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Jun 06, 2023

6 Best Budget Gaming Keyboards Under $50 in 2023

Back in the day, gaming keyboards cost a pretty penny. But, thanks to the advancements in tech, you can now find great ones from top brands for under $50. What’s more, nowadays, gaming keyboards offer

Back in the day, gaming keyboards cost a pretty penny. But, thanks to the advancements in tech, you can now find great ones from top brands for under $50. What’s more, nowadays, gaming keyboards offer many features for gamers’ diverse needs. That said, it can be challenging to rummage through product listings to find the best budget gaming keyboards on the market.

But, fret not, for in this article, we will look at some of the best budget gaming keyboards under $50 in 2023. We will highlight their unique features, pros and cons, and help you decide which one is right for you. The gaming keyboards that follow are quite reliable and don’t sacrifice performance.

But first, you might want to check out the following:

Buy

The Roccat Magma Mini is a great choice for gamers who want a compact and portable keyboard. It’s only 60% of the size of a full-size keyboard, so it’s perfect for taking with you on the go. It also has a very sleek and stylish design.

While you don’t get proper mechanical switches here, ROCCAT’s Membrane keys have a fast, midway actuation point. As such, you get to enjoy satisfying, quiet, and responsive keystrokes, every time you type on it. Also, while there are no macro keys on board, the Magma Mini comes with an Easy-Shift[+] button.

Thanks to this, you can assign an extra function to any key on the keyboard. The Magma Mini also has five vivid AIMO programable RGB zones with support for 16.8 million colors. And to protect against water splashes, the keyboard also comes with an IP33 rating.

Buy

A lot of gamers fancy Razer products, but they can get quite expensive. Thankfully, the Ornata V3 X is for those of you who want a taste of Razer without breaking the bank. Though, for its asking price, the keyboard comes with some limitations.

The Razer Ornata V3 X is a comfortable and quiet gaming keyboard. It comes with low-profile membrane keys that lend the device a sleek look. The switches have a lot of cushioning to them to ensure a quieter typing experience.

Adding to the comfort is the included low-profile wrist rest. Also, it is a Razer keyboard, so you get Chroma RGB lighting with the device that supports 16.8 million colors. Unfortunately, the keyboard only offers single-zone lighting, so you will be able to customize it with only a handful of effects.

Buy

The SteelSeries Apex 3 TKL is a great choice for gamers who want a tenkeyless keyboard. It’s smaller and more compact than a full-size keyboard, making it ideal for gaming. It also has a very durable construction, so you can expect it to last for years to come.

The Apex 3 TKL is equipped with SteelSeries’ own Whisper Quiet switches. As their moniker suggests, the switches are quiet and smooth, making them great for gaming. The keyboard comes with anti-ghosting chops as well, with support for up to 24-key rollover.

It also comes with eight-zone RGB lighting, which is customizable via the SteelSeries Engine app. Add to that, the keyboard also comes with dedicated media controls. And while the IP32 rating is slightly behind the ROCCAT Magma Mini, it should still hold up fine against water spills.

Buy

The Logitech G213 Prodigy aims to provide a premium gaming experience at an affordable price. It comes with Logitech’s Mech-Dome key switches, which strike the perfect balance between membrane and mechanical switches.

The Logitech G213 manages to check a lot of boxes. It comes with dedicated media controls that allow you to adjust settings without interrupting your gameplay. The customizable five-zone RGB lighting offers a plethora of color options to match your setup. Add to that, the integrated wrist rest enhances comfort during long sessions.

Of course, the main highlight is the switches on this keyboard. The G213 gaming keyboard features Logitech G Mech-Dome keys. These are specially tuned to deliver a superior tactile response. At 50g of actuation force, they perform quite similarly to a mechanical keyboard. As noted by Trusted Reviews, while a proper mechanical keyboard would still be better, the G213’s switches work very well, especially for its price.

Buy

Speaking of mechanical switches, the Havit HV-KB487L comes with red switches and retails at a fraction of the price of high-end gaming keyboards. Add to that, it offers a pretty good form factor too.

As noted by SwitchAndClick, the Havit HV-KB487L comes equipped with Jixian red mechanical switches. For those of you who are unaware, red switches are mainly preferred by folks who like tactile feedback without sound. Add to that, the keyboard also offers unique and high-quality durable PBT keycaps. Although the keyboard doesn’t come with RGB lighting, the colorful keycaps do look nice.

The keyboard itself is made of durable plastic material, so it can withstand a lot of wear and tear. Also, the tenkeyless layout saves desk space and offers a more ergonomic gaming setup. The only downside here is that there’s no software support to create custom macros. But even so, the Havit HV-KB487L is a solid mechanical keyboard that’ll undoubtedly elevate your gaming sessions.

Buy

With a focus on portability and performance, the RK ROYAL KLUDGE RK61 keyboard packs a punch in a small package. Apart from wireless connectivity, there’s practically nothing to complain about this keyboard.

The RK61 makes use of a detachable Type-C cable to promote portability. Speaking of which, the keyboard comes in a 60% layout, so you can toss it in your backpack without worrying about the device taking up too much space. There’s RGB lighting underneath the keyboard, and you can even create custom macros using RK’s software.

Of course, the highlight here is the fact that this keyboard comes with mechanical switches. You can choose to opt for either Blue, Brown, or Red switches. What makes things better is the fact that these are all hot-swappable switches. All things considered, the RK61 is among the best budget gaming keyboards under $50.

Absolutely. Many budget gaming keyboards are also suitable for typing. Additionally, gaming keyboards with mechanical switches can make typing more enjoyable and efficient compared to standard membrane keyboards.

While budget gaming keyboards offer great value, they might lack some advanced features found in higher-end models. These could include software customization, premium build materials, and additional macro keys.

Anti-ghosting ensures that multiple keys can be pressed and registered simultaneously. Key rollover indicates how many keys can be registered simultaneously. N-key rollover is arguably the best of the bunch, as it can register any number of keys, even if they are pressed at the same time.

In the ever-evolving world of gaming keyboards, it’s impressive to witness the level of innovation and quality available within the $50 budget range. Whether you prioritize compactness, hybrid switches, durability, premium features, true mechanical switches, or wireless convenience, there’s a keyboard on this list to suit your gaming needs. So which of these cheap gaming keyboards will you be opting for? Let us know in the comments below.

Last updated on 14 August, 2023

The above article may contain affiliate links which help support Guiding Tech. However, it does not affect our editorial integrity. The content remains unbiased and authentic.

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The content head for the Guiding Tech YouTube channels, Varun also contributes to the website for Buying Guides and Product Explainers. Feel free to reach out to him on Twitter.