We've said it before, and we'll say it again: your keyboard is, arguably, one of the most important parts of your PC, as it's the main way you interface with your computer. And while wireless peripherals have gotten a bad rap in the past, they've practically caught up to wired peripherals in terms of things like latency — especially for non-competitive gamers.
But the best wireless keyboard for you will depend on where and how you plan to use it, and what you plan to do with it. Wireless keyboards come in all sizes, from full-size with extra macro keys to mini 60 percent layouts (or smaller, but we'll just call those macropads), all switch types, and all aesthetics.
Whether you're a couch-bound console gamer trying to chat on your PlayStation 5 or a productivity-focused coder trying to clean up your workspace, there's a perfect wireless keyboard out there for you. (And if you're looking for a great — not necessarily wireless — keyboard to complete your epic gaming rig, check out our list of best gaming keyboards.)
But first, here are some important things to consider when picking the perfect wireless keyboard for your setup.
Wireless Keyboard Shopping Tips
Why you can trust Tom's Hardware Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.
Mechanical or not? If you’re a gamer and/or will also be doing a lot of writing, a mechanical clacker will be the best wireless keyboard for you. Keyboards with mechanical switches are also usually more durable -- although membrane models often hold up better to spilled liquids.
Backlighting / RGB: The cheapest wireless keyboards won’t have backlighting, which is OK if you always use your keyboard in a well-lit space. But if you work or game late into the night and don’t want to (or can’t) switch on overhead lights, a keyboard with backlit keys is what you want. A single light color will get the job done, but RGB backlighting lets you change things up.
Pick your switch: Not all of the best wireless keyboards will use mechanical switches. But of those that do, you’ll have plenty of switch options, depending on the model you choose. Many gamers prefer linear switches (often labeled as red or brown) because they make it easier to mash the same buttons repeatedly in quick succession. However, this kind of switch can lead to more mistakes (often repeated letters) when typing.
Those who type for a living usually prefer “clicky” switches with a tactile bump (often labeled as blue, white or green) that you can feel when the switch actuates. But clicky switches are often noisy, which can bother other people nearby (or even the person typing or gaming).
There are dozens of other switch types, including optical-mechanical and membrane. The latter tend to have a mushier feel but are much better at surviving things like spilled drinks. The type of switch that’s best for you depends on personal preferences and your use cases and needs. So whenever possible, get an inexpensive switch tester (opens in new tab) to try out different options, or try to find a keyboard you’re considering in a store to get a feel for it before buying.
Full-size, tenkeyless or smaller? Tenkeyless keyboards nix the numberpad, while 65% models often eliminate navigation keys, and 60% boards also usually cut the arrow keys. While some will want every possible key, others prefer a smaller keyboard that gives them more space on their desk or a smaller size to travel with.
Bluetooth or RF dongle: If you want a wireless keyboard that you can use with smartphones and tablets, opt for a Bluetooth keyboard. Most laptops and many desktops these days also support Bluetooth, so these are good if you want to use your best wireless keyboard with multiple devices as well.
But if you’re only going to use your keyboard with a PC or Mac, a keyboard that uses some form of radio frequency (RF) dongle is worth considering. You’ll need a spare USB port to plug in the RF transceiver, but pairing is a lot simpler with a keyboard that uses RF. In most cases, you just need to plug in the dongle, turn on the keyboard, and you’re ready to start typing in seconds.
It's also handy to have a keyboard that works when plugged in via USB, even if you plan to be wireless most of the time. If you can plug the keyboard in and use it while you're charging, you don't have to worry about any downtime.
The Best Wireless Keyboards You Can Buy Today
The Asus ROG Azoth is the best wireless gaming keyboard we’ve used — it’s speedy, responsive, and reliable while gaming, and it also offers an incredibly satisfying typing experience. It’s also highly customizable, from its 2-inch OLED screen to its hot-swappable switches, and it comes with a full accessory kit (complete with a DIY lube station) for those who want full control of their gaming keyboard experience.
The ROG Azoth is a gasket mount mechanical keyboard with hot-swappable switches (you can purchase it with Asus’ NX switches in red/linear, brown/tactile, or blue/clicky), per-key RGB, and doubleshot PBT keycaps. Its chassis is plastic to prevent interference with wireless connectivity (it has both 2.4GHz wireless and Bluetooth), but it sports a metal top plate and has three layers of internal sound dampening foam — and, as a result, sounds amazing. It also has excellent battery life — up to 2,000 hours over 2.4GHz wireless, with the OLED screen and lighting turned off.
It’s not quite perfect, however — it relies on Asus’ peripheral software, Armoury Crate, which is somehow the worst peripheral software we’ve ever used. It also only comes in a 75 percent form factor, which might be a little too small for some gamers (it’s slightly smaller than a TKL, which is an 87 percent form factor).
