Staff’s Choice
Introduction
Analog keyboards have moved from niche to mainstream in competitive gaming, offering features like Rapid Trigger and customizable actuation points that traditional mechanical boards can’t match. Whether you’re into CS2, VALORANT, or Fortnite, analog keyboards can provide a tangible edge. With the majority of analyzed pros now on analog keyboards, we thought it was time to distill our knowledge on the subject into a list of the best analog keyboards for competitive gaming. If you want to make a major upgrade to your gaming setup, this list is exactly what you need.
For this guide, we’ve considered all analog switch technologies such as magnetic switches, optical switches, and induction switches. We’re using ‘analog keyboard’ to describe any keyboard with configurable switch behavior in this guide.
Why You Should Get an Analog Keyboard for Competitive Gaming
We are well aware of the fact that the gaming peripherals industry (like most product-driven industries) is rife with gimmicks. Companies are always trying to sell you on the latest and greatest innovation that’s—according to the marketing— going to instantly level up your gameplay. Usually, that’s not exactly true.
However, analog keyboards are without a doubt a major innovation that can and will improve your performance as a gamer. You can read our in-depth article for more info, but an analog keyboard offers far more customization and precision. Being able to set different actuation points for different keys is already a big advantage, and if you then add on features such as Rapid Trigger (which resets the actuation point of a key the moment you let go, making things like counter-strafing more precise and intuitive) it becomes even more clear why analog boards are the way to go for gamers.
If you’re on an old mechanical keyboard and you’re looking to make a significant upgrade to your gaming setup for around $200 or less, you should absolutely get an analog keyboard. Trust us, you won’t want to go back.
Wooting 80HE
The Wooting 80HE is Wooting’s latest push into the mainstream. It keeps all the high-performance features of the 60HE (rapid trigger, adjustable actuation, and near-zero latency) but in a more traditional 80% layout. That means you get your arrow keys and function row back without going full-size. This was a very commonly requested layout, and if we look at how quickly pros have been switching to the 80HE, it’s clear that the Dutch brand made the right choice in releasing this product.
Wooting is arguably the brand that kickstarted the analog keyboard revolution, and they’re still very much at the top of the game. Their very own Lekker HE switches feel good to use, and the board also comes with a bunch of enthusiast features like a gasket-mounted plate.
Wooting keyboards are the standard to which all other boards have to live up, and there are no real signs of that changing anytime soon. Lekker switches deliver top-tier performance, and features like Rapid Trigger are implemented exceptionally well.
One of the best features of the Wooting 80HE is Wootility. This is Wooting’s web-based customization program for their keyboards, and it’s absolutely wonderful. It works flawlessly and is still being improved all the time. Having the ability to adjust anything you like on your keyboard without having to download any driver programs is amazing, and it’s no surprise that other brands are also moving towards web-based drivers.
If you’re looking for the best gaming keyboard you can get right now, the Wooting 80HE should be among the first boards you look at.
Wooting 80HE
Used by 161 players ()-
TenZ
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Twistzz
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electronic
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device
The question then becomes: does the 80HE do enough to set itself apart from that competition? My answer is ‘yes’. When you look at the complete package (switch feeling, implementation of the switches, customization, …) there isn’t any board out there that is objectively better than the Wooting 80HE.
Pros
- Wootility is still amazing and is constantly being updated
- Nice sound improvement over the 60HE
- Tons of customization options, both for performance as well as aesthetics
- Smooth switches straight out of the box
- Best-in-class gaming performance
- Good stock keycaps
- No rattling on any stabilizers
Cons
- Case feels a bit less premium than it should at this price
- Fewer modding options compared to the 60HE
Specs
| Form Factor | TKL |
|---|---|
| Switches | Lekker |
| PCB | Hotswappable |
| RGB | Yes |
| Height | 2.84cm |
| Width | 34.6cm |
| Length | 14.2cm |
| Weight | 790g |
Wooting 60HE
The 60HE is the board that put analog keyboards on the map. It’s compact, ultra-responsive, and universally praised for its standard-setting gaming performance. What makes it stand out isn’t just the feature set, it’s the fact that Wooting absolutely nailed the execution. For instance, with the 60HE, Wooting has focused on making it as moddable as possible. The entire plate and switch assembly is made to fit into a standard 60% Tofu case, for example, meaning that there are tons of options to really make this board your own.
