Best Mechanical Keyboards Under £100 in the UK (2024 Guide)

The Keychron K2 V2 is the best mechanical keyboard under £100 in the UK, priced at around £75 on Amazon UK. It wins because of its 75% layout, QMK/VIA remapping, hot-swappable Gateron G Pro switches, and dual Bluetooth 5.1 plus USB-C connectivity — a feature set that no other sub-£80 board currently matches on the UK market.

Our top picks at a glance

Product	Price	Best For	Key Spec	Rating
Keychron K2 V2	£75	Best overall under £100	75% layout, QMK/VIA, hot-swap, BT 5.1 + USB-C, Gateron G Pro	4.6/5
Glorious GMMK 2 65%	£89	Best for enthusiasts and customisation	65% layout, full aluminium top, 5-pin hot-swap, USB-C	4.5/5
Royal Kludge RK84	£60	Best budget wireless option	75% layout, 2.4G + BT 5.1 + USB-C, hot-swap, per-key RGB	4.4/5
Akko 3068B Plus	£65	Best for switch variety and PBT keycaps	65% layout, BT 5.1 + 2.4G + USB-C, PBT keycaps, Akko CS switches	4.5/5
Redragon K556 PRO	£50	Best budget full-size option	Full-size 104-key, aluminium top, hot-swap, Outemu switches	4.5/5

Keychron K2 V2 — Best overall under £100

The Keychron K2 V2 strikes the ideal balance between form factor, features, and price for UK buyers shopping below £100. Its 75% layout retains function keys and dedicated arrows while reclaiming around 30% more desk space than a full-size board, and the QMK/VIA-compatible firmware lets you remap every key, set up macros, and create per-layer configurations without touching proprietary software — a feature usually reserved for enthusiast keyboards at twice the price. Bluetooth 5.1 with seamless device switching pairs with a USB-C wired option, covering laptops, tablets, and gaming PCs. The Gateron G Pro switches feel noticeably smoother than the budget Outemu options found on cheaper boards, and the hot-swappable version lets you swap them out in seconds. At roughly £75 from Amazon UK with a 4.6-star rating from over 4,500 buyers, the K2 V2 is the most credible sub-£100 mechanical keyboard for work, study, and casual gaming alike.

Pros:

• QMK/VIA support at a sub-£80 price is unmatched in the UK market
• Hot-swap Gateron G Pro switches are smooth out of the box

Cons:

• ABS keycaps are the weakest part of an otherwise excellent package

Check price on amazon.co.uk

2. Glorious GMMK 2 65% — Best for enthusiasts and customisation

Price: 89 | Rating: 4.5/5 | Available at: amazon.co.uk

The Glorious GMMK 2 65% is the enthusiast’s choice at under £100, and the only board in this roundup that pairs a full aluminium top frame with universal 5-pin hot-swap sockets — a combination usually costing £130+ elsewhere. The pre-lubed Glorious Fox linear switches feel premium out of the box, and the per-key RGB lighting is genuinely bright. UK availability is solid via Amazon UK and Overclockers UK at roughly £85-89. Downsides are the lack of wireless connectivity, the bundled ABS keycaps that most owners replace within months, and the Glorious CORE software which is functional but limited compared to VIA. If you want a wired, customisable board with serious build quality under £90, the GMMK 2 65% is hard to beat.

Pros:

• Aluminium top frame and 5-pin hot-swap are rare under £90
• Pre-lubed switches feel premium out of the box

Cons:

• Wired only with mediocre bundled keycaps

Check price on amazon.co.uk

3. Royal Kludge RK84 — Best budget wireless option

Price: 60 | Rating: 4.4/5 | Available at: amazon.co.uk

The Royal Kludge RK84 is the strongest sub-£65 wireless option in the UK, offering 2.4GHz, Bluetooth 5.1, and USB-C triple-mode connectivity in a 75% layout. The hot-swappable PCB accepts both 3-pin and 5-pin switches, and RK’s own linear or tactile switches are surprisingly decent for the price. Around 3,800 UK Amazon buyers rate it 4.4 stars. The main trade-offs are the all-plastic chassis, which flexes more than a Keychron, and the proprietary RK software that some users find buggy on Windows 11. Battery life lands at roughly 70 hours with RGB off, well behind the Keychron K2 V2’s 240 hours but acceptable for a £60 board. For students or anyone needing wireless flexibility on a strict budget, the RK84 delivers genuine value.

Pros:

• Triple-mode wireless at under £65 is exceptional value
• Hot-swap PCB with 75% layout is rare at this price

Cons:

• Plastic chassis and shorter battery life than the Keychron

Check price on amazon.co.uk

4. Akko 3068B Plus — Best for switch variety and PBT keycaps

Price: 65 | Rating: 4.5/5 | Available at: amazon.co.uk

The Akko 3068B Plus stands out for shipping with double-shot PBT keycaps and Akko’s own CS switches as standard — two upgrades that typically cost £25-40 extra on competing boards. The 65% layout, triple-mode wireless (Bluetooth 5.1, 2.4GHz, USB-C), and a solid 4.5-star UK average make it a credible alternative to the Keychron K2 V2 if you can find it in stock. Akko’s switch range includes the highly regarded Akko V3 Cream Yellow Pro linear and tactile options that rival Gateron Pro quality. The downsides: no QMK/VIA support, so remapping requires Akko’s own cloud-based software, and UK stock is patchier than Keychron or Glorious, often requiring imports from EU warehouses. At around £65 it’s excellent value for typists who care about keycap quality.

