So you want a gaming keyboard that is actually going to make you a better player. I do understand, you know. You don’t want to be cannon fodder for the pro gamers anymore, do you? I don’t blame you. Who wants to be shot in the head multiple times a day? I Know I don’t want to be. But don’t worry for these keyboards will transform you from noob to ninja in no time at all.

The great thing about the keyboards I looked at is, they come in all different shapes and sizes, colors and lighting setups. There really is something for everybody here.
You can get some amazing ones for well under $50 dollars that will do everything you could ever dream of a keyboard doing for you. (Whow, steady on there!) Keyboards that will only be marginally inferior to the setups pro’s use. So save yourself some cash and use it for a victory beer after you win!

Yes you could argue, and I knew you would, that more expensive keyboards will have more features or,  as I like to call them, gimmicks. And they are nice to have. Yes I’m a sucker for gimmicks. I got a Nintendo Wii on day one and loved it! But thats all they are, gimmicks to draw you in so you part with a wod of cash. Be smart people. You can have some sweet keyboard action for little more than the price of a meal.

So, lets take a look at what I consider the best gaming keyboards for under $50 and start your gaming revolution today.

HAVIT Rainbow Backlit Wired Gaming Keyboard and Mouse Combo (White) [ 2017 Model ]

Ok, first something a little different. How about keyboard that is so white,so devoid of colour that if you dropped it in snow, you would loose it? Now, has everybody reading this started nodding their heads in approval thinking, ‘Ow yes, that’s exactly what I need.’ If so, and you really should, read on and be dazzled Havit’s white wonder.

Outside of being completely White, the Havit offers up surprisingly good build quality throughout its construction along with a number of aesthetic perks that will draw you in. Again, just in case you didn’t get it, its white. White body and white keys. What other keyboard can say that?

To contrast this fluffy cloud appearance (I couldn’t think of anything else white at the time… A rabbit??), Havit have offered up a rainbow LED light setup under the keys. It looks, surprisingly, rather cool in person. Because, to be honest, I thought it was going to look purity crap. And if your heart so desires the variation, these lights can be set to 4 different lighting variations.

These include: High, which makes your eyes bleed. Medium which is right for purity much everybody. Low, which is completely invisible and drowned out by the glare of the white. And pulling which will make your eyes bleed and your head pop off. There is a fifth, hidden variation… You can turn them off. Great.

The one negative about the keyboard isn’t actually a problem with the keyboard itself but the fact that a mouse was forced on you as part of the deal. Like when you get a hot new girlfriend/boyfriend and their ugly best friend came as part of the package.

I can’t help but think that PC gaming people buy their mice and keyboards separately. So why throw in an afterthought of a mouse that is just going to raise the price?

Overall from a design point of view the Havit really stands out and if you are the type to say, ‘look what I’ve got,’ then you will love it.

As for the usability and feel you can immediately tell that all the money has gone into the looks of the thing and nothing else. Don’t misunderstand me, it’s a fantastic non mechanical keyboard that is leaps ahead of any pack in garbage you can get, but you can feel that the aesthetically pleased among you was the target market here.

The key pressing does feel good and responsive and the keyboard comes with anti-ghosting technology, which is the ability to press as many keys as you want simultaneously without the keyboard blowing up. I was hard pressed to find other usability features, though I did tease out a few details in regards to interchangeable WASD keys and that you can turn off the stupid Windows Key. And thats it, not much else, From a usability point of view, the Havit is very lite on features.

But, If you want a keyboard that stands out from the crowed and is different, then you really wont find another keyboard at this price point that is going to come close to the Havit. With its slick white lines and multi hued LED system, anybody who looks at it is going to ask, ‘ where did you get that? It’s so cool!’ And admit it, your ego would love that!

SADES K10 LED Backlit Wired USB Mechanical Gaming Keyboard with Blue Switches – Black / Gold

Lets welcome are first true contender for the best gaming keyboard under $50: The Sades k10. A great little keyboard that looks as good as it feels with full mechanical keys available for your personal gaming pleasure.

First of all, and this is a personal opinion, I think this is a stunning keyboard that comes in a tantalizingly small package. Like all 5 foot 6 of me. As soon as you lay your eyes on the K10 you will want it. It oozes class. On the upper of its body it has a full, Gold colored, plastic body that is housed in an embracing lower metal case that provides added rigidity and protection.

Which is great, because you know eventually, as we all do, you will throw it in a fit of anger when you get shot, stabbed, stealth killed, overtaken or whatever other game death you regularly partake in. Along with this fancy shell you get a full color light array which looks cool almost like some dug infused 60’s camper van turned inside out. I mean, come on, just look at the picture.

Ok, the light comes from the underneath the keys but remember your not paying $150 for this thing. And one last thing about its design. Even though it is incredibly small, its actually a full size keyboard.

So you have stand out looks and a full size keyboard to be playing around with. But how does it feel.

Fortunately the feel of the typing experience is great. This is the first keyboard we are looking at that has a full set of mechanical keys to give you a real, solid tactile response with each press. The mechanism in use is not a cherry system but a custom build that is the equivalent of the cherry MX Blue.

So you get a key that needs medium pressure to activate and as a result of your finger tickling the it down, you get a suitably delicious click sound each and every time. Every depression of a key giving you a real advantage in gaming as it is an extra bit of feedback that can used as an audible cue.

Simply put, you would never have found a keyboard like this, with its mechanical feedback system at this price point, as little as 2 years ago. We are talking about near pro gaming levels of performance here.

So there we are. The Sades marries great looks with even better feedback that puts your average spongy, throw-away, pack in HP (I hate HP) keyboard to shame. If you are looking for a gaming keyboard, make sure you give this slim and fit bad boy a look. You wont be disappointed.

