When it comes to choosing between PC gaming keyboards there are lots of features to keep an eye out for. You want one that’s going to be reliable, comfortable, and helps you be the very best at your games. Oh, and you want it to look the part too. What’s the point in having a keyboard if it can’t light up with all the colours of the rainbow?
With that said, RGB isn’t everything. There are plenty of unique PC gaming keyboards out there that push the boundaries in terms of features. Here are the top five most unique PC gaming keyboards.
Ducky One 3
If you’re looking for a keyboard that’s striking without looking gaudy, then Ducky keyboards are an excellent shout. They’re known for their no-nonsense design, following the usual blocky architecture that keyboards have followed since the 90’s. However, don’t let that fool you into thinking this is a bog-standard keyboard.
Ducky keyboards are popular among PC enthusiasts due to their customisability. The switches beneath the keys are hot-swappable, which means you can change them out. They come with the Kailh mechanics switches to begin, but you can swap these out for any other hot-swappable switch on the market. There’s no soldering required.
You can also customise the cable at your leisure, too. The detachable USB C cable can be swapped for any other that takes your fancy. It’s a popular trend to go for a coiled cable to give your keyboard an added aesthetic. It certainly won’t change the way you approach typing, but the Ducky One 3 can certainly look the part should you want it to.
Mount Everest Max
If functionality is what you’re after, then look no further than the Mount Everest Max. This is a modular keyboard that lets you completely re-arrange the layout of your board while also adding some handy features. It all starts with Mount Everest Core which hosts a sturdy looking TKL keyboard. Just like the Ducky, you can hot swap the mechanical switches to your hearts content.
Where the magic happens is around the edge of the keyboard. It’s flanked by five female USB C ports which let you plug in the accessory kits for the Mount Everest Max. First up is the number pad accessory – what’s great about this is that it can be mounted on either the left or right hand side. Mounting on the left might preferential for FPS players who need the extra space for their mouse.
On the top of the number pad are a collection of four programmable macro keys. Just like the Elgato Stream Deck, these feature tiny LED screens so you can customise them with text and icons. They’re really handy for opening up programmes quickly or executing macros.
Up top, you can add on another module with a screen, this time in the form of a dial. Alongside a set of media controls, the dial features a more robust screen and lets you customise features on the board. Alternatively, you can also use it to display the time or relevant system information like CPU temperature. The Mount Everest Max really is the jack-of-all-trades keyboard.
Logitech G915 Lightspeed
Next up is the Logitech G915 Lightspeed keyboard. This exquisite board stands out for two reasons – its wireless functionality and its low-profile keycaps. Wireless technology has come a long with since the early days of Bluetooth. These days, using a wireless mouse or keyboard can see no discernible input lag when compared to a traditional wired mouse. The Logitech G915 is especially freeing to use with no wire to weigh it down or clutter a desk.
It might be a love it or hate it feature, but I personally love the low-profile keycaps. They sit much lower and more flat than a traditional keyboard which can take a bit of getting used to. However, once you’re up to speed, it’s possible to type extremely quickly on this keyboard. If you’re someone who does a lot of writing alongside gaming, the G915 is a godsend.
To round it all off, the G915 comes with some serious heft to it. It’s constructed out of a solid piece of aluminium, so you can feel confident in its built quality. Excellent software control and a series of macro keys also serve to help you get the most out of this board.
SteelSeries Apex Pro
The SteelSeries Apex Pro is aptly named given that it’s at the very forefront of keyboard technology. The big selling point here is the OmniPoint analogue switches which allow the user to customise the actuation point of each key.
Usually, a keyboard switch has a set actuation point at which it registers when depressed. This actuation point varies from switch to switch, but it’s always fixed. These new OmniPoint switches use magnets and optical technology to alter how much a key must be depressed for it to activate. This can be done on a per-key basis across the board. A feature like this is especially useful for FPS players who want to be able to have quick reaction times.
The unique Apex Pro features don’t stop there, either. Just like some of the other keyboards on this list, there’s a screen built into the keyboard that can be used to control several of the board’s features. It makes adjusting the OmniPoint switches a breeze, showing a neat diagram of what happens when you change the setting. You can even get it to display your favourite GIFs, although they’ll only appear in black and white.
Razer Orbweaver
Last up is a keyboard design that is completely out of the ordinary. The Razer Orbwaever is an ergonomic device that’s supposed to make playing games much more comfortable. It’s a collection of 20 programmable keys, all of which are laid out atop an ergonomic grip for your hand. There’s also an eight-way joystick that sits where you thumb lies, along with a paddle and accompanying button.
If you wanted to, you could use the Orbweaver as a way of adding a massive number of macro keys to your PC. However, it’s intended as a much more comfortable alternative to a traditional keyboard. The design of this pad means you can place your mouse and keyboard hands much closer together. This lets you play games in a much more ergonomic manner and can sometimes help alleviate back pain or RSI.
It won’t be for everyone – it certainly has a steep learning curve to get used to it. However, users that use these types of ergonomic controller absolutely swear by them.
What do you think of these unique PC gaming keyboards? Let us know across our social channels.
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[Featured Image Credit: Razer/Mountain]