The Best Budget Gaming Keyboards in 2023

It’s kind of insane how much value there is in these budget gaming keyboards, features and build qualities that can rival the top-end mainstream keyboards for a fraction of the price. The Qisan Magicforce 68 is the best cheap gaming keyboard available right now, it has one of the best layouts available, really good for gaming, multiple switch options, great build quality, a bunch of switch options and nice design decisions like removable cables and rubberized feet. The Magicforce 68 is an absolute steal.

We’ve rounded out our top 5 picks with other options for specific preferences. Want RGB? The Kumara K552 RGB and Tecware Phantom have full RGB along with some other nice features. Want to spend as little as possible? The Velocifire TKL02 and VicTsing offer very competent boards for less than the cost of some mouse pads.

1. Qisan Magicforce 68

Why the Magicforce 68 is the best cheap gaming keyboard

The Magicforce is a special keyboard, it features a unique 68-key layout that removes the numpad and function clusters like a 60% keyboard but keeps some of the key buttons with arrow keys, the result is a pretty compact keyboard that works really well for gaming, freeing up space for your gaming mouse.

The keyboard does not include an F row, you can access the F row and media keys via an fn key, otherwise the keyboard doesn’t require you to change any keyboard habits at all. Underneath, there are white backlit LEDs that do a good job, it’s a bonus considering the price and value of this keyboard.

The Magicforce has an array of switch options from Cherry, Gateron and Oetemu, the Oetemu is the cheapest option with boards coming in at roughly $40, Gateron boards are ~$60 and Cherry are ~$70. For the price, the build quality is very good, the case is made of plastic with an aluminum top-plate. We’d recommend a red or brown switch, the Oetemu switches are definitely serviceable but the best value here is the Gateron version.

A detachable USB cable is a nice touch that’s not present in a lot of premium keyboards. Another nice touch, the flip out feet on the keyboard are rubberized, meaning the board will be non-slip even on its higher setting. The keycaps are the weakest part of this package, the Magicforce comes with thin ABS keycaps, but thanks to a standard bottom row and upgrade to the keycaps for the Magicforce 68 is super easy and highly recommended when you have the funds.

This keyboard is a huge value for its price, as long as you don’t miss the f keys or numpad, the Magicforce can accommodate most set ups and preferences and does so for a low price, it’s a huge value, it even comes in black if you don’t like the silver version.

Tech Specs & Dimensions

2. Tecware Phantom 87

Why we like the Tecware Phantom 87

This keyboard is very very similar to the much more expensive Glorious Modular Mechanical Keyboard with a few key differences, but at nearly half the price the Tecware shortcomings are more than palatable. The Phantom 87 is a TKL low-profile keyboard with full RGB and 3 default Outemu switch options: red, brown and blue. What makes the Tecware Phantom unique compared to the other keyboards on this list, is that the keyboard has hot-swappable switches, meaning you can pull out your existing switches and plunk in another type of Outemu switch for a different typing or gaming experience.

The Phantom 87 also features full 16.7m colour RGB with software that lets you choose RGB modes and select per key lighting if needed, it’s the most feature rich budget board we’ve come across. The keycaps included are double-shot ABS, the keycaps let light shine through well, the Double shot process makes sure the legends will last. If you want to customize your board a bit you’re in luck, the bottom row of the Phantom is standard.

A few key differences from the GMMK, the hot swap sockets can only take Outemu switches, so no Cherry or Kailh switches will work on this keyboard without some modification, Outemu do have some higher end switches that you can take for a spin on this keyboard. The cable on the Phantom 87 is not detachable, the GMMK has a detachable micro-USB. The feet on the Phantom 87 don’t have rubber tips, which makes this keyboard a bit slippery especially in combination with its light weight. The keyboard itself shows little to no flex however, so build quality isn’t a concern.

Tech Specs & Dimensions

3. Redragon Kumara K552

Why we like the Redragon

The Redragon K552 RGB packs quite a bit of build quality and feature into a $35 TKL board. It’s tenkeyless design and size means this keyboard does not have a numpad, and makes the overall foot print smaller to leave more room for your gaming mouse. The design of the keyboard itself leaves something to be desired, there’s a giant Redragon logo in the bottom right of the keyboard but it’s not a keyboard you couldn’t bring it to an office.

