Kotaku's Best Gaming Keyboard Poll

[Hyde]

http://kotaku.com/co-op-the-best-gaming-keyboard-top-6-nominations-1447953582

So basically Razer won by a huge margin again because of popularity as a brand, how the keyboard is probably is irrelevant here.

I voted for CM QFR though, and if I could I'd probably vote Corsair K70 2nd.

[Halverson]

Those keyboards are all so much better than the rest

HI HYDE

[rowdy]

I wonder how many people buy a BWU based on the hype, use it for a while until it breaks, and then think "I don't get all this fuss about mechanical keyboards - they are pieces of fecal matter" and just go back to their rubber dome.

[Martyr]

Not surprising, probably the only MKB brand they know.

[terran5992]

Wheres topre?

[rowdy]

Wheres topre?

If BW is included, I wouldn't expect to see Topre there too.

[SnareSpectre]

The QFR certainly wins when it comes to quality for the money.

[tp4tissue]

I lose a little faith in humanity, every-time I see the results of this type of poll...

[Photekq]

[tp4tissue]

Show Image

Kids...

[bazemk1979]

Would of vote for the Corsair in a heart beat, but the bottom modifiers + space bar really kills it..... that's why CM QFR gets the vote.

[tp4tissue]

Would of vote for the Corsair in a heart beat, but the bottom modifiers + space bar really kills it..... that's why CM QFR gets the vote.

Then ergodox walks in, and melts all the boards on that list with it's Ergorays.... pssssszzap....

[SpAmRaY]

Would of vote for the Corsair in a heart beat, but the bottom modifiers + space bar really kills it..... that's why CM QFR gets the vote.

Then ergodox walks in, and melts all the boards on that list with it's Ergorays.... pssssszzap....

Show Image

just paint it black and put green led's in it and put a huge logo on it, tell everyone the swtiches are tuned for gaming and you'd win instantly

[FoxWolf1]

Meaningless popularity contest disguised as evaluative survey is meaningless.

[tp4tissue]

Meaningless popularity contest disguised as evaluative survey is meaningless.

exactly... who still uses keyboards that are all one piece... crazyness... 

[Nakapfao]

Honestly, if Razer didn't exist the results would show QFR number one and everyone would still be complaining it's "because of popularity as a brand". I mean, QFR is just as marketed towards "GAMERZ" as Razer is, people just need someone to hate. Of course, the QFR is higher quality than BW, but let's be honest, that's not the reason the board sells to 90% of the people who own it.

I'm not hating on the QFR, it's the board I use daily. I just think this whole elitist debate is ****ing stupid. If it makes you feel better to disregard people who like a keyboard that is minimally worse than yours as "kids," go for it.

[Hyde]

Those keyboards are all so much better than the rest

HI HYDE

HI HALVERSON YOU'RE ALIVE !!!

lol where have you been dude?  Welcome back !

Would of vote for the Corsair in a heart beat, but the bottom modifiers + space bar really kills it..... that's why CM QFR gets the vote.

lol I kind of feel the same way.  I like the design and look of Corsair K70 but overall quality, value and compatibility wise QFR wins.

[Pacifist]

That's so skewed.

Razer claims to be made for gamers, but that's just a lie they make to make more money.

People will buy their stuff because they claim they're there only for gamers, not money, creating more sales and thus more money.

Pretty good marketing strat tho

[ctbear]

To be fair this is a poll for the best gaming keyboard, not the best mechanical keyboard. BWU is not a bad choice for gaming.

[Pacifist]

To be fair this is a poll for the best gaming keyboard, not the best mechanical keyboard. BWU is not a bad choice for gaming.

Blues aren't really that good to game with, but that's just my opinion

Also what's the point of backlighting while gaming? You probally won't be looking down at the board

[tp4tissue]

I think I've been too harsh on regular keyboards.....   As far as performance, even if it's not as durable... you'll probably get equal play out of buying just about any keyboard...

I think the sheer volume of votes on these boards has really humbled me in respect to Keyboard Elitism...  Perhaps there is great merit in staggered qwerty after all....

