Best wireless keyboard: Top picks for Windows and Mac

Nobody likes having a desk cluttered with cables, so it’s no wonder wireless keyboards are so popular. Why leave a lead sprawling across your tidy surface, after all? What’s more, you might want a keyboard that can work across a range of devices, covering your desktop PC, laptop and any tablets you use on the go. The best wireless keyboards are designed to do exactly that or help you browse the web on a TV, games console, NAS or media streamer.

There are wireless keyboards for every need and every budget, and we’ve rounded up our top picks below. We’ve also assembled some useful buying advice, to help you find the ideal wireless keyboard for whatever it is that you want to do.

Best wireless keyboard: At a glance

• Best wireless keyboard: Logitech K780 | £79
• Best high-end wireless keyboard: Logitech Craft | £169
• Best wireless mechanical keyboard: Razer Pro Type Ultra | £160
• Best for wireless gaming: Logitech G613 | £127

How to choose the best wireless keyboard for you

Wired PC keyboards are one thing, but your choice of wireless keyboard should begin with the computers and devices that you plan to use it with. Why? Because connectivity is crucial. Some wireless keyboards work over Bluetooth, which means they’ll play nicely with nearly any laptop, tablet or Mac computer, but not all desktop PCs unless you buy in a Bluetooth adapter. Other wireless keyboards connect using a specific, bundled USB dongle (which you have to be careful not to lose). These will work with almost anything that has a USB port, but aren’t ideal if you want to use a tablet or some ultraportable laptops, where you might not want to occupy the only USB port. A few keyboards support both types of connection, but check before you buy or you could end up with a keyboard you can’t use.

Once you’ve worked that out, it comes down to style. On the one hand, you’ve got traditional keyboards with raised, clicky keys. These tend to have more travel, which makes it easier to be sure that every keypress is registered, but they’re usually bigger and heavier and can be more tiring to use over long periods. On the other hand, you’ve got chiclet or tile keyboards, with low-profile, square keys and the mechanism hidden underneath. These tend to be smaller, lighter and quieter, with a good, fast typing action, but it’s not always so clear that you’ve hit the key hard enough for the keypress to register, which can lead to documents full of typos. These are now so common on laptops that most people are used to them, but many desktop keyboards still stick with the traditional style.

Aside from these, there are ergonomic variants, in which the keyboard has a curving profile and/or split design for increased comfort, although the feel and the layout can take some getting used to. Media keyboards include extra buttons for volume, brightness and audio/video playback, and some keyboards have a built-in trackpad for use where a mouse wouldn’t be practical. There are keyboards designed to be near-silent and gaming keyboard with mechanical switches built for speed and accuracy during online gaming sessions. There are also portable models designed to be as small and light as possible, so that you can carry them in a bag and use them with a tablet. In every case, you need to think about what your intended use will be as well as the keyboards you like and hate using on any PCs or laptops you already use. Keyboards are a very personal thing, and what works for one individual might not work for you.

READ NEXT: The best ergonomic keyboards to buy

What else should I look for?

Take a good look at the layout. If you’re used to working on a keyboard with a big space bar, a large return key, full-sized shift and Ctrl keys or a separate cursor layout, you’ll be surprised how aggravating not having these can be. Pint-sized function keys can also be a problem, and we’ve come across keyboards where the F1 to F12 keys doubled up as media control keys and wouldn’t work unless you pressed a specific Fn toggle, which is hugely annoying whether you’re working in Word or playing online games.

Some additional controls are a bonus. Media playback and volume controls can be a plus, as can customisable keys for launching specific apps. Logitech’s Craft keyboard even has a dial you can use to make adjustments in design applications. It’s not worth paying for extras you won’t use, but sometimes the little things can make you more productive.

How we test keyboards

When it comes to keyboards, the best way to test is to simply use them. We connect each keyboard to a laptop or desktop PC that gets daily working use, using Bluetooth or the bundled 2.4GHz dongle. We then use it across a full range of office and creative applications over a period of roughly one week. During that time, we focus on the layout, typing action, accuracy and comfort, and look at whether the keyboard improves or hampers productivity. We also install and run any supporting software and check the construction for any signs of weak materials or shoddy build quality. On keyboards that support Bluetooth and 2.4GHz connections, we’ll try out both to check that neither method has issues with lag or dropped signals. We’ll also try any device switching features on keyboards that can work between multiple PCs, smartphones or tablets.

