Budget Keyboards That Won’t Hurt Your Bank Balance
If you’re like many tech enthusiasts, you may struggle with escaping the mindset that a low price equals low quality when it comes to purchasing a budget keyboard. However, in many cases, budget keyboards are just as good, if not better, than their premium counterparts.
Best Cheap Keyboard Comparison 2021
| Model | Image | Features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. DBPOWER Mechanical Gaming Keyboard |  | Anti-ghosting 104 keys mechanical keyboard No driver needed | $$ |
| Manhattan Black Wired Keyboard |  | Full-sized Keyboard Status LEDs Ample-Length Wired Connection | $$ |
| 3. HAVIT HV-KB389L RGB Backlit Wired Mechanical Gaming Keyboard |  | Unique Side RGB Backlit 104 anti-ghosting keys design | $$ |
| 4. Havit Wired Gaming Keyboard and Mouse Combo |  | Upgraded Rainbow Backlit Gaming Keyboard Mouse Combo Rainbow Backlit Gaming Keyboard | $ |
| iMicro USB Wired English Keyboard |  | Language Availability: English Keys: 107 keys Keyboard Button Life: 1 Million Times | $$$ |
| Verbatim Slimline Wired Keyboard |  | Low-profile, advanced tactile keys Adjustable tilt legs for added comfort Simple, plug-and-play USB corded connection | $$ |
6 Excellent Budget Keyboards For 2021
Now that you know what to expect from a budget mechanical gaming keyboard and some history behind some of the top budget brands, you’re ready to choose a budget mechanical gaming keyboard of your own. Below, we’ve assembled six of the best budget gaming mechanical keyboards, each one guaranteed to give you a similar performance as one of the leading models.
1. DBPOWER Mechanical Gaming Keyboard
While most budget mechanical gaming keyboards are short on features, the DBPOWER Mechanical Gaming Keyboard is the exception to this rule. This gaming mechanical keyboard boasts 12 multimedia keys, six different backlight colors with multiple brightness settings for each, an alloy aluminum chassis and an ergonomic design.
This budget gaming mechanical keyboard is completely waterproof, so you don’t need to worry about spilling your Mountain Dew all over it. As a plug-and-play device, you don’t need to install any drivers or software before using this mechanical gaming keyboard: Just plug the DBPOWER Mechanical Gaming Keyboard into any available USB port on your PC and you’re ready to game. The DBPOWER Mechanical Gaming Keyboard works with a variety of operating systems, including Windows 10, Mac OS and even legacy operating systems such as Windows XP.
Key Features:
- Anti-ghosting 104 keys mechanical keyboard
- No driver needed
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
Manhattan Black Wired Keyboard
Manhattan makes keyboards that anyone can afford such as this one. It has a USB cord that makes it compatible with any computer or device that has a free port. You get two Windows keys that help you easily reach your settings and adjust your computer. The other keys include both numbers and letters along with function keys, with the 10 number keys conveniently located to the side in a numeric format. Thanks to the five-foot-long cord, the keyboard allows you to move freely without sitting directly on top of your device. The manufacturer guarantees that each of the keys can last for up to three million strokes and presses.
- Full-sized Keyboard
- Status LEDs
- Ample-Length Wired Connection
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
3. HAVIT HV-KB389L RGB Backlit Wired Mechanical Gaming Keyboard
The HAVIT HV-KB389L RGB Backlit Wired Mechanical Gaming Keyboard may not look as stylish as other gaming mechanical keyboards, but what it lacks in style, it makes up for in features. This budget mechanical gaming keyboard uses a custom variation of the Cherry MX Brown mechanical switches to give you an edge when it comes to FPS and MOBA games. Unlike other budget mechanical gaming keyboards, the HAVIT HV-KB389L RGB Backlit Wired Mechanical Gaming Keyboard also includes a small number of programmable keys, a feature usually reserved for high-end gaming keyboards. The ability to lock the Windows key will help ensure that you don’t accidentally tab out of your game during an intense multiplayer match.
Key Features:
- Unique Side RGB Backlit
- 104 anti-ghosting keys design
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
4. Havit Wired Gaming Keyboard and Mouse Combo
Havit designed this gaming keyboard with an ergonomic wrist guard that lets you rest your wrist as you play and type to reduce discomfort in your arm and hand. The upgraded design includes a backlit display that shows hundreds of colors to pull you deeper into your game. As a wired keyboard, it works with any setup that has an available USB port. You get 11 multimedia keys that correspond to apps and functions on your system and other keys that let you roll over them to hit the combos that you want. This set also comes with a matching mouse that also has a backlit design.
