Keyboards | The VergeThe Verge is about technology and how it makes us feel. Founded in 2011, we offer our audience everything from breaking news to reviews to award-winning features and investigations, on our site, in video, and in podcasts.2026-07-30T14:18:07+00:00https://www.theverge.com/rss/keyboards/index.xmlhttps://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/verge-rss-large_80b47e.png?w=150&h=150&crop=1Antonio G. Di Benedetto<![CDATA[Razer’s new keyboards drop the price on powerful gaming features]]>https://www.theverge.com/?p=9730272026-07-30T10:18:07-04:002026-07-30T11:00:00-04:00
Here be magnets. And RGB. | Photo: Antonio G. Di Benedetto / The Verge
Razer has insisted that optical keyboard switches are the best choice for competitive esports stars and the sweatiest of try-hards, but it's now relenting slightly by offering cheaper keyboards with magnetic switches and a similar array of gaming features. The $120 Razer Huntsman V3 HE Magnetic Mini and $140 Huntsman V3 HE Magnetic Tenkeyless, both launching today, are the company's first keyboards to use Hall effect switches. They're wired-only boards loaded with gaming-first features, and I've had a brief chance to test both and take them for a spin.
The new Huntsman boards offer the hallmarks found in many other Hall effect mechanical ke …
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Antonio G. Di Benedetto<![CDATA[Hey number pad lovers, this is a keyboard we can finally agree on]]>https://www.theverge.com/?p=9608372026-07-02T22:10:29-04:002026-07-04T10:00:00-04:00
I’m right-hand dominant but a lefty at heart. | Photo: Antonio G. Di Benedetto / The Verge
I know a vocal group of people who swear by the number pad on their keyboard. And yet, for years I haven't cared about using one - until I put my hands on the Epomaker RT98. It's a mechanical keyboard with a charming retro aesthetic, a fun CRT-like screen, VIA compatibility, a nice typing feel, and most importantly, a modular number pad that can be moved to either side. It's a clever compromise in a budget friendly-ish board, allowing you to further customize your setup without losing the functionality of the coveted "tenkey."
But like many mechanical keyboards out there, it's got some unique quirks and tradeoffs.
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Nathan EdwardsAntonio G. Di Benedetto<![CDATA[Here’s a bunch of Prime Day deals on keyboards, mice, and other peripherals we like]]>https://www.theverge.com/956938/laptop-prices-suck-these-days-but-here-are-25-prime-day-deals-that-help-a-little2026-06-26T11:55:44-04:002026-06-25T13:47:20-04:00
You can get a great, color-accurate 5K monitor for half the price of an Apple Studio Display. | Photo by John Higgins / The Verge
RAMageddon has come for computers. The price of memory chips, hard drives, and solid state storage has skyrocketed. That’s led to price increases on desktop and laptop RAM, SSDs, spinning hard drives, and pretty much everything that uses any of those things. Consoles are more expensive. Desktops are more expensive. Laptops are more expensive. Tablets and phones are more expensive. Even MacBooks, which started out expensive but then started looking like a pretty good deal, just got more expensive.
All that sucks. But if (if) there’s a silver lining, it’s that most of the stuff you plug into a computer — keyboards, mice, webcams, monitors, and so forth — isn’t getting bananas expensive. Actually, there are some good deals out there.
This mechanical keyboard is inspired by the original Xbox, with a translucent green color scheme and two large customizable buttons. Along with Bluetooth support, it offers a standard tenkeyless layout with clicky hot-swappable Kailh Jellyfish X switches.
Some of 8BitDo’s other Retro87 colors are on sale too, though it looks like it depends on the day. Right now the M Edition — which has an IBM Model M vibe — is down to $67.89, from $100. The Commodore 64, Famicom, and Super Nintendo-inspired colors aren’t on much of a sale as I type this, but they were yesterday, so keep an eye out.
The 8BitDo 18-key Retro number pad comes in the same color options as the keyboard. It has Bluetooth and 2.4GHz wireless, plus a seven-segment display that lets it work as a standalone calculator. It’s down to $35.99ish, from $45ish, at Amazon. I (Nathan) bought one yesterday.