[tbc]

k70 is the best for gaming....the f row is closer and it has reds.

people actually think blues are best for gaming?  they're okay, but definitely not the best.

[Photekq]

k70 is the best for gaming....the f row is closer and it has reds.

people actually think blues are best for gaming?  they're okay, but definitely not the best.

No switch is the best for anything.. It's all opinion..

I honestly wish the banners of DT and GH included : "KEYSWITCHES ARE ENTIRELY A MATTER OF OPINION, SO STOP ARGUING OVER WHICH IS BEST"

[acidtrip69]

i use to have a razer keyboard. It sucked it gave me so many problems and build quality wasn't great it sucked. I'm never buy a razer keyboard, but for some reason they make mice ^_^ ahahhaha.

[Photekq]

I used to have a blackwidow. It was actually a good keyboard (EXCEPT FOR THE GODDAMN GLOSS FINISH - ALL KEYBOARDS WITH GLOSS FINISHES SHOULD BE BURNED) until I spilled tea all over it. I don't think I can blame the keyboard for that though.

[acidtrip69]

i use to have a razer keyboard. It sucked it gave me so many problems and build quality wasn't great it sucked. I'm never buy a razer keyboard, but for some reason they make great mice ^_^ ahahhaha.

[tbc]

k70 is the best for gaming....the f row is closer and it has reds.

people actually think blues are best for gaming?  they're okay, but definitely not the best.

No switch is the best for anything.. It's all opinion..

I honestly wish the banners of DT and GH included : "KEYSWITCHES ARE ENTIRELY A MATTER OF OPINION, SO STOP ARGUING OVER WHICH IS BEST"

um.  i didn't say a switch was the best?  i said just the opposite actually. 

[davkol]

k70 is the best for gaming....the f row is closer and it has reds.

Thinking about it, the choc mini is probably truly the best gaming keyboard.

Tenkeyless? Even smaller, thus mouse is closer.
Winkeyless? The Win key can be turned off on hardware level. Moreover, the keyboard supports hardware CapsLock-Control swap.
Function keys? Right above the number row.
NKRO? Checked.
At last but not least, it's one of the cheaper keyboards, yet with higher-quality keycaps than almost any "gaming" junk.

I just wish it had a phantom-style plate and Teensy.

[tp4tissue]

I used to have a blackwidow. It was actually a good keyboard (EXCEPT FOR THE GODDAMN GLOSS FINISH - ALL KEYBOARDS WITH GLOSS FINISHES SHOULD BE BURNED) until I spilled tea all over it. I don't think I can blame the keyboard for that though.

Ok.. see what you forgot was, the glare reflecting off of the glossy finish GOT INTO YOUR EYE.. causing momentary blindness.

you bumped into the table, and spilled your tea...

TOTALLY the keyboard's fault..

[Photekq]

um.  i didn't say a switch was the best?  i said just the opposite actually.

You implied that reds are the best, and you seemed to be in disbelief that people think blues are the best for gaming.

[tp4tissue]

um.  i didn't say a switch was the best?  i said just the opposite actually.

You implied that reds are the best, and you seemed to be in disbelief that people think blues are the best for gaming.

Where did you read blue was best for gaming?

[ctbear]

To be fair this is a poll for the best gaming keyboard, not the best mechanical keyboard. BWU is not a bad choice for gaming.

Blues aren't really that good to game with, but that's just my opinion

Also what's the point of backlighting while gaming? You probally won't be looking down at the board

Blues are okay for gaming, as you said it's all opinions.
You would be surprised how many people game in darkness. And having backlights doesn't make it worse.

[Pacifist]

To be fair this is a poll for the best gaming keyboard, not the best mechanical keyboard. BWU is not a bad choice for gaming.

Blues aren't really that good to game with, but that's just my opinion

Also what's the point of backlighting while gaming? You probally won't be looking down at the board

Blues are okay for gaming, as you said it's all opinions.
You would be surprised how many people game in darkness. And having backlights doesn't make it worse.

It doesn't make it worse buts its really gimmicky. You'll rarely look down at your hands. And besides, you shouldn't be playing in the dark, thats bad for your eyes

[ctbear]

To be fair this is a poll for the best gaming keyboard, not the best mechanical keyboard. BWU is not a bad choice for gaming.

