The 10 Best Xbox One Keyboards
Editor's Notes
November 25, 2020:
For this update, we've removed four items and replaced them with models that we feel offer better value. The GamersDigital Exclusive, the GamersDigital Mini, and the Microsoft Xbox One Chatpad have been discontinued by their manufacturers and removed from the ranking. As well, we've also removed the Ortz Chatpad due to availability issues. The listings for the Corsair K63 and the HyperX Alloy FPS Pro have been slightly updated, and we've added the Moko Mini Green, the Lyyes Chatpad, and the Gamers Digital Elite. The Razer Turret Wireless, previously listed in the Special Mention category, has been added to the ranking to round out our update.
The Razer Turret Wireless comes from a renowned gaming accessories manufacturer and offers all the elements you would expect from a high-end keyboard. It also has a few extra design choices that make it perfect for console gaming, including a dedicated Xbox key, a retractable magnetic mousepad, and a mouse to go with it. The Moko Mini Green is a great option if you like to play in the dark, as it has a light-up chatpad. The Lyyes Chatpad and Gamers Digital Elite are also both worthy and affordable options if you're looking for a basic chatpad that can attach directly to your controller.
June 12, 2019:
Xbox gamers, rejoice! In October of 2018 Microsoft added native keyboard and mouse support to the console, opening up a realm of possibilities as far as typing surface are concerned. Keep in mind that game developers still have to decide to add keyboard support to their titles, but you'll be happy to know that more and more major releases are allowing the use of the most versatile of controller options. Of course, if you're still playing with a standard controller, as many are, it's hard to beat Microsoft's own keyboard add-on. It's backlit and it's also extremely reliable. GamersDigital makes a couple very good units as well, each of which has subtle differences and may be worth checking out.
If you're looking for an actual keyboard to use with the Xbox One, a few models really stand out. HyperX makes a bunch of great peripherals, and the Alloy series is no exception. The Redragon Visnu is affordable, reliable, and even waterproof, which a lot of gamers will agree is an excellent quality to have. But a lot of those same gamers play sitting on the couch, which is why we've included some of the top wireless keyboards as well. You're restricted to USB connectivity on the Xbox, but that does include USB dongles, which is why we featured the Corsair, Logitech, and Royal Kludge. The Corsair is pretty basic, but it gets the job done and has a bright backlight. The Logitech is interesting because if you plug it into a PC, you can configure up to 6 macros, which are then stored in the onboard memory for use with consoles. But it's hard to argue with the Royal Kludge. It's beloved by a lot of mechanical keyboard enthusiasts, who can be a really picky bunch. If you want, you can even swap out the keycaps and switches down the road, if you want to dive into that world. Plus, because it doesn't require any software, the backlighting function is fully customizable even without a computer connected.
Finally, the Xim is a well-known device that bypasses the native keyboard support and essentially translates your keystrokes into what the Xbox thinks are controller commands. This has a number of different effects, one of which is enabling keyboard use in a ton of games that don't otherwise allow it. Another is that it can actually let you use aim assist with a keyboard and mouse, which offers a massive advantage over standard controller play, and is technically outlawed in many multiplayer arenas. Also it can be tough to get working just right. But if you do some research on it, it can be a real game-changer.