The fairly new Keychron V5 Ultra mechanical keyboard with Silk POM red linear switches is $107.99 ($12 off) at Amazon. The near-full-size 96-percent layout board has an incredibly long battery life thanks to its ZMK-based firmware, and it supports a fast 8,000Hz polling rate via its 2.4GHz wireless connection. Its plastic case isn’t as nice as ones with a metal chassis, but it’s a great no-nonsense keyboard for the money. Read our review.
The Iqunix Magi65 low profile mechanical keyboard is down to $108.30, from $130ish. I like the version with media keys and a rolling encoder, but that’s not on sale. Former video producer Vjeran Pavic likes this version. It’s the best-looking and best-feeling low-profile keyboard I’ve tried yet, and it has great battery life.
Asus ROG Falcata
A unique Hall effect gaming keyboard that actually takes ergonomics into account. Read our review.
The MX Master 3S is a favorite among many Verge staff members because of its comfort and customization. It can connect via Bluetooth, via its included 2.4GHz receiver, or wired with its USB-C cable.
The slightly cheaper Logitech Lift is down to $56 from $65. Instead of recharging via USB-C like the MX Vertical, it uses a AA battery.
Not to overindex on vertical mice, but the Keychron M5 vertical gaming mouse is down to $39.99, from $49.99, at Amazon. I (Nathan again) use this on my desktop. Good mouse.
The Razer Viper V3 Pro is a great 8K wireless gaming mouse, down to $94.99, from the $130ish it was hovering near before.
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Monitors to watch (get it?)
Asus ProArt PA27JCV 5K monitor
The PA27JCV is a solid alternative to Apple’s Studio Display, especially for the price. The ProArt monitor features a built-in KVM switch, HDR support, and a bevy of connectivity options, including HDMI, DisplayPort, and USB-C (with up to 96W charging). Read our 5K monitor roundup.
OLED gaming monitors that offer super-fast refresh rates are cheaper than usual during Prime Day, and several of them are from Asus. The company’s Strix XG27ACDNG 26.5-inch 1440p QD-OLED with a 360Hz refresh rate is down to $534 at Amazon. Its previous best price was $599.99, and it didn’t come around often. The next step up is the Swift PG27AQDP WOLED 1440p monitor with 480Hz refresh rate. It costs $664 during Prime Day at Amazon, down from around $800.
The Asus ROG Swift PG27UCDM, a 4K QD-OLED with a 240Hz refresh rate, is $934 at Amazon — its best price yet. That’s $265 off its original price. I want this thing so bad.
LG’s 32-inch UltraGear 32GX850A-B OLED gaming monitor is $684.50 ($600 off MSRP) at Amazon, exclusively for Prime members. LG also has it for anyone for a slightly higher $699.99. The dual mode 4K OLED supports a fairly high 165Hz refresh rate but can dip down to 1920 x 1080 resolution to output a super fast 330Hz for specialized uses like competitive gaming.
Cases and stands, hubs and docks, and other stuff
Moft Adhesive Laptop Stand
If you don’t need a laptop stand all the time, Moft’s Adhesive Stand could be for you. It folds up nicely and has a low-profile design that’s great for putting in your laptop bag.
Moft has a variety of deals on its origami-style cases and stands. In addition to the Adhesive Laptop Stand, above, you can get its folding 2-in-1 Laptop Carry Sleeve, a sleek laptop case that doubles as a portable stand, for $51.96 ($13 off) at Amazon in four sizes and up to 11 different colors.
Ugreen’s Dock and Stand for the Mac Mini M4 / M4 Pro is $49.99 ($40 off) at Amazon, exclusively for Prime members. The dock sits below your Mac Mini and plugs in to a rear USB-C port, dramatically expanding the port offerings of your tiny desktop and making your power button more accessible with a tiny lever. It has SD / microSD card slots and two USB-A ports on the front, and three USB-C and three USB-A ports on the rear. Plus, inside is an M.2 SSD slot for extra built-in storage. (You’ll have to BYO SSD.)
This Lenovo 5-in-1 USB-C hub is down to $19.99, from $29.99, at Amazon. It has a 5Gbps USB 3.2 port, two USB-A ports, an HDMI port that supports 4K at 60Hz, and up to 100W USB-PD in. I haven’t tested it, but I did just buy it. It has good ratings, it’s from Lenovo, and it’s $20. I’ll roll the dice on that.
Elgato Stream Deck MK. 2
The MK.2 version of the standard Stream Deck comes with 15 programmable buttons, a swappable faceplate, and a detachable stand.