Blues aren't really that good to game with, but that's just my opinion

Also what's the point of backlighting while gaming? You probally won't be looking down at the board

Blues are okay for gaming, as you said it's all opinions.
You would be surprised how many people game in darkness. And having backlights doesn't make it worse.

It doesn't make it worse buts its really gimmicky. You'll rarely look down at your hands. And besides, you shouldn't be playing in the dark, thats bad for your eyes

I don't game in the dark but many people do. I still fail to see how having backlights making it a worse gaming keyboard than say, the QFR?

[tp4tissue]

To be fair this is a poll for the best gaming keyboard, not the best mechanical keyboard. BWU is not a bad choice for gaming.

Blues aren't really that good to game with, but that's just my opinion

Also what's the point of backlighting while gaming? You probally won't be looking down at the board

Blues are okay for gaming, as you said it's all opinions.
You would be surprised how many people game in darkness. And having backlights doesn't make it worse.

It doesn't make it worse buts its really gimmicky. You'll rarely look down at your hands. And besides, you shouldn't be playing in the dark, thats bad for your eyes

I don't game in the dark but many people do. I still fail to see how having backlights making it a worse gaming keyboard than say, the QFR?

I haven't seen anyone game in the dark.. maybe "dim" but not dark...

Do people actually game in the dark?  Doesn't that hurt your eyes at all? 

[Pacifist]

To be fair this is a poll for the best gaming keyboard, not the best mechanical keyboard. BWU is not a bad choice for gaming.

Blues aren't really that good to game with, but that's just my opinion

Also what's the point of backlighting while gaming? You probally won't be looking down at the board

Blues are okay for gaming, as you said it's all opinions.
You would be surprised how many people game in darkness. And having backlights doesn't make it worse.

It doesn't make it worse buts its really gimmicky. You'll rarely look down at your hands. And besides, you shouldn't be playing in the dark, thats bad for your eyes

I don't game in the dark but many people do. I still fail to see how having backlights making it a worse gaming keyboard than say, the QFR?

I haven't seen anyone game in the dark.. maybe "dim" but not dark...

Do people actually game in the dark?  Doesn't that hurt your eyes at all?

It damages it

[wetto]

To be fair this is a poll for the best gaming keyboard, not the best mechanical keyboard. BWU is not a bad choice for gaming.

Blues aren't really that good to game with, but that's just my opinion

Also what's the point of backlighting while gaming? You probally won't be looking down at the board

Blues are okay for gaming, as you said it's all opinions.
You would be surprised how many people game in darkness. And having backlights doesn't make it worse.

It doesn't make it worse buts its really gimmicky. You'll rarely look down at your hands. And besides, you shouldn't be playing in the dark, thats bad for your eyes

I don't game in the dark but many people do. I still fail to see how having backlights making it a worse gaming keyboard than say, the QFR?

It's not about the backlight, it's about the keycap quality. Sure, if the backlit keycaps were just as good as the ones on Déck Legend keyboards or iPROS LETIS, no one would complain, but they're made outta ultra-cheap thin ABS plastic with some god damn awful coating that can come off just about anytime. And even worse, when they do, you have to buy a new keyboard since its modifiers aren't standard, you can't replace them for kits sold on the internet, you can't customize it completely.

So... what can happen when keycaps are bad? Well, besides the keyboard itself feeling like crap, there can be other issues:

Logitech G710+ on the left, came that way from factory. Its keycaps can be removed easily by using your finger and they come off when you turn the keyboard around.



CM Quick Fire TK MX Blue:



CM Quick Fire TK MX Brown:



Mionix Zibal 60 MX Black:



Meanwhile, while the CM Quick Fire Rapid keycaps are not the best available in the market, they're far better than the crap used on almost all backlit keyboards.

[Pacifist]

Also razer has almost zero customization. Each BW has one preset backlit color and switch. You can't even change keycaps that easily as they have weird modifier keys.

[Hyde]

Companies need to join together and come up with a standard on bottom row.