Read: Asus ROG Azoth Review
The Razer BlackWidow V3 Pro is our favorite wireless keyboard for gaming because it offers you a full-size, full-height mechanical switch experience, plus all the features you’d expect in a premium gaming clacker. That includes high-end doubleshot ABS plastic keycaps that felt good during testing and looked good too, resisting smudges notably better than rivals and the keyboard’s aluminum top plate. You also get a cozy, plush leatherette magnetic wrist rest and four onboard memory profiles. Unfortunately, you’ll need the software to use any RGB besides the 7 effects stored in the keyboard’s memory. And there are no macro keys, like the Logitech G915 Lightspeed on this page, its top rival, offers.
The BlackWidow V3 Pro can connect with a wireless dongle, via its included charging cable or through Bluetooth, which lets it pair with up to 3 additional PCs. Battery life varies based on backlight brightness and effect but can range from 5-25 hours with lighting and reach 192 hours without. And at 3% battery life, the BlackWidow V2 Pro can get wonky, with delays in registering keypresses and issues with the software finding it.
But ultimately, the BlackWidow V3 Pro delivers everything you’d expect from an expensive, top-of-the-line gaming keyboard, except a mandatory cable. There's also a newer BlackWidow V3 Mini model, although it doesn't bring as much to the table for its price as its larger sibling.
For more gaming recommendations, with or without cables, see our Best Gaming Keyboards page.
Read: Razer BlackWidow V3 Pro review
Redragon (opens in new tab)isn’t exactly a well-known gaming brand in the U.S., but it’s hard to argue with the $70 price of the K596 Vishnu. This 2.4 GHz wireless gaming keyboard packs RGB, dedicated macro and media keys, a metal volume rocker, linear switches and even a wrist rest (albeit a hard plastic one) all into a tenkeyless package. And that's at well less than half the price of the more well-known competition.
The K596 Vishnu also feels solid and was comfortable to use while gaming and typing; although, the plastic used for the shell does look a bit cheap. There’s also some funkiness going on with the design, like the fact that F1-F8 are labeled as secondary media controls, despite there also being a bank of dedicated media buttons directly to their right.
The second bank of programmable G keys are also oddly narrow and jammed up. And there are light bars on either side of the keyboard that, while look cool, are only going to drain your battery faster while you’re gaming without the USB-C cable plugged in. You can turn these off by hitting Fn and the Pause button repeatedly, but that’s a pain. The extra lights should default to only turning on when the keyboard is plugged in via a cable. The Vishnu is also heavier than competing wireless keyboards.
Still, despite its oddities and minor flaws, this is one heck of a keyboard for $70, when you consider Logitech’s G915 TKL costs more than three times as much and doesn’t include a wrist rest. If you’re after a compact, colorful wireless gaming keyboard on a budget, the K596 Vishnu easily earns a top spot in the pantheon.
Read: Redragon Vishnu K596 review
Corsair has created something unique with the K100 Air Wireless RGB. While there are still some areas for improvement (like the shine on the keycaps), this is the thinnest mechanical gaming keyboard I’ve seen from a large gaming brand, and Corsair has nailed the execution.
At just 11mm thick at its thinnest point, it’s immediately reminiscent of the chiclet keys of yesteryear, but it manages to deliver an impressive mechanical keyboard typing and gaming experience. At $279, it’s unquestionably expensive but succeeds in being the most feature-rich and satisfying gaming keyboard in its class.
Read: Corsair K100 Air Wireless RGB review
Razer’s DeathStalker V2 Pro is a totally different animal from its predecessor, and that’s a good thing. It’s an attractive low-profile keyboard that has basically all the features you need — connectivity, customization and pretty lights, plus a surprisingly decent typing experience and an excellent gaming experience. It’s not exactly, as Razer claims, “built like a tank,” but it’s pretty durable for how small, slim and lightweight it is.
Read: Razer DeathStalker V2 Pro review
SteelSeries' Apex Pro TKL Wireless borrows the Apex Pro Mini’s sturdy, minimal, and more generic-looking chassis design, adding the company's updated, highly customizable dual-actuation OmniPoint 2.0 optical switches. The keyboard also packs plenty of premium features like an aluminum alloy top plate, double-shot PBT keycaps, bright per-key RGB, and a detachable magnetic wrist rest. The Apex Pro TKL/Apex Pro TKL Wireless’ roomier layout allows for dedicated media keys and a customizable OLED smart display. Also, unlike its predecessor, it comes in both wired and wireless versions.
The Apex Pro TKL Wireless is an excellent, highly customizable gaming keyboard in a TKL layout, which is much less restrictive than the Apex Pro Mini’s 60 percent layout — but we’re still holding out for an update to the full-size SteelSeries Apex Pro to rival Razer's excellent DeathStalker V2 Pro.
Read: SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL Wireless review
A typist’s dream, the Akko 3098B combines the company’s comfy, ASA keycaps with a compact, 96-percent layout and the ability to hot-swap in your favorite switches if you don’t like the defaults. The curved surface of the keycaps made it easier to feel our way around while touch typing and the default CS Jelly White switches are the best linear switches we’ve ever used.
