I tested the best gaming keyboards, and there was a clear winner

Who it's for:

The Razer Huntsman V3 Pro is made for serious gamers, though anyone can use it thanks to its comprehensive software customization and genuinely perfect (in my opinion) key layout. Where the board shines most, though, is in its gaming-specific actuation adjustment options like Rapid Trigger and Snap Tap.

Why we picked this:

The Razer Huntsman V3 Pro is a keyboard that is decidedly not made for people like me, although I still absolutely love it. You see, I am very, very bad at competitive games (especially on PC). This keyboard was made for my exact opposite: Super serious, pro-level esports players.

This keyboard's main focus is performance and actuation customization within each key. The response times are lightning fast, and you can enhance your game by enabling the Rapid Trigger and Snap Tap modes. The former brings keys back to their un-pressed state more quickly, which is a huge help in PVP shooters where you have to deal with hitboxes. The latter ensures that two keys are never actuated at the same time, which means you can start another key input before letting go of the other (perfect for strafing back and forth in competitive multiplayer). While these settings would normally be outside my wheelhouse, they'd be game-changers for high-level players.

Besides that S-tier performance, the Huntsman V3 Pro has plenty more going for it, one of them being overall build quality. This is one area where the Huntsman actually beats the BlackWidow — the board comes stocked with more durable double-shot PBT keycaps, as well as a brushed aluminum backplate that really ties the whole thing together and makes it feel "premium." Also, I'm a bit biased here, but I think the layout of the Huntsman V3 Pro is simply perfect. No notes. (I'm a TKL keyboard die-hard.) The tactile and auditory feedback are also great — not too loud, nice and springy.

As with other Razer keyboards, customization via Razer Synapse is a big part of the package. Like with the BlackWidow V4 Pro, you'll be able to remap your keys and fine-tune RGB backlighting. The keyboard also includes a multi-function digital dial, as well as two dedicated control buttons. I mainly use the dial for volume adjustments, but you can also use it to adjust key actuation points and the Rapid Trigger setting. The control buttons are a nice bonus, too — the media button makes playing, pausing, and switching tracks a breeze, and having an extra macro button is always welcome. While the software customization is brilliant, physical customization leaves a bit to be desired due to the lack of hot-swappable switches.

In regards to comfort, I was slightly let down by the Huntsman. The feeling of the keys is great and never had me feeling sore after extended use, but the included magnetic wrist rest just isn't up to snuff. Where the BlackWidow employs a more puffy wrist rest that feels like a pillow, the Huntsman opts for a firm rest that just didn't add much for me. I abandoned the wrist rest after a few uses.

But despite its short list of faults, the Razer Huntsman V3 Pro still emerges from the battlefield as the best pro-level gaming keyboard.

Who it's for:

The SteelSeries Apex Pro Mini may be small, but it sure is mighty. Those who enjoy 60% or 65% keyboards will take to the board's compact and efficient layout quickly, and they'll definitely want to stick around for its impressive wireless performance and pleasantly responsive switches.

Even if you have a full-size keyboard, a mini keyboard like this could still be useful for portable gaming and remote work.

Why we picked this:

Even the best 60% keyboards have a learning curve if you're not used to them. They strip away many of the keys you probably take for granted (like arrow keys), and force you to adapt to using unique key combinations. I personally like boards that are at least TKL, but I would absolutely go for the SteelSeries Apex Pro Mini if I were to make a move down in size.

The compact layout and overall lightness of the board (without sacrificing quality) is a remarkable feat. It'll fit effortlessly on any desk and can definitely travel. The keys themselves look, feel, and sound wonderful. I was happy with the inclusion of double-shot PBT keycaps, and the vivid RGB backlighting stands toe to toe with the industry's best.

Perhaps the two biggest highlights of the keyboard are wireless performance and input response times. Most gaming keyboard users will tell you that you should always use them while wired in, but I think the Apex Pro Mini makes a case for the other side. The wireless performance is just incredibly good. The keyboard comes with a USB-C dongle, and I've never experienced such low latency while unplugged. While I would still recommend wiring in for PVP games for that little bit of extra speed, you can get away with going wireless mode in just about any other situation.

The Apex Pro Mini is also a star when it comes to actuation response times thanks to SteelSeries' OmniPoint 2.0 switches, which allow for adjustable actuation. The board also supports a Rapid Trigger mode (like the Razer Huntsman V3 Pro), which makes it an even better 60% option if you like to play games competitively. Those switches aren't hot-swappable, and in most cases, I would count that against a keyboard, but I actually think that switching out the Apex Pro Mini's patented switches would do you a disservice. SteelSeries' GG app isn't as intuitive as other customization software I've used, and it's even a little buggy, but when you get it to work, you'll be able to remap to your heart's content.

Not everyone is built for the 60% keyboard life, but if you're going to give it a whirl, I'd start with a SteelSeries Apex Pro Mini.

Who it's for:

For those who enjoy the TKL experience but are light on desk space, going with a 75% keyboard may be the answer. The Alienware Pro Wireless Gaming Keyboard is a shining example of what one of these boards can be, providing similar utility to a TKL without getting rid of helpful keys (like arrow keys), good wireless performance, an impressive battery life, and opportunities for physical customization.

Why we picked this:

The Alienware Pro Wireless Gaming Keyboard is the first 75% keyboard I've ever tried out, and I could definitely see myself getting used to this layout. I think it gives you a very similar experience to a TKL keyboard, but cuts out any negative space to save some room on your desk. You'd think that would mean that you have to give up a bunch of your favorite keys, but worry not, because the arrow keys are still here.

The build quality is really good, working in some premium materials like double-shot PBT keycaps and a metal top plate while still being relatively lightweight. The caps even have a Polyoxymethylene coating on them, which cuts down on noise from the textured keys rubbing together. The stock linear switches are on the quiet side, but they still give great tactile feedback. It makes for a very pleasant typing experience that won't annoy your neighbors, and you can always change the switches out for different ones thanks to the board's hot-swappable nature.

Aside from physical customization, the keyboard also allows for RGB and key assignment tweaks within the Alienware Command Center software. I found the software to be pretty janky, to be honest, but it worked well enough to let me play around with some adjustments. The RGB backlighting looks amazing on the Pro Wireless — the rich colors looked pretty dang cool with the white finish on my test unit.

Another great aspect of this board is its wireless performance, which I found to be nearly as responsive as the SteelSeries Apex Pro Mini (it was just a hair slower). Even with that barely noticeable trade-off, I named the Pro Wireless the best wireless keyboard in this roundup because combined with the 75% layout, I think it's a better bang for your buck. It comes with a USB-C wireless dongle that you can actually store within the board itself, so if you're prone to losing small objects, you're in luck. While it's not the fastest wireless keyboard I've ever used, it certainly has the best battery life at 70+ hours per charge. While plugged in, actuation response times were better and on par with every other keyboard on this list.

I may not be a full-on 75% keyboard convert just yet, but the Alienware Pro Wireless Gaming Keyboard made me a lot more open to the idea. If you're looking for a compact, TKL-ish keyboard with zero fuss, this one's a winner.