EagleTec KG010 Gaming / Industrial / Office Mechanical Keyboard With LED Backlit 104 Key (Black)

All black and with sweat blue LED lighting, the EagleTec KG010 mechanical keyboard will give you the feedback you need to up the level up your skills.

The first thing you are going to notice about the Eagle is its simplicity. I mean, the only thing that isn’t black plastic on this thing is the key symbols and a bit of blue LED lighting around the edges. It looks as uncreative as the best of Microsoft’s efforts. The closes thing I can think of to compare it to is brick. If you painted it black and minus the weight.

There is no changing colors. No fancy LED Lighting setups. It’s just blue or off. Nice choice there. And it looks quite chunky, like they want to child proof it or something. If Tonka made keyboards they would ask Eagle to design them.  We are talking about super basic that is not going to thrill. But, and there is a but…

The Eagle does do one thing extremely well: It has precision tactile mechanical mechanisms under every key and you will be loving it. Yes, for looks, it could win awards for being the blandest peace of plastic on earth. But, for feel, this is a rather surprising lump of plastic.

The eagle Provides a rip off of the acclaimed cherry MX blue mechanical actuator. What does this mean in plain English though? Well basicly it means that you get a nice bit of travel and resistance on the key press along with a little bump to let you know you have pressed it, finishing off with a crisp and cute little click sound. Feedback for the finger and the ear that will add immeasurably to your in game control.

The EagleTec is saved from the bins of mediocrity by offering up almost class leading feedback and finger singing control. If you don’t mind bland looks the EagleTec could be the keyboard for you.

Redragon K552 KUMARA LED Backlit Mechanical Gaming Keyboard (Black)

The Redragon Kumara (nice name, sounds like a cat) is the first keyboard here that really is closing in on the high end Gaming keyboards that would usually cost well over $150. If you want a keyboard that can compete with the best without having to sell off a kidney in a dark alley, the Kumara is the one to look at.

Understated brilliance. Thats the first thing I thought the first time I saw, and subsequently used, the ‘Ragon keyboard. Its a tiny Keyboard, not fully laden with a number pad but it feels and looks like it should be in a fighter jet cockpit. Its black angular lines punctuated with red LDE lighting, Redragon effort is simple and that’s a beautiful thing.

You only get exactly what you need. Though you do get one welcome extra. It’s waterproof so if you have any ‘accidents,’ it wont just die on you mid game. It’s made mostly of metal so its heard wearing and can take a beating. This is the little keyboard that can… and will.

Under those understated look beats the heart of champion gaming keyboard. The Kumara is one of the few gaming keyboards that comes with it’s own customer version of the cherry green mechanical actuator. What does this mean for you though. Well, the green actuator is nearly exactly the same as the blue actuator. The same tactile bump to let you know its been pressed.

The same satisfying click at the end. But there is one difference and that is the green mechanism is stiffer to press and takes more effort to push down. This apparently leads to less mistakes being made when playing games. Maybe I’m just a little heavy handed, but I can personally vouch for this when I have used this keyboard in game.

The feedback, the feel, its all remarkable

Yes I might be a little biased but get this know people, it’s amazing. It feel like Redragon has gone and said, ‘Here you go gamers. We made a $150 keyboard and we want to sell it to you for $40. Don’t worry, we will pay the difference.’ You need to follow the link and buy one right now. Because, wow, this keyboard is amazing for the price.

TOMOKO 87 Key Mechanical Keyboard, Water-Resistant Mechanical Gaming Keyboard with Blue Switch, Anti-ghosting Keys (Black)

The Tomoko may sacrifice good looks but it offers up the best tactile experience of any keyboard listed here. It’s the one you definitely need to take a look at.

The Tomoko 87 is, I must admit, very basic looking. But like the girl next door (admit it, you looked!) appearances can be very, very deceiving. The design is basic. Its not a full keyboard which makes it conveniently small and light. It has no extra features or buttons. It has no LED what so ever. But Do you really need them? If you have to look down at your keyboard to find the keys you not winning tournaments anytime soon. And there is not even a light underneath the Tomoko logo. How modest of them.

It is however, pretty much water proof. A running theme is keyboards these days it seems. It even comes with a couple a drainage holes at the bottom of the all metal chassis to help drain away unwanted fluid. The keyboard has also been designed to be ergonomic in shape so as to save you wrists from stress related fatigue.

As if a keyboard is going to be the reason for that!  But seriously, if basic doesn’t bother you then underneath is a real gem to be had.

Peel away all that black plastic and you will see the glimpse of a jewel hidden in mechanical magnificence. Because, for feel this is probably the best keyboard, at this price point, that I have looked at.

It just feels so right to use. You know the feeling when you slip on your favourite teams jersey on before a big game. The Tomoko is the only Keyboard on this list that uses True Cherry MX Blue Mechanical switches. In fact, I believe that it maybe the only keyboard anywhere, ever to have Cherry blues at this amazing price.

Now your probably thinking, ‘Come on nick. They are only switches and the other companies have copied them.’

But your wrong. The cherry Blue offers up such detail in the tactile response it feels like your pocking your finger into… Well I shall stop there.

Each actuator needs as little as 60 grams of pressure to activate. Stiff enough to avoid mistakes but easy enough to move so as to double tap. And with the Blue you get that scrumptious activation bump followed by the fully pressed click.

Music to the ears and a mechanical massage for the finger tips. It has, simply put, stunning feedback.

This is a $150 keyboard in under $50 clothing. Stunning achievement by TOMOKO, yes they made some aesthetic sacrifices but they are worth it in every way. I may prefer the Redragon, but If you get this keyboard not only will you save your self $100 over getting a top brand. You will be getting one of the best keyboards for gaming on the market at this price point. A must buy.