The 6 Best Budget And Cheap Keyboards - Fall 2023 Reviews

The Logitech Signature K650 is our recommendation for the best budget keyboard for most people. You can connect this wireless keyboard via Bluetooth or with the included USB receiver, and it uses a pair of AA batteries that can power this board for up to 36 months, depending on your daily usage. This keyboard uses quiet rubber dome switches, making it a great choice that won't bother others in shared workspaces, dorm rooms, and home offices.

It has a sturdy plastic body, and unlike more expensive mechanical options, there aren't any exposed moving parts, which means it's more resistant to minor spills or food crumbs if you often find yourself eating or drinking in front of your computer. It also offers good built-in ergonomic features, including a built-in palm rest, low-profile keycaps, and feet that provide two incline settings. These features ensure you can type on this keyboard without angling your wrists too sharply, which can help keep you comfortable, especially when typing for long stretches.

It's a full-size keyboard board, so not only does it have all the keys you need, including a Numpad, but there's plenty of space between keys. The keycaps also have rounded tops, making it easier to differentiate between keys by feel, which can help you type faster and avoid typos.

If you're gaming on a budget, we recommend the HyperX Alloy Origins60. Smaller gaming keyboards have been making a big splash lately as they provide all the keys most gamers need, but they clear up extra space on your desk. This keyboard is an excellent choice if you have a smaller desk or you're the kind of player who needs all the space they can get for dynamic mouse movements. It also has a sturdy aluminum frame and high-quality PBT plastic keycaps, giving it a premium feel despite its lower price point.

The HyperX offers outstanding performance, including extremely low latency and lightweight linear switches with a low pre-travel distance, providing a responsive in-game experience. With its companion software, this keyboard also offers plenty of customizability, allowing you to remap keys, record macros, and set custom profiles. For an added plus, you can adjust the full RGB lighting on a per-key level, unlike our best cheap gaming pick, the SteelSeries Apex 3 TKL below, which only allows you to customize zone backlighting.

For a cheaper option, we recommend the Logitech K380. This keyboard comes in various attractive pastel colorways. It's a popular model with students and professionals alike for mixing remarkable portability and functionality at an accessible price point. Compared to our best budget pick, the Logitech Signature K650 above, it's a full-size unit, so it's easy to use just about anywhere. You also don't need to worry about packing any charging cables since it uses two AA batteries that keep it powered for up to 24 months, depending on your usage.

This keyboard connects wirelessly via Bluetooth, and you can pair it with up to three devices simultaneously and switch between them using hotkeys. While the standard version of this keyboard has both Windows and macOS legends printed on the keycaps, a dedicated Mac variant is available. Its versatility and price make it an outstanding portable board with great build quality. However, adjusting to the relatively small, circular keycaps may take some time when you first start using this keyboard.

Many gaming keyboards come with steep price tags, so finding a great unit at a lower price can take time and effort. We recommend the SteelSeries Apex 3 TKL. This keyboard has a compact TenKeyLess form factor, which means it doesn't have a Numpad and leaves you with more space on your desk for sweeping mouse movements. The rubber dome switches on this keyboard are light to press, making them feel snappy and responsive in-game. The switches are also quiet compared to the mechanical ones used on many higher-end keyboards, and they're more resistant to minor spills and debris.

The latency on this keyboard is higher than on more premium options, so it isn't a great fit for high-level competitive play, but it's more than suitable for casual gaming in any genre. It also has some surprising extra features normally found on more expensive options, including a volume wheel and the ability to set macros to any key. It also has RGB lighting with eight separate zones you can customize using the companion software. If you're interested in a full-size alternative with a Numpad, there's a full-size version of this board called the SteelSeries Apex 3. The full-size version is typically a bit more expensive; however, it includes a wrist rest for added comfort.

The Microsoft Bluetooth Keyboard is the most straightforward keyboard on this list. This keyboard is a solidly-built full-size option without unnecessary features, making it our recommendation for any workplace. Note that the price of this model tends to go up and down, so it may be closer to the cost of our best budget pick above when you're reading this, but it's worth waiting for a sale. This keyboard connects wirelessly with Bluetooth, which means you can use it with any mobile device, tablet, PC, or TV that supports a Bluetooth connection. However, you can't pair it with multiple devices simultaneously.

Thanks to its rubber dome switches, and soft-touch covering that goes all around the keyboard, it's nearly silent to type on, so you won't bother anyone else working around you. It's also satisfying to type on as the rubber dome switches have good tactility, so you'll always know when you've registered a key press.

However, this keyboard is large and not very portable, so it isn't a great candidate for carting between different workspaces or hotdesks. It also has no incline options or an included wrist rest like our top pick, the Logitech Signature K650. If you're looking for an even more affordable alternative and don't need wireless connectivity, check out the Dell KB216.

If you work off iPads, tablets, or even your mobile phone, we recommend the Logitech K480. It's a compact unit that's very similar in design to our best cheap pick, the Logitech K380, but features a built-in device tray so you can prop your mobile devices up at a nice viewing angle while in use. It connects with Bluetooth and pairs with up to three devices at once, and you can switch between devices using a small dial in the corner. It comes with two AAA batteries for power, which can last up to two years before you need to replace them.

This keyboard uses rubber dome switches which provide good tactile feedback to help you avoid typos and missed keystrokes. They're also extremely quiet to use, so you won't bother anyone around you if you work in libraries, coffee shops, or co-working spaces. As with any cheap keyboard, there are a few downsides, like a lack of backlighting and a cramped typing experience compared to more expensive, full-size options. That said, it's still a decent-feeling board that's great if you need something to work with while you're on the go using mobile devices.