READ NEXT: The best wireless mice

The best wireless keyboards for PC and Mac you can buy in 2023

1. Logitech K780: Best wireless keyboard

Price when reviewed: £79 | Check price at Amazon

The Logitech K780 is one ingenious wireless keyboard. Hook it up using the bundled wireless dongle and it will work with your PC or Mac, but you can also connect it via Bluetooth to an iPad or Android tablet, a smartphone or a 2-in-1 convertible. You can pair it with up to three devices and switch between them at the touch of a button, and there’s even a slot that acts as a built-in cradle to prop up your tablet or smartphone while you work. A built-in rechargeable battery would have made it even better, but it’ll run for two years from a pair of AAAs.

None of this would count if the typing experience wasn’t up to par, and the circular keytops might put some users off. However, you get used to them surprisingly quickly, and while the travel isn’t long the actual feel is crisp, light and speedy. The only layout issues are the weird integration of the navigation keys with the numeric keypad, plus the placement of the Delete button in the top row with the function keys. A few niggles aside, this is a superb, versatile keyboard that will match how a lot of people work today.

Key specs – Type: Chiclet; Special features: Multi-device switch, integrated tablet cradle; Connections: Bluetooth, USB wireless dongle; Dimensions: 380 x 158 x 22mm; Weight: 830g

2. Logitech MX Keys Mini: Best 60% wireless keyboard

Price when reviewed: £89 | Check price at Amazon

If you want the best wireless keyboard but don’t have room for a full-sized model, buy the Logitech MX Keys Mini. This is the most fully featured 60% wireless keyboard on the market today.

Key features include multi-device connectivity, allowing you to pair up to three devices simultaneously and switch between them at the press of a button. Cleverly, your copy/paste clipboard also transfers between devices when you switch. The MX Keys Mini also has dedicated Fn keys for taking screenshots, unmuting/muting your microphone and even using emojis – if that’s your cup of tea.

Typing is a joy thanks to Logitech’s unique concave chiclet keys, which offer a surprising amount of travel and clickiness for the size of the keyboard. The keys are illuminated by an adaptive backlight that adjusts to match the brightness of the surrounding environment.

Battery life is rated at ten days with backlighting and one month without, and anecdotally we’d agree – we rarely needed to top the MX Keys Mini up using the supplied USB-C to USB-C cable. Unfortunately, this cable cannot be used to connect the keyboard to your laptop/PC/tablet; the MX Keys Mini is only compatible with Bluetooth 5.1. This is the only drawback worth noting, however.

Key specs – Type: Chiclet; Special features: Adaptive backlight, multi-device connectivity; Connections: Bluetooth 5.1; Dimensions: 296 x 132 x 21mm; Weight: 702g

3. Logitech Craft: Best high-end wireless keyboard

Price when reviewed: £169 | Check price at Amazon 
Logitech’s Craft has its eye-catching features, but don’t let that distract you from what is, at heart, a brilliant desktop keyboard. The chiclet-style keys are unusual, with square keytops and round fingertip-sized dimples, but they’re an active help while typing, guiding your fingers to the centre every time. The action is a close match for the excellent Microsoft’s Surface, with a springy but weighty feel, and we love the modern style of the labelling, with some clever workarounds that make this keyboard as suited to Macs as it is to PCs. There’s even backlighting for working in areas like video-editing or 3D rendering where you might want to darken your surroundings.

The Craft justifies its high price with the inclusion of two extra features. First, you can connect to up to three different devices using either the bundled wireless USB dongle or Bluetooth, then switch between them with a press of a quick-switch button. Second, the round knob at the top left of the keyboard (which Logitech dubs the “Crown”) can be configured for making fine, analogue adjustments in a huge range of apps, including Adobe Creative Cloud and the most popular photo-editing, drawing, painting and video-editing packages. You can even find good uses for it in Microsoft Office or your browser. It’s expensive, but it’s a genuinely useful tool for creative work.

Key specs – Type: Chiclet; Special features: Input dial, backlight; Connections: Bluetooth 4, USB, USB wireless dongle; Dimensions: 430 x 148 x 32mm; Weight: 962g

4. Microsoft All-in-One Media Keyboard: Best wireless media keyboard

Price when reviewed: £30 | Check price at Scan
All-in-one or media keyboards are a must if you have a PC plugged into your TV or you need something convenient you can use with a NAS device, Raspberry Pi or Android TV box. Not only do you get a wireless keyboard that sits on your lap, but also a built-in touchpad for pointer control. On lesser versions this can mean putting up with a smaller keyboard or a cramped, near-unworkable layout, but Microsoft’s effort manages without too much compromise. The function keys are a little small, but, on the plus side, you get customisable buttons above the touchpad and quick-access volume and mute controls.

