The best wireless keyboards have come a long way over the past decade, shedding their shaky reputation and becoming just as reliable as their wired counterparts. Now, you can be free of tangled cables, messy desks, and lag while you type from just about anywhere in the room.
Your first step is deciding whether you want a wired or wireless keyboard, as there are a few perks to our tethered friends - such as price. But if you can swallow a slightly higher premium, it's worth it for a greater degree of freedom.
Then, it's all about choosing the right one for you, as they come in many different forms with a variety of different features and switches. Here's a rundown of everything you need to know to get the best wireless keyboard:
Wireless keyboard size: Full-sized keyboards come complete with a numpad, but they're a little big if you fancy typing from your couch. Fortunately, there are smaller ones to choose, from 80% tenkeyless models that ditch the numpad, to 75% versions that slim down the navigation keys, and the smallest 60% layouts that get rid of the function and arrow keys.
Mechanical or membrane? Mechanical switches are popular with gamers and typists for their satisfying feel, zippy response time, and durability. Membrane models are often less responsive but hold value in that they're cheaper and more water resistant against spills.
Switch type: There are several mechanical switches to choose from depending on how you want them to feel. Each brand labels them using different colours, so you'll need to check whether they're linear, tactile, or clicky in the description. We'd advise getting a switch tester if you're undecided.
Linear switches are popular in the best gaming keyboard because they're smooth to press, but this can make them prone to mistakes, such as repeated key presses when typing.
Tactile switches have a bump that lets you know when you've hit the actuation point, which is ideal for typing.
Clicky switches are usually louder versions of tactile, so it's worth checking out a sound test if you share a room with anyone else.
Optical switches retain the feel of the mechanical switches above but register your presses using beams of light instead of a physical signal.
Is Bluetooth good? Bluetooth has gotten faster over the years and benefits from a wide range of compatibility with most modern devices. Smartphones, consoles, laptops, and prebuilt gaming PCs all support the standard in one way or another.
The latest versions of Bluetooth are backwards compatible with previous generations. This makes it easier to connect but harder to know just how fast your connection will be. If you pair two Bluetooth 5 devices, you'll get the most stable connection possible. Connecting something with Bluetooth 5 to Bluetooth 4, however, means the connection is only as good as the weakest link - in this case the latter.
This isn't going to matter too much unless you're a gamer, though, where every millisecond counts. Most gaming devices, like wireless gaming keyboards, come with a radio frequency (RF) dongle on the 2.4GHz band, which is far faster and more stable than Bluetooth.
Features: Battery life is integral for wireless keyboards, as you'll want something that can last for several days without needing to be charged up again. This is affected by backlighting, as while RGB lighting helps you navigate the keyboard in the dark, it can sap the power down far quicker. The final thing to look out for is a media dock - we personally struggle without one.
Here is the best wireless keyboard money can buy:
- ASUS ROG Claymore II
- Logitech MX Keys
- Keychron K2
- Logitech G915 Lightspeed
- Razer Blackwidow V3 Mini
- Logitech K380
ASUS ROG Claymore II
Best wireless keyboard for gaming
For those wanting a brilliant wireless keyboard for gaming, look no further than the ASUS ROG Claymore II.
First off, you'll be getting a keyboard that's very well-built and looks fantastic with a suave metal shell. It also features a clever modular design that can allow you to use it either as a classic full-size board or as a tenkeyless option by taking the number pad off.
As for switches, the ASUS ROG Claymore II utilises Asus' own optical RX Red or RX Blues for maximum speed, as well as giving you the choice of either a linear or tactile keypress.
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There's also RGB present which is conveniently configurable with ASUS' Armoury Crate software where you can either choose from a range of presets or set colours on a key-per-key basis to suit your own preferences.
USB-C charging is rather handy, too, and as for battery life, the ROG Claymore II will last for 43 hours with lighting on, and 144 hours with it off, giving you plenty of playtime.
Bundled in the box is also a handy wrist rest which we'd say is one of the best wrist rests for gaming and can generally help to make the user experience even more comfortable.
Logitech MX Keys
Best wireless keyboard for office use
The Logitech MX Keys is a grand choice if you're looking to cut the cord for your office peripherals.
It features a snappy scissor-actuated keypress (similar to a laptop keyboard) which offers something light and quick to type with, with a shorter travel. The keycaps are also slightly indented for more comfortable typing, and you'll also be pleased to know it's also a backlit keyboard, so handy for after-dark working.
You can also use the MX Keys on up to 3 devices at once, whether you're switching from Windows to Mac. Connectivity is achieved either via Bluetooth or Logitech's Unifying Receiver.
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The latter option plugs into your PC via USB-A, and also means you can connect up any other supported peripherals such as the Logitech MX Master 3 mouse (which is one of the best wireless mice, might we add) if you wished for an all-conquering desktop combo.
The design of the MX Keys looks modern, with a slim grey outer shell making it fit into any home office nicely, with sharp looks helping it along the way
Keychron K2
Best wireless keyboard for Mac
If you're hunting for an affordable wireless mechanical keyboard that's also great for Mac, then the Keychron K2 will give you a great all-in-one package.
