When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.
You don't need to break the bank to pick up key gaming features Touch Screen Overlay
If you're keen to save on your setup, the best membrane keyboards can help you stay nimble on the battlefield without breaking the bank. These decks won't hold up to their premium mechanical siblings, but with considerably lower price points and all the extra gaming features you could expect from more expensive models there's plenty to love here. The main sacrifice for that lower price point is the feel of each key. While a little heavier and generally less smooth than mechanical decks, though, the absolute best membrane keyboards on the market still manage to pack a satisfying punch.
We've had our hands on a wide range of membrane gaming keyboards, covering brands from SteelSeries to Razer, Corsair to Roccat. Many of these decks have made it to our roundup of the best gaming keyboards on the market right now, based on value for money and overall performance in the arena. Set against a backdrop of some seriously impressive decks, these keys still hold out well. That's why we've put together this collection of the very best decks available today.
Each model is put through a series of strenuous tests to make it here. We live with every keyboard that crosses our desks for weeks, if not months. Through work days, evening PC sessions, and stress-tests, we watch for durability, speed, ease of use, and comfort to make sure we're recommending the best of the bunch.
Why you can trust GamesRadar+ Our experts review games, movies and tech over countless hours, so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about our reviews policy.
The Roccat Magma is our top pick for the best membrane keyboard on the market right now. Between a unique RGB color system, a whole second layer of macro options, and a feel of genuine quality in each keypress, the Magma impressed in our testing. There's still more weight under each press when compared with a mechanical deck, but set against the membrane keyboard backdrop, this is a particularly satisfying model.
Thanks to a distinctive panel with RGB lighting sitting underneath the main board, the Magma cleverly disguises a drop in aesthetic customization options with a replacement effect that some may even prefer.
There's just enough resistance to ensure typing is comfortable yet tactile, and you'll still be able to tap away in a QTE without having to fight against a heavier actuation force. That's what makes the Magma so special - we were able to spend all day typing on these membrane keys, something we would struggle to achieve without fatigue on other options.
On top of that smooth experience, you're getting a full-sized deck with customizable RGB lighting and programmable macros for under $50 / £50. Membrane decks are cheap, but that's still excellent - even in this arena. You'll also find a detachable wrist rest included in that cost as well.
This is an all-rounder, perfect for anyone looking to spend a little more than bargain-bucket prices and still come away with solid value.
Read more: Roccat Magma review
If you're looking to save some space on your desktop, we'd recommend checking out the SteelSeries Apex 3 TKL. Smaller keyboards in this TKL form factor drop the number pad and a few function buttons to allow you more space to swing your mouse during more intense sessions. The best membrane keyboards in this size do so without sacrificing too many features, and that's where the Apex 3 comes into its own.
This isn't the gaming keyboard that's going to win you any ESL championships, but at $49.99, nobody is expecting it to.
Yes, in our testing we did find those membrane keys to be particularly heavy. Lighter typists beware, this isn't going to be a twitch-reflex experience. However, in a TKL form factor it's often the extra features which matter the most. The SteelSeries Swarm software allows you to completely reconfigure your keyboard's macro options, but you can also assign programmed commands on the fly as well - a feature we rarely spot at this lower price point. That's going to be integral to making the most of your TKL keyboard outside of gameplay - productivity uses are still catered for here.
Add 11 RGB lighting zones and dedicated media controls and you've got yourself a solid all-rounder here.
Read more: SteelSeries Apex 3 TKL review
You don't need to sacrifice core gaming features just because you're hunting down a membrane keyboard. In fact, the Corsair K55 RGB Pro excels in offering one of the most important features of all, still in a membrane deck. That's macro programming. Many premium decks offer a whole range of macro options, from individually assignable keys to dedicated extra buttons. Where you prefer to place your macros is down to personal play style, but there's plenty of functionality baked into Corsair's entry.
You're getting six additional buttons down the left side of the keyboard here, all fully dedicated to macro controls. Not only that, but you can assign these keys on the fly, a usually premium feature, or go more in-depth with Corsair's iCue software instead.
Product Label Stickers Not only that, but the Corsair K55 RGB Pro is still a solid deck elsewhere. Some of the keys can feel a little spongey under-hand, but there's still a nice snap here overall, and a fast debounce. That's to be expected from the brand behind some of the fastest decks on the market, though. You're also getting five-zone RGB lighting, a suite of dedicated media controls, and a detachable palm rest as well.