Best keyboard for CS2
In this handy guide, we’re exploring the realm of the best keyboard for CS2, ensuring your gaming setup is both complete and competitive. As we delve into the features, designs, and technological aspects of various keyboards, we aim to aid you in making an informed decision, aligning with both your gaming needs and aesthetic preferences for playing CS2.
The keyboard is an essential element of your Counter-Strike gaming setup, often overlooked for the more glamorous graphics cards and monitors. However, a robust, responsive keyboard can significantly enhance your gameplay, ensuring every keystroke counts in high-pressure situations. Let’s unpack the best keyboard for the upgrade of the infamous FPS Counter-Strike.
Products at a Glance
How did we pick the best keyboard for CS2?
No matter what game you’re playing, having a comfortable keyboard that promotes good posture, increased productivity, and supports your ability to game with precision and accuracy is essential. In selecting the best keyboard for CS2, we’ve delved deeply into publicly available benchmarks and reviews from various trusted sources. Using our topic knowledge and PC peripheral expertise, we’ve weighed up the keyboard’s performances, including key switches, actuation point, and key rollover. While considering different price points, we’ve focused on ensuring high quality and performance, providing options that offer the best value for your investment.
User feedback and community discussions have also been valuable resources, helping us understand the real-world performance and potential issues of each keyboard. We’ve paid attention to the needs of Counter-Strike 2 players specifically, focusing on features like quick actuation, robust build, and effective backlighting, ensuring the keyboards we recommend not only stand up to the demands of the game but also enhance your overall gaming experience.
For further help in finding the right keyboard upgrade for your rig, we’ve got you covered with our guides to the best mouse and keyboard combo, the overall best gaming keyboards in 2023, as well as the best gaming keyboard under $100 for the budget conscious buyer.
Product Reviews
- Flawless wireless connection
- Sturdy, sleek build
- Multi-device connectivity
- Expensive
- Subpar keycaps
- Non-hot-swappable PCB
If you are in search of a compact and stylish keyboard, the Logitech G915 TKL might just catch your eye. It boasts a sturdy build, and multi-device connectivity options including Bluetooth and USB, and GL Clicky, GL Tactile, and GL Linear switches. The RGB lighting adds an aesthetic touch, and the dimensions make it comfortably compact, fitting snugly into various setups with plenty of space for your mouse.
This keyboard is ideal for the user who values both form and function. The seamless wireless connection ensures that your gaming or work will not be interrupted, and the added media keys and volume rocker enhance usability. Low-profile mechanical switches offer the speed, accuracy, and performance of a mechanical switch at half the height. Additionally, the tenkeyless design and lack of a numpad provide more room for mouse movement. However, take note of the price tag and the not-so-premium keycaps. Despite these, the Logitech G915 TKL stands out as a top choice for those desiring uninterrupted, stylish, and functional operation. For some alternative options of a similar size, check out our picks of the best 60% keyboards.
- Customizable actuation point
- Included wrist rest
- USB passthrough
- Subpar keycaps
- The OLED screen feels gimmicky
- Limited OmniPoint switches
For those who prioritize customization and comfort, the SteelSeries Apex Pro stands tall. This TKL keyboard, with OmniPoint switches, allows for personalized actuation points, ensuring your keystrokes are as you like them. Additional features like the USB passthrough and a handy volume wheel add to the convenience, while the included wrist rest promises comfort during long usage.
This keyboard is for the individual who wants control over their typing experience and value-added features. Adjust the actuation point to your liking for each game or task and enjoy the comfort of the wrist rest. However, be aware of the subpar keycaps and the limited OmniPoint switches only in the main cluster, which might be a letdown for some users. Overall, this keyboard makes a great choice for playing CS2, and will pair perfectly with any SteelSeries peripherals you’ve already got in your setup.
- Straightforward design
- Detachable cable
- Sturdy build quality
- Red backlighting only
- Limited customization options
- Slightly heavy at 1100g
The HyperX Alloy FPS stands out with its clean, no-nonsense design. Equipped with various Cherry MX switch options (Red, Brown, Blue) and a detachable cable, this full-size keyboard is built to last. It has a non-hot-swappable PCB, and it is hefty at 1100g, ensuring stability during intense gaming sessions.
This keyboard is tailor-made for gamers who want a straightforward, reliable keyboard without the flashiness of RGB lights. The HyperX Alloy FPS is practical with its detachable cable making it portable and easy to manage. However, the red backlighting is fixed, and customization options are quite limited, which might deter those who like to personalize their setup.
- Hot-swappable PCB
- Sturdy build quality
- Compact TKL design
- Non-premium feeling keycaps
- Non-standard bottom row
- Slightly heavy at 980g
The Logitech G Pro X is a keyboard that emphasizes ease and reliability. With its hot-swappable PCB, you can easily change switches to suit your preference. Despite its non-standard bottom row, it offers a solid build, RGB lighting, and a compact TKL form factor, giving you functionality without occupying excess space.
This keyboard is perfect for gamers and professionals alike who desire flexibility and durability. The ability to easily change switches means you can customize the feel to your liking, enhancing your gaming or typing experience. The sturdy build guarantees longevity, ensuring that the Logitech G Pro X remains a constant in your setup and won’t fail you through your CS2 missions. However, the keycaps might not meet everyone’s expectations, and the bottom row may cause minor inconvenience when changing keycaps.
Features and considerations
Ultimately, the choice best Counter-Strike keyboard will come down to personal preference, but numerous features still come into play. A swift actuation point for keys ensures that your commands are registered swiftly, providing an edge in the fast-paced environment of CS2. Mechanical keyboards tend to offer this advantage along with a satisfying tactile feel, which many gamers prefer. Backlighting is more than just a visual perk; it can be a practical advantage in dim gaming environments, ensuring you hit the right keys every time.
The size and design of the keyboard are crucial for comfort and functionality. A compact design without a numeric keypad, known as a tenkeyless (TKL) keyboard, can provide more desk space for mouse movement, essential for games like CS2 where low mouse sensitivity settings often require large mouse swipes. Ergonomics, build quality, and additional programmable keys are other features to look for, enhancing both your gaming performance and comfort during extended gaming sessions. To perfectly match your Counter-Strike oriented gaming keyboard, why not have a look at our picks of the best gaming mouse for CS2? However, for those looking for a more hardware-focused upgrade, we’ve also got guides to the best CPU and best GPU for Counter-Strike 2.
What keyboard do pro Counter-Strike players use?
While it may vary, on the while players do tend to use Logitech. The preference of many professional CS players leans towards models like the Logitech G Pro X and the G915 TKL. These keyboards offer a blend of performance, durability, and advanced features that cater to the high demands of competitive gaming
Our Verdict
In wrapping up our search for the best keyboard for CS2, each option we’ve explored brings something valuable to the table. The Logitech G915 TKL and the G Pro X are both exceptional choices with their robust build and performance-focused features, catering particularly to professional and serious gamers.
The HyperX Alloy FPS and the SteelSeries Apex Pro round out the selection by offering simplicity and customization, respectively, ensuring that every type of CS2 gamer can find something that suits their needs.