If you are a programmer who needs a new keyboard to code all of the apps and games that your heart desires, then you have come to the right place. Of course, there are literally thousands of keyboards out there, so choosing the right one for you can be difficult.
With that being said, this is exactly what we are here to help you with today. Let’s get right to it and take a look at the top five contenders for the best mechanical keyboard for programmers that the market has to offer right now.
Comparison Chart
Logitech G915 LIGHTSPEED RGB Mechanical Gaming Keyboard, Low Profile GL Tactile Key Switch, LIGHTSYNC RGB, Advanced LIGHTSPEED Wireless and Bluetooth Support
SteelSeries Apex 5 Hybrid Mechanical Gaming Keyboard – Per-Key RGB Illumination – Aircraft Grade Aluminum Alloy Frame – OLED Smart Display
RK ROYAL KLUDGE RK100 Wireless Mechanical Keyboard, Bluetooth5.1/2.4G/Wired 96% Full Size 100-Key Hot Swappable Gaming Keyboard with 3 USB Ports
Best Mechanical Keyboards for Programmers: Reviews
1. Logitech MK120 Wired Keyboard and Mouse Combo
If you are looking for a simple and affordable keyboard that is ideal for programming and so much more, then this is a good option to consider.
Product Highlights
Here we have a mechanical keyboard where the keys are so durable that they are designed to withstand up to 10 million keystrokes apiece. They are indeed designed to be quite sturdy, which is of course important when it comes to programming and for other such professions where you will be typing a lot.
What also stands out about these keys is that they are designed to be spill resistant, so if you spill some coffee or pop on them, the keyboard should stay in one piece. To help keep you comfortable, this keyboard features adjustable legs, so you can adjust the tilt of it to suit your needs.
Something else that comes in handy here is that this keyboard features a full-sized number pad, combined with full size F keys. The keyboard itself has a standard layout, which should be fine for most purposes. What you might also like is that this keyboard is designed to be extremely quiet, so you’ll barely be able to hear yourself typing, yet the keys are also highly responsive.
This is a wired keyboard that features plug and play functionality, so you don’t have to worry about any installation issues, plus you don’t have to worry about running out of battery life either. Keep in mind that with your purchase, you also get a wired mouse that is ambidextrous in nature.
What We Like
We like how this is an extremely affordable keyboard that still works really well. Although it might not be the most expensive keyboard in the world, it is budget friendly, and it works more than well enough for most purposes.
What We Don’t Like
One of the things that we don’t like about this particular keyboard is that it doesn’t really come with any ergonomic features. Besides being able to tilt upwards, it’s definitely not the most comfortable keyboard to use.
Pros
- Great price
- Durable
- Responsive
- Quiet
- Comes with a mouse
- Full size number keys
Cons
- Could have some more comfort features
2. Logitech G915 LIGHTSPEED RGB Mechanical Gaming Keyboard
On the other end of the spectrum, we have a Logitech keyboard, although this one is going to be by far the most expensive one on the list today, as it comes with some really advanced features.
Product Highlights
What really stands out about this particular keyboard is that it comes complete with low profile mechanical switches that offer excellent performance, accuracy, and speed, exactly what you need for programming, gaming, and more. The linear switch has a completely smooth keystroke all the way through the point of actuation.
In the simplest terms, this means that this keyboard is extremely responsive to your keystrokes. You don’t have to press down much to register a response and the keys are designed to be fairly quiet and smooth. It’s rather perfect for both gaming and program.
What also stands out about this keyboard is that it is made with extremely durable materials. It is made with aluminum alloy as well as other extremely high-quality materials. It should last for many years to come, even with millions and millions of keystrokes. On a side note, there are also some keys that you can program to perform certain functions.
Keep in mind that this is a wireless keyboard, which many people do like, because it allows for good versatility and portability. That said, you will have to worry about battery life, and you’ll have to recharge the keyboard every now and then. However, it does come with a full 40 hours of actually life. The fact that the keyboard itself has a very sleek and slim design is something else that we like.
