Mechanical keyboards have become immensely popular over the last few years, especially in DIY and customization communities. Customization of anything makes a device that usually lives on a desk feel much more personal, and people want to show it off more. Because who likes a run-of-the-mill keyboard that everyone has?
Whether for good or bad, there are tons of mechanical keyboards on the market today, so deciding to buy just one can be pretty hard. This guide will review the pros and cons of some of the most customizable keyboards available and which would fit every gamer’s needs. Regardless of the style or layout, there is a keyboard that is a perfect fit for everyone out there.
When choosing the best customizable keyboard, consider these factors
- Form Factor: What size and shape will best suit the user’s needs?
- Connectivity: Should the keyboard be wired or wireless?
- Switch Type: Does the user prefer clicky or dampened tactile feedback?
Game Rant’s picks for the Most Customizable Keyboards in 2023
Keychron Q3
Best Overall Customizable Keyboard
The Keychron Q3 is a fully customizable mechanical keyboard to push the typing experience to the top. Built with a full aluminum CNC machined body, double-gasket design, and QMK/VIA support, the Q3 is designed for premium typing comfort and endless possibilities.
- Brand
- Keychron
- Wireless
- No
- Backlight
- South-facing RGB LED
- Media Controls
- Programmable Rotary Knob
- Switch Type
- Gateron G Pro
- Replaceable Keys
- Yes
- Number of Keys
- 87
- Compatible Devices
- Windows, MacOS, and Linux
- Wired operation
- USB-C cable
- Dimensions
- 137 mm W X 365.1 mm L X
- Material
- Full CNC machined aluminum Body and Steel Plate
- Bluetooth
- No
- Internal Sound Dampening
- Double-Gasket Sound Dampening
- Wrist rest
- Optional
- USB Passthrough
- No
- Polling rate
- 1000 Hz
- Swappable PCB
- Very well built
- Wired only
- No included wrist rest
Keychron, while being a reasonably new name in the industry compared to brands like Logitech and Asus, has become a staple for many customizable keyboard fans. The Keychron Q3 is a prime example of why it has built such an excellent reputation. The frame is entirely made of aluminum, there is plenty of sound dampening, and the pre-lubed Gateron G Pro switches are an absolute joy to use.
This customizable keyboard can be purchased fully assembled or as a bare-bones kit, depending on the level of DIY gamers want to dive into. Regardless of the style chosen, the PCB will be entirely hot-swappable. In addition, the Q3 comes in various colors, including a very snazzy transparent black special edition that is worth the extra cost for its appearance, but it will look good on any desk.
Asus ROG Azoth
Best Wireless Customizable Keyboard
$200 $250 Save $50
The ROG Azoth is a customizable gaming keyboard from Asus. It is a 75% keyboard, and features a gasket mount, three-layer dampening foam, and metal top cover, highly customizable with hot-swappable pre-lubed ROG NX mechanical switches, ROG keyboard stabilizers, PBT double shot keycaps, and a lube kit. The ROG Azoth is a fresh take from ASUS as it attempts to bridge the gap between custom DIY keyboards and consumer-friendly pre-built keyboards.
- Brand
- Asus
- Wireless
- Yes
- Backlight
- Per Key RGB
- Num Pad
- No
- Switch Type
- ROG NX Mechanical
- Replaceable Keys
- Yes
- Number of Keys
- 75
- Compatible Devices
- Windows MacOS
- Wired operation
- USB-C
- Dimensions
- 326 x 136 x 40 mm
- Bluetooth
- Yes
- Keycaps
- PBT
- Internal Sound Dampening
- Gasket
- Wrist rest
- No
- USB Passthrough
- No
- Polling rate
- 1000 Hz
- Excellent typing expierence
- Very well built
Asus’ ROG lineup is a fan favorite for the myriad of PC gear that they make. Asus has joined the high-end mechanical keyboard game with the ROG Azoth Wireless Keyboard. Asus is not the first of the big PC component brands to get into enthusiast keyboards, but they are one of the first to offer this much customizability. Not only is the PCB completely hot-swappable, but it also comes with a switch lube kit in the box.
This customizable keyboard does come pre-built, but with the tools included in the box, upcoming DIY projects can easily be built from the Azoth keyboard. Plus, a small OLED screen on the top can be used for system monitoring and displaying animations.
Check out the full review of the ROG Azoth Wireless Keyboard here!
Drop Alt Keyboard
Best Wired Customizable Keyboard
The Drop Alt is a 75% mechanical keyboard that allows you to build it from the ground up to your liking. It has a soild aluminum frame and a steel PCB. This keyboard is meant for people that don’t want to take up a massive amount of space on their desk, but still have a rock solid keyboard. The PCB is hot swappable, and any 5-pin or 3-pin switch is compatible.
