Gaming keyboards and mice come covered in numbers and labels: TKL, hot-swappable, 7,200 DPI. Most of them are simpler than they look. Here's what each one means for how you actually play, work and type.
Keyboard size: full-size or TKL
- Full-size keyboards include the number pad on the right. Handy if you also use the computer for spreadsheets or entering numbers. The VX Gaming Floki is full-size.
- TKL (tenkeyless) keyboards drop the number pad. Your mouse sits closer to the keyboard, which leaves more room to move it and feels more comfortable for many players. The VX Gaming Warborn is a TKL.
Mechanical and hot-swappable
Mechanical keyboards have an individual switch under every key. They feel more consistent than basic office keyboards and usually last longer.
Hot-swappable means you can pull switches out and push new ones in without soldering, so you can change how the keys feel later or replace a faulty switch. The VX Gaming Sun-Wukong is hot-swappable. Before buying replacement switches, check they fit the keyboard's sockets.
Just need something for work or school?
A gaming keyboard isn't necessary for typing and browsing. The Logitech MK120 keyboard and mouse combo covers everyday use, and the Rapoo keyboard with a built-in touchpad is useful for a TV box or a small desk where there's no room for a mouse.
Mouse DPI: higher isn't automatically better
DPI measures how far the cursor moves when you move the mouse. A high maximum DPI doesn't make a mouse more accurate. It means the cursor can move faster. Many players use a setting well below the maximum, so a reliable sensor and a shape that suits your hand matter more. Most gaming mice let you switch DPI with a button, so you can use one setting for games and another for the desktop.
- iMICE X7: up to 3,200 DPI and 7 buttons, a sensible budget pick.
- Razer Abyssus Essential: a 7,200 DPI sensor in a simple, symmetrical shape.
- VX Gaming Hydra: a wired RGB mouse at an entry price.
Wired or wireless
Wired mice never need charging and cost less. Good wireless gaming mice now respond quickly enough for competitive games too. The Logitech G502 X Plus uses Logitech's LIGHTSPEED wireless and a HERO 25K sensor. The trade-off is price and remembering to charge it.
Quick checklist
- Need a number pad? Go full-size. Want more mouse space? Go TKL.
- Want to change how the keys feel later? Look for hot-swappable.
- Choose a mouse by shape and sensor, not the biggest DPI number.
- Wired for value and no charging, wireless for a tidy desk.
Build the rest of your setup with our gaming corner setup or browse all gaming gear.