Being in the gaming industry since I was 8 years old, I can confirm that experts’ claims about having the right hardware can help you significantly in gaming, especially in FPS games like Valorant.
Putting you at an advantage is easily achieved because gaming keyboards have a fast response time, N-Key Rollover that allows you to press multiple keys at the same time. Moreover, they are also stable, a lot versatile, and modular, allowing you to customize the keys.
The person who said “a good workman never blames his tools” never tried to plant the Spike with an unresponsive keyboard. Reaching the top of the leaderboard in Valorant requires total mastery of your game. The ability to know where to be at any given time. The experience of knowing which tactic is best for the current situation. Not to mention knowing when to attack and when to hold back. Of course, all of the mastery in the world can be undermined by an inferior or unsuitable keyboard.
Fear not, we know that perfecting your gameplay doesn’t leave a lot of time for researching which are the most optimal keyboards, so we’ve done it for you. What you will find below is the result of much hard work and deliberation. We have put together a list of the 9 best keyboards for Valorant, covering all the bases. Whatever your play style, there will be a keyboard in this to take your Valorant game to the next level.
Contents of this Page
Best Keyboard for Valorant Today
1. SteelSeries Apex M750 RGB Keyboard (PUBG Edition) | Best Keyboard in our List
SteelSeries’ range of gaming keyboards holds the Apex M750 proudly at the top of the pile. It is a full-size keyboard with RGB backlights that are customizable from SteelSeries’ Engine software. It’s the best keyboard hands down.
As with any keyboard lighting customization software worth its salt, you can set per-game profiles. The software even comes with presets for some of the more popular games and is very easy to use.
Going back to the keyboard itself, the keys use the proprietary QX2 switch. These switches are comparable to Cherry MX switches, though in this case, they sound considerably louder.
Media keys keyboard controls are embedded in the function keys rather than having their own dedicated buttons.
But in a nice touch, they have been put on keys F9 to F12, this feels like a more practical placement than the more common F1 to F4 positions we often see with embedded function keys.
2. HyperX Alloy Elite RGB | Mechanical Switches Gaming Keyboard
The HyperX Alloy Elite RGB is one of the pricier keyboards in this list, so the good build quality that you feel when you type is to be expected. It features dedicated media keys and a volume control wheel, though no macro keys. This keyboard for Valorant ensures that you can react fast with its wonderful features, which we’ll cover below both the Hyperx pros cons and whatnot.
The backlighting is per key and very customizable, though the software is a little clunky and can take some getting used to. You can have your pick of three genuine Cherry MX switches (Red, Blue, and Brown) allowing you some tailoring to your play style.
Appearance-wise, the Alloy Elite RGB doesn’t do anything revolutionary, but it is by no means unattractive either. The finish is a matt black affair all over.
The keyboard comes with a texturized wrist rest to protect your all-important wrists from too much strain; an essential feature if you plan to use your keyboard for typing as well.
Between the HyperX Alloy Elite and the SteelSeries Apex M750 RGB, the SteelSeries Apex is the better option because of its unique optical switches that you can customize from the keycaps to the pre-travel distance to attain the best experience. Moreover, it also comes with software for further customization and even better ergonomics.
Related: Best Hot-Swappable Keyboards
3. Logitech G Pro Mechanical Keyboard | Best Keyboard for Logitech Fans
The first thing you’ll notice about the G Pro is the outstanding build quality. Nothing can make a gaming keyboard feel inadequate like a mushy chassis, and there is none of that here.
The layout is tenkeyless, which shouldn’t be an issue here as Valorant gamers don’t need a number pad. The backlighting is full, individually lit RGB, with a satisfyingly bright maximum settings. The lighting is fully customizable from the Logitech G HUB software.
The switches in use are GX Blue Clicky switches. As the name suggests, these are very clicky switches, and a little heavier than you might expect from a Cherry MX Red.This should suit more heavy-handed gamers, but perhaps stay clear if you are more about the precision.
It does make an excellent typing keyboard, however, if your keyboard needs to do double duty, the Logitech G Pro Mechanical Keyboard would be a great choice.
4. Razer BlackWidow TE Chroma v2
The Razer BlackWidow Chroma TE (Tournament Edition) V2 is aimed squarely at the competitive gaming market.
It sports a stylish black finish and minimalist design. This keyboard is a tenkeyless design, meaning that it lacks a number pad, though that is scarcely important for the average Valorant gamer.
In terms of the switches themselves, you can choose between Razer’s green, orange, and yellow switches.
Razer’s switches are a strong competitor to the dominance that is Cherry MX; however, the click is very loud, which may be an issue for gamers who are always talking to teammates or streaming.
The software used to control the backlighting is some of the most capable outside of Corsair’s CUE software. You can set what are essentially backlight macros, and have different profiles for different games. It even comes with presets for some popular games.
5. Corsair K95 RGB Platinum Keyboard
Given that Corsair is perhaps responsible for the popularity of RGB keyboards in the first place, it should come as no surprise that their K95 offering features some of the most customizable lighting on this list.
Corsair’s CUE software allows you to create lighting profiles that make use of the 16.8 million colors available. The keyboard itself is of a solid build, with a classy brush aluminum finish.
Unlike other Corsair K models, the K95 is a full-size keyboard with a row of dedicated macro keys. The key switches are genuine Cherry MX with your choice of color, allowing you to tailor your K95 to your particular play style.
The K95 comes with a wrist rest that is well placed to take the strain; however, the rubberized surface can become a bit of a grunge magnet, and may need frequent cleaning.