You might not want to work all day on this keyboard, but it’s perfect for browsing and casual use – and spill-resistance is a real plus in the living room, too. If you’re looking for a keyboard for some sofa-bound surfing, this is the one to buy.

strong>Key specs – Type: Chiclet; Special features: Integrated touchpad, media controls; Connections: USB wireless dongle; Dimensions: 378 x 144 x 19mm; Weight: 434g

5. Razer Pro Type Ultra: Best wireless mechanical keyboard

Price when reviewed: £160 | Check price at Razer
Like the Logitech Craft above, Razer’s office-focused Pro Type Ultra isn’t cheap. What you do get for your money, however, is one of the best mechanical keyboards around, with silent, linear keyboard switches that won’t annoy your colleagues. It’s nice and comfortable to type on for long periods of time, and it comes included with a large soft wrist rest, too.

The Pro Type Ultra comes with three connectivity modes: Wired (via the supplied USB-C cable), Bluetooth or 2.4GHz connection with a USB-A dongle. Razer promises up to 214 hours of use on a single charge, which isn’t far off our own tests – I managed at least a full work week on more than one occasion without having to top it up. The full-size keyboard can connect to up to four devices at once, supporting both Mac and PC, and you can also remap keys, record macros and create shortcuts via the Razer Synapse app.

Key specs – Type: Razer Yellow Mechanical; Special features: Programmable keys, macros; Connections: Wired via USB-C, USB-A wireless dongle, Bluetooth; Dimensions: 436 x 129 x 41mm; Weight: 1.3kg

Check price at Razer

6. Logitech G613: Best for wireless gaming

Price when reviewed: £127 | Check price at Amazon
There aren’t many wireless gaming keyboards, and even fewer that use the mechanical switches that hardcore PC gamers prefer. The Logitech G613 is one of them, though, and it’s a cracker, giving you the speed of a mechanical keyboard with wired keyboard-like performance, courtesy of the bundled USB dongle and Logitech’s Lightspeed wireless technology. Play a few games of Fortnite, Overwatch or DoTA 2 on it and you won’t want to touch anything else.

It’s not just for gaming, though. The robust conventional keys and mechanical switches also hold up well for typing, and you can flick between Lightspeed and Bluetooth modes at the touch of a button. Logitech has also included six programmable keys, dedicated media controls and a game-mode button that locks the Windows key. As for battery life, it runs from two AA batteries that last around 18 months. At nearly £130, this is another pricey keyboard, but if you want wireless and you’re serious about gaming, there’s little else out there that comes close to the same

Key specs – Type: Traditional mechanical; Special features: Programmable keys, Lightspeed wireless tech, Bluetooth switch; Connections: Lightspeed over USB wireless dongle, Bluetooth; Dimensions: 378 x 216 x 34mm; Weight: 1.46kg

7. Logitech K380: Best take-anywhere wireless keyboard

Price when reviewed: £45 | Check price at Amazon
Add a keyboard to a Windows, Android or iOS tablet and you’ve got a little computer that can get some serious work done. Normally, that means buying a keyboard case, but if you don’t want that kind of weight on your slate, Logitech’s K380 takes a different approach. This tiny keyboard, less than 30cm wide, connects to three devices over Bluetooth, with the first three function keys, helpfully coloured yellow to set them apart, switching instantly between them. Weighing less than 400g, you can sling it in a bag or backpack, despite which its wedge-shaped profile and round chiclet keys make for some surprisingly comfortable typing.

True, the circular shape of the keys is a bit unusual and the layout can feel cramped in some areas – the tiny cursors and shrunken left-Shift are a point of contention – but you soon get up to speed, and there’s more weight and travel to the keys than you’ll find on all but the best keyboard cases. In fact, we’ve used laptops with worse keyboards than this. Grab your favourite tablet and a lightweight case to hold it upright and you have a new setup ready for the road.

Key specs – Type: Compact chiclet; Special features: Bluetooth source switching; Connections: Bluetooth; Dimensions: 279x 124mm x 16mm; Weight: 399g