If you like to play games but also have plenty of typing to get through, a good gaming keyboard can definitely be a perfect fit for both uses.
Some people think that gaming keyboards are not good for typing because they have been designed with only gaming in mind.
But the truth is that a great gaming keyboard can be an all-around great keyboard that’s just as good for typing as it is for gaming.
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Are Gaming Keyboards Good For Typing?
Despite having features primarily aimed at gaming, good gaming keyboards can also be excellent for typing. Most great gaming keyboards are also great mechanical keyboards that provide a great typing experience.
And many of the gaming keyboard features that are aimed at gamers can be just as beneficial to writers.
Most good gaming keyboards have a lot more customization options than regular ones.
One benefit of this is that you can use macro keys to carry out various key combinations that you use on a regular basis while typing, such as Ctrl+Tab and Ctrl+Shift+Tab to quickly switch between open browser tabs.
Macro keys can be programmed to perform specific sequences of keypresses with only the press of one macro key.
If you use cut, copy and paste a lot, you could also bind three macro keys to Ctrl+C, Ctrl+X, Ctrl+V.
this way you’ll be able to do your cutting, copying, and pasting with a single keypress.
Good gaming keyboards often come with dedicated media buttons which can also save you a little time by not having to use your mouse to find media controls in menus.
The RGB lighting is another feature of gaming keyboards that can help a typist to continue to output a high word count in a poorly lit space.
What Makes A Gaming Keyboard Good For Typing?
Gaming keyboards are usually superior to standard ones in almost every way but there are a few key features that make them especially good for typing.
Durability
Gaming keyboards are typically more durable than regular ones because their keys are built to stand up to all of the keypresses that regular gaming throws at them.
The best gaming keyboards are built with mechanical keys that are capable of withstanding up to 70 million key presses and can easily last 10-20 years, even when used for both heavy typing and gaming.
Comfort
Gaming keyboards are also built with ergonomics in mind for long hours of gaming and this can save you from hand and wrist fatigue and make long typing sessions much more comfortable.
RGB Lighting
RGB keyboard software allows you to program individual keys or sequences of keys to be backlit with specific colors.
This can help you to see the keys better in dimly lit spaces.
You can also set keys to display a certain color based on the real-time performance of your computer.
So, if your PC goes above a set temperature, you could program a certain sequence of keys to glow red.
You could also program keys to react by changing color for a split second when pressed.
This could turn into a bit of a light show when typing but you would be able to tell when each key actuates based on the color change.
Macro Keys And Multimedia Buttons
Gaming Keyboards come with other features like macros for keystroke combinations or even dedicated multimedia buttons so that you can program keystroke combinations you carry out on a regular basis to be carried out with one keypress and also control your music or videos right from the keyboard.
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What Type Of Gaming Keyboard Switches Are Good For Typing?
Keyboard switches are the mechanisms beneath the keycaps that determine the durability of the keys and how they feel and sound when you press them.
The best switches are usually mechanical and whether you are a typist or a gamer (or both), you must consider the particular feel and sound that different keyboard switches give when pressed.
Choosing the right mechanical switch type for you may simply come down to whether you like a soft, quiet keypress or that old-school clickety-clack, typewriter-style sound as you’re typing.
If you do a lot of writing in the library then you need the soft and quiet type.
And if you mostly write at home in the privacy of your own bedroom, the clickity-clack as you type won’t bother anyone else.
When contemplating which gaming keyboard is best to type on, there are three main types of mechanical keyboard switches to choose from:
- Linear (soft and quiet).
- Tactile (light to moderate click with a tactile bump).
- Clicky (noisy click with a tactile bump).
Each of these switch types is extremely durable with the potential to be excellent for typing but the choice you make will come down to how you like a keypress to feel and sound beneath your fingertips.
Linear switches don’t provide a click or a bump when pressed.
They actuate when the key is pressed all the way down and usually require very little force to do so.