I actually won't blame iOne for using 1.5, 1, 1.5 bottom mod as oppose to 1.25, 1.25, 1.25.  I think both were the standards back in the days.  Also Matias and Topre both use 1.5, 1, 1.5 mod too.

But would be cool if one day all the companies can all pick one and stick to it.  Probably won't happen though........ 

[rowdy]

The nice thing about standards is that there are so many to choose from.

[wetto]

Companies need to join together and come up with a standard on bottom row.
I actually won't blame iOne for using 1.5, 1, 1.5 bottom mod as oppose to 1.25, 1.25, 1.25.  I think both were the standards back in the days.  Also Matias and Topre both use 1.5, 1, 1.5 mod too.

But would be cool if one day all the companies can all pick one and stick to it.  Probably won't happen though........ 

It's not iOne, on the newer models it's the same OEM as Logitech G710+, CM Quick Fire TK and Corsair K70, which I believe it's Solid Year... At least that's what I was told by Matias himself, Carter gave some tips away and I have the three of them and noticed some resemblances.

G710+ (back) and Corsair K70 (front) keycaps: (check the codes)



iOne is actually working on making some new keyboards with RGB backlighting with Kailh, they lost way too many clients in 2012~2013 and are going to start making cheap RGB backlit mechanical keyboards with Kailh switches very soon.

Brace yourselves for a new batch of crappy backlit gaming mechanical keyboards with terrible keycaps coming up soon.

[ctbear]

To be fair this is a poll for the best gaming keyboard, not the best mechanical keyboard. BWU is not a bad choice for gaming.

Blues aren't really that good to game with, but that's just my opinion

Also what's the point of backlighting while gaming? You probally won't be looking down at the board

Blues are okay for gaming, as you said it's all opinions.
You would be surprised how many people game in darkness. And having backlights doesn't make it worse.

It doesn't make it worse buts its really gimmicky. You'll rarely look down at your hands. And besides, you shouldn't be playing in the dark, thats bad for your eyes

I don't game in the dark but many people do. I still fail to see how having backlights making it a worse gaming keyboard than say, the QFR?

It's not about the backlight, it's about the keycap quality. Sure, if the backlit keycaps were just as good as the ones on Déck Legend keyboards or iPROS LETIS, no one would complain, but they're made outta ultra-cheap thin ABS plastic with some god damn awful coating that can come off just about anytime. And even worse, when they do, you have to buy a new keyboard since its modifiers aren't standard, you can't replace them for kits sold on the internet, you can't customize it completely.

So... what can happen when keycaps are bad? Well, besides the keyboard itself feeling like crap, there can be other issues:

Logitech G710+ on the left, came that way from factory. Its keycaps can be removed easily by using your finger and they come off when you turn the keyboard around.

Show Image

CM Quick Fire TK MX Blue:

Show Image

CM Quick Fire TK MX Brown:

Show Image

Mionix Zibal 60 MX Black:

Show Image

Meanwhile, while the CM Quick Fire Rapid keycaps are not the best available in the market, they're far better than the crap used on almost all backlit keyboards.

My experience is that none of them are durable enough for one of those high tension mother-yelling key-smashing gaming sessions. I've had a BW before and had some experience with a QFR board and the caps seem equally crappy to me.
But that was a while ago so can't really comment on the quality now.

Also razer has almost zero customization. Each BW has one preset backlit color and switch. You can't even change keycaps that easily as they have weird modifier keys.

Again while those are nice features I can't see how they would make the BW a worse gaming keyboard.




I would never own another Razer keyboard personally (for a variety of reasons), but some of the hatreds towards Razer on GH are just uncalled for. This is a poll for the best gaming keyboard, and from a gaming perspective the BW is a pretty good choice. The GH-loved QFR is a solid and more superior keyboard in general, but from a gaming perspective it lacks the macro keys and profile support, which are both very useful features for gaming.

[Hyde]

iOne is actually working on making some new keyboards with RGB backlighting with Kailh, they lost way too many clients in 2012~2013 and are going to start making cheap RGB backlit mechanical keyboards with Kailh switches very soon.

