Buying Guide
The Best Gaming Keyboards Under $100
From the K55 CORE TKL to the X68 HE: five keyboards ranked on polling rate and layout, with who should skip each one.
By Alex Morgan, PC Hardware Editor
12 min read5 products evaluated
Under $100, gaming keyboards now include magnetic switches with rapid trigger as well as budget mechanical boards. Every pick was $100 or less, ordered by polling rate.
This is a research roundup, not a lab test: layout, switches and connection come from each maker's published specs; nothing here was tested in-house, and gaps in the specs are flagged, not filled in.
Quick Picks
Which of the 5 picks to look at first. Tap a name for the full analysis.
Also Consider
DAREU EK60 HE Magnetic KeyboardAdjustable rapid trigger.
Best for: Buyers who want adjustable rapid trigger.
Check price for DAREU EK60 HE Magnetic Keyboard on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Strong Alternative
Redragon K617 HE Magnetic KeyboardRapid trigger.
Best for: Buyers who want rapid trigger.
Check price for Redragon K617 HE Magnetic Keyboard on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Premium Pick
Attack Shark X68 HEDynamic keystrokes with up to 4 actions per key at the highest price in the group.
Best for: Buyers for whom price is not the deciding factor, since the K55 CORE TKL costs less.
Check price for Attack Shark X68 HE on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Lowest Price Here
Corsair K55 CORE TKL Gaming KeyboardA lower price than the DK68E and the rest when we checked.
Best for: Keeping the cost under $50.
Check price for Corsair K55 CORE TKL Gaming Keyboard on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Worth a Look
DIERYA DK68E 60% KeyboardHot-swap for 3-pin and 5-pin switches.
Best for: Buyers who want hot-swap for 3-pin and 5-pin switches.
Check price for DIERYA DK68E 60% Keyboard on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Our Picks
Also Consider1 of 5
DAREU EK60 HE Magnetic Keyboard
DAREU's EK60 HE pairs Hall effect switches with 8000Hz polling and a web driver that supports macOS.
Best for
- Buyers who want adjustable rapid trigger.
Skip if
- Worth skipping when no dedicated arrow keys or function row is a problem.
Why we like it
It is priced near $35 at the time of writing. It matches the K617 HE and the X68 HE on polling rate (8,000Hz). It shares a 60% layout with the K617 HE and DK68E; the K55 CORE TKL goes with a TKL layout.
It shares hall effect magnetic switches with the K617 HE and X68 HE; the DK68E goes with pre-lubed linear switches. It also offers adjustable rapid trigger. The EK60 HE needs a free USB port, so check cable length to your case or monitor hub.
High polling rates use more CPU time; drop to 1,000Hz if an older system stutters. Small layouts move keys to a function layer, so check the legend for arrows and F-keys. Adjusting actuation needs the maker's software or web tool on Windows. When we checked, only the DK68E and cheaper picks cost less, and the K617 HE cost more.
Key specs
- Layout
- 60%
- Switches
- Hall effect magnetic
- Connection
- Wired
- Polling rate
- 8,000Hz
Pros
- Compact 60% layout
- Magnetic Hall effect switches
- 8,000Hz polling
- Adjustable rapid trigger
Cons
- No dedicated arrow keys or function row
- Wired only
- Costs more than the K55 CORE TKL at the time of writing
Strong Alternative2 of 5
Redragon K617 HE Magnetic Keyboard
The K617 HE brings Hall effect switches, rapid trigger and 8000Hz polling to Redragon's 60% frame.
Best for
- Buyers who want rapid trigger.
Skip if
- Pass on it if no dedicated arrow keys or function row rules it out for your setup.
Why we like it
Calibration runs in a desktop or web app. It matches the EK60 HE and the X68 HE on polling rate (8,000Hz). It shares a 60% layout with the EK60 HE and DK68E; the K55 CORE TKL goes with a TKL layout.
It shares hall effect magnetic switches with the EK60 HE and X68 HE; the DK68E goes with pre-lubed linear switches. It also offers the lowest price among the 8000Hz boards here. The K617 HE needs a free USB port, so check cable length to your case or monitor hub.
High polling rates use more CPU time; drop to 1,000Hz if an older system stutters. Small layouts move keys to a function layer, so check the legend for arrows and F-keys. Adjusting actuation needs the maker's software or web tool on Windows. It was priced above the EK60 HE and below the X68 HE at the time of writing.
Key specs
- Layout
- 60%
- Switches
- Hall effect magnetic
- Connection
- Wired
- Polling rate
- 8,000Hz
Pros
- Compact 60% layout
- Magnetic Hall effect switches
- 8,000Hz polling
- Rapid trigger
Cons
- No dedicated arrow keys or function row
- Wired only
- Costs more than the K55 CORE TKL at the time of writing
Premium Pick3 of 5
Attack Shark X68 HE
Attack Shark's X68 HE adds dynamic keystrokes, up to four actions per key, to rapid trigger in a 68-key frame.
