The Best Quiet Gaming Keyboards in 2024

Gaming keyboards are great for many things, but for those gamers who want a quieter option compared to the typical clickity-clackity keyboards, a few excellent choices exist. Gaming keyboards aren’t limited to gamers alone. They can also come in handy for content creators who don’t want the keyboard noise to pick up on the microphone. It is also an ideal purchase for those in the office who don’t want to disturb their co-workers while on the job. A quiet, competitive keyboard can be an absolute game-changer.

Of course, there are gamers capable of making any keyboard quiet. To save users from the hassle of DIY endeavors, Game Rant has made a list of the best quiet keyboards for gaming money can buy. Whether it’s wired, wireless, budget-friendly, or outright expensive, this guide has something great for everyone.

Factors to Consider When Buying a Quiet Keyboard for Gaming

When choosing a quiet keyboard for gaming, buyers should consider two factors: the switch type and the case material.

• Switch Type: The type of switch chosen will affect the keyboard’s sound, so choose wisely.
• Case Material: Aluminum and metal cases significantly lower the sound of the keyboard versus plastic.

Game Rant’s Picks for the Best Quiet Gaming Keyboards in 2024

The HyperX Alloy Core RGB is Game Rant’s best overall quiet gaming keyboard, primarily because it brings great value at an affordable price. It caters to users who want a decent keyboard without spending up to a hundred dollars or more. It’s surprisingly spill-resistant, with HyperX saying this keyboard can handle up to 120 ml of liquid. Aside from being relatively quiet and responsive to touch, the Ally Core’s membrane keys have an anti-ghosting feature which ensures that the keyboard registers simultaneous key presses.

Despite not shipping with the more favored mechanical switches, the Alloy Core’s membrane design still aims to give users a great time. It doesn’t get an aluminum build, instead having a reinforced plastic frame that HyperX claims is highly durable. The Alloy Core’s RGB lighting system may not be the best that money can buy, but it holds its one quote well. It allows users to personalize five zones of the keyboard with their preferred colors. While the keyboard is available for purchase as a standalone product, buyers can pay more for add-ons like a gaming mouse, headset, regular mouse, and wrist rest.

SteelSeries is known for making fantastic gaming peripherals that can enhance anyone’s gaming experience, and the Apex Pro keyboard can do that easily while not making a ton of noise, either. Thanks to the Omni point adjustable switches, this keyboard is quiet and will not annoy anyone nearby. However, because these switches are linear, they will not give users a tactile bump like other mechanical keyboards.

Besides being quiet, these excellent switches also allow users to program two different inputs to the same key just by pressing down with an additional amount of pressure to trigger one or the other. So, instead of holding down shift to run, gamers can program a harder press of “W” to run and a softer press to walk.

The Apex Pro also has a slew of media controls and a smart OLED display that can be programmed to show things like GIFs or message notifications. All of this is controlled by the included software that all other SteelSeries devices use, so gamers who already own a SteelSeries mouse or headset will not have to download another piece of software to get the most out of this keyboard. Although everything about this keyboard quietly screams excellence, the price can deter some gamers.

Although it may seem like mechanical keyboards are the only option for PC gamers, membrane keyboards offer nearly silent operation due to the rubber domes that actuate a key press instead of a mechanical switch. Plus, these keyboards tend to be much more affordable. Whether for typing, general computer use, or fast-paced gaming, the Corsair K55 will provide an excellent experience.

The K55 offers a silent typing experience and is still a joy to game with. Even though most of this keyboard is made out of plastic, the K55 has an excellent overall feel and build quality. Full-sized keyboard fans will be delighted with the K55; this keyboard has a number pad and a full row of dedicated macro keys on the other side, no more multi-button shortcuts to worry about.

Unlike many mechanical keyboards, the K55 is not customizable, so what comes out of the box is what gamers are stuck with. By no means is that a bad thing, but for those users who like to tinker with their keyboard and really make it their own, the K55 may not be the best option.

Sporting a compact tenkeyless design that is a popular choice among Esports players, the SteelSeries Apex 3 TKL is a budget-friendly choice for competitive gaming. By choosing to do away with the ten-key numpad, SteelSeries gives users more space for big mouse pad swipes and enhances the keyboard’s ergonomics.

The Apex 3 TKL comes with the manufacturer’s Whisper Quiet switches paired with anti-ghosting technology to eliminate noise while being used. SteelSeries claims this keyboard has an estimated lifetime of 20 million keypresses in near silence. So feel free to take on friends in late-night gaming sessions without worrying about waking up the family.

This keyboard also carries an IP32 rating for water and dust, meaning it can handle liquid spills and dust particles without damage. Like most dedicated gaming keyboards, the Apex 3 TKL packs RBG lighting which can not only be paired with other SteelSeries products but can add a bit more color to one’s gaming setup. Adjusting volume and other settings has never been easier with a clickable metal roller at the top right side of the keyboard. As expected, the Apex 3 TKL is not without drawbacks. Although the Steel Series GG software can help users customize the RHB lighting to a point, the keys don’t change color when pressed.