Brace yourselves for a new batch of crappy backlit gaming mechanical keyboards with terrible keycaps coming up soon.

Yeah I think first they lost CM Storm then later on Razer too.  Yes the new Blackwidow 2013 are not made by iOne anymore, I wonder if the joined the same manufacture for CM Storm TK/Logitech G710+/Corsair K70.  And I'd imagine considering the amount Razer sells, losing them is probably a huge loss for iOne.

Though are they finally figure out how do RGB backlit mechanical keyboard now?  I've seen one Korean board with such feature, but would be cool if it becomes the norm for all keyboards here onward.

If would actually save companies a lot of money and hassle because they just need to make 1 model to please everyone.

[tbc]

some of us enjoy playing horror games.  no, playing with the lights on is not the same as with them on.

it's the exact same concept thing as watching a movie in the dark.


EDIT:

on the razer topic, my personal grudge against them is their relatively high prices; that alone is all I need to not recommend them.

EDIT2:

You implied that reds are the best, and you seemed to be in disbelief that people think blues are the best for gaming.

I said that reds are a factor in it being the best.  I didn't say that close f-row + browns weren't better.  (Although personally, I find them to be a wash)

so you think blues are significantly in favor among gamers who have tried all comon MX switches?

Thinking about it, the choc mini is probably truly the best gaming keyboard.
....

yes, the choc mini definitely came to my mind first.  I just think that the gap on the k70 would still help; no gap on the mini might cause misclicks.

[wetto]

iOne is actually working on making some new keyboards with RGB backlighting with Kailh, they lost way too many clients in 2012~2013 and are going to start making cheap RGB backlit mechanical keyboards with Kailh switches very soon.

Brace yourselves for a new batch of crappy backlit gaming mechanical keyboards with terrible keycaps coming up soon.

Yeah I think first they lost CM Storm then later on Razer too.  Yes the new Blackwidow 2013 are not made by iOne anymore, I wonder if the joined the same manufacture for CM Storm TK/Logitech G710+/Corsair K70.  And I'd imagine considering the amount Razer sells, losing them is probably a huge loss for iOne.

Though are they finally figure out how do RGB backlit mechanical keyboard now?  I've seen one Korean board with such feature, but would be cool if it becomes the norm for all keyboards here onward.

If would actually save companies a lot of money and hassle because they just need to make 1 model to please everyone.

Yes, it's the same manufacturer.

Kailh is making switches of their own, which are cheap knock-offs of Cherry MX switches (yeah, quality isn't good), but one of their switches (which hasn't been released yet) being able to somehow use RGB backlight. I do not know how they're gonna do that, be it through using Cherry based switches, modifying the casing and the type of LEDs that are soldered into the switch, by making the Cherry MX Based switch transparent just like on Matias Switches or exactly by making a Matias Quiet switch knockoff (now, that would make a lot of sense and solve all of their problems).

Anyways, considering it's iOne and Kailh we're talking about, don't expect good things, but expect your worst nightmares 

[davkol]

To be fair this is a poll for the best gaming keyboard, not the best mechanical keyboard. BWU is not a bad choice for gaming.

Blues aren't really that good to game with, but that's just my opinion

Also what's the point of backlighting while gaming? You probally won't be looking down at the board

Blues are okay for gaming, as you said it's all opinions.
You would be surprised how many people game in darkness. And having backlights doesn't make it worse.

It doesn't make it worse buts its really gimmicky. You'll rarely look down at your hands. And besides, you shouldn't be playing in the dark, thats bad for your eyes

I don't game in the dark but many people do. I still fail to see how having backlights making it a worse gaming keyboard than say, the QFR?

I haven't seen anyone game in the dark.. maybe "dim" but not dark...

Do people actually game in the dark?  Doesn't that hurt your eyes at all?

It damages it

[citation needed]

I've read only about temporary dizziness.

[Pacifist]

To be fair this is a poll for the best gaming keyboard, not the best mechanical keyboard. BWU is not a bad choice for gaming.

Blues aren't really that good to game with, but that's just my opinion

Also what's the point of backlighting while gaming? You probally won't be looking down at the board

Blues are okay for gaming, as you said it's all opinions.
You would be surprised how many people game in darkness. And having backlights doesn't make it worse.