The most notable thing about the Redragon keyboard is how heavy and tank-like it is, the case is entirely plastic but it’s thick and rigid, the keyboard is very well constructed. This version that we’ve picked makes it the cheapest RGB that we could recommend and if you’re looking for RGB then this is a huge value. The Kumara K552 line comes in a non-backlit and red-backlit version that are even cheaper if you want to save a couple of extra dollars.

Unfortunately, the Kumara only comes with Oetemu blue switches, they’re not the most ideal for gaming, but they behave very similarly to Cherry MX blues. If you need your keyboard to be quiet you should look elsewhere because the Redragon is LOUD. The switches themselves feel good and as expected from blue switches.

The key caps are low quality ABS double shot, they’re okay and they let the RGB backlight shine through, but they will get slippery at some point. Luckily, the K552 has a standard bottom row so replacement caps are easy. A couple of things you have to deal with due to the low price; the pop-up feet do not have rubber on them and the cable is non-detachable.

Tech Specs & Dimensions

4. Velocifire TKL02

Why we like the Velocifire TKL02

The Velocifire TKL02 is the most affordable and solid gaming keyboard for the lowest price at roughly $30. The Velocifire TKL02 has a clean TKL design, meaning no numpad, with classy legends on its keycaps with only one branding blemish right above its arrow cluster. The keyboard comes with a nice soft white back light, media controls are accessible via the fn layer.

The build quality on the TKL02 is about as good as you could hope for in a budget gaming keyboard, solid backplate and good high-profile case construction gives the TKL02 good sturdiness and heft. As mentioned, the keyboard comes packed with Oetemu browns, the switches are good and feel tactile in the solidly constructed case. The Velocifire is the best, cheapest brown switch mech available right now, if don’t want the linearity of red switches and don’t need the click of the blue switches, the Velocifire is your best bet in the budget space.

The pop-out feet have rubber tips, no slippage here, combined with the weight, the TKL02 is going to sit firmly in place on your desk. Like most budget boards, the TKL02 does not have any programmability, what you see is what you get. The wired version also does not have a detachable cable, which is something we’d really love to see considering the wireless version has a USB type-C connector.

The keycaps themselves are okay, they’re doubleshot ABS plastic caps with actually a decent thickness to them, at this price point this is a positive. If they get too shiny, you can replace the keycap set easily, the Velocifire TKL02 has a standard bottom row.

The wireless version of the TKL02 costs just about $10 more than the non-wireless, it comes with a dongle and connects over 2.4 GHz wireless, I do not have any information about the latency of the keyboard in wireless mode, will update if I do get my hands on it, but it’s nice to see that as an option.

Tech Specs & Dimensions

5. VicTsing Mechanical Keyboard

Why we like the VicTsing Mechanical Keyboard

Formerly known as the Tamoko mechanical keyboard, the VicTsing keyboard is the lowest priced gaming keyboard, at $27, that meets our standards for a good gaming keyboard. There’s nothing really special to write home about this keyboard, It’s a pretty standard low-profile tenkeyless mechanical keyboard. No extra features, not a super solid build, no backlight, it’s just a competent keyboard at a really good price.

The keyboard comes with both Outemu blue and red switches, if you’re getting this for gaming you’ll definitely want the reds over the blues for speed if you don’t already know your preference.

The Vicsting board has a detachable cable and rubberized pop out feet, very nice touches for a keyboard this cheap. Additionally, VicTsing boasts that this keyboard is water-resistant with drain holes at the bottom of the keyboard for easy drying, not an important feature unless you’re generally clumsy.

There are some shortcomings of this keyboard, the keycaps are the thin ABS type as you would suspect from a keyboard of this price, but not too big of a deal considering the keyboard has a bottom standard row. There’s no backlighting at all available on this keyboard and no software to program any special binds.

Tech Specs & Dimensions