7 best mechanical keyboards for your PC setup in 2024
Blending an attractive design and responsive typing experience, this mechanical keyboard outshines its price tag.
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You interact with your keyboard more than any other part of your PC setup, which is why it’s important to find a model that works well for you.
While there’s nothing wrong with membrane keyboards, mechanical keyboards have become a popular choice for both gamers and professionals, thanks to their durability and diverse range of typing sensations and sounds.
With a range of sizes, features and tactile switch options available though, there are a ton of mechanical keyboards out there – and not all of them are worth your money.
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So, to help you find the right board for you, we’ve sifted through a huge range of options available to Australians.
We found the best picks across a range of categories and budgets and compiled them below so you can find one that’s comfortable, accurate, and provides the perfect amount of tactical feedback for your needs.
WHAT ARE THE THREE TYPES OF MECHANICAL SWITCHES?
Mechanical keyboards are typically broken down into three switch types: Red (linear), brown (tactile) and blue (clicky).
Linear switches feel nice and smooth to use, and come without any bumps or clicks. These tend to be the most popular with gamers thanks to their rapid actuation.
Tactical switches offer a small bump you can feel as your press them, so you know your keystrokes are being logged as you type. These are great for gamers and touch-typists who want to avoid accidental keypresses without looking at their keyboard.
Then there are clicky switches, which offer the same bump as tactile switches, but with an audible “click” sound. These switches are another nice choice for touch-typists, as you can feel and hear each keypress. However, they’re also the loudest switch type, and could be distracting for others in an office setting. If you’re looking for a mechanical keyboard for work, we recommend a tactile switch option instead.
OUR TOP PICKS
EDITOR’S PICK OF THE TOP MECHANICAL KEYBOARDS
HyperX Alloy Origins, $153 (down from $179) at Amazon Australia
HyperX Alloy Origins
What You Need To Know
Blending exceptional build quality and a responsive typing experience with an affordable price tag, the HyperX Alloy Origins is our top mechanical keyboard pick for most people.
Its metal frame is compact and feels amazing, and the RGB backlighting is bright and attractive, making this one of the nicest-looking mechanical keyboards out there. It also comes with your choice of blue clicky, red linear or aqua tactile switches, so you can decide exactly how much click and clack you want.
While there are some integrated media controls, we do wish there were dedicated buttons.
However, this omission allows the keyboard to be smaller and take up less desk space, which could be a bonus. You also get macro-programmable keys (though the customisation software is only available for Windows) and three-way adjustable feet that allow you to tilt it to a comfortable angle.
The keycaps could be higher quality, but the HyperX Alloy Origins is an outstanding keyboard for gaming, programming and typing.
The keyboard has more than 9000 five-star reviews on Amazon Australia, with one customer saying it’s “the best value for money for what you’re getting”.
BEST CHEAP MECHANICAL KEYBOARD
MageGee USB Wired Mechanical Gaming Keyboard, $54.99 at Amazon Australia
MageGee USB Wired Mechanical Gaming Keyboard
Tried and Tested by Harriet Amurao, Shopping Writer
If you’re after a quality mechanical keyboard without the high price tag, I recommend this MageGee Mechanial Gaming Keyboard.
The full-sized 100 per cent build features a sturdy metal base, blue switches, floating key look, USB cable connectivity and completely customisable keycaps. It also comes with a free set of blue and white keycaps and a keycap remover for those that want to mix and match.
The keys themselves are highly-responsive and comfortable to use – I use it while working from home and playing games, and have had no issues whatsoever. Also, if you’re a sucker for ASMR, the keys are super clacky too.
To add to the visually pleasing look, it has a cool white backlight effect that can be customised to suit your preference thanks to its twenty different backlight modes and five different brightness and speed levels.
All in all, this keyboard is a great starter for gamers and anyone who wants to tap into the world of mechanical keyboards. It also comes in a range of different colour options so you can pick the one that best suits your setup.
BEST MID-RANGE MECHANICAL KEYBOARD
Logitech POP Keys Mechanical Wireless Keyboard, $95 at Amazon Australia
Logitech POP Keys Mechanical Wireless Keyboard
What You Need To Know
If you’re looking for a beginner mechanical keyboard, Logitech’s Pop Keys is a fun little option. The compact, wireless model comes with a retro, typewriter-inspired look and is available in a range of colour options to add some personality to your set up.
Like other models by the brand, you can pair the Pop Keys with up to three devices wirelessly via Bluetooth or the USB receiver, so you can easily switch between your laptop and PC. In a fun twist, you can also customise the dedicated emoji keys to whichever ones you use the most – although these only work on Windows and Mac.
The TTC brown switches feel nice to type on, with a very subtle tactile bump, and aren’t overly noisy. Unfortunately, there are concessions, such as no RGB lighting, a lack of advanced features and low-end keycaps.
If you just want something fairly basic with cute aesthetics though, the Pop Keys is hard to pass up.
BEST MECHANICAL KEYBOARD FOR GAMING
SteelSeries Apex Pro Mechanical Gaming Keyboard, $351 (down from $399) at Mwave
SteelSeries Apex Pro
What You Need To Know
With its gunmetal aluminium alloy base, black keycaps and full RGB backlighting, SteelSeries Apex Pro is a ridiculously good looking mechanical clacker. But it brings much more than aesthetics to the table.