The Logitech G915 gaming keyboard is visually appealing thanks to its phenomenal form factor. Dubbed “a breakthrough in design and engineering,” it comes in a super slim design culled from the same aluminum alloy used to build aircraft. This makes it highly durable and capable of handling hours of use. Speaking of use, Logitech claims a 3-hour battery charge will make this quiet keyboard fit for up to 30 hours.

The G915 offers users an extremely quiet and convenient gaming experience thanks to low-profile mechanical switches. Despite being shorter than regular mechanical switches, they perform at the same level. Logitech offers the G915 in three styles: GL Tactile, GL Linear, or GL Clicky. For gamers who like to customize their equipment with colors that define their personality, the G915’s LIGHTSYNC RGB technology lets users set per-key lighting colors per key, develop animations, and even sync the colors to games or music.

Despite recent advancements, wireless keyboards still have a slower reaction time compared to wired keyboards. While this puts players of competitive titles like Fortnight and Apex Legends at a great disadvantage, the G915 aims to provide users with quick, reactive gaming. It packs a 1ms response rate to this effect.

The Roccat Magma Mini is not the typical gaming keyboard, but it is still a fantastic option for gamers looking for a quiet typing experience. Plus, the price tag is pretty easy on the wallet. At $35, this keyboard is easily one of the most affordable keyboards in this guide, and yet it holds its own even compared to the more premium keyboards.

Using membrane switches, this keyboard doesn’t have the most satisfying typing experience compared to other mechanical options in this guide, but it is still easy enough to touch type. Moving up from the switches, the case is fully sealed off, which not only protects the keyboard from dust and spills but also dampens the sound of typing quite a bit.

For DIY fans who don’t want to build a keyboard all by themselves, this pre-built mechanical keyboard from GamaKay perfectly blends the ability to customize a keyboard with the simplicity of having a keyboard ready to use out of the box. The TK75 comes out of the box almost as silent as a mechanical keyboard can get, mostly thanks to GamaKay’s Pegasus switches.

These switches come pre-lubed from the factory, so there is no need to pop off all the keycaps before enjoying this keyboard. Users who want to re-lube switches or swap out keycaps will appreciate that the TK75 comes with a keycap and switch puller. However, the included keycaps have a fun legend that helps with the pre-programmed macros.

Speaking of macros, despite only having 81 keys, this keyboard is jam-packed with shortcuts. Users can change these shortcuts using the included software to fit their needs more, but that does mess with the included legend. GamaKay’s software is only available on Windows, so macOS users will be stuck with default shortcuts. Using this software on Windows is pretty straightforward; with its visual editor, users can select which combination of keys they want to use for the shortcut. This is a nice change of pace compared to some macro editors that are all text-based instead.

How To Pick The Perfect Quiet Gaming Keyboard

Switch Type

The most significant factor affecting the sound of the keyboard is what kind of switches the keyboard uses. Membrane keyboard users don’t have to worry about this because there are not a ton of different membrane-style PCBs to choose from. However, there are hundreds upon hundreds of options to choose from when it comes to mechanical switches. Luckily, these many options can be broken down into three main types: Linear, Clicky, and Tactile.

Linear switches will provide a smooth keypress with no bump or tactile feedback at the end of its travel, making them typically the quietest option. Linear switches also have lighter actuation force, making them easier to press with a more delicate touch. Clicky switches are defined by the click or ping they deliver when the key is pressed to the bottom of its travel. For this reason, users looking for a quiet keyboard should steer clear of clicky switches. However, for touch typists, the audible sound can make it easier to type without looking down at the keyboard.

Meanwhile, tactile switches have a bump in the middle of the keypress, letting users know that they have activated the key. Tactile switches are typically quieter than clicky switches because they do not have the click or ping when they hit the bottom of their travel. Unlike linear, tactile switches still provide feedback, so tactile switches might be the way to go for users who are in a shared environment but still want to touch type.

Case Material

The second factor in choosing a quiet keyboard is the case material and what is in the case. Many higher-end keyboards will have an aluminum or metal case, which typically reduces the sound of the keyboard a bit more than plastic. But that doesn’t mean a plastic case can’t be quiet. Keyboard cases can act as either a reverberation chamber, making each key press louder, or as a noise-canceling booth that soaks up all the sound and does not let it travel far. However, like many PC accessories, what is in the case matters more than what is made of.

A fairly empty case, regardless of what it is made up of, will create more noise than a case filled tightly and with little room for noise to reverberate. For this reason, many keyboards have started including sound-dampening foam to reduce the noise created by key presses. However, gamers are not entirely out of luck if a keyboard does not come with foam pre-installed. There are tons of hacks to make keyboards quieter, like using painter’s tape, for example. With keyboards that can be opened up, users can put tape into the case to fill up hollow spots or even inside keycaps to do the same.

FAQ

Q: Is a cheap keyboard okay for gaming?

Not everyone will have $100+ to splurge on a keyboard, so yes. While some budget keyboards aren’t on the same level as their expensive counterparts, they’re also competent for various activities, including gaming.

Q: Which keyboard switch is best for gaming?

Many gamers use linear switches because they provide a smooth and quick keypress for fast movements, but every gamer has different preferences. So, if possible, Game Rant recommends trying out a couple of different switches to see what type works best.