10 Best Illuminated Keyboards 2026 in the United States

The Razer Huntsman V3 Pro TKL Esports Gaming Keyboard stands out in the illuminated-keyboards category with its RGB backlighting color support, offering a wide range of colors for a personalized experience. It includes adjustable brightness levels, allowing users to set the illumination to their preference, enhancing the visual appeal and usability in various lighting conditions.

The Analog Optical Switches GEN-2 are a notable feature, providing remarkable precision and responsiveness, with an adjustable actuation range of 0.1–4.0 mm. This makes the keyboard particularly suitable for gaming, especially FPS games, as it supports ultra-fast inputs and movements. The Rapid Trigger and Razer Snap Tap technologies further enhance this, ensuring swift and accurate input recognition, critical for competitive gaming scenarios.

The keyboard also boasts high build quality with Doubleshot PBT Keycaps and a wrist rest for added comfort during prolonged use. However, it primarily targets gamers, particularly those in the esports realm, which might limit its appeal for general use or other professional applications. Additionally, some features like the latest firmware update requirement for Razer Snap Tap might necessitate occasional maintenance. Nevertheless, its exceptional performance and gaming-centric features make it a top choice for dedicated gamers looking for an edge in their gameplay.

The Razer BlackWidow V4 X stands out with its Yellow mechanical linear switches that offer smooth, quiet, and very fast key responses, making it great for gamers who want rapid inputs without noisy clicks. It has excellent build quality, featuring doubleshot ABS keycaps that resist wear and provide durability for heavy use. Lighting is a strong point here, with vibrant per-key Chroma RGB backlighting offering over 16.8 million colors and dynamic effects that can sync with games, adding a customizable and immersive visual experience. Users can easily adjust brightness and personalize their lighting setup.

The keyboard also includes 6 dedicated macro keys for quick command execution, which is handy for gaming or productivity tasks, plus a multifunction roller and media keys for convenient control over volume and brightness without leaving your game or work. While the linear Yellow switches are great for speed, some users may prefer tactile or clicky feedback, which this model doesn’t provide. Also, the doubleshot ABS keycaps are durable but may not feel as premium as PBT keycaps found on higher-end keyboards. Weighing about 2.5 pounds, it’s fairly sturdy but not overly heavy. For those seeking a stylish, durable, and feature-rich mechanical keyboard with quiet, fast switches and strong lighting customization, the BlackWidow V4 X is a solid choice, especially for gamers who benefit from extra macros and media controls.

The SteelSeries Apex Pro HyperMagnetic Gaming Keyboard is a strong contender for gamers seeking customization and speed. With OmniPoint 2.0 Adjustable HyperMagnetic switches, it offers an impressive 40 levels of per-key actuation, allowing users to tailor key sensitivity to their preferences. This feature is particularly beneficial for gaming, where rapid response times can be crucial. The rapid trigger mechanism further enhances performance by reducing latency, allowing for faster actuation than many traditional mechanical keyboards.

A standout feature is the OLED smart display, which provides quick access to information from games and apps, and pairs well with the media key and clickable metal roller for easy control. The RGB backlighting offers a broad range of color options, enhancing the visual appeal and allowing for personalized lighting setups. The keyboard's build quality appears robust, and the included wrist rest adds comfort for extended gaming sessions.

Additional features like USB passthrough are convenient for connecting other devices, adding functional versatility to the setup. However, the keyboard is corded, which might limit mobility for some users who prefer wireless options. The SteelSeries Apex Pro is highly rated, with 4.5 out of 5 stars from over 6,000 reviews, but it can be a bit overwhelming for users who are not deeply into gaming or those who prefer a simpler setup without numerous customization options. Therefore, it might be best suited for dedicated gamers or tech enthusiasts who can truly utilize its advanced features.