Therefore, users don’t feel when they actuate a keypress on a linear switch.
However, some typists prefer this and it’s still possible to type very fast and accurately.
As their name implies, the design of tactile and clicky keyboard switches has a non-linear part that gives off a clicking sound and requires more force to be pressed before it engages with the switch mechanism underneath it.
Tactile and clicky switches are designed this way so that users can feel and hear the keypress.
For some people, this helps them to type more consistently, accurately, and efficiently due to the ability to “feel” where you are on the keyboard.
When To Choose Linear Switches
If you like a soft, smooth, and silent keypress as you type, then a gaming keyboard with linear switches will suit you the best.
Linear switches – like Cherry MX Red – are widely used among gamers and typists because of their unique characteristics: they’re quiet and put less strain on your fingers, making them good for long hours of typing or gaming.
Some people even think that linear switches are better for typing overall, despite them offering little to no sound or tactile feedback as you type.
You’ll probably prefer linear switches if you like “touch typing” (typing without looking at your hands) because it’s faster and easier to press the keys on a linear keyboard.
Even though linear switches are not ideal for typists who rely heavily on tactile or auditory feedback, they’re still good for typing and provide an ergonomic experience that’s considered better by some people because of their softness and quietness.
When To Choose Tactile Switches
Typists who rely on auditory feedback may find linear mechanical keyboards less good for typing because of the lack of sound and tactile feedback.
Some typists prefer tactile mechanical keyboard switches to feel where they are on the keyboard because it helps them type more accurately and consistently along with a slight click, which indicates whether they’ve struck the right key or not.
The most common type of tactile switch is “Cherry MX Brown” switches.
They provide a very slight bump when pressed and tend to be quiet, but still audible enough.
This type of switch is often favored by writers because they can clearly feel when each key actuates because of the slight bump.
They are also relatively quiet when compared to clicky switches, which makes them easier for people around you while gaming or typing to not be distracted by the constant clicking noise.
When To Choose Clicky Switches
Clicky key switches provide a much louder audible sound when activated along with tactile bumps (similar to tactile switches) and are typically found in keyboards marketed towards gamers or typists that want more feedback about which keys they have pressed.
These types of key switches are popular among some typists as they provide much more clicky feedback than linear or tactile switches.
Just make sure you’re typing in an environment where the noise is not going to cause offense to anyone around you.
There are various switch manufacturers that use their own designs for clicky key switches.
These include Cherry, Razer, and Logitech.
Some of the most common clicky key switch types include Cherry MX Blue switches which are used by more than one manufacturer.
Cherry MX Blue switches are well known to have a loud click when actuated, along with the tactile bump that these switches provide.
Are There Any Gaming Keyboards That Aren’t Good For Typing?
Gaming keyboards are like anything else; you can find models at almost every budget and you can also find ones that seem to be so cheap that the price seems too good to be true.
And if something seems too good to be true, it usually is.
The cheapest of the cheap, mass-produced membrane gaming keyboards will not be great to type on.
Cheap membrane Keyboards usually feel soft and squishy; they give no feedback to your fingers when pressed, have no audible click sound, and last nowhere near as long as mechanical gaming keyboards.
How To Choose The Best Gaming Keyboard For Typing
A good quality gaming keyboard that will also be good to type on can set you back anywhere from $60 to $130+ but is definitely worth it considering how good they are and how long they last.
While there’s no ‘one size fits all’ perfect gaming keyboard for typing, there are a few important things to keep in mind before you make your purchase.
Some of these are crucial, while others are just personal preferences.
Keyboard Size
Some gaming Keyboards are very large and will contain all of the keys you would want while others are very compact and may not be good for touch typing.
If you’re a two-finger typist and don’t mind not having a dedicated number pad on the keyboard then a more compact model might be fine.
But If you have larger hands and like to have as many keys as possible on your keyboard then a full-sized one will suit you better.
Comfort
Make sure that the keyboard is comfortable for you to use over extended periods of time.
