The Best Clicky Keyboards for 2024

Clicky keyboards are not for everyone. They are louder than most mechanical keyboards and certainly louder than purpose-built quiet keyboards, but for gamers who like to feel and hear their keyboard, there is nothing quite like using a clicky keyboard. As the name implies, no matter what switches the keyboard uses, as long as it’s clicky, it will produce that signature sound on each keystroke. As long as gamers are alone in a space or the people around don’t mind, clicky switches offer a stable, tactile feel that feels amazing for gaming and everyday tasks like coding.

While clicky keyboards may seem a nuisance to some users, some love them, with the clicking sounds being therapeutic. The clicky keyboards have a nostalgic element, and people used to the typing sounds of older keyboards and typewriters will appreciate the design. This guide highlights the best clicky keyboards in 2024.

Key Factors For Picking The Best Clicky Keyboards

With so many different, excellent keyboards on the market, there are some important considerations that every player should mull over before choosing their next clicky keyboard:

• Build Quality: One of the most important factors when choosing a new keyboard is how well-built it is. Keyboards, especially when used for gaming, should have enough durability to stand up to the test of time and the occasional button mashing.
• Performance: How a keyboard performs matters not only in gaming but also in everyday tasks. No one wants to use a laggy and unresponsive keyboard, regardless of the task. For the most part, Game Rant recommends looking for a keyboard with a polling rate of 1,000Hz for gaming and everyday tasks.
• Typing Experience: Although all clicky keyboards use some sort of clicky switches, not all of those switches are created equal. But, besides the switches, the overall design of the keyboard, form factor, and typing angles all change how the typing experience feels.

The Best Clicky Keyboards in 2024

HyperX is well known for its gaming headsets and mice, but not so much for its keyboards. The Alloy Origins TKL aims to put HyperX keyboards on the map with a fully aluminum case, gorgeous RGB lighting, and excellent performance. The Alloy Origins is perfect for gamers looking for a workhorse keyboard that can game and make accomplishing everyday tasks a joy, all at a reasonably affordable price.

This keyboard has three switches to choose from, but gamers should be looking at the HyperX blue option for clicky switches. These switches look and feel like Cherry clicky switches, but they have a slightly lighter actuation force of 50g instead of 60g, which makes it easier to use this keyboard for longer periods. However, the keycaps on the Alloy Origins TKL are shiny and feel cheap, which is a bit disappointing, but they can easily be replaced with keycaps of higher quality if gamers want.

Even after adding a nicer set of keycaps, the Alloy Origins TKL still has an excellent price-to-performance ratio, especially when compared to similarly performing keyboards like the Razer Huntsman. Plus, the TKL form factor is a perfect option for pretty much any gamer; it fits on even the smallest desks, but still has enough room for dedicated arrow keys and a function row.

The MSI Vigor GK50 TKL sits at a similar performance level to the HyperX Alloy Origins TKL but at an even more affordable price point. This keyboard is meant to be taken anywhere and everywhere for gaming with no compromises while on the go, and it accomplishes that task easily. Gaming with the GK50 TKL Elite is an absolute joy. From FPS games to MMOs, this keyboard feels responsive and precise.

In Game Rant’s MSI Vigor GK50 TKL review, we found that the keyboard offering a 1,000Hz polling rate and a comfortable gaming experience, all while being very portable, makes it perfect for any player who is looking to travel to gaming conventions or competitions, or who just want a smaller keyboard for their desk. While the GK50 TKL is not the most ergonomic keyboard, it is very comfortable for gaming and even working for long periods. Plus, thanks to its three adjustable typing angles, pretty much every gamer can find an option that works best for them.

Whether gaming on the go or at a desk, this keyboard is an absolute beast. The travel distance of the Kahil Blue made it easy to actuate movements, but it isn’t too short, making accidental key presses a non-issue. Although, as far as gaming on the go is concerned, it would be nice if this keyboard had a wireless option, but at this price point, it is hard to complain.

The KEMOVE K98SE mechanical gaming keyboard is a great budget clicky keyboard that’s suitable for users who want a keyboard that has decent features at a reasonable price. It is an excellent clicky keyboard with a blue switch that provides tactile feedback when users press the keys. The response is an audible click, and it is ideal for users who want a keypress confirmation when typing.