- Brand
- Drop
- Wireless
- No
- Backlight
- Yes
- Num Pad
- No
- Switch Type
- Cherry MX, Kaihua, or Halo switches
- Replaceable Keys
- Yes
- Number of Keys
- 67
- Dimensions
- 32.2 x 11.2 x 3.2 cm
- Material
- Anodized CNC machined aluminum frame
- Keycaps
- Doubleshot PBT shine-through keycaps
- Amazing RGB lighting
- Available in a variety of switches
- Programmable macro keys
- High profile keycaps may cause typing fatigue
- No dedicated software
Drop, or as they were previously known, MassDrop, has been a go-to source for high-end keyboard components, and now that they are making keyboards as well, there is no reason to leave Drop’s website. The Alt lacks some fancy features like other keyboards, but its simple design makes it perfect for first-time DIYers.
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The bare-bones kits come with various material options, from thin aluminum bodies to chunky plastic ones, depending on the users’ taste. Like the Keychron Q3, the case on the ALT is straightforward to find third-party components to fit inside, so there is no worry about down-the-line customizations running into problems. For gamers who want to save a few bucks, Drop sells the case and PCB as a bare-bones kit; of course, gamers will need switches and keycaps to make those cost savings worth it.
Nuphy Air 75
Best Slim Customizable Keyboard
$124 $130 Save $6
The NuPhy Air75 is a ultra-thin keyboard made for people on the go, who don’t want to compromise their typing experience. Measuring only 16mm thick this keyboard is unlike most mechanical keyboards on the market. The Air75 aims to be the first thing people think of when they hear “thin keyboard”.
- Brand
- NuPhy
- Wireless
- Yes
- Backlight
- RGB-LED
- Media Controls
- No
- Battery
- 2500mAh
- Num Pad
- No
- Switch Type
- Low-Profile Gateron Mechanical
- Replaceable Keys
- Yes
- Number of Keys
- 84
- Compatible Devices
- Windows, MacOS, iOS and Linux
- Wired operation
- USB-C
- Dimensions
- 315.7 mm x 132.6 mm x 16.0 mm
- Material
- Frame: Aluminum Bottom Case: ABS Keycap: PBT
- Bluetooth
- Yes
- Multi-device pairing
- Yes
- Excellent latency
- Low profile makes it comfortable to use
- Keycaps aren’t shine through
The fun poppy colors might not be everyone’s style, but seeing a gaming keyboard that isn’t just black and RGB lighting is nice. Built with gamers on the move and portability in mind, this keyboard is incredibly thin at 16mm, so you can easily slip it into your backpack and be ready to game wherever you are. As well as being a slim keyboard to use on a desk, the Air75 is also sold as a replacement for a laptop keyboard. It has little rubber feet on the bottom to slot around the existing keyboard, so it doesn’t shake around while typing.
This customizablekeyboard only comes pre-built, unlike the Keychron, but all the switches are hot-swappable. Any replacement switches must also be low-profile because putting normal-sized switches in this keyboard looks silly and takes away its main selling point. The switches that come with the Air75 are some of the best low-profile mechanical switches, though the typing experience is quite enjoyable.
RK ROYAL KLUDGE RK61
Best Budget Customizable Keyboard
$50 $65 Save $15
The RK ROYAL KLUDGE RK61 is a small, 60% compact gaming keyboard that includes everything from RGB to mechanical switches. It’s one of the very few options out there for mechanical keyboards on a budget, but their house brand “RK” blue, brown, and red switches stand out when playing games. This is a hot-swappable keyboard, meaning users can change out the key switches with ease.
- Brand
- RK ROYAL KLUDGE
- Wireless
- No
- Backlight
- Multi-zone RGB
- Media Controls
- No
- Num Pad
- No
- Switch Type
- RK Blue, Brown, or Red
- Number of Keys
- 61
- Compatible Devices
- PC, Xbox
- Dimensions
- 11.5W x 4.02L x 1.57H inches
- Solid build quality
- Hot-swappable PCB
- Tri-mode connection options
- The thicker build can cause wrist strain
- Can’t set macros for gaming
The Royal Kludge RK61 is a 60% wireless mechanical keyboard and is one of the best gaming keyboards out there, especially at this very affordable price point. The RK61 comes with Royal Kludge brand red, blue, or brown mechanical switches by default. These switches offer a pretty excellent typing experience out of the box, but for users who don’t want any of those options, the PCB is fully hot-swappable. As long as the new switches use the 5-pin Cherry mount, they will fit into the RK61. Gamers who want to take it a step further, even the stabilizers, can be swapped out for custom ones.
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Because of the small form factor, the keyboard customization kind of stops with the hardware on the RK61. There are no dedicated macro buttons, and the Royal Kludge software does not make it easy to customize the function layer to add macros. So, if custom macros are key, the RK61 can be a bit limiting; however, the slightly larger and more expensive Royal Kludge RK96 might be a better way to go.
