What is a gaming keyboard? Is it worth the money?

There's no shortage of unique gaming peripherals that can solve a specific problem. From steering wheels attached to controllers to dedicated macro pads for assigning control features, there are so many gaming peripherals that it can be confusing.

What is a gaming keyboard?

A gaming keyboard is essentially a one-handed keyboard. These typically include keys around the "WASD" area - including those commonly used in first-person shooters, along with some macro keys. Some models even have a thumbstick.

The main reason for their existence is to provide gamers with an additional and smaller keyboard to play any game they like while still maintaining the familiar keyboard layout. Additionally, they contain macro keys that allow the player to bind certain actions to nearby keys, saving the player from having to reach for another key at the bottom of the keyboard.

What is a gaming keyboard? Is it worth the money? Picture 1

This ensures better ergonomics when playing games. Having a game-specific layout with all the keys at hand is a lot more convenient than having to juggle tasks on a full-size keyboard, where you might have to put your hands in different places. difficult to press keys.

Gaming keyboards also provide additional functions such as joysticks or even dedicated switches for better in-game control. They also often have better software support than keyboards in the same price range, meaning you have more configuration options than other keyboards.

Remember that gaming keypads don't necessarily replicate the same key layout as on a keyboard. They make some adjustments to the position of each key so that the hand doesn't have to move as much, but all the necessary keys are within reach. Some gamepads even ditch the traditional "WASD" layout, switching instead to a symmetrical layout.

Why not use the keyboard?

After all, a gaming keypad is essentially half a keyboard, so it's a very legitimate question. The main point to consider here is the price and the benefits that gaming keypads bring. There are unique features that gaming keypads offer, but at the end of the day they are still keyboards.

The keyboard is designed to make typing comfortable. This usually results in a good typing experience but it doesn't necessarily guarantee a good gaming experience. Gaming keypads, on the other hand, aim for a balance between maintaining a keyboard-like layout, while also making the keyboard more ergonomic and especially more feature-rich for gaming.

What is a gaming keyboard? Is it worth the money? Picture 2

This ensures that you don't have to get used to a different format or change years of muscle memory on your keyboard to have more control over your gaming experience. They're also much cheaper than high-quality gaming keyboards, meaning you can completely separate your typing and gaming experiences.

Should I buy a gaming keypad?

If you have the extra budget and feel like you could benefit from another peripheral, you should buy it by all means. Not only does it free your keyboard from any impacts that may occur during gaming, but gaming keypads also allow for more control, more options, and a much more comfortable gaming experience than with full-sized keyboards.

There's nothing a gaming keypad can do that a keyboard can't do with just a few software tweaks. While this will vary depending on the type of keyboard you have, you can still get almost all the functions, so a gaming keypad isn't necessarily a requirement.

Also, as always, remember that peripherals do not determine in-game performance. It's more important to have fun with what you have instead of upgrading for better performance.

Lesley Montoya

Update 25 June 2024