Blog

Feb 11, 2024

The Best Quiet Gaming Keyboards in 2023

Even though mechanical keyboards are all the rage, some players prefer to keep things peaceful with quieter keyboards. Gaming keyboards are great for many things, but for those gamers who want a

Even though mechanical keyboards are all the rage, some players prefer to keep things peaceful with quieter keyboards.

Gaming keyboards are great for many things, but for those gamers who want a quieter option to the typical clickity-clackity keyboards, pickings can seem slim. Whether it's for streamers, who don't want the keyboard noise to pick up on the microphone, or for those midnight gamers in a shared space who don't want to disturb people close to them. A quiet, competitive keyboard can be an absolute game-changer.

Of course, those gamers in the DIY mechanical keyboard might know some hacks to make any keyboard silent, but all the keyboards on this list are silent out of the box, with some having the option to add silencing foam to some to make it even quieter.

RELATED:

The Most Customizable Keyboards

When looking for a quiet gaming keyboard, there are a few things to keep in mind:

Switch Type: What kind of switches are in the keyboard, and which is the quietest?

Case Material: What materials is the keyboard made of, and does it lend itself to a quieter keyboard?

The Varmilo 75% mechanical keyboard is one of the quietest keyboards on the market, thanks to the Daisy L silent switches. Besides its incredibly quiet typing experience, this keyboard is a treat to look at, with 4 colorways that really stand out from its competitors. If the silent keyboard doesn't work out, no worries, this keyboard has hot- swappable switches, making it easy to customize the experience for every gamer.

The Varmilo Minilo is the best quiet keyboard overall because it's pretty affordable, but does not cheap out on quality components, and with the Daisy L silent switches, this keyboard is barely audible when it's being used. Plus, it is hard to find a better mechanical keyboard that offers three different connection modes at this price point.

Many gamers might not recognize the name Varmilo, but maybe more should. This Chinese keyboard brand has been making excellent mechanical keyboards for years, and the Minilo is easily one of the best near-silent keyboards out there. Typically, to get to the level of typing experience, gamers would need to build a DIY board and lube their own switches. That being said, the Minilo has a hot-swappable PCB, so users can replace the switches with quieter ones, if they find even more silent switches.

For most gamers, a 75% layout rides that line of small enough to have enough mouse space but not so small that the keyboard loses functionality. There is a dedicated function row, arrow keys, and all the usual page-up and page-down buttons along the side. Gamers who don't like the typical black RGB design will be pleasantly surprised with the colorways available for the Minilo. There is a colorway inspired by the original Nintendo design for those SNES fans.

The Apex Pro is one of the higher-end premium gaming keyboards on the market. This wired keyboard comes with adjustable OmniPoint switches, which allow customization of the actuation point between 0.4 and 3.6 millimeters for a more personalized feel. The smart OLED display provides information in games, delivers Discord messages, or displays Spotify songs. The build is durable and stable thanks to a frame built from aircraft-grade aluminum alloy.

SteelSeries is known for making fantastic gaming peripherals that can enhance anyone's gaming experience, and the Apex Pro keyboard can do that easily while not making a ton of noise, either. Thanks to the Omni point adjustable switches, this keyboard is quiet and will not annoy anyone nearby. However, because these switches are linear, they will not give users the tactile bump like other mechanical keyboards.

Besides being quiet, these excellent switches also allow users to program two different inputs to the same key just by pressing down with an additional amount of pressure to trigger one or the other. So instead of holding down shift to run, gamers can program a harder press of "W" to run and a softer press to walk.

RELATED:

Best Gaming Headsets

The Apex Pro also has a slew of media controls and a smart OLED display that can be programmed to show things like GIFs or message notifications. All of this is controlled by the included software that all other SteelSeries devices use, so gamers who already own a SteelSeries mouse or headset will not have to download another piece of software to get the most out of this keyboard.

Everything about this keyboard quietly screams excellence, but the price can deter some gamers.

The Corsair K55 RGB Pro is a gaming keyboard that features an RGB lighting system with six onboard effects and different zones that can be lit with separate colors. The illumination is customizable and users can program their own effects to be displayed on the five RGB zones using Corsair's iCUE software. The keyboard supports complex macros with six dedicated keys that allow functions, shortcuts, and multiple key presses with just one keystroke. For streamers, the keyboard features instant streaming commands using the Elgato Stream Deck software.

Although it may seem like mechanical keyboards are the only option for PC gamers, membrane keyboards offer nearly silent operation due to the rubber domes that actuate a key press instead of a mechanical switch. Plus, these keyboards tend to be much more affordable. The Corsair K55 fits the bill perfectly for an affordable keyboard, has a silent typing experience, and is still a joy to game with. Even though most of this keyboard is made out of plastic, the K55 has an excellent overall feel and build quality. Full-sized keyboard fans will be delighted with the K55; this keyboard has a number pad and a full row of dedicated macro keys on the other side, no more multi-button shortcuts to worry about.

Whether for typing, general computer use, or fast-paced gaming, the K55 will provide an excellent experience, especially for this price point. Unlike many mechanical keyboards, the K55 is not customizable, so what comes out of the box is what gamers are stuck with. By no means is that bad, but for those users who like to tinker with their keyboard and really make it their own, the K55 may not be the best option.

The Logitech MX Keys Mini for Mac is a super compact and portable keyboard solution for users who are all about productivity. Relying on a rock-solid Bluetooth connection, the MX Keys Mini can connect to the MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, iMac, iPads, and other mobile devices, and seamlessly switch between them. The MX Keys Mini also features a remarkable battery life of up to 5 months without backlighting enabled. The Logitech MX Keys Mini is currently heavily discounted at Amazon and makes an excellent gift for Mac or PC users looking for multi-device connectivity.

