Keyboards 2026
A gaming keyboard is mainly about switches and form factor. Linear switches (red) are loved in shooters for smooth presses; tactile (brown) are all-rounders. Compact layouts (TKL, 60%, 65%) free up mouse space. Hot-swap lets you change switches without soldering, and magnetic (Hall effect) switches give an adjustable actuation point — the new esports standard.
How to choose a gaming keyboard
The main things are form factor, switch type and connection. Compact layouts (60%, 65%, TKL) free up room for mouse movement, which shooter players value. Linear switches (Red, Speed) are preferred for gaming for their smooth travel, tactile ones (Brown) for versatility. Hot-swap lets you change switches without soldering. For gaming, anti-ghosting and N-key rollover are desirable.
FAQ
Which switches are best for gaming?
Gamers more often choose linear switches (Red, Speed Silver) for their smooth travel without a tactile bump. Tactile ones (Brown) are a versatile compromise for gaming and typing.
What is hot-swap and do you need it?
Hot-swap means you can change switches without soldering, simply by pulling them out. Useful if you want to experiment with switches or repair the keyboard yourself.
Which form factor to choose?
TKL (no numpad) and compact 60–75% boards are popular with gamers because they leave more room for the mouse. A full-size board is needed if you actively use the numpad.
Key figures
Unique FPSHQ metrics from this page's data
What peripherals are in the FPSHQ catalogue?
The FPSHQ peripherals catalogue: 20 monitors (refresh rate, resolution, panel, response time), 12 mice (weight, sensor, DPI) and 12 keyboards. Monitors are linked to GPUs: for each refresh rate and resolution we compute which of the 121 reference cards holds the needed FPS. Specs come from manufacturer data sheets.
- monitors
- 20
- mice
- 12
- keyboards
- 12
- reference GPU models
- 121
Methodology and sources
This page uses the FPSHQ database: the GPU and CPU catalogue with synthetic benchmark scores, official game system requirements, FPS measurements from users of the FPSHQ app and the FPSHQ performance model. Calculated values are estimates, not a measurement of your exact configuration: the real result depends on drivers, settings and the rest of the hardware. More about the methodology →