Buying Guide
The Best Wireless Keyboards Under $60
Three keyboards ranked on battery life and battery (backlight off); the Arteck HB305 is the cheapest route in.
By The PC Journal editorial team
11 min read3 products evaluated
From $40 to $60 wireless keyboards add backlighting or low-profile keys. Every pick cost 40 to 60 when we checked and connects without a cable.
The order reflects battery (backlight off), layout and key type from maker specifications; a missing battery (backlight off) is flagged, not filled in rather than guess, since we have not benched them.
Quick Picks
Our 3 recommendations at a glance. Tap a pick for the full verdict.
Longest Battery Life
Logitech Wave Keys
The longest battery life here (up to 36 months).
Best for: Desks where you would rather never think about charging.
Our take Check price for Logitech Wave Keys (opens in a new tab)
Also Consider
Keychron B6 Pro Ultra-Slim
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.
Our take Check price for Keychron B6 Pro Ultra-Slim (opens in a new tab)
Lowest Price Here
Arteck HB305 Backlit Bluetooth Touch Keyboard
A lower price than the Keychron B6 Pro and the rest when we checked.
Best for: Buyers who would rather put the savings elsewhere than into the Keychron B6 Pro.
Our take Check price for Arteck HB305 Backlit Bluetooth Touch Keyboard (opens in a new tab)
| Pick | Why it’s here | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| The longest battery life here (up to 36 months). | Desks where you would rather never think about charging. | Check price for Logitech Wave Keys (opens in a new tab) |
| About 1,200 hours of use per charge, per Keychron. | Buyers who want about 1,200 hours of use per charge, per Keychron. | Check price for Keychron B6 Pro Ultra-Slim (opens in a new tab) |
| A lower price than the Keychron B6 Pro and the rest when we checked. | Buyers who would rather put the savings elsewhere than into the Keychron B6 Pro. | Check price for Arteck HB305 Backlit Bluetooth Touch Keyboard (opens in a new tab) |
Our Picks
Longest Battery Life1 of 3
Logitech Wave Keys on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Wave Keys gives you a gentler ergonomic shape without learning a split layout: a wave-shaped compact board with a cushioned palm rest, certified by United States Ergonomics.
Best for
- Desks where you would rather never think about charging.
Skip if
- Price-first buyers should look at the Arteck HB305, which cost less when we checked.
Why we like it
It costs well under half the K860. You get a compact wave layout here, which sets it apart from the Arteck HB305 and its a compact with touchpad layout. A wave-shaped membrane 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 Easy-Switch between devices. It pairs over Bluetooth or Logitech's Logi Bolt receiver; Bolt is not compatible with older Unifying receivers, so keep the one in the box. Ergonomic layouts take a few days to get used to, especially if you type with your hands crossing the centre.
It supports Windows and macOS layouts, which helps if you switch between computers. At our last price check it topped the group, with the Keychron B6 Pro the nearest cheaper option.
Key dimensions & specs
- Battery (backlight off): up to 36 months
- Layout: Compact wave
- Key type: Wave-shaped membrane keys
- Connection: Bluetooth or Logi Bolt, multi-OS
- Wrist support: Cushioned memory-foam palm rest
Pros
- Up to 36 months per charge (backlight off)
- Cushioned memory-foam palm rest
- Certification by United States Ergonomics
- Easy-Switch between devices
Cons
- Costs more than the Arteck HB305 at the time of writing
Also Consider2 of 3
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.
Skip if
- Price-first buyers should look at the Arteck HB305, which cost less when we checked.
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.
It is the only pick here with a quiet scissor keys key type; the Wave Keys has a wave-shaped membrane keys key type instead. It also offers online key remapping. On price it sat second of 3, between the cheaper Arteck HB305 and the pricier Wave Keys, at the time of writing.
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
- Costs more than the Arteck HB305 at the time of writing
Lowest Price Here3 of 3
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 would rather put the savings elsewhere than into the Keychron B6 Pro.
Skip if
- Its battery life is not published, which rules it out if you need that number.
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. No other pick in this guide offers a compact with touchpad layout; compare the Wave Keys, which has a compact wave layout.
Check that your computer has Bluetooth, or use the included receiver if there is one. It undercut the Keychron B6 Pro and every other pick on price at the time of writing. The maker doesn't give its battery life; if that figure matters, the Wave Keys runs for up to 36 months.
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
- Compact with touchpad layout, the only one here
Cons
- No published battery life
How We Chose These Wireless Keyboards Under $60
Each pick was assessed across 4 criteria weighted for real-world use.