NZXT Function Full-Size Gaming Keyboard
Best Full-Sized Customizable Keyboard
$70 $130 Save $60
The NZXT Function full-size mechanical keyboard combines a durable aluminum top plate with smooth, linear RGB switches, making it the perfect companion for PC gaming. Gamers can easily update the look and feel of their keyboard at any time, thanks to hot-swappable key switch sockets. Plus, the standard bottom-row design enables users to install any standard aftermarket keycaps, and the removable USB-C cable makes adding a custom USB cable possible.
- Backlight
- Per-key RGB
- Dimensions
- 442 x 127.8 x 40.3 mm
- Form factor
- Full-Size
- Switch options
- Gateron Linear Red
- Colorways
- White,Black
- Keycaps
- ABS Plastic
- Hot-swappable
- Yes
- Connectivity
- Wired
- Typing angle
- 3° , 7° , 11°
- Weight
- 910 g
- Feels comfortable to use for long periods
- Full sized layout
- Excellent click latency.
- Companion software only available for Windows.
- Wired only
Gamers looking for a full-size customizable keyboard might be surprised by the slim pickings out there. Luckily, the NZXT Function full-size keyboard is here to save the day. This fairly plain-looking keyboard is fully customizable with a hot-swappable PCB and detachable cable. Gamers who don’t want to build their whole keyboard can use the NZXT builder to customize the kind of switches, keycaps, and even cable color for the keyboard, and then NZXT will put it all together for you.
Besides the Function’s excellent customization capabilities, the performance is superb. Because it is a wired mechanical keyboard, the latency is remarkably fast at 6.9 ms, making it perfect for competitive gaming. The Function has a reasonably small footprint for a full-sized keyboard, so it should fit easily onto most gaming desks and still have enough room for mouse flicks.
How To Choose The Best Customizable Keyboard?
Form Factor
Even though all these keyboards listed here are customizable, the form factor is one part that is hard to customize. Unless gamers have a 3D printer or a CNC machine accessible, getting a new case that fits the board and switches is quite hard. There are three main form factors: Full-Sized (104 key), TKL (87 key), and 60% (68 key).
Full-sized keyboards are probably what most people think of when they see a keyboard; there is a number pad and a full set of 104 keys. TKL or Ten-Keyless keyboards have most of the keys a full-sized keyboard has but without the numpad. 60% is the smallest standard form factor, removing the function and the num pad. Of course, other options exist, like the 40% from Drop, but these are the three main form factors.
Connectivity
Connectivity is another one of those factors that can make or break even a customizable keyboard. Adding a wireless connection option to only a wired keyboard is hard, even for some of the more dedicated DIYers.
As with most computer peripherals, wireless and wired options both have their disadvantages and advantages, and it mostly comes down to personal preference. Wired keyboards will never need to be charged and typically have slightly faster response times than wireless ones. Wireless keyboards keep desk set-ups looking clean with no pesky wires running across the desk, but when they do need a charge, there will be a wire.
Switch Type
The fact that these are all customizable keyboards makes the switch they come with critical compared to a typical keyboard, but it still plays a role in choosing. If this is the first step into the mechanical keyboard world, the number of options can be overwhelming. To make it easier, remember that there are three main types of switches: Linear, Tactile, and Clicky. Linear switches are usually red, tactile are brown, and blue switches are clicky.
Linear Switches are the most basic option; they have the same feeling throughout the whole press of the key. There is no feedback when the user hits the actuation point of the key, which is not bad, but most gamers will probably have to press linear switches harder than the other two options. For people who have ever typed on an old typewriter, that is the best way to describe linear switches.
Tactile Switches will give users a bump to let them know when they have hit the actuation point. As the name implies, these switches give gamers a tactile feeling, letting them know that the keypress went through, making it possible for users not to press it all the way to the bottom of its travel to actuate the keystroke.
Clicky Switches take the tactile feedback of tactile switches and add a clicky sound to them. These switches are typically the loudest of the three, so for gamers who go with clicky switches, make sure the people around don’t mind a bit of keyboard sound.
Answering these questions before starting the search will help make the results less overwhelming, and remember, for gamers looking at a keyboard like the ones above, these keyboards can always be customized to be tuned to their exact liking.
FAQ
Q: Is any keyboard customizable?
Any keyboard is technically customizable. While some are easily customizable because that is how the manufacturer intended. Others are still technically customizable, but it will take a level knowledge, mainly soldering, to make it that way.
Q: How much money should I spend on a custom keyboard?
Custom Keyboards can range from as little as $90 to $400 if you want to spend that much. But if you want to build a keyboard that won’t break the bank but also lasts a lifetime, you can expect to pay anywhere from $200 to $250.