Key Features:
- Upgraded Rainbow Backlit Gaming Keyboard Mouse Combo
- Rainbow Backlit Gaming Keyboard
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
iMicro USB Wired English Keyboard
Compatible with both desktop and laptop computers, this ergonomic keyboard comes with a wired connection that lets you plug it in without dealing with tricky setup times and steps. It has all of the 107 keys that you need to type a paper for school or send an email. The keys also let you adjust the settings on your system and use all of your important functions. This keyboard is compatible with systems that use Windows 7 OS or higher as well as Macs. The low price tag makes this a good choice for anyone on a budget. You’ll also find that the caps work through up to one million strokes.
Key Features:
- Language Availability: English
- Keys: 107 keys
- Keyboard Button Life: 1 Million Times
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
Verbatim Slimline Wired Keyboard
If you’re tired of keyboards that feel heavy and want one that you can use on your lap or desk, check out the slim design of this Verbatim keyboard. It has a basic design with a QWERTY layout that is suitable for beginners and those with more computer experience. The numeric pad on the right puts the number keys where you need them and away from the letter keys. You’ll also notice function keys that let you use all of the features of your system. This keyboard comes with a one-year warranty and a plug-and-play design. You don’t need to download and/or install drivers to use it because it plugs into your device.
Key Features:
- Low-profile, advanced tactile keys
- Adjustable tilt legs for added comfort
- Simple, plug-and-play USB corded connection
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
Are Budget Keyboards Good for Gaming?
One of the old adages that you hear from a young age is “you get what you pay for,” which many consumers have taken to mean that if something is a low price, it’s that price for a negative reason. For example, some gamers may think that a low-priced mechanical keyboard is one that will quickly fall apart after a few months of use, or that numerous corners were cut to establish a lower price than the competition. However, that couldn’t be further from the truth.
Simply put, a cheap keyboard doesn’t sacrifice quality to achieve a low price, instead cutting down on extra features. While you’ll still get high-quality mechanical switches under each key, a weighted feel and a keyboard constructed out of a durable material, you’ll sacrifice features such as a built-in USB hub, customizable backlights, programmable keys and specialized software. If you’re the type of gamer who just wants to use mechanical switches to give you an edge when gaming and doesn’t mind cutting out extraneous features, an affordable mechanical keyboard is a perfect choice.
One other thing you may notice about budget mechanical keyboards is that unlike the best mechanical keyboards, many of them do not use the industry standard Cherry MX mechanical switches, opting instead for a proprietary design. In many cases, these proprietary mechanical switches function just as well as the Cherry MX switches; in a worst case scenario, you may notice a very slight difference between the two types of switches.
Are There Any Disadvantages To Cheap Gaming Keyboards?
While budget mechanical gaming keyboards are a great fit for the majority of gamers, if you’re someone in the eSports professional gaming scene, you may want to consider going with a high-end mechanical gaming keyboard instead. Many of the extra features in a high-end mechanical gaming keyboard, such as macro keys, are a necessary component when it comes to dominating your opposition. While your average gamer who enjoys the occasional multiplayer bout won’t necessarily need these added features, when a large cash prize is on the line, you’re going to want every extra feature you can get.
As noted before, there are no actual disadvantages between a budget mechanical keyboard and a high-end model when it comes to durability and only a minor gap when it comes to the quality of the mechanical switches. If you’re just looking for a mechanical keyboard to play games leisurely or to help you become a better typist, you’ll find a budget mechanical gaming keyboard will suit your needs perfectly.
The Best Cheap Keyboard Brands
Brands like Logitech, Razer and Corsair are some of the most well-known brands when it comes to gaming hardware, and these names are likely to be some of the most represented brands on a store shelf. However, when looking at budget mechanical gaming keyboards, you’ll notice a wide variety of brands you’ve likely never heard of, such as HAVIT, Rosewill and DBPOWER. Despite these brands not being household names, many of these companies have decades of experience under their belt at selling high-quality hardware at a low cost, including mechanical gaming keyboards. Below, you’ll find a brief profile of three of the most well-known names in the budget hardware sector.
HAVIT
First established in 1998, HAVIT is a Chinese company that services more than 160 countries. While HAVIT specializes in equipment designed primarily for commercial businesses, recently the company has begun to branch out into areas such as mechanical gaming keyboards. By using simple designs and cutting out extra features, HAVIT can provide high-quality hardware at a budget price.
Rosewill
If you’re one of the many PC gamers who built their PC from the ground up, Rosewill is likely a familiar name. Rosewill prides itself on offering a variety of high-quality computer parts at low prices and is particularly known for their extensive lineup of computer cases. The engineers at Rosewill are always looking on how to improve their products, such as finding ways to reduce the cost without comprising the quality. Rosewill’s mechanical gaming keyboards are some of the best budget-priced keyboards available.
DBPOWER
Based out of the United Kingdom, DBPOWER dabbles in nearly every area of consumer electronics, including PC hardware, drones, phone accessories and even kitchen appliances. DBPOWER offers an extensive warranty on all of their products as they stand 100 percent behind the products that they sell. Similar to Rosewill, DBPOWER is constantly tweaking and innovating its products to offer the best possible products at the lowest prices.