- How these picks were ranked
- We compared three keyboards on battery life, layout, key type and connection as the makers state them. These are research figures, not bench results: 1 of 3 picks leave out battery life.
- What every pick has in common
- All 3, from the Wave Keys to the Arteck HB305, state layout, key type and connection.
- Where the specs have gaps
- The Arteck HB305 gives no battery life; the Arteck HB305 gives no wrist support.
- Price range
- At our last check the picks ran from the Arteck HB305 (under $50) to the Wave Keys ($50 to $100).
What to Look for in a Wireless Keyboard Under $60
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
How much battery life you need
Here battery life runs from up to 8 months on the Keychron B6 Pro to up to 36 months on the Wave Keys, a 350% spread. If battery life is your first filter, the Wave Keys sets the ceiling at up to 36 months. The Arteck HB305 gives no battery life figure, so 2 of 3 picks are compared here.
Extras that separate them
The Wave Keys: Easy-Switch between devices. The Keychron B6 Pro: online key remapping. The Arteck HB305: a 24-month warranty.
Budget
Under $50 buys the Arteck HB305 and the Keychron B6 Pro; $50 to $100 buys the Wave Keys at our last check.
Start from what matters most
Desks where you would rather never think about charging: the Wave Keys. Buyers who would rather put the savings elsewhere than into the Keychron B6 Pro: the Arteck HB305.
Multi-device switching
Keyboards that pair with three devices let you move between a work laptop, a personal PC and a tablet with one key.
Check whether switching uses Bluetooth, a receiver, or both.
How to Choose a Wireless Keyboard Under $60
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Desks where you would rather never think about charging | Wave Keys | The longest battery life here (up to 36 months) |
| Buyers who want about 1,200 hours of use per charge, per Keychron | Keychron B6 Pro | About 1,200 hours of use per charge, per Keychron |
| Buyers who would rather put the savings elsewhere than into the Keychron B6 Pro | Arteck HB305 | A lower price than the Keychron B6 Pro and the rest when we checked |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The Wave Keys 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 Arteck HB305 leaves the figure out.
| Keyboard | Battery (backlight off) | Layout | Key type | Connection |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wave Keys | up to 36 months | Compact wave | Wave-shaped membrane keys | Bluetooth or Logi Bolt, multi-OS |
| Keychron B6 Pro | up to 8 months | Full-size, ultra-slim | Quiet scissor keys | Wireless, multi-device, 1000Hz polling |
| Arteck HB305 | Not listed | Compact with touchpad | Backlit keys, 7 colors | Bluetooth, USB-C charging |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
By price at the time of writing
The Arteck HB305 was the lowest-priced pick (under $50) and the Wave Keys the highest ($50 to $100) when we checked; tiers move with Amazon pricing.
| Price tier | Keyboards |
|---|---|
| Under $50 | Arteck HB305, Keychron B6 Pro |
| About $50 to $100 | Wave Keys |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which has the longest battery life: the Wave Keys or the Keychron B6 Pro?
Between the top two, it is up to 36 months on the Wave Keys against up to 8 months on the Keychron B6 Pro, a 350% difference. No battery life figure is published for the Arteck HB305, which leaves 2 of 3 picks ranked here.
Why is the Wave Keys our Longest Battery Life pick?
The label rests on the longest battery life here (up to 36 months). On battery life it leads the Keychron B6 Pro, up to 36 months against up to 8 months, a 350% margin. The Arteck HB305, the cheapest pick, sat in the under $50 tier against $50 to $100 here, without out-ranking it on any listed spec. It is aimed at desks where you would rather never think about charging.
What extras do the Wave Keys and the Keychron B6 Pro include?
The Wave Keys: certification by United States Ergonomics. The Keychron B6 Pro: about 1,200 hours of use per charge, per Keychron. The Arteck HB305: support for Windows, Mac, Android, iPadOS and ChromeOS.
Should I pick the Wave Keys or the Arteck HB305?
The Wave Keys suits desks where you would rather never think about charging; the Arteck HB305 suits buyers who would rather put the savings elsewhere than into the Keychron B6 Pro.
Will these work with a Mac?
Most wireless work keyboards support macOS, and several switch layouts automatically. Check the product page for Mac key labels.
Bottom Line
Our first pick is the Wave Keys. Look at the Keychron B6 Pro for about 1,200 hours of use per charge, per Keychron and the Arteck HB305 for a lower price than the Keychron B6 Pro and the rest when we checked if those matter more to you.
Backlighting shortens battery life, so check the stated hours with the light on.