Its customisation options allow you to individually set the actuation point for almost every key, meaning you can lower it for a more responsive gaming experience, or raise it to reduce accidental keystrokes when typing. This unique feature alone is worth forking out for, as it makes the keyboard absolutely perfect for gaming.
The Apex Pro can also store five custom profiles and deliver information from your games and apps at a glance thanks to the handy OLED smart display. While it is aimed at gamers, you can also use it for work, thanks to its ergonomic design and comfortable wrist rest.
That said, there are better options out there for those looking for a work-only model, so it’s still better suited to serious gamers or those using it for both gaming and work.
BEST MECHANICAL KEYBOARD FOR THE OFFICE
Logitech MX Mechanical Wireless Keyboard, $174.21 (down from $269.95) at Amazon Australia
Logitech MX Mechanical
What You Need To Know
If you like the idea of a mechanical keyboard but don’t want to be loudly click-clacking away in the office, Logitech’s MX Mechanical Wireless Keyboard is a nice pick. The keyboard comes with a choice of key switches, including a Tactile Quiet option that’s perfect for work.
The wireless design can be paired with up to three devices via Bluetooth or the included Logi Bolt receiver, and you can switch easily between the three with the push of a button.
The keyboard is well-built, comfortable to type on for long periods, and comes with white-only backlighting that makes it easy to read in the dark. It also comes in two size options, with the full-size 110-key keyboard ringing up at $269.95, and the MX Mini 84-key option coming in at $229.95.
While the keyboard is fully compatible with Windows, some buttons don’t work on macOS, so it may not be the best choice for Mac users. While it does offer good performance for casual gaming, those after a low-latency option should also look to other options on this list.
BEST MINI MECHANICAL KEYBOARD
Razer Huntsman Mini Gaming Keyboard, $139 at Bing Lee
Razer Huntsman Mini
What You Need To Know
If you’re short on space, Razer’s Huntsman Mini stuffs a great range of features into a compact form factor. Chopping off some native function and arrow keys, the keyboard has just 60 per cent of the keys found on a regular keyboard, which means it will take some getting used to.
However, the small size does lend itself to competitive gamers and those who rotate their keyboards at an off-angle when using dual monitors. It also feels every bit as responsive as a full-size keyboard, and comes with all macro-programmable keys and per-key RGB backlighting.
Like its big sibling, the Huntsman Elite, you can also customise your colour scheme on the Mini using Razer’s keycap kits.
Its clicky switches are excellent to type on, and the lightweight nature of the keyboard makes it super portable. In fact, the only thing we don’t like is the lack of a wrist rest, which can result in some fatigue if you’re using the keyboard for long periods of time.
BEST SPLIT MECHANICAL KEYBOARD
Kinesis Gaming Freestyle Edge RGB Split Mechanical Keyboard, from $379 at Mwave
Kinesis Freestyle Edge RGB Split Keyboard
What You Need To Know
They may look a little strange, but split keyboards have plenty of benefits, including helping to reduce the pains and strains that come with long periods of typing. As the name suggests, these keyboards are split in two pieces so you can place them at an angle that’s more accommodating to your natural arm and shoulder posture.
Kinesis’ Freestyle Edge RGB Keyboard is our top choice here, thanks to its solid build and comfortable design. The keyboard comes in brown, blue and red switch options, so you can choose the one that works best for your needs. It also comes packed with plenty of great features, including plush wrist rests, per-key customisable RGB lighting and macro-programmable keys.
The two boards are attached by a 20-inch long braided cable, giving you plenty of wiggle room to place them as you see fit. While it doesn’t have any incline settings, you can buy a Lift Kit separately. That said, this feels like something that should be included given the ergonomic focus of the keyboard.
If you’re using it for gaming, the Freestyle Edge is a fairly low latency option, though there are some better gaming options out there. Still, if ergonomics are your top priority, this is a fantastic choice.
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Our team of experienced writers spend hours researching products to include in articles. We find out what factors make a good product by talking to experts, reviewing test results, testing products and analysing thousands of customer reviews.
HOW TO CHOOSE A MECHANICAL KEYBOARD
Choosing a new keyboard can actually be a lot more complicated than it sounds. There are quite a few things to consider, as the “best” option for you will largely depend on your personal preferences.
If you’ve decided a mechanical keyboard is definitely on your wishlist, here are a few things to keep in mind:
- Switch type: Different switch types are better suited to different tasks, so you should consider what you’ll primarily be using your keyboard for. Whether gaming, typing or both, determine the switch that best suits your needs based on actuation force and tactile feedback.
- Key rollover/N-Key rollover: Check for sufficient key rollover, especially if you’re into gaming, to make sure simultaneous key presses register accurately.
- Layout: Mechanical keyboards come in a range of different sizes. You’ll need to decide which layout (e.g. tenkeyless, full-size) is best for your preferences, comfort and available desk space.
- Backlighting: Decide if you want backlighting; some keyboards offer customisable RGB lighting for a personalised touch.
- Extra features: Keyboards can come with all types of additional features like programmable keys, dedicated media controls and wrist rests. We recommend checking out the available features before shopping, in case there’s some that would be useful to you.
- Budget: Mechanical keyboards come at a range of different price options, but be willing to invest a bit more for better quality and features.
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