Having a nice PC gaming space isn't just about cramming your new rig with the newest hardware, it's also about aesthetics. Having a mismatched, wire-riddled mess of a gaming desk is going to make it less enjoyable to game in that space, even though it doesn't affect performance. If you went out of your way to track down a white case, white mouse, white monitor, and a pile of other white peripherals then you're going to want a keyboard to match.
As a note: we're only going to be providing mechanical keyboard recommendations in this list. In addition to being more reliable for both gaming and typing, they're also a tad harder to find in the exact color configuration you might want. Meanwhile, membrane keyboards are so cheap to produce that it's easy to find them in any color of the rainbow.
Razer Huntsman Mini
First up we have the Huntsman Mini from Razer. This is a very clean, 60 percent layout with a function layer to provide less commonly accessed keys and side-printed icons to serve as a legend for that layer. It has full per-key assignable RGB via Razer's software, and has the ability to store up to five profiles on the keyboard itself so you'll have your preferred lighting effects regardless of where you take it. It also comes with an aluminum base and a detachable USB type-C cable, so traveling with the Huntsman Mini should be nice and easy.
Razer offers two different types of switches: linear optical and clicky optical. Normally clicky switches are reserved for typists, but the specifications on these two switches are so close that even for gaming you'll be fine with either switch type. In fact, the clicky switches have a lower actuation force required and only a fraction more travel distance. For the white version of the Hunstman Mini you'll want to look for Razer's Mercury Collection line, which is where they categorize all their white peripherals.
Razer BlackWidow Lite
Another one from Razer, the BlackWidow Lite, is quite a different beast from the Hunstman despite being another mechanical keyboard from the same manufacturer. It offer's Razer's more traditional mechanical keyswitches, outfitted from the factory with o-ring sound dampeners to dramatically lower the typing volume of this keyboard. Razer also rates their mechanical keyswitches for up to 80 million keystrokes, and backs the entire keyboard up with a two year warranty.
It does lack full-color RGB, but still includes a white backlight for those who want to use it in the dark. Overall the BlackWidow Lite is much less flashy than the Hunstman Mini, but that might be preferable for those of you who might be using it in a professional environment.
Logitech G915 TKL
If you've owned a computer for any amount of time then chances are you've also owned one or two accessories from Logitech. The G915 TKL is yet another interesting design from them, and packs a metric ton of features in to boot. It uses low-profile keycaps for those who like that laptop key form-factor, but situates them over true mechanical keyswitches fixed atop a low-profile aluminum case with steel-reinforced frame. In other words: it's built like a small tank.
The G915 TKL is also wireless with a 1ms response time, and functions as a standard USB keyboard when plugged in. Situated among its media controls (complete with volume wheel) is another rare sight for keyboards: a battery indicator. Logitech offers three different types of keywsitches for the G915 TKL: tactile, linear, and clicky. For gaming we would generally recommend linear switches, since they usually provide the smallest travel distance and actuation force.
Corsair K70 RGB Mk.2 SE
The K70 from Corsair is a big beast of a keyboard, but it's also packed to the brim with features. Accenting the white double-shot PBT keycaps and gray wrist rest is a very classy brushed aluminum top plate. It comes with the usual assortment of media control keys, a volume wheel, a Windows key lock mode (which is a very nice gaming-focused addition), full-key rollover, and 8MB of onboard storage for profiles. The full per-key RGB can be customized in Corsair's iCUE software suite as well.
The K70 comes with Cherry MX Silver keyswitches, which are specifically tuned for gaming and rated for over 100 million keystrokes. It also features USB pass-through, and the included soft-touch wrist rest is detachable for those of you who like a smaller keyboard footprint.
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Ducky One 2 SF White
Ducky might not be known in the gaming keyboard space, but it's well-known in the mechanical keyboard world. The One 2 SF White is a bit more typist focused up front, but at the end of the day how well a keyboard performs while gaming comes down to the keyswitches being employed by the manufacturer. And Ducky offers a bevy of different keyswitch options, meaning that you can simply select Cherry MX Red or Silver keyswitches and you're ready to game.
They One 2 SF White also features full per-key RGB, a detachable USB type-C cable, side-printed function legend, a few stylized alternate keycaps, and a three level adjustable stand on its base. And it's all packed in a 65 percent layout complete with arrow keys and some more commonly used functions keys.
When gaming it's generally recommended to use linear keyswitches that lack the click and tactile bump of more typing-focused keyswitches. But the truth is that unless you're a competitive gamer rocking the latest esports title, you probably won't notice a massive difference in gaming performance. So pick the keyswitch that seems right for you and your preference, but maybe take a few minutes to review and consider the different keyswitch options on offer for the keyboard you've chosen.
For more hardware recommendations check out The Best Ambidextrous Gaming Mouse: 2021’s Best Ambidextrous Mice and 2021’s 5 Best 60% Keyboards for Gaming | Best 60 Percent Keyboards on Pro Game Guides.
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Published: Aug 31, 2021 07:44 am