What We Like
We liked how this is a very thin and sleek keyboard that does not take up much space. This makes it ideal for taking to and from work. At the same time, we also like the super high-quality mechanical switches as they are very responsive and don’t require much travel.
What We Don’t Like
OK, so something that we don’t like about this keyboard is the price. After delivery and taxes, you’re looking at around $300. That said, if you need a serious keyboard for programming and gaming, this is by far the best one here today.
Pros
- Superior durability
- Excellent performance
- Sleek and stylish
- Backlit
- Programmable keys
- Good battery life
Cons
- Very expensive
3. SteelSeries Apex 5 Hybrid Mechanical Gaming Keyboard
Here we have another high-quality programming and gaming keyboard, although this one comes in at a fairly reasonable price. We would say that this is a good mid-range keyboard that works really well for most purposes.
Product Highlights
What you need to be aware of here is that this is a hybrid mechanical keyboard. This means that it comes with the tactile click of a regular mechanical switch, but it also has a very smooth membrane.
This means that this keyboard is extremely responsive to keystrokes and responds almost immediately. It doesn’t require much travel room yet it is also very quiet and smooth to type on. This makes it ideal for gaming, programming, and virtually everything in between.
We really like how this keyboard is made with an aircraft-grade aluminum alloy frame, as it is extremely durable. Not only is the keyboard as a whole very durable, but the keys themselves can withstand at least 10 million strokes per piece.
To help illuminate things a little bit, this keyboard features dynamic RGB illumination with really beautiful color schemes. Not only is it useful, but it just looks really nice too. On a side note, you also get a premium magnetic wrist rest included, complete with support for the ultimate in comfort.
Yes, this is a wired keyboard, something that we really like actually because it means never having to deal with battery life. To help keep you a little more comfortable, you can also adjust the position of the keyboard with the two small legs located in the rear.
What We Like
We really like how this appears to be a fairly premium mechanical keyboard, or a hybrid mechanical keyboard to be fair, that comes in at a relatively reasonable price. It’s durable, it’s functional, and it’s pretty sleek too.
What We Don’t Like
One small issue that this keyboard seems to have is that some of the keys may not respond at times. In other words, some of the keys may be a little sticky, get stuck, or malfunction in other ways.
Pros
- Durable frame
- Long lasting design
- Responsive
- Good feel
- Quiet
- Backlighting
- Good price
Cons
- Some minor issues with the keys
4. RK ROYAL KLUDGE RK100 Wireless Mechanical Keyboard
If you are looking for a high-end keyboard that comes in at a reasonable price, and is absolutely perfect for both programming and gaming, then this is a keyboard to check out.
Product Highlights
One of the standout features of this particular keyboard is the fact that all of the keys are programmable. It comes complete with software that allows you to customize all of the macro keys, the lighting modes, and so much more. The fact that you can program each key to do exactly what you want is more than ideal for gaming, programming, and so much more.
What you might also like about this keyboard is the fact that it comes complete with an absolutely massive battery that can last for several days before it needs to be charged. However, it then also has a type C port that allows for charging, and yes, it allows for passthrough charging, so you can effectively turn it into a wired keyboard where you don’t have to worry about battery life at all.
This is a mechanical keyboard that comes with mechanical switches, so the keyboard itself is extremely responsive. You get that classic feel of a mechanical keyboard, complete with all of the functionality. However, what is really cool is that you can replace these mechanical switches with any other type of mechanical switches that you see fit.
In terms of connectivity, it has a 2.4 gigahertz wireless connection, a USB connection, and a Bluetooth connection. This keyboard is built with extremely durable materials as well, and it should last for many years to come. In fact, when it comes to programming and gaming, especially for the fairly low price it comes in at, this might just be the best option on the list today.
What We Like
By far the biggest standout feature of this particular keyboard is the fact that it allows you to program each of the keys. Moreover, the keyboard is only 96% the size of a regular keyboard, therefore making it very compact and allowing you to save space. Plus, it helps with portability too.
