available with all the most popular switch types. Leopold offers a few tasteful, high-quality key sets, though it doesn’t offer as much variety as Varmilo and doesn’t have backlight options. Like the VA87M, the FC750R has a detachable mini-USB cable and works on both Windows and Mac. But the FC750R’s media controls aren’t labeled on the keys (or explained in the manual), so you’ll have to memorize them.

Also great

Leopold FC900R

The Leopold FC900R is almost identical to the FC750R, and we recommend it if you need a full-size keyboard with an integrated number pad.

If you need an integrated numeric keypad, the Leopold FC900R is the best option. It’s almost identical to our second, the Leopold FC750R, as it offers equally excellent build quality, it’s available with all the most popular switch types, and you can choose from a few different PBT key sets. Like the keyless model, this keyboard has a detachable mini-USB cable and works on both Windows and Mac, but, like the keyless model too, it doesn’t have labels on its media controls. (We don’t recommend the Varmilo VA108M, the full-size version of our top pick, because its case is very different and not as good as its keyless sibling.)

Budget choice

Keychron C1

The keyless Keychron C1 is great value for money, with solid build quality and a satisfying typing experience. Its keys are cheaper and will wear out sooner than those of our top picks, but you can’t beat the price.

Purchase options

*At the time of publication, the price was $39.

Keychron C2

The full-size Keychron C2 is identical to the C1 but has an integrated numeric keypad.

Purchase options

*At the time of publication, the price was $44.

If I was getting into mechanical keyboards for the first time today, I would buy the keyless Keychron C1 or the full-size Keychron C2. Both models offer surprisingly good build quality, provide a pleasant typing experience, and have an attractive minimalist design, all uncommon features in this price range. Their lower-grade ABS keycaps are thinner and more fragile to type on and are likely to wear out faster than the thicker PBT keycaps on our top picks, but the keycaps are easy to replace if desired. Both models are compatible with Windows and Mac, and they come with replacement keys for both operating systems. Another advantage: replacing switches on most mechanical keyboards requires equipment, expertise and time to desolder all the old switches and solder new ones, but if you want to try new types of switches without soldering , Keychron will upgrade the standard PCB in the C1 or C2 to a hot-swappable version for $10. With a hot-swappable card, you can simply remove the switches and put new ones in. As of this writing, shipping from Keychron’s website starts at $20, but even with that extra cost, the C1 and C2 are better than any similarly priced keyboard. (Some models are also available on Amazon with Prime delivery.)

Choice of upgrade

Keychron Q3

The easy-to-program Keychron Q3 offers excellent build quality, hot-swappable switches, an optional button, and RGB backlighting, but it’s pricey.

Purchase options

*At the time of publication, the price was $174.

If you’re willing to pay more for a keyboard you can tinker with, get the Keychron Q3. The Q3 nails the basics – its heavy aluminum casing and customizable RGB backlighting are sleek, and a pleasure to type on. It works with Windows and Mac, and it comes with extra keys for both operating systems. But the main appeal for the price is the Q3’s extra features: full programmability with easy-to-use VIA software, an optional knob that controls the default volume, and hot-swappable switches, which let you swap new types of seamless in and out switches. The Q3 is available with a variety of switch and key options, and Keychron also sells a barebones version if you already have switches and keys or prefer to buy them separately. But the Q3 is taller and takes up a bit more room on a desk than our other picks, and you can’t customize the slope.