6 Best Silent Mechanical Keyboards in 2024

Mechanical keyboards have several advantages. They are customizable, provide tactile feedback, and make typing more comfortable and fun. However, you may have often heard people complain about mechanical keyboards being too noisy. While that may be true, it only applies to a certain set of keyboards with specific switches. This means you can type away on some mechanical keyboards without causing a headache to your neighbor or colleague. If that’s what you’re aiming for, here’s a list of the best silent mechanical keyboards you can buy.

Mechanical keyboards are available with a wide range of switches. Switches are essentially the type of keys you put on a keyboard. Largely, switches are divided into three main categories — linear, tactile, and clicky. As you can imagine, the clicky category is generally the noisiest. However, most linear and some tactile switches too are rather quiet making them good options for quiet mechanical keyboards for offices. We’ve included some of the best quiet mechanical keyboards with silent switches across several segments. So, type away with silent keypresses without bothering those around you! But before that –

• If you’re a gamer, you might fancy a budget gaming keyboard for under $50.
• Don’t want to spend too much? You can get a budget mechanical keyboard.
• A hot-swappable mechanical keyboard gives you the flexibility to change switches at will.

1. SteelSeries Apex 3 RGB Gaming Keyboard

• Layout: Full-size
• Switches: Whisper Quiet
• Connectivity: Wired

For starters, the Apex 3 is a full-size keyboard so you’re not missing out on any keys. There are 10 RGB lighting zones that can be customized as per your preferences. Not only does this aid with typing in the dark but it also adds to your setup’s gaming aesthetic.

Steelseries is also kind enough to provide a magnetic wrist rest in the package. The wrist rest simply clips onto the base of the keyboard and provides extra comfort when typing. Steelseries’ custom Whisper Quiet switches provide good travel while being silent. This makes it a great keyboard for gaming. If we have to nitpick, there’s one slight con. The RGB lighting is based on zones and not on a per-key basis. So, you’re limited to a few preset options for lighting. If you’re not too particular about customization, this isn’t a big deal.

2. Royal Kludge RK61

• Layout: 60%
• Switches: Linear Viridian
• Connectivity: Wireless

The RK61 is a compact keyboard that’s a good option to travel with or makes for a great desk keyboard if you work on a small table. Of course, you miss out on some keys that may or may not be essential to you. If you don’t do a lot of number crunching, you should be fine without a dedicated numpad. Similarly, if you don’t control your computer’s volume levels or screen brightness via function keys, you won’t miss them here.

Generally, gamers prefer 60% layout keyboards since all the major keys required when playing are present. Of course, you can also use the board for work — especially if you’re primarily going to type documents or browse the web.

The RK61 is a hot-swappable board so you can change the default switches down the line if you want to experience a different style of typing. There’s backlighting for each key too which is a great touch. While you can connect the RK61 to three devices, the switching speed between them is slow as per reviews.

3. Keychron K2 Pro Wireless Mechanical Keyboard

• Layout: 75%
• Switches: Brown
• Connectivity: Wireless

Arguably, the 75% keyboard layout is one of the most practical layouts that ensures all the useful keys are present without increasing the size of the keyboard too much. If you don’t see the need for a numpad, we suggest opting for the 75% layout. It retains the function keys and dedicated arrow keys so while it’s not as compact as the RK61, the Keychron K2 Pro occupies much less space on your desk compared to a full-sized board.

Apart from this, all the handy features of the RK61 make their way to the K2 Pro. There’s RGB backlighting, hot-swappable keys, and multi-device connectivity. The typing experience on the Keychron K2 Pro is excellent and so is the build quality. If you’re looking to get a keyboard to use for several years, surely consider the K2 Pro. If you don’t mind a wired alternative, the Keychron V3 offers a similar set of features but at a lower price.

4. Cherry MX Board 3.0 S

• Layout: Full-size
• Switches: Cherry MX Red
• Connectivity: Wired

The Cherry MX Red switches on the Board 3.0 S are reliable and have stood the test of time. You can be assured that the keys will last you a long, long time even with all the jamming when competing against your online friends. The build quality is also excellent thanks in large to the usage of aluminum in the construction.

Unlike the SteelSeries keyboard, this one from Cherry MX has proper RGB lighting for each key which makes it more visually appealing. The keys are texture too so they provide a better experience when typing. Of course, everything isn’t perfect though as the keyboard uses a mini-USB B connector to interface with your computer. A USB-C port should’ve been present in 2024.

5. Epomaker RT100 Retro Mechanical Gaming Keyboard

• Layout: 96%
• Switches: Sea Salt Silent
• Connectivity: Wireless

If you’re wondering, the display can be used to view the date/time, weather, or the keyboard’s battery level. Moreover, you can even program it to display whatever you want using Epomaker’s software. Now that’s super cool! The accompanying knob is also quite useful as it can be used to skip tracks, change volume levels, or can again — be programmed to perform a specific function.

Apart from the cool set of features, what sets the Epomaker RT100 apart is its design. The keyboard has a retro look that makes for an excellent accessory to have on your desk. Most of the other features are pretty standard.

The keys are hot-swappable, and there’s multi-device connectivity. As per reviews, the keyboard is absolutely fantastic in terms of usage. However, the accompanying software to customize the display and the knob needs a lot of work according to users. This ruins the experience of using the smart features.

6. Logitech G915 Low Profile Mechanical Keyboard

• Layout: TKL
• Switches: Low profile linear
• Connectivity: Wireless

A combination of silent switches and low-profile keys results in a keyboard that produces very little sound when typing. In fact, low-profile keycaps may also be a preferred option for users who type fast and don’t like their keys to compress too much. That’s exactly what the Logitech G915 offers.

Apart from the keys, the G915 has a good set of features like RGB lighting and the ability to create custom animations using Logitech’s software. And yes, the software works without any issues here unlike the one from Epomaker. The aluminum alloy feels sturdy and the dedicated media keys are a cherry on top. Thanks to Logitech’s brand value, the G915 is pricey. But if you want a good low-profile keyboard, the options are limited.

Type in Silence

If your job involves hitting your fingers on keys for several hours daily, a loud mechanical keyboard can get bothersome both for yourself and those around you. A good way out is to pick up any of the best silent mechanical keyboards from the list above so you can type in peace without the need for noise-cancellation headphones!