6. HyperX Alloy FPS Pro – Tenkeyless
Though relatively new to the market, HyperX has made a name for itself with quality keyboards, and the HyperX Alloy FPS Pro is no exception. Here we’ll cover the pros cons dedicated to checking whether this keyboard is for you or not.
It is the very epitome of a dedicated piece of hardware, with little in the way of “bells and whistles”.
You won’t find any flashy RGB lighting or built-in media controls, and there’s no number pad in this compact design, but you will find the genuine Cherry MX switches of your choosing.
As there are no customizable keys or RGB backlighting, there is also no software to install, so what you lose in customization, you gain in not bogging your system down with more runtime applications.
The Alloy FPS Pro certainly isn’t as feature-rich as many of the keyboards on this list, but it is a no-frills, solid keyboard that does the job
7. CORSAIR K70 LUX
The Corsair K70 LUX RGB’s chassis is made from aircraft-grade anodized aluminum for an extra sturdy feel and given a stylish brushed finish that is attractive yet understated. The CUE software allows for total control over advanced macros and the individual key lighting.
It features 100% anti-ghosting with full key rollover and has a USB pass-through port, so you don’t have to give up one of your ports. The key switches are genuine Cherry MX, and you can order the keyboard with the switch of your choosing.
The K70 is not designed to be torn down, so those of you who like to customize your hardware heavily may find this keyboard a little restrictive, however, the caps are still removable.
It has an excellent feel for typing and even comes with a wrist rest to help prevent injury over some of the longer gaming sessions.
8. Logitech G910 Orion Spectrum RGB Wired
Logitech are a giant in the gaming hardware business-they have one keyboard on this list already-so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that the most feature-rich item on this list comes from them.
The G910 Orion Spectrum features everything you’d expect, from full RGB lighting to dedicated macro and media keys.
It also sports a feature unique to the G910 (on this list, that is) and that is smartphone integration. The smartphone feature is a nice idea in theory, though it misses some points due to no charging.
The switch of choice for the G910 is Omron Romer-G switches. These are not mechanical switches but claim as to be as good an experience as their mechanical counterparts. They are certainly quieter.
The main negative is the plastic-y feel of the board; not ideal for the more heavy-handed gamers out there.
9. Cooler Master Storm Quickfire TK Gaming Keyboard
While not necessarily known for their keyboards, Cooler Master put substantial numbers on the board with the Storm Quickfire TK.
The appearance of the Quickfire is distinctive while maintaining a particular understated class. It features fully programmable macro keys, though the media keys are embedded and require FN binding.
There is no software with the Quickfire so programming your macro keys can be a little fiddly. The switches are genuine Cherry MX and can come in three flavours (Red, Blue, and Brown), so you can tailor your keyboard to match your playing style.
The board also features N-key Rollover in USB mode, ensuring all your keypresses are registered, though it’s worth noting this feature only works in Windows.
It also sports a removable braided cable, making routing the wire through tricky spots that little bit easier. Overall, a very good gaming keyboard.
Valorant Keyboard Buying Guide
Buying a pro gaming keyboard requires a little more finesse than your average keyboard. Gaming keyboards are precision pieces of hardware and cost more than your typical office keyboard. That is why there is an increased desire to get it right the first time. So how do you go about buying a new pro gaming keyboard? The first thing you need to do determine what kind of switches you prefer, which can be tricky in the world of online shopping. If at all possible, get to your nearest gaming hardware store and test out the different key switches. Most good stores will have some kind of display for this very purpose. If this is not possible, there are plenty of articles and videos online detailing the differences between various switches.
Once you’ve established the kind of key switch you prefer, you can begin to narrow down the keyboards you have to choose from. For example, if you find that Cherry MX Red switches are the switch for you (as many do), then you can automatically rule out any keyboards that don’t offer that switch as an option.
Next up, consider your layout. Do you need a number pad? Is having dedicated media key vital to you? What about macro keys? Dedicated or Fn bound? How important is full RGB per-key backlighting to you? Once you’ve drilled down to precisely what features you feel you need in your new gaming keyboard, it’s time to consider the price.
You may find, if you are on a budget, that what you want and what you can afford are two different things. In that case, it may be time to go back to the drawing board and reevaluate the features you feel you need. Start by looking at the things you think would be nice but can admit you don’t need. For example, RGB lighting is a nice touch, but unless your keyboard is in some kind of display, you probably don’t need it. Similarly, if you’re not playing an MMORPG, you probably don’t need a full number pad and could opt for a more compact keyboard.
Once you’ve found a feature-set you are happy with and can afford, it’s time to look at aesthetics. Granted, there generally isn’t a lot of variety between gaming keyboards, but you’ll likely find you prefer the look of some over others. And when you have a model in mind, it’s time to go shopping. Be sure to compare prices before buying. You don’t want to buy your dream keyboard only to find it heavily discounted at a different store.
Recap: 9 Best Valorant Keyboards 2021
- SteelSeries Apex M750 RGB (PUBG)
- HyperX Alloy Elite RGB
- Logitech G Pro Mechanical Keyboard
- Razer BlackWidow TE Chroma v2
- Corsair K95 RGB Platinum
- HyperX Alloy FPS Pro – Tenkeyless
- CORSAIR K70 LUX
- Logitech G910 Orion Spectrum RGB Wired
- CM Storm QuickFire TK – Compact
Which among the pro and eSports gaming keyboards you think is best for you? Make sure you check the right weapon for your preferred FPS eSports game and tell us down the comments!
