Buying Guide
The Best Wireless Keyboards Under $50
From the K380s to the Keychron B6 Pro: four keyboards ranked on battery life and device pairing, with who should skip each one.
By The PC Journal editorial team
11 min read4 products evaluated
Around $50 a wireless keyboard can add multi-device pairing and a sturdier build. Every pick cost 35 to 50 when we checked and connects without a cable.
Our comparison rests on published figures for battery (backlight off), paired devices and layout; nothing here was tested in-house, and where a maker leaves out battery (backlight off), we say so.
Quick Picks
Our 4 recommendations at a glance. Tap a pick for the full verdict.
Longest Battery Life
Logitech Pebble Keys 2 K380s
The longest battery life here (up to 36 months).
Best for: Offices where the keyboard stays on all day.
Our take Check price for Logitech Pebble Keys 2 K380s (opens in a new tab)
Also Consider
Bnnwa K905 Rechargeable Touchpad Keyboard
A built-in 500mAh rechargeable battery.
Best for: Buyers who want built-in 500mAh rechargeable battery.
Our take Check price for Bnnwa K905 Rechargeable Touchpad Keyboard (opens in a new tab)
Strong Alternative
Arteck HB305 Backlit Bluetooth Touch Keyboard
Support for Windows, Mac, Android, iPadOS and ChromeOS.
Best for: Buyers who want support for Windows, Mac, Android, iPadOS and ChromeOS.
Our take Check price for Arteck HB305 Backlit Bluetooth Touch Keyboard (opens in a new tab)
Premium Pick
Keychron B6 Pro Ultra-Slim
The highest-priced pick here at the time of writing, with about 1,200 hours of use per charge, per Keychron.
Best for: Buyers who want about 1,200 hours of use per charge, per Keychron and can spend more than the Arteck HB305 costs.
Our take Check price for Keychron B6 Pro Ultra-Slim (opens in a new tab)
| Pick | Why it’s here | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| The longest battery life here (up to 36 months). | Offices where the keyboard stays on all day. | Check price for Logitech Pebble Keys 2 K380s (opens in a new tab) |
| A built-in 500mAh rechargeable battery. | Buyers who want built-in 500mAh rechargeable battery. | Check price for Bnnwa K905 Rechargeable Touchpad Keyboard (opens in a new tab) |
| Support for Windows, Mac, Android, iPadOS and ChromeOS. | Buyers who want support for Windows, Mac, Android, iPadOS and ChromeOS. | Check price for Arteck HB305 Backlit Bluetooth Touch Keyboard (opens in a new tab) |
| The highest-priced pick here at the time of writing, with about 1,200 hours of use per charge, per Keychron. | Buyers who want about 1,200 hours of use per charge, per Keychron and can spend more than the Arteck HB305 costs. | Check price for Keychron B6 Pro Ultra-Slim (opens in a new tab) |
Our Picks
Longest Battery Life1 of 4
Logitech Pebble Keys 2 K380s on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Logitech's K380s is a compact Bluetooth keyboard with round, quiet scooped keys that pairs with three devices.
Best for
- Offices where the keyboard stays on all day.
Skip if
- Look at the other picks if you need a feature not covered above.
Why we like it
Logitech offers up to 36 months on its batteries, and the Fn keys can be customised in Logi Options+. A quiet scooped round keys key type is unique to it among these picks, while the Keychron B6 Pro uses a quiet scissor keys key type. You also get a 3-year battery life claim and auto-sleep.
Check that your computer has Bluetooth, or use the included receiver if there is one. It supports Windows and macOS layouts, which helps if you switch between computers. No other pick here cost less at our last price check, and the Bnnwa K905 was closest.
Key dimensions & specs
- Battery (backlight off): up to 36 months
- Paired devices: 3 devices
- Layout: Compact, no number pad
- Key type: Quiet scooped round keys
- Connection: Bluetooth, multi-OS
Pros
- Up to 36 months per charge (backlight off)
- Customizable Fn keys in Logi Options+
- 3-year battery life claim
- Auto-sleep
Also Consider2 of 4
Bnnwa K905 Rechargeable Touchpad Keyboard on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Bnnwa's rechargeable keyboard pairs with three devices over a receiver and two Bluetooth channels.
Best for
- Buyers who want built-in 500mAh rechargeable battery.
Skip if
- Its battery life is not published, which rules it out if you need that number.
