This is our pro-based list. We've been taking a look at what the pros across all of our analyzed games are using and we've listed those keyboards out here.

We did bundle a couple of keyboards together, though. For instance, the HyperX Alloy FPS and HyperX Alloy FPS Pro have been counted together, as one is just the TKL version of the other. We did the same for keyboards that individually don't really differ from each other aside from very minor changes so that we don't have a list with basically only two different boards in it.

Quick disclaimer: we mention the 'rollover' of a keyboard in this article. This simply means how many keys you can press at once with the keyboard still registering each key. A keyboard with 2-key rollover wouldn't be very good, for instance, since that would mean that if you're holding W and A and press spacebar after that there's a chance that press doesn't properly get registered. N-key rollover (or NKRO) means that you can press as many keys simultaneously as you want, they'll all be registered individually.

It's right there in the name, but the HyperX Alloy FPS and FPS Pro were made for shooters. It's not a super flashy keyboard with a ton of extras, but you don't really need that for most shooters anyway. What you get with the Alloy FPS is a solid steel frame, Cherry MX switches, NKRO, and backlit keys.

HyperX has somewhat of a name in the industry for producing sturdy and great performing products with little to no superfluous features or oddities and the Alloy FPS line of keyboards is another hit on that front. With the solid steel frame and detachable cable (even on the full size version) it's going to be a very convenient keyboard for people who are often traveling to other places to game (such as pro players) and who need a compact and sturdy board that can withstand a knock or two without breaking, and that's just what the Alloy FPS is.

With its almost bezel-less design even the full size version has a pretty small footprint on your desk, so HyperX has definitely been paying attention to the fact that desk real estate is something that you can never have enough of if you're an FPS gamer. Pair the sturdy and thoughtful design with the industry favorite Cherry MX switches and you've got a keyboard that's relied on by the majority of our analyzed professionals.

This isn't the board to go for if you're a fan of flashy RGB lighting (the red LEDs can perform some tricks but you can't change their color) and it's a tad weird that you can't get the TKL version with Brown switches, but aside from that this is the perfect keyboard if you prefer performance over pretty lighting and don't need any additional features.

You can also take a look at the newer G Pro X Mechanical keyboard (check our review here). This is pretty much the same board, but it has newly designed switches and it is hot-swappable.

The Logitech G Pro Mechanical Keyboard is the first keyboard to carry the 'G Pro' name. That means that it's one of Logitech's premium products aimed at serious competitive gamers, and it seems they hit the mark straight away on their first attempt.

The G Pro is another 'less is more' type of keyboard: you'll find the standard caps lock and scroll lock lights as well as a button to activate gaming mode (which turns off the Windows key and other annoying features that can mess with your performance) and that's it. Again: you don't need more than that for most competitive shooters, so why go for a big and unwieldy plank, right?

This keyboard is only available in the TKL version (to maximize space on often cramped tournament desks) and with Logitech's own Romer-G tactile switches. These offer a pretty unique typing/gaming experience; they've got a tactile bump but they do feel a bit more 'membrane-ish' than most other mechanical switches so it's a pretty unique feeling switch all in all. They don't require a lot of force to press and have a very short travel distance however, so it's definitely a reliable switch for gaming.

The G Pro has a detachable cable (which is always a plus for a keyboard aimed at professionals, since those people need to pack and unpack their gear nearly weekly) and a body that's, despite being made of plastic, pretty sturdy so this is another good option for a reliable and no-nonsense gaming keyboard. This one also has full RGB backlighting so you can configure your board to match your setup or mood if that's what you're after.

Note: while most pros are still on the 'first version' of this board we counter the original K70 and the Mk.2 together and listed the specs of the Mk.2 version of the K70 RGB, since the original is no longer available. The differences between the two are minimal, however. The Mk.2 has different media keys, wire routing channels on the bottom, an RGB Corsair logo, and hardware playback which means you can store your macros and lighting profiles on the board itself and use those without having to download Corsair's software.

The Corsair K70 RGB (Mk.2) is the first full-featured board on this list and it's a fair bit different from the first two boards. This is a full size board that comes with a detachable wrist rest, has dedicated media keys (including a volume rocker), onboard storage and even a set of extra keycaps for your 'main' keys (WASD in the case of shooters).