First off, it looks great with a two-tone grey and black colouring from keycaps to the main body and should sit well in any gaming den or modern office.
In addition, you get a range of different Gateron switches ranging from Red to Blue and Brown, and if you wish, there's also a hot-swappable version of the board so you can even chuck in any switches of your choice with the right pins. The typing experience should feel pretty solid, as should the ABS keycaps utilised here.
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The Keychron K2 also gives you the ability to either Windows or Mac thanks to the flick of a switch on the keyboard's left-hand side, and up to three devices at once.
It can also be a backlit keyboard depending on the model you get, with some featuring sharp single-colour white lighting, whilst others offer more of a classic gamer look with some RGB. A 4000mAh battery also ensures some good longevity, with the Keychron K2 lasting for 68 hours with backlighting on and 240 hours without it on.
Logitech G915 Lightspeed
Best low-profile wireless keyboard
The Logitech G915 Lightspeed has marked itself out as one of the best gaming keyboards available today, and also makes for one of the best low-profile wireless boards in general, too.
This is thanks to its shorter travel GL switches that offer a speedy typing experience and also feel responsive when gaming. You can get them in linear, tactile or clicky forms, so there'll be something to suit everyone.
In addition, it can connect either via Bluetooth or the bundled Lightspeed receiver, which has just 1ms of potential latency.
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Its plastic construction is solid and the metal top plate also helps to make the G915 Lightspeed sturdy and look great too. Alongside the full-size layout, there are also some additional multimedia keys made of rubber that should offer good tactility, too.
RGB is present with this board and is configurable thanks to Logitech's clever G Hub software that's some of the best out there. As for battery life, with RGB on, you can expect. to get upwards of 135 days of usage (assuming 8 hours of usage per day), and 12 days with it fully on.
Razer Blackwidow V3 Mini Hyperspeed
Best compact wireless keyboard
The Razer Blackwidow V3 Mini Hyperspeed looks like a great option for those wanting a wireless keyboard that won't be taking up too much space on their desk.
This is thanks to its 65% layout that offers you the bare essentials for keys with no num pad, nav cluster, or F keys. This can be particularly useful for space savers who want as much desk real estate as possible. You can read more about different keyboard sizes right here.
The Blackwidow V3 Mini Hyperspeed also looks great with Razer's signature sharp edges well-represented and should also feel pretty solid too, with mostly plastic construction.
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Inside you get a choice of Razer Green or Yellow Switches. The Greens are Razer's usual clicky switches with a force of 50cN, whilst the Yellows are more akin to CHERRY's MX Speed Silvers with a 45cN actuation force and a raided actuation point of 1.2mm as opposed to the usual 2mm. Both should offer a great typing experience or work well for gaming, especially Yellows.
Connectivity is taken care of thanks to either Bluetooth 5.0 or Razer's 2.4Ghz Hyperspeed receiver which should offer a practically zero-latency connection. As for battery life, the Blackwidow V3 Mini Hyperspeed should be good for around 20 hours with full backlighting and up to 200 with no Chroma RGB goodness.
Logitech K380
Best budget wireless keyboard
If it's more of a budget wireless keyboard you're after, then the Logitech K380 should be a decent choice.
This isn't a mechanical keyboard but uses lower profile scissor keys inside that should offer a snappy typing experience and one that feels similar to a good laptop keyboard.
The Logitech K380 also has the ability to pair up to 3 wireless devices at once via Bluetooth and Logitech's clever Easy-Switch function allows for on-the-fly switching, making this a useful keyboard for those who use more than one device at once.
It also looks fantastic with grey and yellow colouring, and a compact 65%-style layout means it won't take up too much desk space either. You also get two years' battery life here, which can be very useful for extra peace of mind.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are always a few questions that pop up time and time again, so here we’ll answer them the best we can, so you can make an informed decision on your next upgrade.
Is a wireless keyboard worth it?
We'd say that a wireless keyboard is worth it given the cleaner looks a cable-free connection can offer, and the convenience of having connectivity for multiple devices, if you're a power user.
You also won't be losing out on performance given the latency-free wireless connections on offer these days, which is handy for gamers.
Is a wireless keyboard slower?
If you're talking in terms of latency, then a wireless keyboard may be marginally slower than its wired counterparts.
Of course, any wireless connection will have latency, but connectivity has come on so far that the latency is in the fractions of milliseconds, so, to most normal folk, there should be no difference between a wired and wireless keyboard.
Will a wireless keyboard work without Internet?
Yes, wireless peripherals don't work over Wi-Fi, but instead via a bundled receiver or Bluetooth, so there's no need to worry about your keyboard being unusable when the Wi-Fi goes down.
Does a wireless keyboard need a mouse?
This is quite a subjective question. You can go out there and buy some great desktop sets that give you a wireless keyboard and mouse all in one, but if you've already got a good mouse, then getting a standalone keyboard makes more sense.
Wireless keyboards don't need mice, but whether you need to go out and get a new mouse is a purely personal decision.
What is a chiclet keyboard?
A chiclet keyboard is a keyboard that has fewer sculpted keys than a normal keyboard that traditionally features a much flatter profile, akin more to a laptop keyboard than a full-size one.