The Best Quiet Gaming Keyboards

The housing is extruded aluminium and each switch is rated for more than 50 million actuations. Its extruded aluminium case is screw-free, and per-key RGB is programmable in CHERRY UTILITY. A detachable cable and rubber feet keep it stable.

Full N-key rollover and a Windows key lock suit gaming. The extruded aluminum housing is completely screw-free. Full N-key rollover and a Windows-key lock keep game inputs clean, and RGB is programmed in the Cherry Utility.

Before buying, weigh one limit: costs more than the Apex 3 TKL at the time of writing. Its price falls between the KI99 Pro and the Strix Scope II 96 Wireless, based on our last check.

It is a 96% wireless board with PBT keycaps and a 10,000mAh battery. It connects over Bluetooth 5.0, 2.4GHz or USB-C, and its 10,000mAh battery lasts a long time between charges. Like the Strix Scope II 96 Wireless, it has a 96% layout, while the Reclusa X Mini uses a 65% layout.

It also offers a knob for volume, media and lighting. Use the KI99 Pro's dongle or cable for games; Bluetooth suits a laptop or tablet. On price it sat fourth of 6, between the cheaper K686 PRO and the pricier MX 3.0S Silent Red, at the time of writing.

The 96% layout keeps a number pad in a body only 1 cm wider than an 80% board. Like the KI99 Pro, it has a 96% layout, while the Reclusa X Mini uses a 65% layout. Like the KI99 Pro, it has PBT keycaps, while the Reclusa X Mini uses doubleshot ABS keycaps.

It also comes with a detachable wrist rest. Use the Strix Scope II 96 Wireless's dongle or cable for games; Bluetooth suits a laptop or tablet. It was the highest-priced of the 6 picks at the time of writing, so the case for it rests on what it adds over the MX 3.0S Silent Red and the rest.

Its Orange tactile switches are, per Razer, engineered for quieter actuation, and the sockets are hot-swappable. A PPS plate and two layers of silicone dampening soften the sound, and Snap Tap resolves opposing keys. ABS doubleshot keycaps resist fading.

The socketed PCB accepts both 3-pin and 5-pin switches, and it ships with Razer Orange tactile Gen-3 switches. It uses Razer Orange tactile switches in a hot-swappable board that accepts 3-pin and 5-pin switches, with doubleshot ABS keycaps. No other pick in this guide offers a 65% layout; compare the Strix Scope II 96 Wireless, which has a 96% layout.

No other pick in this guide offers doubleshot ABS keycaps; compare the KI99 Pro, which has PBT keycaps. On price it sat second of 6, between the cheaper Apex 3 TKL and the pricier K686 PRO, at the time of writing.

It connects over USB-C, Bluetooth or 2.4GHz, and its hot-swap sockets take 3-pin or 5-pin switches. One knob controls volume and lighting, and it switches between USB-C, Bluetooth and 2.4GHz without re-pairing. The gasket mount and dampening layers soften each keystroke.

It comes in a blue and white colourway, and the software handles lighting effects and macros. The gasket mount gives a soft, quiet bounce. It suits a desk where a blue and white colour scheme sets it apart from typical black boards.

A single knob handles backlight brightness and media playback. The gasket mount and five layers of dampening give it a soft, quiet bounce, and the sockets accept swapped switches. Use the K686 PRO's dongle or cable for games; Bluetooth suits a laptop or tablet.

It is a wired tenkeyless board with IP32 water and dust resistance. It works with Windows, Mac, Xbox and PlayStation, and PrismSync RGB syncs effects. Its tenkeyless frame frees space for mouse movement.

The switches are designed for near-silent use with anti-ghosting, and an IP32 rating guards against spills and dust. It is the only pick here with a tenkeyless layout; the KI99 Pro has a 96% layout instead. You also get a clickable volume roller and media keys.

The Apex 3 TKL needs a free USB port, so check cable length to your case or monitor hub. It was the cheapest of the group when we checked; the Reclusa X Mini was the next step up.