It's obviously not going to be the most mobile keyboard around, but it does have a sturdy aluminum frame so if you've got the space to carry it it'll certainly stand up to the pressure of frequent travel. There's a massive list of (Cherry MX) switches to choose from and you can even go for a variation that has the new Cherry MX Low Profile Reds or Low Profile Speeds so if this keyboard looks right for you there'll certainly be no issues with finding the right switches.

Corsair was one of the first brands to bring RGB mechanical keyboards to the mainstream market, and their flagship models have always been massively popular for a reason. The K70 is a well-built beautiful looking full size keyboard with a media keys and an included wrist rest, so if that's what you're after this could very well be the one.

Note: there are a lot of different versions of the Razer BlackWidow in use today. In this entry we'll talk about the most popular iteration of this line, which is the Chroma TE v2.

Razer is one of the most famous peripheral companies so it's not odd to see one of their boards appear in this list. It's not only the name that got it in here though; the BlackWidow Chroma TE (the TE stands for 'Tournament Edition', which means as much as TKL) is a very nice keyboard indeed.

Its rather small and thin design and detachable cable make it extremely portable, but Razer also include a detachable wrist rest. This rest attaches to the board via magnets, and it's one of the nicest stock wrist rests around thanks to the soft and nicely padded faux leather materials that they've used.

There's not much to see here when it comes to the extra features of the board (because there are none on the board itself) but you do obviously get the full Razer Chroma compatibility so if you also want a bit of eye candy this is a very obvious contender.

Inside the board you're gonna find Razer's own mechanical switches which feel very nice (the Greens are the clicky and tactile ones, while the Oranges are the silent and tactile ones; Yellow is their linear switch) and are extremely durable, being rated for 80 million keystrokes.

The Razer BlackWidow Chroma is the third TKL board in this list, but aside from having yet another switch inside it also differentiates itself by offering an amazing wrist rest that's included in the package.

You've heard of hot-swappable keyboards where you can easily swap out the switches in case you want to try something new, but SteelSeries have taken an entirely different approach with the Apex Pro. They call it 'the biggest leap in mechanical keyboards since the invention of the mechanical switch' and while that's a claim that's incredibly bold they do serve up some neat features with this board.

The most eye catching one are their OmniPoint switches. These have a very low response time when compared to the more traditional switches, but the kicker here is that you can adjust their sensitivity. Of course you can't change them and make them tactile or anything (the OmniPoints are linear switches) but you can tweak the actuation point for each individual key, meaning that you can have your movements keys activate at the slightest touch while having more important stuff (such as your ultimate ability, for example) require a lot more force actuate.

This could be a game changer for people who have a habit of fat fingering important buttons, and if you're someone who gets caught accidentally reloading in the middle of a firefight then this is a great option for you to consider.

Aside from the OmniPoints it's also just a nice keyboard in general. You get dedicated media controls, gorgeous RGB lighting, a magnetic wrist wrest, and an OLED Smart Display that you can utilize to display all sorts of ingame stat. Of course that last one probably won't be used all that much (why would you look at your board instead of your screen to see how much ammo you have left, for example) but it just goes to show how full featured this board is.

This sturdy and reliable board has pretty smooth switches but if you're completely sure that you won't be making use of the customization options of these OmniPoint switches we would recommend you to look elsewhere, since the Apex Pro does come with quite the hefty price tag.

The tenkeyless keyboard is the most popular smaller form factor board but there's no denying that 60% is also a very popular size with keyboard aficionados and gamers alike. There's just something really nice about the way these ultra compact keyboards look on a neatly organised desk, but looks aren't everything of course.

With the custom keyboard scene becoming more and more popular with each passing day, consumers have begun demanding more from brands that produce gaming keyboards. Thin, cheap ABS keycaps are becoming less and less accepted, for example, and lubed stabilizers and the likes are becoming the norm for any keyboard that aims for the gaming keyboard crown. Ducky has long been known as a brand that produces incredibly high quality keyboards, and their latest entry only adds to that reputation.

The One 3 Mini (the One 3 line is also available in other sizes) comes complete with a hotswap PCB, nice PBT keycaps, lubed stabilizers, sound dampening foam on the bottom of the case, and a layer of rubber between the PCB and the top plate for even more pleasing acoustics. These are features that you'd usually find on custom-made boards, so it's nice to see that Ducky is trying to bring those to the mass-produced market as well.