Best for
- Buyers for whom price is not the deciding factor, since the K55 CORE TKL costs less.
Skip if
- Look at the others if this bothers you: wired only.
Why we like it
It sits near $40 at the time of writing. It matches the EK60 HE and the K617 HE on polling rate (8,000Hz). A 65% (68 keys) layout is unique to it among these picks, while the K617 HE uses a 60% layout.
It shares hall effect magnetic switches with the EK60 HE and K617 HE; the DK68E goes with pre-lubed linear switches. You also get an adjustable actuation point. The X68 HE needs a free USB port, so check cable length to your case or monitor hub.
High polling rates use more CPU time; drop to 1,000Hz if an older system stutters. Small layouts move keys to a function layer, so check the legend for arrows and F-keys. Adjusting actuation needs the maker's software or web tool on Windows. Only the K617 HE came close to it on price at the time of writing; it cost the most of the 5 picks.
Key specs
- Layout
- 65% (68 keys)
- Switches
- Hall effect magnetic
- Connection
- Wired
- Polling rate
- 8,000Hz
Pros
- Compact 65% (68 keys) layout
- Magnetic Hall effect switches
- 8,000Hz polling
- Dynamic keystrokes with up to 4 actions per key
Cons
- Wired only
- Costs more than the K55 CORE TKL at the time of writing
Lowest Price Here4 of 5
Corsair K55 CORE TKL Gaming Keyboard
The K55 CORE TKL is a membrane board, not mechanical, but it is quiet, cheap and has dedicated media keys.
Best for
- Keeping the cost under $50.
Skip if
- Pass on it if membrane switches, not mechanical rules it out for your setup.
Why we like it
It resists spills of up to 300ml, and four media buttons sit above the keys. Eight RGB zones light the board. On polling rate it ties with the DK68E at 1,000Hz.
No other pick in this guide offers a TKL layout; compare the X68 HE, which has a 65% (68 keys) layout. It is the only pick here with membrane switches; the EK60 HE has hall effect magnetic switches instead. It also offers 12-key rollover.
The K55 CORE TKL needs a free USB port, so check cable length to your case or monitor hub. It undercut the DK68E and every other pick on price at the time of writing. The main gap: polling rate of 1,000Hz, behind the EK60 HE (8,000Hz). If that matters, the EK60 HE offers 8,000Hz.
Key specs
- Layout
- TKL
- Switches
- Membrane
- Connection
- Wired
- Polling rate
- 1,000Hz
Pros
- Tenkeyless layout leaves more room for the mouse
- Dedicated media keys
- 12-key rollover
- Membrane switches, the only one here
Cons
- Membrane switches, not mechanical
- Wired only
- Polling rate of 1,000Hz, behind the EK60 HE (8,000Hz)
Worth a Look5 of 5
DIERYA DK68E 60% Keyboard
DIERYA's DK68E uses pre-lubed linear switches and dampening foam in a 60% frame.
Best for
- Buyers who want hot-swap for 3-pin and 5-pin switches.
Skip if
- Worth skipping when no dedicated arrow keys or function row is a problem.
Why we like it
Remapping runs in a browser on Windows, macOS or Linux. On polling rate it ties with the K55 CORE TKL at 1,000Hz. Like the EK60 HE and K617 HE, it has a 60% layout, while the X68 HE uses a 65% (68 keys) layout.
No other pick in this guide offers pre-lubed linear switches; compare the X68 HE, which has hall effect magnetic switches. The DK68E needs a free USB port, so check cable length to your case or monitor hub. Small layouts move keys to a function layer, so check the legend for arrows and F-keys.
Its price falls between the K55 CORE TKL and the EK60 HE, based on our last check. If polling rate is your priority, the EK60 HE (8,000Hz) is the stronger choice.
Key specs
- Layout
- 60%
- Switches
- Pre-lubed linear
- Connection
- Wired
- Polling rate
- 1,000Hz
Pros
- Compact 60% layout
- Pre-lubed linear switches
- Hot-swap for 3-pin and 5-pin switches
- Browser-based remapping on Windows, macOS or Linux
Cons
- No dedicated arrow keys or function row
- Wired only
- Polling rate trails the EK60 HE (8,000Hz)
How We Chose These Gaming Keyboards Under $100
Alex Morgan compared the manufacturer specifications, connectivity, warranty terms and compatibility of every pick. Figures come from the makers unless a third-party source is named; we did not test these products ourselves.
- The figures behind the order
- We set side by side five keyboards on layout, switches, connection and polling rate as the makers state them. Nothing was tested in-house; 4 of the 4 fields compared are stated for every pick.
- The shared baseline
- All 5, from the EK60 HE to the DK68E, state layout, switches and connection and share Wired connection.
