10 Best Backlit Keyboards 2025 in the United States

The SteelSeries Apex 3 is a solid choice for a backlit gaming keyboard, especially if you want vibrant RGB lighting without breaking the bank. It offers a 10-zone RGB illumination system, allowing for a range of colors and some reactive lighting effects. The whisper-quiet gaming switches stand out as they are designed to be nearly silent and comfortable for long gaming sessions, supporting up to 20 million key presses.

This keyboard is built with durability in mind, featuring an IP32 water-resistant rating that helps protect against accidental spills—a handy feature if you often have drinks nearby. The included premium magnetic wrist rest adds comfort during extended use, a thoughtful addition not always seen in this price range. It also has dedicated multimedia controls, allowing easy access to volume and settings without interrupting gameplay.

Using a wired connection, the Apex 3 is compatible across major platforms like Windows, Mac, Xbox, and PlayStation consoles, making it versatile for various gaming setups. If you want a reliable, quiet, and colorful backlit keyboard that can handle spills and offers extra comfort, this model is worth considering.

The SteelSeries Apex Pro HyperMagnetic Gaming Keyboard stands out with its highly customizable and fast-reacting OmniPoint 2.0 Adjustable HyperMagnetic switches. The 40 levels of per-key actuation allow gamers to fine-tune their experience, making it suitable for both ultra-light touches and deeper presses to prevent accidental actions. This is a significant advantage for competitive gamers who need precision and responsiveness.

The RGB backlighting offers vibrant and customizable color options, further enhancing the visual appeal and usability in low-light conditions. The OLED smart display adds a unique feature by providing at-a-glance information from games and apps, which can be a useful tool for multitasking during gaming sessions. Additionally, the USB passthrough adds convenience for connecting other USB-powered devices.

The keyboard includes a wrist rest, which enhances comfort during prolonged use, and its build quality appears solid, ensuring durability. This keyboard is most beneficial for serious gamers who value performance, customization, and added features like the OLED display. Casual users or those on a budget might find some features excessive or unnecessary. However, it is primarily wired and might not appeal to those who prefer wireless options. The price point might also be a consideration, as premium features often come at a higher cost.

The Corsair K70 RGB PRO Wired Mechanical Gaming Keyboard stands out in the gaming keyboard category with its customizable RGB backlighting. This allows for a variety of color options to suit your preferences or match your gaming setup. The brightness levels are adjustable, providing flexibility to adapt to different lighting conditions.

The Cherry MX RGB Red switches offer a linear and smooth keypress, favored by gamers for their quick and quiet response, and are built to last for up to 100 million keystrokes, making them a durable choice. The keycaps are made from polycarbonate, which is durable, although some users might prefer PBT keycaps for a more premium feel and higher resistance to shine over time. The aluminum frame adds to the durability and gives the keyboard a premium look, while the soft-touch palm rest enhances comfort during extended gaming sessions.

Additional features like the tournament switch, which locks to static backlighting and disables macros, can help gamers stay focused under competitive conditions. The 8,000Hz hyper-polling rate, powered by CORSAIR AXON technology, ensures fast and responsive input processing, which is a significant advantage in high-paced gaming scenarios. On the downside, the keyboard's wired connectivity might be seen as a limitation for users who prefer a cable-free setup, and the relatively high weight (2.53 pounds) might not be ideal for portability. Despite these minor drawbacks, the Corsair K70 RGB PRO is a solid choice for serious gamers looking for performance, durability, and a range of customization options.