This is a 60% layout, so you lose dedicated arrow keys and the function row, but in return you get a minimal footprint that fits perfectly on desks where mouse space is a premium.
The 60HE set the bar for what an analog gaming keyboard should be, and even now, years later, there are few competitors that come close. If you’re comfortable with the layout and don’t need extra keys, it’s still one of the best options available. It’s also a great one to go for if you like modding your boards.
Wooting 60HE+
Used by 271 players ()-
Zekken
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f0rsakeN
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Jinggg
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ZmjjKK
The Wooting 60HE is a keyboard that started a massive revolution in the world of mechanical gaming keyboards and has since become absolutely iconic. If you ask me, it completely deserves this status. This is the best gaming keyboard out there right now.
Pros
- Very precise and responsive customizable switches
- Best-in-class gaming performance
- Customization can be done in browser and is incredibly easy to use
- Made to be modded, so easy to customize to your liking
Cons
- Typing sound out of the box isn’t the best, but this is a nitpicky complaint
Specs
| Form Factor | 60% |
|---|---|
| Switches | Lekker |
| PCB | Hotswappable |
| RGB | Yes |
| Height | 3.8cm |
| Width | 30.2cm |
| Length | 11.6cm |
| Weight | 605g |
Razer Huntsman V3 Pro (TKL)
Razer truly entered the race for the best analog board with the Huntsman V3 Pro series, and it’s interesting to see just how good their Gen-2 analog optical switches perform. The board uses Razer’s Synapse rather than a web-based driver program to customize its performance, but Synapse is an extremely powerful software suite.
You get everything from ‘simple’ Rapid Trigger to much more in-depth customizations inside the software, and once you’re done you can save your preferred settings to the board itself. As far as raw gaming performance goes, the Huntsman V3 Pro is pretty much up there with the best of the best.
It features a plastic chassis, an aluminum top plate, and a fairly comfortable wrist rest, combining solid build quality with a clean design.
Where it may falter a bit is in the auditory department. The board is loud and the typing sound can be grating to some. But if you can get past that or you’re already in Razer’s ecosystem, the Huntsman V3 Pro lineup is easily the brand’s best effort yet for competitive players. It’s also a great option for people who want a full-sized board with top tier gaming performances, as Razer is one of the only brands to offer a fully sized analog board. There’s also a TKL and 60% version.
Razer Huntsman V3 Pro TKL
Used by 257 players ()-
NiKo
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FalleN
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YEKINDAR
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Alfajer
Razer Huntsman V3 Pro TKL is a best-in-class gaming keyboard. It’s also a very mediocre typing keyboard due to its loudness and subpar typing sound. I feel like those two sentences are the most important things to know for people who are considering purchasing this board.
Pros
- Comes with a wrist rest
- Good gaming performance
- Customizable switches + Rapid Trigger
- Comes with a multifuctional dial
Cons
- Expensive
- Typing sound is loud and not pleasing
- Wrist rest is of lower quality than on older Razer keyboards
Specs
| Form Factor | TKL |
|---|---|
| Switches | Razer Analog Optical |
| PCB | Non-Hotswappable |
| RGB | Yes |
| Height | 3.9cm |
| Width | 36.4cm |
| Length | 14.0cm |
| Weight | 720g |
Corsair K70 Pro TKL
The K70 Pro TKL is Corsair’s entry in the analog board arms race, and it’s definitely a very good attempt. The build is great, the keys feel good, and the TKL layout is a fan-favorite. You also get a volume wheel, media keys, and a clean design that doesn’t take up unnecessary space. It’s a sleek product that comes with a very comfy wrist rest, so it looks and feels premium.
