If you're looking for the best quiet mechanical keyboard to keep typing noise to a minimum, we've got you covered right here.
Mechanical keyboards have really grown in popularity over the last few years, and are quite possibly some of the best gaming keyboards for PC gamers. This is because they're often far more tactile than regular keyboards and typically feature faster response times.
They also make a clicking sound when you press a key, which helps you know that you've actually pressed down hard enough for it to register your command.
However, this noise can sometimes be loud, which can potentially be distracting or annoying when you're trying to listen to the sounds in the game you're playing.
Luckily, it is actually possible to get a peripheral that's quiet enough. Cherry MX Red and Cherry MX Brown switch keyboards generally produce the quietest sounds around.
When it comes to using mechanical keyboards for gaming, you'll want to look out for customisation features. For example, macro-programming allows you to only press one key to issue a command that usually requires you to press multiple keys at once, speeding up your reactions.
And whilst, most of the time, these keyboards are used for gaming purposes, we do have one on this list for office use to give you a more versatile selection.
With all of this in mind, we’ve picked out these keyboards based on their specs, general reviews, and any other features that we think make them worth considering for your setup.
So, without further ado, let's take a look at our top picks for quiet mechanical keyboards.
Best quiet mechanical keyboard
- Corsair Strafe RGB MK.2
- Logitech G610 Orion
- NPET K10 Gaming Keyboard
- Das Professional Keyboard
- RK Royal Kludge RK61
Best quiet mechanical keyboard - Corsair Strafe RGB MK.2
click to enlargeTake one look at this keyboard and you have to admit that it looks the part with its RGB backlight shining through.
Not only does it look the part, but the Corsair Strafe RGB MK.2 keyboard has Corsair iCue software which allows you to have a synchronised lighting system with the rest of your peripherals.
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It also has hardware macro programming, which is brilliant for gaming because it means you can set it up so that you only have to press one key to issue a command that would otherwise require pressing multiple keys at once.
You can also take your keyboard anywhere with you, thanks to its 8MB of profile storage. So, even if you need to plug it into a different gaming PC... ta-da, you're custom settings will still be there saved and instantly ready to use.
If you wanted to use a mouse or headset with this keyboard, too, it comes with a handy USB pass-through port that you can plug other peripherals into to complete your setup.
Best minimalistic mechanical keyboard - Logitech G610 Orion
click to enlargeThis keyboard might not look as flashy as some of the others on this list but minimalism isn't necessarily a bad thing.
In fact, bright lights and backlit keys can sometimes be a distraction. So, to help you maintain concentration, opting for something like this mechanical keyboard could be your answer.
Plus, it's not all about looks. At the end of the day, perhaps the most important thing is the functionality of the keyboard, and the Logitech G610 Orion should certainly deliver in that respect.
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It comes with customisable settings, including being able to use macro programming to customise the F1 and F12 keys to your advantage, using Logitech Gaming Software.
You can even personalise the brightness of each individual key to keep track of any commands you might need to use so you don't have to constantly overthink which keys you need to press, especially when gaming.
It also conveniently comes with easily accessible media controls, so you can play, pause, mute, skip and adjust the volume on the keyboard, rather than having to use the mouse to select those options on your screen.
Best mechanical keyboard for gaming - NPET K10 Gaming Keyboard
click to enlargeIt's fair to say that NPET's K10 Gaming Keyboard is pretty colourful and unique with its large, backlit keys.
What's great about the backlighting though is that it has five pre-set lighting effects, but you can also customise them if you'd like, to suit your own personal style.
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It also comes with anti-ghosting, which should come in handy for gaming. Essentially, it means when you need press multiple keys one after the other for a command, it should ensure there aren't any errors so the keys get sent in the order you pressed them.
Added to this, it comes with dedicated media keys to control background usage on your PC without needing to come out of any game you're playing.
One of the best things, in our opinion, about this keyboard though, is that it's water-resistant. If you've ever gone through that terrifying moment of spilling a drink on your keyboard, wondering whether you've wrecked it, then this addition should definitely reduce that worry.
Best mechanical keyboard for office use - Das Professional Keyboard
click to enlargeWhilst Das' Professional Keyboard comes at a more premium price, to us, its quality shines through.
Unlike the other keyboards featured so far, it's primarily intended to be used in either the office, whether that's on-site or at home. Therefore, its appearance matches this and it doesn't come with colourful backlighting.
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It's pretty thin, too, for a mechanical keyboard, which should also fit in better with the aesthetics of an office environment.
The Cherry MX Brown key switches have factory-lubricated stabilisers to make your typing experience as smooth as possible. These kinds of key switches should also help reduce any mistakes you might make when typing quickly.
Usefully, it comes with media controls, including a dedicated knob to control the volume with, as well as keys to play/pause and skip.
Best compact mechanical keyboard - RK Royal Kludge RK61
click to enlargeThe RK Royal Kludge RK61 is a compact, mini keyboard that really looks the part.
Its small design will allow more desk space for your gaming setup, so you can easily add one of the best wireless mice or full tower PC cases to it.
With a white design and a colourful, glowing backlight, it's definitely striking to look at as well. It should look awesome in a slightly darker room - which works well when you're gaming so you can see the computer screen better without any outside light glaring on it.
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There are 18 backlight modes to choose from, so you can pick your favourites. Or, if you'd rather, you can customise the colours to suit your individual style.
To help your gaming experience, you can also macro-program the keys for minimal effort when issuing commands that usually require you to press multiple keys in one go.
Frequently Asked Questions
You probably have a few questions you'd like to ask and, luckily for you, we've answered some of the most frequently asked queries below.
Is a red switch keyboard quieter than a brown switch?
Cherry MX Red and Cherry MX Brown switch mechanical keyboards are probably the two most popular choices of keyboard and both are perhaps the quietest out of all the Cherry switches.
But, it is indeed true that red switch keyboards are quieter than their brown switch counterparts.
Cherry MX Brown switches have a small bump on each keystroke that helps reduce any mistakes and, therefore, should improve typing speed. But, it's also these bumps that tend to make this type of keyboard louder because it produces more vibration.
Cherry MX Red keyboards, however, are smoother to type on and therefore tend to be much quieter.
Are mechanical keyboards good for gaming?
Yes, mechanical keyboards are good for gaming. Gamers tend to prefer mechanical keyboards compared to membrane peripherals because they generally respond quickly and are more tactile.
They can also come with customisable keys, meaning you can program certain keys to your own preferences in order to set up commands or shortcuts.
This should allow you to remember which keys do what more easily, which is useful for gaming considering you need to think on your feet.
How long do mechanical keyboards last?
As they're often used for gaming, mechanical keyboards are generally designed to be heavy-duty, so should withstand a fair bit of wear and tear.
It really depends on how much you use it though and how forcefully you press down on the keys.
It should also help if you manage to keep your keyboard fairly clean, as this can prevent dirt and dust from getting into the mechanics of it and potentially slowing it down over time.