This keyboard is charming owing to its compact 96% layout and a classic blue backlight. The 96% layout is a 98-key design that maximizes space efficiency and makes it easy for users to get accustomed to it. The backlit keyboard allows for effortless typing when it is dark. It has 15 lighting effects, and the brightness is adjustable to give the desired look. The K98SE gaming keyboard has double-shot keycaps and a two-stage kickstand, guaranteeing user comfort. Gamers will enjoy using this keyboard, as they will hardly strain, with the full-key anti-ghosting feature preventing delays and ensuring the registering of each stroke, perfect for uninterrupted gameplay.

The KEMOVE K98SE is a Windows-oriented keyboard and works with newer and older versions of this operating system. It is compatible with Windows 11, 10, 8, 7, and XP, a hint of its versatility.

The KEMOVE K87 wireless mechanical gaming keyboard is one of the best clicky wireless keyboards as it does not restrict movement and easily connects to other devices via Bluetooth. The Bluetooth connectivity of this keyboard is robust, with three connection modes for user convenience. Customizability is a crucial feature of this clicky wireless keyboard and comes into play in several instances. First, users can remove the keys to achieve a specific outlook.

Furthermore, players can adjust the RGB backlight to improve the keyboard’s aesthetic appeal. The KEMOVE K87 keyboard is a stunner, and its unique key arrangement is attractive and a conversation starter. As mentioned earlier, users can customize the keyboard to enhance its appearance. Still, on the keys, they have top-grade 80% keycaps with a gray, blue, and white color pattern. The keycaps are durable and resistant to sweat and fading. They are also comfortable for users.

Another incredible element of the keys is the Gateron x KEMOVE diamond switch. The switch covers have a diamond prism that elevates the RGB lighting effect, giving the keyboard a stunning look. While the KEMOVE K87 is a clicky keyboard, the sounds are not so pronounced, making them bearable. Built-in 2-in-1 silicone pads and a 7.9mm cavity silicone pad are responsible for this effect and ensure soft keystrokes.

A removable 4000mAh battery powers the keyboard and can last up to 8 hours with RGB lighting turned on. The battery has a service life of roughly 90 hours without RGB lighting.

While not nearly as affordable as the MSI Vigor GK50 TKL, the Logitech G915 Lightspeed makes up for its higher price tag with some excellent performance and a ton of features. With a gorgeous low-profile design, awesome clicky switches, and one of the best wireless connections available, the G915 Lightspeed is an excellent option for anyone who wants a premium keyboard that can do it all.

Whether gamers choose to use clicky switches or not, Logitech’s low-profile switches are some of the best-feeling low-profile switches. When first typing on this keyboard, it kind of feels like using an Apple keyboard, but with a much better clicky feel and a zippy response time. Despite a bit of keycap wiggle, because of their low-profile nature, typing feels very stable, and with the combination of clicky switches, typing up a paper or playing games feels fantastic.

Logitech has blown other wireless gaming products out of the water since releasing their Lightspeed technology. Connection dropouts and lag are non-issues when using the G915; gaming on it feels like using a wired keyboard. Plus, with the fantastic battery life, this keyboard can be used for up to 96 hours with the RGB lighting on, without needing a recharge.

Compact 60% keyboards are not for everyone, just like clicky switches are not for everyone. But for gamers using a small desk or people who want more room for their mouse, a 60% keyboard is the way to go, and there is no better option than the Razer Huntsman Mini. This tiny keyboard is only 11 inches wide and uses Razer’s optical clicky switches, which feel amazing when typing.

Despite having a shorter travel distance and lighter actuation force than the standard clicky switch, the Cherry MX Blue Razer optical clicky switches bring that same feeling and sound that all clicky users love. Plus, the shorter distance and lighter force make typing for long periods less tiring, and in gaming, it is easy to make quick movements. However, if gamers come from a full-size or even a TKL keyboard, adjusting to a 60% keyboard has a bit of a learning curve.

For gamers who can’t stand the feeling of a small keyboard and want a ton of media buttons and room to spread out while typing, look no further than the Corsair K70 RGB MK.2. This keyboard is built to last and feels fantastic to type on. Despite its higher price tag, it is a worthy investment for gamers who want a keyboard they can expect to game with for years to come.