- Who each pick suits
- The EK60 HE for adjustable rapid trigger; the K617 HE for rapid trigger; the X68 HE for dynamic keystrokes with up to 4 actions per key at the highest price in the group.
- Price range
- From the K55 CORE TKL to the X68 HE, all sat in the under $50 tier when we checked.
What to Look for in a Gaming Keyboard Under $100
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
Polling rate across these picks
Here polling rate runs from 1,000Hz on the DK68E to 8,000Hz on the EK60 HE, a 700% spread. The EK60 HE is the pick for polling rate.
Switches
The EK60 HE, the K617 HE and the X68 HE list hall effect magnetic; the K55 CORE TKL lists membrane; the DK68E lists Pre-lubed linear. Settling switches first narrows 5 picks to 3 or 1 or 1.
A close-up of a full-size keyboard with grey keycaps What to check at home
The EK60 HE needs a free USB port, so check cable length to your case or monitor hub.
Features beyond the spec table
The X68 HE: rapid trigger. The K55 CORE TKL: 12-key rollover. The DK68E: browser-based remapping on Windows, macOS or Linux.
A grey mechanical keyboard beside a mouse on a wooden desk Budget
Price does little to separate these 5: the K55 CORE TKL through the X68 HE all landed in the under $50 tier, which leaves polling rate to decide it.
How to Choose a Gaming Keyboard Under $100
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Buyers who want adjustable rapid trigger | EK60 HE | Adjustable rapid trigger |
| Buyers who want rapid trigger | K617 HE | Rapid trigger |
| Buyers for whom price is not the deciding factor, since the K55 CORE TKL costs less | X68 HE | Dynamic keystrokes with up to 4 actions per key at the highest price in the group |
| Keeping the cost under $50 | K55 CORE TKL | A lower price than the DK68E and the rest when we checked |
| Buyers who want hot-swap for 3-pin and 5-pin switches | DK68E | Hot-swap for 3-pin and 5-pin switches |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The EK60 HE leads on polling rate at 8,000Hz, ahead of the K617 HE at 8,000Hz.
| Keyboard | Layout | Switches | Connection | Polling rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EK60 HE | 60% | Hall effect magnetic | Wired | 8,000Hz |
| K617 HE | 60% | Hall effect magnetic | Wired | 8,000Hz |
| X68 HE | 65% (68 keys) | Hall effect magnetic | Wired | 8,000Hz |
| K55 CORE TKL | TKL | Membrane | Wired | 1,000Hz |
| DK68E | 60% | Pre-lubed linear | Wired | 1,000Hz |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the X68 HE worth paying more than the K55 CORE TKL?
What it brings is polling rate (8,000Hz against 1,000Hz). Both sat in the under $50 tier when we checked, so the gains in polling rate cost little extra by tier.
What makes the X68 HE the Premium Pick?
It carries the badge for dynamic keystrokes with up to 4 actions per key at the highest price in the group. It is aimed at buyers for whom price is not the deciding factor, since the K55 CORE TKL costs less.
Do the EK60 HE and the X68 HE differ on layout?
The EK60 HE, the K617 HE and the DK68E use 60%; the X68 HE uses 65% (68 keys); the K55 CORE TKL uses TKL.
What should I check before buying the K617 HE?
The K617 HE needs a free USB port, so check cable length to your case or monitor hub. In this guide it ranks second of 5, and second of 5 on polling rate (8,000Hz).
Beyond the specs, what sets the EK60 HE and the K617 HE apart?
The EK60 HE: adjustable rapid trigger. The K617 HE: rapid trigger. The X68 HE: dynamic keystrokes with up to 4 actions per key.
Bottom Line
Our first pick is the EK60 HE, chosen for adjustable rapid trigger. Look at the K617 HE for rapid trigger, the X68 HE for dynamic keystrokes with up to 4 actions per key at the highest price in the group and the K55 CORE TKL for a lower price than the DK68E and the rest when we checked if those matter more to you.
Choose the layout first; a compact board leaves more room for the mouse.
Related Guides
- Related guideThe Best Gaming Keyboards Right Now
- Related guideThe Best Quiet Gaming Keyboards
- Related guideThe Best TKL Keyboards
- Lower budgetThe Best Gaming Keyboards Under $75
- Higher budgetThe Best Gaming Keyboards Under $120
- ExplainerHow to Choose a Mechanical Keyboard
- ExplainerKeyboard layouts compared: full-size, TKL, 75%, 65% and 60%
- Also see: miceGaming Mouse Features Explained: What Is Worth Paying For?
- Similar guideThe Best Mechanical Gaming Keyboards Under $50
- Topic hubAll keyboards guides
About the author
PC Hardware Editor
Alex covers PC hardware, monitors, components, upgrades and peripherals for The PC Journal, with a focus on helping readers understand specifications, compatibility and meaningful product trade-offs.
Covers: Monitors, Graphics cards, Processors, PC components, Peripherals, Upgrades and compatibility
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