As long-time gamers are aware, the gear you use—namely keyboards and mice — can really have an effect on your gameplay. Gaming keyboards offer up faster switches (the component beneath the key you press), which results in your in-game commands being executed faster. A good gaming mouse, on the other hand, will offer up higher DPI levels, allowing you to move and turn faster — a must-have in first-person shooters like the ever-popular Fortnite and the latest Call of Duty.
Without further ado, we’ve compiled a list of five gaming keyboards and five gaming mice, which we’ve previously reviewed (or are currently reviewing), that will help you up your game!
HyperX Alloy Origins
HyperX is Kingston Technology’s gaming brand of headsets, solid-state drives, keyboards, and mousepads. They also have a massive 30,000 square-foot multi-level HyperX Esports Arena in Las Vegas where gamers can blow off some steam against each other or attend tournaments for various games like Overwatch.
Razer Huntsman Tournament Edition
Razer. If you’re a gamer, you’ve definitely heard of the gaming company which has a triple-snake logo. Razer is like the Apple of gaming gear, with a focus on quality gaming products, including the Razer Blade laptop series, gaming keyboards, mice, controllers, and more.
The Apex Pro
SteelSeries is another popular choice when it comes to gaming gear. Founded and headquartered in Denmark, the company manufactures headsets, keyboards, mice, and mousepads for gamers. Techaeris has reviewed SteelSeries keyboards in the past and can’t wait to get their hands on the latest from the company: the Apex Pro.
ROCCAT Vulcan
ROCCAT is a company you may not have heard of, but that’s okay. A German-based company, they were recently acquired by Turtle Beach — a company you’ve likely heard of. While Turtle Beach focused mainly on headsets, the ROCCAT purchase is giving the company a chance to break into the North American market.
HyperX Alloy FPS Pro
The second HyperX product to make this list is the HyperX Alloy FPS. While the Alloy Origins uses HyperX’s proprietary switches, the FPS series use the long-time industry leader CHERRY MX switches. These switches offer 2.0mm actuation points with 4.0mm of total travel and come in Red linear, Blue clicky, and Brown tactile switches.
Gaming Mice
Razer DeathAdder V2
My first recommendation for a good gaming mouse comes from Razer. The Razer DeathAdder is the company’s most popular mouse with over 10 million units sold over the years. The Razer DeathAdder V2 is their latest iteration, and it comes with some welcome upgrades.
HyperX Pulsefire Dart
It’s no surprise that HyperX is on this list as well. While most gaming mice are wired, meaning they plug into your computer or laptop with a USB cable, wireless gaming mice are making strides as well. Typically speaking, wired gaming mice are more responsive, but their wireless counterparts are catching up.
SteelSeries Sensei 310
While most gaming mice are manufactured for right-handed users, there are a few left-handed and ambidextrous mice. The SteelSeries Sensei 310 is an ergonomic, ambidextrous gaming mouse with a “true 1-to-1 eSports gaming mouse sensor.” With the two regularly positioned mouse buttons with Omron switches on the top, it also features two programmable buttons on either side of the mouse.
Razer Basilisk V2
The second Razer mouse on our list is also a recent update from the company. The Razer Basilisk V2 offers the same customization as the Razer DeathAdder V2 but with some additional features. It features the same 20,000 DPI Razer Focus+ Optical Sensor, Optical Mouse Switches, and Speedflex Cable. In addition to two programmable buttons on the left side, it has a third multi-function paddle for even more functionality. The left side also curves out at the bottom, allowing you to comfortably rest your thumb on it.
HyperX Pulsefire Raid
Finally, the last gaming mouse on our list is another from HyperX. The Pulsefire Raid is very similar to the Pulsefire Dart, only in wired form and with more buttons. With 11 programmable buttons, you can customize it to perform a number of quick actions in game. The Pixart 3389 optical sensor allows gamers to adjust the DPI up to 16,000 for smooth motion and aiming.
BONUS: Mouse Pads
I’d be remiss if I didn’t cover mouse pads alongside a selection of gaming mice. A good mouse pad can also improve your mouse’s performance, especially if the software like Razer Synapse 3 supports customization based on different mouse pad surfaces. There are many different types, some with soft surfaces and some with hard, and some even have fancy LED lighting to jazz up your gaming area. Be sure to check out some of the mouse pad offerings from Razer, SteelSeries, and HyperX.
Whether you’re new to gaming or a gaming veteran, hopefully you found this list useful. Given the number of manufacturers out there, there are plenty of options with different features and at different price points. For more gaming gear reviews, be sure to check out Techaris’ gaming review section on its website.
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Jason Bouwmeester is the Senior Editor at Techaeris. Follow him on Twitter, @JustAnotherJay. You can also follow Techaeris on Twitter, @Techaeris, and be sure to visit its website for the latest tech reviews and news.
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