Compared to the Razer Huntsman Mini, the K70 RGB MK.2 looks like a behemoth. However, this keyboard has very little wasted space, and even with its large footprint, which can include a detachable wrist rest, the size does not feel excessive. The aluminum chassis makes this keyboard feel much fancier than its plastic counterparts, like the Logitech G613. Plus, it is much more resistant to sweaty hand stains.

Unlike many other keyboard companies that have turned to using their in-house mechanical switches, Corsair still offers the tried and true Cherry MX switches with this keyboard. The combination of the premium chassis, excellent keycaps, and Cherry MX Blue switches will make any clicky keyboard fan swoon about how nice it feels to type and game with this keyboard.

DIY keyboards and customizable keyboards are excellent ways to get into the world of mechanical keyboards, especially if gamers want to try out a bunch of different switches. Many brands are offering hot-swappable keyboards now, but few do it as well as Keychron. The Keychron Q3 is a very accessible way to get into the world of DIY keyboards, and the form factor is a great middle-ground that works well for most gamers.

Like the Corsair K70 RGB MK.2, the Keychron Q3 has an aluminum chassis, which gives an excellent solid base to type and game on. 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. If gamers want to go with the pre-built version, it comes with Gateron G Pro Blue switches as the clicky option, and they are an absolute joy to type on.

However, for people just getting into DIY keyboards, be warned that it is hard to escape once the rabbit hole is revealed. Customizable keyboards offer a world of possibilities that is exciting, but also unhealthy for the wallet.

Choosing Clicky Keyboards For The Win

Clicky keyboards come in all shapes and sizes, and with how popular DIY keyboards are becoming, it is much more accessible to try out a clicky keyboard to see if it is the right fit. With that being said, there are thousands of options to choose from, but as long as gamers keep in mind these factors for finding the best clicky keyboard, the search will be much more straightforward.

• Build Quality: The keyboard should be durable enough to last for at least a couple of years, and having user-replaceable parts also makes this factor much easier to fulfill.
• Performance: Whether users want to use these keyboards for gaming or typical everyday tasks, the keyboard’s performance should not hinder the experience at all.
• Typing Experience: While switches play a significant role, the typing experience also includes ergonomic and creature comfort designs that make the keyboard a joy to use.
• System Compatibility: People should go for clicky keyboards that are compatible with their devices’ hardware and software. The best keyboards are highly adaptable and will work with numerous platforms and systems with zero modifications.
• Connectivity Technology: Regarding connectivity technology, customers have the option of wireless or wired keyboards. Wireless keyboards mainly connect to other devices via Bluetooth. They allow maximum movement, making them ideal for gamers who love shifting their positions without moving the entire setup. Wireless keyboards have a chargeable battery that users should charge for it to work. Wired keyboards are easier to maintain and perfect for users who don’t move around often. Gamers don’t have to charge wired keyboards to use them. Wireless-wired hybrid keyboards have diverse connectivity technologies; players can use them as wired or wireless.

Regardless of what clicky keyboard people decide to go with, as long as it hits all these factors, it will be an excellent keyboard.

MORE: Most Customizable Keyboards

FAQ

Q: Are clicky keyboards loud?

Clicky switches are typically the loudest mechanical switches out of the three main options, but if keyboard cases include enough sound-dampening foam, they will not be annoyingly loud. Of course, some gamers love the louder sound that clicky switches provide, so it’s up to personal preference to include sound dampening.

Q: What color switch is the quietest?

Following the standards set by Cherry MX switches, red switches tend to be the quietest option. Most of the time, red switches are linear switches that don’t have the clicking mechanism like clicky switches do. But with more mechanical switch companies popping up, that color scheme does not always translate.

Q: Why do people like clicky keyboards?

As its name hints, it is a clicky keyboard that clicks when users press the key, reminiscent of typewriters. It is a special mechanical keyboard with switches that produce the clicking sound. Some gamers prefer them due to the tactile response and nostalgic element.

Q: What is the best clicky switch for gaming?

The HyperX blue switches are one of the best clicky switches for gaming as they are all about ultra-fast reaction speed and durability. They are also lightweight and give tactile solid feedback with a clean clicking sound. Gamers can get it with the HyperX Alloy Origins Core Gaming Keyboard.