Why we like it
It uses scissor keys. A 500mAh rechargeable battery removes the need for AAA cells, and it pairs with up to three devices over 2.4GHz and Bluetooth. The trackpad sits beside the keys.
Its scissor-switch keys type quietly with a short travel, and Fn shortcuts switch between iOS, Windows, Android and macOS layouts. It is the only pick here with a low-profile keys key type; the K380s has a quiet scooped round keys key type instead. It also comes with USB-C charging and connection to 3 devices at once.
Check that your computer has Bluetooth, or use the included receiver if there is one. On price it sat second of 4, between the cheaper K380s and the pricier Arteck HB305, at the time of writing. The maker doesn't give its battery life; if that figure matters, the K380s runs for up to 36 months.
Key dimensions & specs
- Paired devices: 3 devices
- Layout: Compact with touchpad
- Key type: Low-profile keys
- Connection: 2.4GHz and two Bluetooth channels
Pros
- Built-in 500mAh rechargeable battery
- USB-C charging
- Connection to 3 devices at once
- Low-profile keys key type, the only one here
Cons
- No published battery life
- Costs more than the K380s at the time of writing
Strong Alternative3 of 4
Arteck HB305 Backlit Bluetooth Touch Keyboard on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Arteck's HB305 is a Bluetooth touchpad keyboard with a seven-color backlight that charges over USB-C.
Best for
- Buyers who want support for Windows, Mac, Android, iPadOS and ChromeOS.
Skip if
- Skip it if you need to know its battery life before buying; the maker doesn't publish one.
Why we like it
Arteck offers a 24-month warranty. Seven backlight colours help in a dark room, and auto-sleep saves battery. It works with Windows, macOS, Android, iPadOS and TV-connected PCs.
It charges over USB-C, and its 10-metre range covers a living room. Two brightness levels and auto-sleep stretch battery life between charges. Check that your computer has Bluetooth, or use the included receiver if there is one.
When we checked, only the Bnnwa K905 and cheaper picks cost less, and the Keychron B6 Pro cost more. If you want a confirmed battery life, look to the K380s instead: it runs for up to 36 months, while this one gives no figure.
Key dimensions & specs
- Layout: Compact with touchpad
- Key type: Backlit keys, 7 colors
- Connection: Bluetooth, USB-C charging
Pros
- Support for Windows, Mac, Android, iPadOS and ChromeOS
- 24-month warranty
- 10m wireless range
Cons
- No published battery life
- No published device pairing
- Costs more than the K380s at the time of writing
Premium Pick4 of 4
Keychron B6 Pro Ultra-Slim on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The Keychron B6 Pro is a slim full-size board at a budget price, with multi-device wireless and a 1000Hz polling rate.
Best for
- Buyers who want about 1,200 hours of use per charge, per Keychron and can spend more than the Arteck HB305 costs.
Skip if
- Skip it if you need to know its device pairing before buying; the maker doesn't publish one.
Why we like it
Keychron rates it for about 1,200 hours of use per charge. It is rated for up to 1,200 hours, about eight months at five hours a day, and it keeps working while charging. Its 2.4GHz link polls at 1,000Hz.
A quiet scissor keys key type is unique to it among these picks, while the Bnnwa K905 uses a low-profile keys key type. It also offers online key remapping. At our last price check it topped the group, with the Arteck HB305 the nearest cheaper option. If you want a confirmed device pairing, look to the K380s instead: it offers 3 devices, while this one gives no figure.
Key dimensions & specs
- Battery (backlight off): up to 8 months
- Layout: Full-size, ultra-slim
- Key type: Quiet scissor keys
- Connection: Wireless, multi-device, 1000Hz polling
- Wrist support: None
Pros
- Up to 8 months per charge (backlight off)
- About 1,200 hours of use per charge, per Keychron
- Online key remapping
- Quiet scissor keys key type, the only one here
Cons
- No published device pairing
- Costs more than the K380s at the time of writing
How We Chose These Wireless Keyboards Under $50
Each pick was assessed across 4 criteria weighted for real-world use.
- The figures behind the order
- We lined up four keyboards on battery life, device pairing, layout and key type, using each maker's published specs. These are research figures, not bench results: 2 of 4 picks leave out battery life.
- The shared baseline
- All 4, from the K380s to the Keychron B6 Pro, state layout, key type and connection.
- Where the specs have gaps
- The Bnnwa K905 and the Arteck HB305 give no battery life; the Arteck HB305 and the Keychron B6 Pro give no device pairing.