Corsair’s implementation of their excellent MGX Hyperdrive Hall Effect switches, paired with their 8,000Hz polling rate also makes this a very impressive gaming keyboard. Input feels snappy, and once dialed in through iCUE, the performance is up there with the best of the pack.
To top it all off, the board sounds nice, the extra media controls feel well-built and satisfying to use, and the options for RGB customization are, in true Corsair style, nearly endless.
If you like the Corsair design style, or you’re looking for a TKL gaming keyboard with some extra features that can go toe to toe with the best when it comes to gaming performances, this is a good one to consider.
Corsair K70 PRO TKL
Used by 8 players ()-
biguzera
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nqz
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dav1deuS
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ryujehong
Corsair’s K70 Pro TKL shows that the brand still knows how to make a high-performance gaming keyboard. It’s solidly built, sounds good for a mass-produced HE board, and delivers excellent gaming performance with features like Rapid Trigger and adjustable actuation.
Pros
- Comes with a very decent included wrist rest
- Switches feel good
- Good sound
- Good build quality
Cons
- Only the main ‘60%’ cluster of keys are HE and hotswappable, others are not
- Software is bloaty and clunky
Specs
| Form Factor | TKL |
|---|---|
| Switches | MGX Hyperdrive Switches |
| PCB | Hotswappable |
| RGB | Yes |
| Height | 4.0cm |
| Width | 44.4cm |
| Length | 16.6cm |
NZXT Function Elite MiniTKL
NZXT is a newer face in the analog keyboard space, and the Function Elite MiniTKL is one of the more unique analog options out there. With its perimeter RGB lighting and more compact layout, it’s definitely a more eye-catching option than most competitors in the space.
Furthermore, the Function Elite also dedicates a great deal of attention to the typing feel and the acoustics. The stabilizers feel well-tuned and lubed, the switches are smooth and pleasant, and thanks to an array of case foams and other small tweaks like a tape mod at the back of the PCB, this gasket-mounted keyboard is one of the best-sounding analog boards out there right now.
When it comes to the overall gaming performance, the Function Elite MiniTKL does fall slightly short in comparison to some of the top choices, but it still delivers very respectable results. And with features like Rapid Trigger, it’s still miles better than a regular mechanical board.
If you’re looking for a great gaming keyboard that has a bit of a unique look and puts a bigger emphasis on typing feel and sound than most other boards in this space, the NZXT Function Elite MiniTKL is a compelling option to consider.
NZXT Function Elite MiniTKL
Used by 3 players ()-
Bwipo
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Stev0rr
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Fragstube
NZXT has made a really good gaming keyboard here. It looks premium, it feels premium, and it sounds premium. If you’re purely looking for raw gaming performance there are other options that do it just a bit better, but if you want a good mix between sound, typing feel, and performance, this is a board that comes warmly recommended.
Pros
- Very good build quality
- Top case section looks and feels premium
- Perimeter RGB looks gorgeous
- Great typing sound
- Good stabilizers
- Magnetic switches with rapid trigger and other gaming-centric features
Cons
- Switches are a bit less sensitive than on some competitors
- Plastic bottom plate looks out of place on the white version
Specs
| Form Factor | 75% |
|---|---|
| Switches | NZXT Magnetic Switches |
| PCB | Hotswappable |
| RGB | Yes |
| Height | 3.8cm |
| Width | 34.8cm |
| Length | 12.3cm |
| Weight | 1091g |
Conclusion
Analog keyboards are here to stay. They’re something you absolutely have to consider if you’re even a little bit competitive in the games that you play, and luckily for the consumer, more and more very interesting options are hitting the market.
The key features are mostly consistent across the board: adjustable actuation, rapid trigger, and so on. What really separates analog boards now is execution: layout, software experience, build quality, and how well everything works together out of the box.
All boards in this guide are fantastic gaming keyboards, and will help you level up your game. It’s up to you to decide what matters most to you: aesthetics, typing sound, raw gaming performance, or perhaps a mixture of different things. We’re confident that this guide will help you find an analog gaming keyboard that suits you and your preferences, but no matter what you choose, you cannot go wrong with any of these boards.