Gaming keyboards come in a variety of shapes and sizes, so make sure that you look at a few different models before you decide on a purchase.
If possible, test some out in a few different tech outlets.
Brands such as Razer offer ergonomic designs with adjustable height and special keys designed for gamers to use during play, while Corsair offers compact designs that may be more appealing if space is an issue.
For example, a smaller keyboard might be easier for someone with small hands to use in order to avoid awkward hand positions, while a larger keyboard is ideal for tall writers or gamers who need more space between the mouse and the keys.
And some keyboards may come with a wrist rest or ergonomic design to reduce the stress on their joints.
In the end, it all comes down to personal preference so physically trying ones out before you buy them can be really beneficial.
RGB Lighting And Other Features
Backlighting can add a stylish flair to any keyboard and another dimension of customization.
For some users, the colors may be purely aesthetic while others might care more about having color-coded keys to help orient themselves during late-night writing or gaming sessions.
But if you don’t think you would find a use for RGB lighting or other features like macro and media keys you’d probably be better off with a plain and sturdy mechanical gaming keyboard.
The Best Gaming Keyboards For Typing
Below we’ve compiled the top gaming keyboards that are also great for typing.
But some may be better suited for certain people than others.
For example, if you like a no-frills design, the Razer Deathstalker might be perfect for you.
If you prefer fully customizable keys with a stylish premium design, the Corsair Vengeance K95 may be a better fit.
Or if you’re looking for a keyboard that has all of the bells and whistles, then the Logitech G910 Orion Spark is a good choice.
Razer DeathStalker
The Razer DeathStalker features slim 2mm chiclet keycaps that ensure speedy and precise key presses.
This keyboard is a great option if you don’t want anything fancy and just need something that will work perfectly for typing or gaming.
It has an extremely durable design that won’t get damaged easily, so it is great for writers or gamers who are constantly on the move or tend to be more than a little bit rough with their equipment.
It has fully programmable keys that can be customized individually and includes anti-ghosting tech to ensure your inputs are registered no matter how many keys you press at once.
The DeathStalker also has interchangeable WASD, arrow keys, and a number pad, which is perfect if you tend to mix up your inputs or use both interchangeably.
It is probably the best option out of our top picks if you don’t want anything too flashy or expensive and just need a keyboard that will work for typing or gaming without putting a huge dent in your wallet.
Corsair Vengeance K95
The Corsair Vengeance is one of the most reliable keyboards on this list is excellent for typing and has been used by many professional gamers.
It comes with adjustable brightness and individual key programmability, so you can choose lighting that fits your style and it will be easy to see while typing and playing.
The keys on this board are extremely durable with a smooth, linear key response for super fast key presses without the audible click.
The Corsair Vengeance K95 is our best overall choice.
It allows you to record up to 54 key sequences for functionality when writing and faster play.
It has everything you want in a fantastic model, plus it offers plenty of backlight options so you can get exactly what you’re looking for.
Razer BlackWidow
This wireless mechanical gaming keyboard from Razer is 65% the size of a full-sized keyboard and comes loaded with some of the most advanced wireless technology for responsive typing and low-latency gaming.
It has multi-device support to streamline your setup and specialized switches that promise to register keypresses even faster than other technologies on the market today.
The Razer BlackWidow Ultimate Stealth is a great choice if you want more customization options and absolute precision when typing.
Logitech G710+
The Logitech G710+ is a large keyboard that has high-speed keys with superior tactile feedback that’s great to type on.
It has adjustable dual-zone backlighting, 6 programmable G-keys, 110 anti-ghosting keys, 26-key rollover, and one-touch media keys to control volume.
Final Thoughts
Gaming keyboards can be great for typing but it’s important that you spend time choosing the best one for your needs.
Consider how quiet or clicky you’d like the keys to sound, how big you would like the keyboard to be and the features you might find a use for, and the ones you’d be wasting your money on.
