Best Mechanical Keyboards You Can Buy Right Now

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Mechanical keyboards are among my favourite accessories. A good one, with a really satisfying noise and feeling when you type, can totally transform how you work and play.

They become even more attractive when you compare them to the standard keyboards released by companies like Apple with their devices like the iMac. Often they are thin, feel incredibly dull to type with and are not customisable. For specific users like gamers, these are non-negotiable issues.

I’ve been testing a bunch of mechanical keyboards over the past few weeks, integrating them into my daily workflow, to help you determine which is the best mechanical keyboard for you.

Best Mechanical Keyboard: Epomaker TH96

Epomaker TH96

Size: 96%
Hot-Swappable: ✅
Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.0 + Wired USB-C
N-Key Rollover: ✅
Price: $149/£139
Weight: 1180g
Length: 388mm
Battery: 6000mAh

As an overall package, the Epomaker TH96 is the best mechanical keyboard that I have tested. And that is for a few reasons.

The first is the premium feel. First off, it is nice and heavy. It sits firmly on a desk with absolutely no room for sliding. Whilst the casing is made of plastic not metal, it feels sturdy, well-made and therefore high-quality.

With some keyboards, they can often feel a bit plasticky and cheap. This certainly isn’t the case here.

The keys also feel huge. They aren’t massively bigger than any of the others I tested, but the rounded design makes gliding from one to the next feel seamless. You never feel like your fingers get stuck on the edge of another key which is the case for some of the more square keys.

The Epomaker TH96 is also a highly satisfying typer of course, thanks mostly to it’s silicone gasket-mounted design. This gives the keys have a more muted, bassy sound (aided also by a silicone damping bottom pad) when pressed, which provides a confident response to an input, and also more durability over time.

The layout is also more of a classic approach with spaces between the numberpad and F-keys which gives you a lot more space in general. It feels so good that the Epomaker TH96 is the very keyboard I am writing this article on now.

There is also the knob in the top right corner. While this wasn’t anything too impressive, it acts as a volume control, it is a unique feature that sets it apart from other keyboards. It can also be mapped for different functions if you’ve got the know-how and download the Epomaker drivers.

The Epomaker does lack some keys out of the box that you might miss, such as Number Lock and a second CTRL key on the right-hand side. But because it is hot-swappable, you can customise to your heart’s content if you find yourself in need. As such, and combined with its responsive keys and expansive layout, it is a good option as a gaming keyboard too.

Other than those missing keys, the only other downside is its size. This is a matter of personal preference of course, but at 388mm long and 1180g (aka 1.1kg) in weight, it is not easily portable. This is a keyboard made to stay on your desk, not take with you on a work trip.

It is slightly more expensive than other options, currently at $149/£139 on Amazon, but it is worth paying the extra for the type-feel alone and build quality alone. That gasket-mounted feature is the tip-top of the mechanical keyboard design.

Best Value Mechanical Keyboard: iQunix L80

iQunix L80

Size: 80%
Hot-Swappable: ✅
Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.0 + Wired USB-C
N-Key Rollover: ✅
Price: £69/$89
Weight: 1500g
Length: 325mm
Battery: 4000mAh

With a super sleek retro design and solid typing experience, the iQunix L80 is a bargain at under £70/$70.

If you use the iQunix L80 after typing on the Epomaker TH96 then it will feel much less pleasant to type on. But on its own, it feels great. The sound is nicely muted and there is a real lightness to the key press.

As an 80% layout, the iQunix L80 is on the smaller side to others on this list. There is less dead-space on the board making it more compact (there is no number pad) whilst there is still a gap between the F-keys. That means you never feel too cramped when typing on the L80.

It has some specialist keys like ‘Home’ and a second CTRL key on the right hand side. You can only buy the iQunix L80 in ANSI configuration so if that’s a dealbreaker then you’ll need to look elsewhere.

As a basic gaming keyboard, it also works well due to the inclusion of N-key rollover which ensures simultaneous button presses are detected properly. The two-tiered stands on the bottom of the keyboard also give you a few different options on the angle you prefer.

In terms of usability, the iQunix L80 is easy and smooth. But it’s main appeal is the visual design. The colourways are so attractive to look at and the retro vibe adds a centre-piece to your setup.Of course, the RGB LED backlight helps to add that special touch.

Some of the custom designs elevate the look even further to add an element of personality. The Cosmic Traveller is my absolute favourite. I mean, just look how cool those F-key icons are!