It doesn't make it worse buts its really gimmicky. You'll rarely look down at your hands. And besides, you shouldn't be playing in the dark, thats bad for your eyes

I don't game in the dark but many people do. I still fail to see how having backlights making it a worse gaming keyboard than say, the QFR?

I haven't seen anyone game in the dark.. maybe "dim" but not dark...

Do people actually game in the dark?  Doesn't that hurt your eyes at all?

It damages it

[citation needed]

I've read only about temporary dizziness.

Don't really have evidence, but for most, you're eyes will be dialating or squinting to get more light in, and doing that long term messes them up. My optometrist told me to read and do other stuff with plenty of light and to not squint as much as I can

[Linkbane]

To be fair this is a poll for the best gaming keyboard, not the best mechanical keyboard. BWU is not a bad choice for gaming.

Blues aren't really that good to game with, but that's just my opinion

Also what's the point of backlighting while gaming? You probally won't be looking down at the board

Blues are okay for gaming, as you said it's all opinions.
You would be surprised how many people game in darkness. And having backlights doesn't make it worse.

It doesn't make it worse buts its really gimmicky. You'll rarely look down at your hands. And besides, you shouldn't be playing in the dark, thats bad for your eyes

It's not about what we should/shouldn't do, it's about what we do. And I play LoL in the dark often, as I live with other people, so having a backlit keyboard is a necessity. Also helps me get my bearing when I'm typing. People are divided about backlighting to be sure, but it's a lot of effort for the manufacturers to make it and I think that it's quite beautiful to have lighting, otherwise the keyboard is only different in shape from another.

I mean, yes, build quality, but I actually do care about how my keyboard looks. I can use any run-of-the-mill Rosewill or QFR or even TVS, but I want something that looks good. And to me, although not to some others, a backlit keyboard looks great.

[ynrozturk]

All of this Razer hate is ridiculous. If the QFR was the best selling gaming mechanical keyboard or whatever, people would probably hate on them as well. People just need something to hate on I guess. I've had my BW Tournament Edition for a while now, and I like it. I changed the caps with blank ones that I got from the Keyboard Company, and it's fine. No glossy finish, and the thing is built like a tank with virtually no flex. I've had no problems with the switches, but I have had problems with the Synapse software, so I simply don't use it. Not sure if they fixed it in recent updates, and I don't really care. But the board itself is just fine.

And don't we have Razer to thank for sparking more interest in mechanical keyboards? Blackwidows are a first mech keyboard for a lot of people, then it develops into Filco, Ducky, etc. Hating on a Toyota is absolutely silly, for example. Not everyone can afford a Porsche, or even cares, as long as it does the basics. And yes, the Blackwidow does the basics. Is it expensive for what it is? Yes, but that's all successful marketing.

[Linkbane]

All of this Razer hate is ridiculous. If the QFR was the best selling gaming mechanical keyboard or whatever, people would probably hate on them as well. People just need something to hate on I guess. I've had my BW Tournament Edition for a while now, and I like it. I changed the caps with blank ones that I got from the Keyboard Company, and it's fine. No glossy finish, and the thing is built like a tank with virtually no flex. I've had no problems with the switches, but I have had problems with the Synapse software, so I simply don't use it. Not sure if they fixed it in recent updates, and I don't really care. But the board itself is just fine.

And don't we have Razer to thank for sparking more interest in mechanical keyboards? Blackwidows are a first mech keyboard for a lot of people, then it develops into Filco, Ducky, etc. Hating on a Toyota is absolutely silly, for example. Not everyone can afford a Porsche, or even cares, as long as it does the basics. And yes, the Blackwidow does the basics. Is it expensive for what it is? Yes, but that's all successful marketing.

The vast majority of BW users probably don't even know what a mechanical switch is past the fact that they're using it. It's a blind introduction, and the image that it gives off of '1337p1@y3r5 only' is pretty bad for the reputation of mechanical as just a great feeling, strong method of input.

Plus, the BW is built well? I haven't heard of a single board needing an RMA from breaking other than BWs here.