The keyboard also has a classic, retro terminal look that made us feel like we were hacking into the Pentagon mainframe from Matthew Broderick’s house. Once we upgraded to our favorite clicky switches, it felt more like we were finishing a story on deadline in the newsroom of the Daily Planet. If you want a touch of modern flair, you can turn on the vibrant RGB lighting that lies beneath the keys.
All nostalgia aside, the Akko 3098B comes loaded with features, including the ability to connect via 2.4-GHz, Bluetooth 5.0 / 3.0 or USB-C. Switching between entry methods takes a single keystroke and less than a second so you can easily use this keyboard with your desktop, a laptop, a Raspberry Pi, your tablet and your phone at the same time.
The Akko 3098B’s 96-percent layout makes it nearly the same width as a tenkeyless model, but with almost all the keys of a full-size keyboard, including the numpad and arrow keys. Two sets of flip-out feet let you adjust the height to your liking.
Akko also sells an identical looking keyboard for $20 more under the model name 3098N. The 3098N just uses a different controller card inside, different client software and has a different selection of switches, but is otherwise the same.
Read: Akko 3098B / N Wireless Keyboard review
If you're switching back and forth among different computers, Logitech's MX Mechanical is the best wireless keyboard for getting work done. The business-friendly clacker can connect to up to three devices via Bluetooth LE or one of Logitech's Logi Bolt dongles and it has dedicated keys for changing to each (no cryptic key combos needed).
The Logitech MX Mechanical really shines when you pair it with one of the company's MX Master mice (ex: the MX Master 3S) and use the Logi Flow feature, which changes the connection when you move the pointer off of the desktop of one machine and onto another. It even maintains a shared clipboard so you can copy some text on one computer and paste it into an app on another.
This full-size, 110-key keyboard uses low-profile keys and switches in your choice of Kailh Choc V2 Blue, Red or Brown varieties. We found the shorter travel a boon for typing on both the Blues and Browns we tested. But, as with all low-profile keyboards, the height of the keyboard is too short to use with standard wrist rests (low-profile wrist rests exist though they are fewer and likely less padded). For those who like a smaller keyboard, Logitech makes the MX Mechanical Mini which has 84 keys (no numpad) but is otherwise identical.
Read: Logitech MX Mechanical Keyboard review
You’ll have to spend extra on Keychron’s $25 travel pouch (or find something else to protect the keys), but the Keychron K3 offers a lot to like for typists on the go. With its appealing looks, attractive backlighting, a svelte frame and swappable low-profile switches, there's a lot to like about the Keychrom K3. It's easily the best portable low-profile mechanical/optical keyboard I've used in terms of comfort, looks and versatility. The fact that Keychron was able to keep things this thin while retaining the ability to swap switches is impressive.
That said, battery life, as well as overall frame rigidity are compromises you'll have to make in favor of the slim package. If there’s room in your back for something taller, the Keycrhon K2 gets better battery life, feels like it’s built tougher and gets better battery life. So carefully consider exactly how much portability you need before buying.
Read: Keychron K3 review
The Asus ROG Falchion NX packs just about every feature you could need from a gaming keyboard into as small a space as possible. Thanks to its arrow keys, navigation keys, innovative side touch panel and wireless macro recording capabilities, you don’t have to worry about losing functionality with this board, despite its 65% frame.
This board also boasts Asus’ in-house NX switches, which we thought felt noticeably smoother than Cherry MX switches in our review. They also proved a touch louder during our testing, but they should still be a suitable alternative for anyone exhausted with Cherry’s (and its clones’) dominance over the switch market. Red (linear), brown (tactile) and blue (clicky) options are all available here.
This board does have per-key RGB lighting, although customizing it means navigating Asus’ clunky Aura Creator software. Making up for that, though, are other premium features like double shot PBT keycaps and the ability to connect over both a USB-C to USB-A cable and 2.4 GHz wireless.
Add in the side touch panel’s ability to hold up to five gesture based actions, and that makes this an extremely viable board for all sorts of use cases, which isn’t something you can always say about 65% keyboards.
Read: Asus ROG Falchion NX review
The Razer Turret for Xbox One is an inspired couch keyboard and mouse setup. It’s built solid, the extendable mouse mat is excellent for easy storage, it’s comfortable to use on your lap and it offers the true feeling of using a mechanical keyboard and mouse -- because you are.
Though it’s designed for the Xbox One, the Turret is still a strong option for a PC gamer who plays from the couch. In fact, it works with more games on PC, so it’s really a better deal for those on PC. If you don’t want to slip existing PC mice and keyboards into something like a Corsair Lapdog (opens in new tab), this Turret is a great fit.
Read: Razer Turret One review
Finding Discounts on the Best Wireless Keyboards
Whether you're shopping for one of the best wireless keyboards or a model that didn't quite make the cut, you may find some savings by checking out our lists of the latest Newegg promo codes, Best Buy promo codes, Razer promo codes or Corsair coupon codes. You can also check out our Best Tech and PC Hardware Deals page for daily updates on discounted peripherals and other hardware.