If you don’t want to blow the bank but still want a premium look and hot-swappable ability, then the iQunix L80 is an excellent choice.

Best Portable Mechanical Keyboard: Skyloong SK61

Skyloong SK61

Size: 60%
Hot-Swappable: ✅
Connectivity: Wired USB-C
N-Key Rollover: ✅
Price: $59/£47
Weight: 600g
Length: 300mm
Battery: N/A

The Skyloong SK61 is not the most flashy, satisfying or feature-filled keyboard out there. But it does the basics of being a mechanical keyboard well enough and is priced low enough to make it a great value purchase.

For a start, it has most of the other features of other keyboards on this list; hot-swappable keys, N-key rollover, RGB backlighting and is fully programmable. If you buy this keyboard, you won’t be missing out on the important features that really matter.

You can also connect up to three devices.

There are drawbacks. It feels a lot cheaper than the others on this list and that’s because it is much cheaper. It’s overly light which makes it feel unstable when on a desk and is plasticky to the touch. 

The 60% configuration means it’s small and therefore portable, but it does mean it feels cramped for rapid tasks like gaming. There are certainly better options on this list for that purpose.

It also feels noticeably less premium when typing. The loss of cushioning from the lack of gasket mounting is obvious and the sound is a higher-pitched clicky sound, almost like a light switch. But it works as you’d expect; inputting commands in quick succession didn’t throw up any issues.

About that weight again. At 0.6kg it is incredibly light. It is also the shortest keyboard on this list at only 300mm. It is therefore the most easily portable mechanical keyboard I’ve ever tested.

And that’s what matters with a keyboard at this price point. Does it work properly? Yes. Does it feel and sound like a mechanical keyboard? Yes. Will it fit in a bag? Yes.

As a keyboard that you can throw in your backpack without worrying about it getting a bit beaten up, the Skyloong SK61 does the job just fine.

Best Everyday Mechanical Keyboard: Lightmode

Lightmode

Size: 65%
Hot-Swappable: ❌
Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.0 + Wired USB-C
N-Key Rollover: ✅
Price: $159/£129
Weight: 820g
Length: 315mm
Battery: 2000mAh

The Lightmode is a seriously impressive keyboard. Compact, premium and super smooth typing experience. It makes clacking away an enjoyable, almost therapeutic, experience.

As soon as you pick up the Lightmode keyboard, you can tell that it is well-made. The weight of 820 grams makes it feel reassuring but not too hefty and it isn’t far off the length of the Skyloong at 315mm. That means it fits on any desk with ease.

The Lightmode keyboard uses Gateron G Yellow keys which provide a tactile typing experience and what feels like the perfect travel distanc when pressing a key. These are all hot-swappable too.

Impressively, the battery lasts up to one month depending on your usage which is the longest on this list. As with all devices that have long battery lives, the only downside is you often forget to charge it. Thankfully, the battery LED helps to notify when this is near.

In either Cobalt Blue or Coral Orange, the Lightmode keyboard looks really attractive and professional, less directed towards gamers and more towards a home office.

It’s not the cheapest at $159/£129 but like the Epomaker, you are getting top-tier build quality and an excellent typing experience.

Mechanical Keyboard with Metal Casing: iQunix F97

iQunix F97

Size: 96%
Hot-Swappable: ✅
Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.1 + Wired USB-C
N-Key Rollover: ✅
Price: $229/£176
Weight: 1200g
Length: 372mm
Battery: 4000mAh

The iQunix F97 is a solid mechanical keyboard. It looks and sounds a lot like the other iQunix keyboards with very similar feedback when you type on it.

It is a 96% layout meaning it is large with a total of 100 keys, all of which are hot-swappable. There is no gasket mounting so the key depression is not at the level as the Epomaker TH96 but it does still feel satisfying to type with.

But the reason I’ve included it on this list is because it is the only one I tested that is fully encased in metal, aluminium to be precise. There’s been a recent trend with adding metal to devices like the Titanium iPhone 15 Pro Max to give them unique and premium user experiences.

So if you like that trend and love a bit of sturdy metal to make your keyboard feel that bit more secure, then the iQunix F97 offers that. It does obviously make it heavier, weighing in at 1.2kg. Its long too at 372mm.

My only gripe with the F97 is the lack of an adjustable stand on the bottom. There are two fixed stands that give the keyboard an angle when flat on a desk but you can’t change the height or make it flat.

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