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Antonio G. Di Benedetto<![CDATA[This Ghost in the Shell keyboard makes me want to activate the hundred spidery robot fingers inside my regular fingers]]>https://www.theverge.com/?p=9513712026-06-18T09:25:18-04:002026-06-18T08:00:00-04:00
These keyboards stand alone. Complex. | Photo: Antonio G. Di Benedetto / The Verge
Anime collaborations are everywhere, from Gundam watches and Naruto nights at Major League ballparks to justaboutanythingEvangelion. But these Ghost in the Shell keyboards from Iqunix are some of the coolest examples I've seen of anime-inspired everyday tech. They look sick and they type and play great. At $249 they're a hefty upcharge over the regular $169 version, but that's still a decent price for such excellent build quality and unique designs.
The standard Iqunix EV63 that the Ghost in the Shell Edition is based on is a 65-percent Hall effect keyboard aimed at gamers. It's got a compact layout, an 8,000Hz polling rate, and ultra-se …
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Antonio G. Di Benedetto<![CDATA[These mechanical keyboards are two very different sides of the same beautifully made coin]]>https://www.theverge.com/?p=9424722026-06-16T16:36:54-04:002026-06-16T08:30:00-04:00
Most mechanical keyboards are great these days, with colorful looks and satisfying typing sounds - even in budget-friendly ranges. But every so often, one stops me dead in my tracks. In this case, two of them.
I've been testing a pair of jaw-droppingly lovely keyboards that launched late last year: the Evoworks Evo75, a compact 75-percent layout with loud, low-pitched typing sounds, and the Dry Studio ATM 98, an 1800-layout / 98-percent layout with silent switches and a design that's anything but quiet - complete with an enormous RGB-ified rotary dial. They are easily two of the nicest keyboards I've ever seen, heard, and used. And they're …
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Andrew Liszewski<![CDATA[Everyone should follow Logitech and put extra USB ports on iPad keyboard cases]]>https://www.theverge.com/?p=9268522026-05-09T08:32:00-04:002026-05-08T11:26:06-04:00
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Antonio G. Di Benedetto<![CDATA[Marathon battery life makes Keychron’s Ultra 8K keyboards its best yet]]>https://www.theverge.com/?p=9140852026-04-19T23:01:29-04:002026-04-19T08:00:00-04:00
Keychron's expansive keyboard catalog covers everything from basic full-size mechanical boards to niche layouts like southpaw Alice or a one-handed half-keyboard for gaming. Its Q and V series are among our go-to recommendations for off-the-shelf keyboards, and the latest iterations - the Q and V Ultra models - are a straightforward upgrade to the lineup, with benefits for regular users and deep-in-the-weeds keyboard nerds alike.
I've been testing two Ultra keyboards: the Keychron V5 Ultra 8K and Keychron Q1 Ultra 8K. The $119.99 V5 Ultra is a near-full-size 1800-layout board with a number pad in a plastic case, while the $229.99 Q1 Ultra i …
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Andrew Liszewski<![CDATA[Razer’s first split ergonomic keyboard puts extra keys in reach of your thumbs]]>https://www.theverge.com/?p=9035582026-04-08T12:01:18-04:002026-03-31T11:00:00-04:00
Razer has announced its first keyboard with a split and curved ergonomic layout. The new Pro Type Ergo is available starting today, which at $189.99, is slightly more expensive than the more traditional $159.99 Pro Type Ultra that launched in 2021. Like its predecessor, Razer's new Pro Type Ergo is being positioned as a productivity tool instead of a gaming accessory, but still includes the company's signature colorful LED lighting broken up into 19 zones that can be customized or disabled.
The Pro Type Ergo features ultra-low-profile, laser-etched ABS keys with a fingertip-shaped design and sound-dampening layers beneath, so you're not dis …
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Cameron Faulkner<![CDATA[Keychron’s mechanical keyboards are up to 60 percent off]]>https://www.theverge.com/?p=8994332026-03-25T10:07:01-04:002026-03-25T10:07:01-04:00
Keychron makes some of the best mechanical keyboards available, whether you’re something of an enthusiast who intends to hotswap switches or someone who doesn’t want to pay a lot to get a well-built clickity, clackity board. Thankfully, Keychron, Walmart, and Amazon are all discounting a swath of Keychron keyboards through March 31st as part of Amazon’s Big Spring Sale. Keyboards of many sizes (including both 65 and 100 percent boards) are on sale, with the more recent models receiving a 10 to 20 percent discount.