Pros:

• PBT double-shot keycaps and premium Akko CS switches included
• Triple-mode wireless in a compact 65% layout

Cons:

• No QMK/VIA and patchy UK availability

Check price on amazon.co.uk

5. Redragon K556 PRO — Best budget full-size option

Price: 50 | Rating: 4.5/5 | Available at: amazon.co.uk

The Redragon K556 PRO is the cheapest credible mechanical keyboard in this roundup at roughly £50, and the only sub-£50 option that ships with a full aluminium top plate, hot-swap PCB, and a full-size 104-key layout including numpad. Outemu switches (red linear, blue clicky, or brown tactile) are serviceable if not as smooth as Gateron G Pro, and they’re socketed for easy replacement. Over 5,500 Amazon UK buyers have rated it 4.5 stars. The trade-offs are obvious: no wireless, no Bluetooth, plastic bottom case, and louder acoustics than the Keychron K2 V2 or Glorious GMMK 2. It also lacks QMK/VIA support. For spreadsheet users, accountants, or anyone on a strict budget who still wants hot-swap flexibility and proper mechanical feel, the K556 PRO is the obvious pick.

Pros:

• Full aluminium top plate and hot-swap PCB at under £50
• Full-size 104-key layout with dedicated numpad

Cons:

• Wired only with scratchier Outemu switches

Check price on amazon.co.uk

How to choose

Choosing the best mechanical keyboard under £100 in the UK comes down to four decisions. First, layout: a full-size board suits office and spreadsheet work, while 65% or 75% layouts save desk space and suit programmers and gamers. Second, switches: linear (red) for gaming, tactile (brown) for typing, and clicky (blue) for those who like audible feedback. Third, connectivity: wireless boards cost more and have shorter battery life, but Bluetooth 5.1 plus 2.4GHz on the RK84 and Akko 3068B Plus removes cable clutter. Fourth, hot-swap PCBs, found on every keyboard in this guide, let you change switches without soldering, extending the board’s life significantly. In the UK, stockists include Amazon UK, Overclockers UK, Currys, Box, and Scan. Keychron, Glorious, and Redragon all have official UK distribution, while Akko is often shipped from EU warehouses. Verify the layout and switch type match your use case before buying, as return shipping on keyboards is rarely free.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best mechanical keyboard under £100 in the UK?

The Keychron K2 V2 at around £75 is our top pick for UK buyers thanks to its QMK/VIA support, hot-swappable Gateron G Pro switches, and dual Bluetooth 5.1 plus USB-C connectivity in a 75% layout — a feature combination no other sub-£80 board currently matches on Amazon UK.

Are cheap mechanical keyboards worth it in 2024?

Yes — sub-£100 mechanical keyboards in 2024 are dramatically better than five years ago. Boards like the Keychron K2 V2, Glorious GMMK 2, and RK84 ship with hot-swap sockets, PBT keycaps, and wireless connectivity that previously cost £150+ at retail in the UK.

What switch type is best for typing under £100?

Tactile switches like Cherry MX Brown, Gateron Brown, or Akko CS Jelly Pink are widely considered the best switch type for typing under £100. They provide a bump to confirm keypresses without the noise of clicky blue switches, and they appear on the Keychron K2 V2 and Akko 3068B Plus.

What switch type is best for gaming under £100?

Linear switches with low actuation force — typically Cherry MX Red, Gateron Yellow, or Outemu Red — are best for gaming under £100. They offer smooth keystrokes and faster double-taps compared to tactile or clicky switches, and are standard on the Glorious GMMK 2 and Redragon K556 PRO.

Are hot-swappable mechanical keyboards better?

Hot-swappable mechanical keyboards are better for longevity and customisation because you can change switches without soldering. Every keyboard in our under-£100 UK roundup, from the Redragon K556 PRO to the Keychron K2 V2, supports hot-swap and accepts standard MX-style switches.

How long do mechanical keyboards under £100 last?

A quality mechanical keyboard under £100 typically lasts 8-10 years or 50+ million keystrokes per switch. The Keychron K2 V2 and Glorious GMMK 2 both use switches rated for 50-80 million actuations, which equates to roughly a decade of heavy office or gaming use.

Where can I buy mechanical keyboards in the UK?

The main UK retailers stocking mechanical keyboards under £100 are Amazon UK, Overclockers UK, Currys, Box, Scan, and Laptops Direct. Keychron, Glorious, and Redragon all have UK distribution warehouses, while Akko is often shipped from EU fulfilment centres with 3-5 day delivery.

What is the difference between 65%, 75%, and TKL mechanical keyboards?

A 65% keyboard drops the function row, a 75% keeps it but compresses the layout, and a TKL (tenkeyless) keeps the function row but removes the numpad. The 75% Keychron K2 V2 hits the best balance for most UK buyers needing arrow keys and F-row access without a numpad.

How we chose

We evaluated 22 mechanical keyboards available in the UK under £100 from brands including Keychron, Glorious, Royal Kludge, Akko, Redragon, Ducky, HyperX, and Corsair. Each was tested or assessed against six criteria: switch quality and type, layout efficiency, wireless connectivity where applicable, hot-swap PCB support, build materials, and verified user reviews from Amazon UK, Overclockers UK, and Reddit’s r/MechanicalKeyboards community. Prices were verified on Amazon UK and key specialist retailers in October 2024, and every board in our final list is currently in stock with Prime delivery. We prioritised keyboards with at least 500 verified UK buyer reviews, a 4.3+ star average, and either hot-swap PCBs or wireless connectivity as standard. The Keychron K2 V2 ranked first because it was the only sub-£80 board combining QMK/VIA firmware, Bluetooth 5.1, and a 75% layout with hot-swappable Gateron G Pro switches.