The One 3 (Mini) is without a doubt one of the best mechanical keyboards out there at this point in time, and as an added bonus it's incredibly easy to customize. Not only because of the fact that it has a hotswap PCB (meaning that you can just swap out your switches without having to desolder or solder anything) but the case and overall design also seem very mod-friendly. Just a couple of screws are enough to remove the plate assembly and give you access to the case, for example. The plate mounted stabilizers can also be removed easily in case you want to swap them out or lube them some more.

If you're in the market for a premium gaming keyboard then the One 3 Mini should be on your list without a doubt.

If you want to get yourself a nice and full featured Bentley of a keyboard instead of the stripped down racecar-style boards that the majority of professional gamers use you should take a look at the K100. It's got all the bells and whistles you could want for that battlestation style board.

The new Corsair OPX switches feel very fast, but that's not the only speedy thing about this board. With a polling rate of 4000Hz you're bound to never react too late to anything (unless you yourself are too late of course) and while that high polling rate (most keyboards have a polling rate of 1000Hz) isn't necessarily something you'll notice it does indicate that Corsair are really trying to push boundaries with this K100.

Aside from the cutting edge tech under the hood this is also just a really nice board in and of itself. You get that signature Corsair brushed aluminum top, but you also get a (much improved) wrist rest for maximum comfort. To top it off there are dedicated media controls, a multifunctional dial, PBT keycaps, fantastic RGB lighting, and a row of extra macro buttons on the side. This is very much a 'if you can dream it, we've got it' type of board so if you're the person who's after that experience you should take a look at this one.

With wireless peripherals becoming more and more common it's kind of strange to see that there aren't that many options for people who want a wireless mechanical keyboard that performs just as well as a wired board. Logitech's G915 TKL is a product that fills that niche, and it does it well. Note that there is also a full-size version available, but we listed the TKL version because we find that to be a size that's better suited for gaming.

The G915 TKL uses Logitech's LIGHTSPEED wireless technology which, if you follow the mouse market a bit, is known to be flawless and lossless. It's also rechargeable, meaning that you don't need to be messing around with batteries or anything like that.

Even the TKL version comes with dedicated media buttons, a volume rocker, and a set of buttons to switch between lighting modes, gaming modes, and so on. In essence: this is the ideal board for people who want to go wireless as much as possible without making any sacrifices as far as their gaming performance goes. The G915 TKL can also be connected to your PC/system via Bluetooth, meaning that you can drastically extend the battery life if you're not going to be gaming with it.

Its flat and low profile design also gives it a sleek look, but do bear in mind that a low profile board can take some time to get used to. Once you get over that, though, the G915 is one of your very best options if you want to go wireless without any performance losses.

One of the major drawbacks when it comes to mechanical keyboards is that there's a pretty steep entry fee. Like with most products there's no shortage of budget products, but most of those show significant flaws which can impact performance.

Not so much with the Redragon Kumara K552. It's a relatively unknown brand and keyboard but for the price that you pay you're getting some great value. It's a thin and compact TKL keyboard with N-Key rollover and Outemu Blue switches. Those are Cherry MX Blue clones, but they feel and perform pretty nicely although they're a bit heavier to actuate.

You're not going to get any premium finishing or features at this price point, but you do get a very good and reliable entry level board with backlighting and great ingame performance, so if you're not sure whether you want to invest in a shiny full-featured mech keyboard or you want a cheap throwaway board for those crazy LAN nights with your friends this is certainly an option.

Fnatic is a company that knows a thing or two about esports. Mostly because they've got some of the most successful teams in their respective scenes playing under their organization but also because they've been releasing quality peripherals.

The Fnatic STREAK65 LP is one such peripheral. It's an extremely compact and very light (though sturdy) 65% keyboard that's aimed at competitive gamers. Inside of the board you'll find Fnatic's very own Low Profile switches, and those are great if you're into fast feeling linear buttons. That's not the only advantage of this board though. Its newest iteration also has PBT keycaps and lubed stabilizers, making it feel and sound pretty great as well.

All of this comes in a nice package that includes a coiled cable, so if you're looking for a great and no-nonsense gaming keyboard that has specs that would please even a dedicated keyboard enthusiast then you should take a look at the STREAK 65 LP.