What We Don’t Like
One of the things that we really don’t like about this keyboard is that it doesn’t have any comfort features whatsoever. In terms of comfort, this is an extremely bare bones model.
Pros
- Good price
- Allows you program all keys
- High quality mechanical switch functionality
- Switches can be changed
- Battery or wired modes
- Many connectivity options
Cons
- Not overly comfortable
5. Das Keyboard Model S Wired Mechanical Keyboard
If you’re looking for a high-end keyboard that works well for programming, gaming, and more, plus you want that awesome mechanical switch field and you’re willing to invest a bit of money, then this is a good keyboard to consider.
Product Highlights
Here we have a nice keyboard that comes complete with cherry MX blue mechanical switches that are extremely responsive. They are so responsive that you can click as fast as you want and there will never be any conflict or missed strokes. At the same time, what’s pretty cool is that you can choose from two modes, click and soft, so you can get the feel that you want.
What also needs to be said about these cherry MX blue switches is that they feature laser etched key caps for awesome durability. Each key can last for up to 50 million keystrokes, which is also thanks to the gold plating. When it comes down to it, this might just be the highest performance keyboard on the list. You might also like how it features tactile and audio feedback to allow for great speed.
Yes, this is a wired keyboard that uses a USB connection, which we really like. Wired connections are always more reliable, faster, and you don’t have to deal with battery life either.
You might also like how this unit comes complete with a fully functional Media Center with media controls. It also features full N-key rollover. If you need something that just performs really well, this is it. On a side note, it even comes complete with two USB ports so you can connect more devices or charge devices, whatever you see fit.
What We Like
What we like about this keyboard is the fact that it comes complete with those awesome cherry MX blue mechanical switches that last for up to 50 million keystrokes. In terms of the tactile experience you get here, this is going to be one of the best keyboards on the list.
What We Don’t Like
The relatively high price of this keyboard is something we don’t like because it just doesn’t come with many comfort features. It’s definitely not the most ergonomic keyboard around.
Pros
- Amazing performance
- Responsive
- Very durable
- Sleek and stylish
- Solid wired connection
- Dual USB ports
Cons
- Not the most comfortable
Buyers Guide
Before we call it a day, let’s quickly go over some of the most important purchasing considerations to make before choosing a keyboard for programming.
1. The Switches
Mechanical keyboards feature special types of switches under the keys which allows for their fast response time and overall performance. They’re just really satisfying to type on.
However, there are different types of switches out there, including clicky switches, tactile switches, optical switches, linear switches, and gaming switches. We would recommend doing some research into these switch types before making a choice between them.
2. Wired or Wireless
You then also need to choose whether you want a wired or a wireless keyboard. Wired keyboards usually have very stable connections with fast response times, plus you don’t have to worry about battery life, although they are not very portable. Wireless keyboards on the other hand are much more convenient you don’t have to deal with wires, although you do have to worry about battery life and connectivity issues.
3. Build Quality
The other important consideration to make here is how well the keyboard in question is built. Do keep in mind that with that this kind of thing, you often get what you pay for, so we recommend investing a bit of money. At the very least, a frame made out of aircraft-grade aluminum is called for.
4. Customizations
If you are a programmer who needs keys to do extremely specific things, we recommend going for a keyboard that allows you to program various keys to perform specific functions.
FAQs
1. What is the difference between a keyboard and a mechanical keyboard?
Regular keyboards just have rubber domes that collapse when put under pressure, which is not very responsive. Mechanical keyboards have key switches under each key that provide various levels of resistance and feedback, and this feels very satisfying.
2. Are mechanical keyboards better?
Generally speaking, mechanical keyboards are faster, more durable, and more tactile than regular keyboards.
3. What are the disadvantages of a mechanical keyboard?
The only real downside with a mechanical keyboard is that they can be quite loud.
Conclusion
If you are looking for the best keyboard for programmers, then it has to be the Logitech G915 LIGHTSPEED RGB Mechanical Gaming Keyboard. Yes, it is quite an investment, but you get what you pay for, and what you get with this keyboard is functionality, durability, and overall quality.