- Price range
- From the K380s to the Keychron B6 Pro, all sat in the under $50 tier when we checked.
What to Look for in a Wireless Keyboard Under $50
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
Battery life across these picks
The K380s tops battery life at up to 36 months and the Keychron B6 Pro sits lowest at up to 8 months. Start with the K380s if battery life decides it. The Bnnwa K905 and the Arteck HB305 give no battery life figure, so 2 of 4 picks are compared here.
Features beyond the spec table
The Bnnwa K905: USB-C charging. The Arteck HB305: a 24-month warranty. The Keychron B6 Pro: online key remapping.
How much to spend
Price does little to separate these 4: the K380s through the Keychron B6 Pro all landed in the under $50 tier, which leaves battery life to decide it.
Match the pick to your priority
Offices where the keyboard stays on all day: the K380s. Buyers who want about 1,200 hours of use per charge, per Keychron and can spend more than the Arteck HB305 costs: the Keychron B6 Pro.
Backlighting cuts battery life
Battery claims usually assume the backlight is off. With it on, runtime can drop from months to days.
If you want backlighting, prefer USB-C charging so a cable can top it up during the day.
How to Choose a Wireless Keyboard Under $50
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Offices where the keyboard stays on all day | K380s | The longest battery life here (up to 36 months) |
| Buyers who want built-in 500mAh rechargeable battery | Bnnwa K905 | A built-in 500mAh rechargeable battery |
| Buyers who want support for Windows, Mac, Android, iPadOS and ChromeOS | Arteck HB305 | Support for Windows, Mac, Android, iPadOS and ChromeOS |
| Buyers who want about 1,200 hours of use per charge, per Keychron and can spend more than the Arteck HB305 costs | Keychron B6 Pro | The highest-priced pick here at the time of writing, with about 1,200 hours of use per charge, per Keychron |
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Key specs side by side
The K380s leads on battery life at up to 36 months, ahead of the Keychron B6 Pro at up to 8 months. "Not listed" marks battery life where the Bnnwa K905 and the Arteck HB305 leave the figure out.
| Keyboard | Battery (backlight off) | Paired devices | Layout | Key type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| K380s | up to 36 months | 3 devices | Compact, no number pad | Quiet scooped round keys |
| Bnnwa K905 | Not listed | 3 devices | Compact with touchpad | Low-profile keys |
| Arteck HB305 | Not listed | Not listed | Compact with touchpad | Backlit keys, 7 colors |
| Keychron B6 Pro | up to 8 months | Not listed | Full-size, ultra-slim | Quiet scissor keys |
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which has the longest battery life: the K380s or the Keychron B6 Pro?
The K380s tops battery life at up to 36 months; the Keychron B6 Pro follows at up to 8 months, 350% apart. No battery life figure is published for the Bnnwa K905 and the Arteck HB305, which leaves 2 of 4 picks ranked here.
Is the Keychron B6 Pro worth paying more than the K380s?
The Keychron B6 Pro matches or trails the K380s on battery life. The K380s leads on battery life (up to 36 months). Both sat in the under $50 tier when we checked, so choose on the features you need.
What makes the K380s the Longest Battery Life?
It carries the badge for the longest battery life here (up to 36 months). The Keychron B6 Pro is next on battery life at up to 8 months, so this pick's up to 36 months is 350% further out. It makes sense for offices where the keyboard stays on all day.
Beyond the specs, what sets the K380s and the Bnnwa K905 apart?
The K380s: customizable Fn keys in Logi Options+. The Bnnwa K905: a built-in 500mAh rechargeable battery. The Arteck HB305: support for Windows, Mac, Android, iPadOS and ChromeOS.
Should I pick the K380s or the Keychron B6 Pro?
The K380s suits offices where the keyboard stays on all day; the Keychron B6 Pro suits buyers who want about 1,200 hours of use per charge, per Keychron and can spend more than the Arteck HB305 costs.
Bottom Line
Our first pick is the K380s. Look at the Bnnwa K905 for a built-in 500mAh rechargeable battery, the Arteck HB305 for support for Windows, Mac, Android, iPadOS and ChromeOS and the Keychron B6 Pro for the highest-priced pick here at the time of writing, with about 1,200 hours of use per charge, per Keychron if those matter more to you.
Try the layout against your habits; compact boards drop the numpad.