The Logitech MX wireless mini is not necessarily a gaming keyboard, yet it is an excellent option for anyone who wants a thin, portable keyboard that won't make a ruckus when typing on it. For those who want such features, it can also be used to game occasionally. This incredibly thin keyboard can easily slide into any bag and be a great companion for a laptop user or even as a keyboard for a tablet with its Bluetooth connection. Because it is so thin, the MX mini does not have mechanical switches, but it still provides tactile feedback and kind of feels like the old MacBook keyboards that were an absolute joy to type on.

RELATED:

Must-Have PC Travel Accessories

This keyboard can only connect wirelessly via Bluetooth, so the latency is not ideal for faster-paced gaming, but for those games that aren't as intense, this keyboard works perfectly fine. Although it's not great for gaming, the Bluetooth connection allows users to pair with 3 devices simultaneously and quickly switch between them for multitasking across multiple devices at once.

For those users who want a keyboard like this but don't like the 60% layout, the full-sized cousin to this keyboard is available for the same price.

The GamaKay TK75 compact 75% keyboard uses the near-silent Pegasus switches to ensure the user's typing experience is still tactile but not incredibly loud. The keyboard features an EVA positioning plate and bottom filling for a soft and responsive feel. The gasket mount design enhances stability and reduces typing noise for an immersive gaming experience. With a powerful 3000mAh battery, the GK GAMAKAY TK75 offers long-lasting performance without frequent charging. Enjoy extended gaming or work sessions without worrying about interruptions or low battery alerts.

For DIY fans who don't want to build a keyboard all by themselves, this pre-built mechanical keyboard from GamaKay perfectly blends the ability to customize a keyboard with the simplicity of having a keyboard ready to use out of the box. The TK75 comes out of the box almost as silent as a mechanical keyboard can get, mostly thanks to GamaKay's Pegasus switches. These switches come pre-lubed from the factory, so there is no need to pop off all the keycaps before enjoying this keyboard. Users who want to re-lube switches or swap out keycaps will appreciate that the TK75 comes with a keycap and switch puller. However, the included keycaps have a fun legend that helps with the pre-programmed macros.

Speaking of macros, despite only having 81 keys, this keyboard is jam-packed with shortcuts. Users can change these shortcuts using the included software to fit their needs more, but that does mess with the included legend. GamaKay's software is only available on Windows, so MacOS users will be stuck with default shortcuts. Using this software on Windows is pretty straightforward; with its visual editor, users can select which combination of keys they want to use for the shortcut. This is a nice change of pace compared to some macro editors that are all text-based instead.

The most significant factor affecting the sound of the keyboard is what kind of switches the keyboard uses. Membrane keyboard users don't really have to worry about this because there are not a ton of different membrane-style PCBs to choose from. However, there are hundreds upon hundreds of options to choose from when it comes to mechanical switches. Luckily, these many options can be broken down into three main types: Linear, Clicky, and Tactile.

Linear switches will provide a smooth keypress with no bump or tactile feedback at the end of its travel, making them typically the quietest option. Linear switches also have lighter actuation force, making them easier to press with a more delicate touch.

Clicky switches are defined by the click or ping they deliver when the key is pressed to the bottom of its travel. For this reason, Users looking for a quiet keyboard should steer clear of clicky switches. However, for touch typists, the audible sound can make it easier to type without looking down at the keyboard.

Tactile switches have a bump in the middle of the keypress, letting users know that they have actuated the key. Tactile switches are typically quieter than clicky switches because they do not have the click or ping when they hit the bottom of their travel. Unlike linear, tactile switches still provide feedback, so tactile switches might be the way to go for users who are in a shared environment but still want to touch type.

The second factor in choosing a quiet keyboard is the case material and what is in the case. Many higher-end keyboards will have aluminum or metal case, which typically reduces the sound of the keyboard a bit more than plastic. But that doesn't mean a plastic case can't be quiet. Keyboard cases can act as either a reverberation chamber, making each key press louder, or as a noise-canceling booth that soaks up all the sound and does not let it travel far. However, like many PC accessories, what is in the case matters more than what it is made out of.

A fairly empty case, regardless of what it is made up of, will create more noise than a case filled tightly and with little room for noise to reverberate. For this reason, many keyboards have started including sound-dampening foam to reduce the noise created by key presses. However, gamers are not entirely out of luck if a keyboard does not come with foam pre-installed. There are tons of hacks to make keyboards quieter, like using painter's tape, for example. With keyboards that can be opened up, users can put tape into the case to fill up hollow spots or even inside keycaps to do the same.

Cherry MX blue switches are not the quietest switch option because they do provide quite a noticeable noisy feedback.

Red switches typically represent linear switches and are usually the quietest option for mechanical switches. Brown switches, on the other hand, are tactile switches, so they will not be the loudest but probably louder than most red switches. Many switch naming conventions follow the same rule, so a red, brown, or blue switch will provide a similar experience regardless of the brand they are coming from.

We hope you like the items we recommend and discuss! Game Rant has affiliate and sponsored partnerships, so we receive a share of the revenue from some of your purchases. This won’t affect the price you pay and helps us offer the best product recommendations.

Marc Storch is a tech writer currently based in Denver, Colorado. His experience includes extensive work training senior citizens in the ever-changing world of technology. He is passionate about making tech accessible to all and being excellent to each other. Outside of writing about tech and video games, Marc has a background in video editing and broadcasting. When not writing or playing games with his friends (He is currently on a break from Breath Of The Wild due to a misunderstanding over mushroom-to-diamond exchange rates), Marc enjoys being a camera operator and broadcast tech for an indie wrestling league and traveling with his partner all over the world. Marc feels it is vitally important for readers to note that all his work is carefully proofread by his black cat Rue who has very strong opinions and will only accept payments in the form of cheese.