For some even bigger discounts, Woot is offering a selection of wired and wireless Keychron keyboards on a first-come, first-served basis (including a unique ergonomic model mentioned below) through April 4th. In case you didn’t know, Amazon Prime members get free shipping when logged in at Woot.
There are a bunch of excellent models available, but we have a few favorites to recommend.
If you’re looking for a great, entry-level wired mechanical keyboard, there might be no need to look further than Keychron’s V1, which is just $44.99 at Woot (originally $74.99). Like pricier options below, this model features remappable keys through the Via web-based software, plus customizable RGB backlights, and hot swappable switches if you want a different click feel and sound than what comes with the keyboard. If all you want is a solid, wired-only keyboard, this is a fantastic pick.
If you like the look of the V1, but want the flexibility of going wireless, Keychron’s V1 Max is a great bang-for-your-buck pick that costs a bit more. It comes in various sizes (though, only the 75 and 100 percent layouts are discounted) and supports Bluetooth, wired connectivity via USB-C, and 2.4GHz wireless connectivity — with one USB-C receiver and one USB-A receiver included. My colleague Antonio G. Di Benedetto lovingly referred to the V1 Max as the “Toyota Corolla of keyboards” in The Verge’s buying guide because it’s reliable and likely to be good enough for most people. It now starts at $84.99, down from $115, at Amazon and $97.99 from Keychron’s online storefront.
If you’re curious about the handful of perks that Hall effect switches bring to a keyboard, Keychron’s K2 HE is available for 20 percent off from Keychron, dropping the starting price to $103.99 ($26 off). It’s slightly pricier at Amazon, where it costs $110.99. That’s the cost for the all-plastic model; the model with wood panels on its side is $111.99. Although the 75 percent board was already somewhat affordable given its specs, the barrier to entry is now even lower.
The aforementioned switches allow for adjustable, per-key actuation points and rapid trigger support, letting you execute commands incredibly quickly. You can also set dynamic keystrokes (the ability to trigger several different functions depending on how far you press or release a key) and RGB backlighting through Keychron’s browser-based app (or with the open-source QMK firmware). The good-looking keyboard also supports 2.4GHz wireless, Bluetooth, and wired connectivity.
It’s worth noting that, while the K2 HE supports hot-swappable switches, there aren’t many candidates out there that you can swap into this model. As of right now, it’s only compatible with the double-rail magnetic switches sold through Keychron.
The aluminum-clad Keychron Q Max is one of the company’s nicest — and priciest — models, as it typically sells for over $200. The smaller 75 percent option is selling for 20 percent off at Keychron’s online storefront, where you can grab one for $183.90. It costs $195.49 at Amazon. While the aesthetics of the Q Max look similar to the company’s other keyboards, its all-metal design feels like it’s built a bit better. No matter which Gateron switch you opt for, the Q Max lineup is hot-swappable with other three- and five-pin switches on the market. No soldering experience is required, either; just pull them out and slot in your preferred switches.
One of Keychron’s most unique-looking keyboards, the Q8, is a 65 percent wired mechanical model with the Alice layout. It has an ergonomic key arrangement; Instead of lining up keys in even rows, there’s a slant that might work great for people who regularly experience wrist pain from typing. This model ships with Gateron G Pro switches, but it’s hot-swappable with many 3- or 5-pin mechanical switches. You can grab this model from Keychron for $79.99, or $89.99 from Woot for $89.99.
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Nathan Edwards<![CDATA[This DIY kit turned my favorite mechanical keyboard into my favorite electrocapacitive keyboard]]>https://www.theverge.com/?p=8681532026-02-23T12:00:43-05:002026-01-30T12:00:00-05:00
For my money, you simply cannot get a better electrocapacitive keyboard than the Bauer Lite with a DynaCap kit.
[Editor's note: Huh?]
You can get a nicer EC keyboard, without having to build it yourself, by simply spending $3,600 on a Norbauer Seneca. Or you can get a Happy Hacking Keyboard or a Realforce for south of $300, also without having to build it yourself, with genuine Topre switches, Bluetooth if you want it, and decent - but not great - remapping capability.
