The 7 Best Gaming Keypads
Special Honors
ZSA Moonlander An evolution of the popular Ergodox EZ, the Moonlander is a customizable split keyboard that's fully programmable and has a range of ergonomic enhancements. It's one of the few options out there for left-handed gamers. zsa.io
Editor's Notes
December 24, 2020:
If you want something reasonably priced, go for the Redragon K585 DITI, or for something that's not flashy, the Koolertron SMKD92. Fans of complex MMOs or combo-heavy fighting games will appreciate the huge wealth of keys on the Aula 109R and how easy it is to reach them. As far as relatively keyboard-like models go, though, the Razer Tartarus Pro is basically impossible to beat. It's immensely well designed and has a host of premium features that place it very clearly at the top of the pack.
We also want to mention the Logitech G13 Gameboard, which is a great device in its own right, but due to some specific durability issues, has been discontinued. It might not last for years, but the issues that it does have are often fixable if you're handy. Then there's the Azeron Classic, which, as you can see, is very weird, but many dedicated gamers simply love it.
January 16, 2019:
First off, keep in mind that these things will be under a lot of stress. So make sure you take care of it, and keep it clean. And they tend to have very different installation and programming methods. These all offer a widely varying range of features, and depending on what you need, it's important to get the one that will work right for you. If you're just testing the keypad waters, try the Teshiuck or Sades, because they cost next to nothing, and so make a great starting point. If your mitts are wide enough, the Aula is a good option, and it's laid out in a perfect grid, whereas most of the others are offset like those on a normal keyboard.. The Razer OrbWeaver tries very hard to be a professional-quality device, and with a little bit of extra upkeep and maintenance, it's quite satisfactory, if expensive. Incidentally, the Razer Tartarus (either version) is not recommended; we've just seen too many dissatisfied customers. Southpaws should look into the Deebol, because it's the only good symmetrical one we could find. Oddly enough, in a category full of breathing lights and flashy devices, the relatively simple Koolertron may be the best choice for some gamers, because it works very well, lasts a long time, is fully programmable, and leaves most buyers with a good impression.