Two $50 Gaming Keyboards Go Head-to-Head: One Clear Winner

Ever wondered which budget gaming keyboard actually deserves your hard-earned cash? I put two $50-ish contenders through a five-round fight to find out.

In the left corner: the Gamakay x NaughShark NS68, a keyboard with a name so silly it's almost charming. It's been our best budget pick for a while, thanks to a spec sheet that punches way above its price. In the right corner: the Razer Reclusa X Mini 65%, a fresh-faced challenger that's barely hit the market. Both are 65% layouts with 68 keys, but that's where the similarities end.

Round one was all about specs. The NaughShark packs Hall effect switches (Outemu Peach Magnetic) with a 40g actuation force and an adjustable actuation point up to 3.7mm. The Razer uses mechanical Razer Gen-3 Orange Tactile switches with a 50g force and 3.5mm actuation. The Gamakay also wins on polling rate: 8,000Hz versus 1,000Hz. For most of us, that difference won't be noticeable, but esports pros might care. Specs go to Gamakay.

Round two: build quality. I twisted both to check for flex—both felt solid, but the NaughShark has a hollow, plasticky feel that betrays its price. The Reclusa X Mini, despite being smaller, feels denser and more robust, with keycaps that barely wobble. The Gamakay's caps rattle a bit. Razer takes this round.

Round three: looks. The Razer's white/green/black keycaps pop, and its RGB shines through beautifully. The NaughShark also has impressive RGB, but I'm not a fan of the weird lanyard strap on the left side (who wears a keyboard on their wrist?) or the fiddly chassis details. Aesthetics? I'd give it to Razer for its cleaner design.

Round four: sound. The NaughShark's Hall effect switches offer a smooth, adjustable feel, but the Razer's tactile switches have a satisfying bump. I preferred the Razer's sound profile—crisper and less hollow.

Round five: real-world gaming. I used each for a day in my usual games. The Gamakay's adjustable actuation is a nice touch, but the Razer felt more responsive and comfortable for my non-pro reflexes. If I had to spend my own money, I'd pick the Razer Reclusa X Mini 65%. It's not perfect, but it's the better overall package for the price.

So, which one would you choose? Let us know in the comments!