Using a wireless mechanical keyboard offers numerous advantages, including the ability to play from any position in your room, easier cable management, and the ability to switch between devices quickly.
But is it possible to perform well in video games using a wireless keyboard?
We’ll compare wireless and normal keyboards, as well as test their speeds to discover how big of a gap there is.
TL;DR
When you use a wireless keyboard instead of a traditional keyboard, your reaction time is about 80 milliseconds faster.
There is a big difference between games that require quick reactions, like PUBG, and games like CSGO and Dota.
We’ll delve deeper into our research and discuss scenarios where we believe wireless keyboards could be a decent replacement for wired keyboards in gaming, as well as other applications like typing.
A Speed Test of Wireless and Wired Keyboards
We used an online reaction speed test to figure out how much faster a wired keyboard was than a wireless one.
We opted to do five tests, one with a cable keyboard and the other with a wireless controller, because the test is designed to assess how fast your reaction time is.
Theoretically, our response time will remain constant from test to test, but the input latency of a wireless keyboard will cause our reaction time to grow. By measuring the difference between the averages of both experiments, we can evaluate the overall input lag of a wireless keyboard.
I was using the same keyboard for both tests. The only difference is that the keyboard can be used both wirelessly and wiredly. The keyboard is the Keychron K6, which supports Bluetooth 5.1, which is one of the most recent Bluetooth versions available.
The following are the findings of both tests:
As you can see, a wired keyboard has an average reaction time of 0.2551 seconds, whereas a Bluetooth keyboard has an average reaction time of 0.3343 seconds.
If you add the results of both tests together, you’ll obtain the wireless keyboard’s overall lag time, which is:
0.0792 seconds (79.2 milliseconds) = 0.3343 − 0.2551
It takes a wireless keyboard about 80 milliseconds longer to figure out than a wired keyboard does.
This concept came from a Taekeyboards video in which he was evaluating the speed of a wireless keyboard.
Is it okay to play games with a wireless keyboard?
For most individuals, the main point of debate is whether wireless keyboards are quick enough for games.
With video games becoming more competitive than ever before, you’ll want a keyboard that won’t put you at a disadvantage.
We already knew that a wireless keyboard takes an extra 8 milliseconds to register. The question is whether that length of time is noticed and whether it has an effect on gaming.
Wireless keyboards are essential.
I put the wireless keyboard through its tests in a variety of games to see how it performed.
And believe me when I say that I felt the difference practically immediately. I could tell the difference in reaction times between clicks, and it made me feel like I was at a disadvantage in comparison to everyone else.
I wouldn’t use a bluetooth keyboard for every game that needs lightning-quick reflexes.
When utilizing a wireless keyboard, games like CS:GO, Valorant, Fortnite, Dota 2, Call of Duty, Apex Legends, and League of Legends are all tough to play.
Non-Competitive Games using Wireless Keyboards
I wouldn’t bother with the type of keyboard if you only play games that are story-driven or turn-based.
The truth is that a large number of gamers simply play games to relax, chill, and have some fun with their pals. Not everyone wants to work their way to the top of the ranking ladders.
The wireless keyboard, therefore, is ideal for these people, and you’d receive all of the great benefits of being cordless.
However, I would always suggest a wired keyboard for competitive matches. The difference of 80 milliseconds is far too significant to ignore.
We recommend getting a keyboard that can be used both connected and wirelessly to get the best of them both.
What Are the Benefits of Using a Wireless Keyboard?
We’ve discussed whether or not a wireless keyboard is ideal for gaming, but what about everyday use?
There are huge benefits to using a wireless keyboard versus a wired keyboard. We’ll quickly go over certain benefits and drawbacks.
Mobility
The biggest benefit of using a wireless keyboard is its mobility! You will no longer be tied to your desk.
You don’t have to be bound to your desktop and can work from anywhere in your home or office.
If you prefer texting on your keyboard at the coffee shop or don’t like typing on a laptop keyboard, it’s also much easier to bring a bluetooth keyboard with you and carry it with you on the go.
Some users may be worried about the device’s range, but you’ll be able to connect easily from across the floor with no problems. I’d check the product details for your specific keyboard to confirm the range.
Appearance
If your desk is cluttered with wires and you’re having trouble properly routing them all, a wireless keyboard will help you solve your cable management issues.
Taking the keyboard cable out will make your work space appear a lot cleaner and classier.
On the other hand, some people love customizing their keyboard’s cables, which can also add to the look.
It’s also possible to model and design your own from the ground up with little effort and expense.
So, whether you have a power cable or not, the appearance of your keyboard is totally subjective, so do anything you like!
Speed Restrictions & Interference
Wireless keyboards may have problems with delay and latency, which could make keystrokes come in late or not at all.
While a little delay in response time may not seem significant to the average person, it might be a huge deal for gamers because missed keystrokes can reduce their competitive advantage.
Wireless keyboards are not really for you if you play competitive games that involve milliseconds of reaction time.
Also, if you have other wireless devices near the keyboard, they could interfere with your keyboard, making it hard to connect.
Interference concerns can be caused by nearby items such as wireless mouse, wireless routers, cell phones, and even pieces of metal.
While interruption is a problem, most individuals don’t have it very often, and when they do, it can be very annoying to handle. So keep a watchful eye around your desk for any potential sources of connectivity problems.
Con: Setup time
Unlike wired keyboards, which require you to just plug them into a USB port and start typing, wireless keyboards allow you to play around with your computer’s settings in order to connect the devices.
Although this may not appear to be a difficult task for some, less tech-savvy folks may encounter difficulties.
After pairing the keyboard, you won’t have to bother about routing the keyboard connections or being in direct range of your PC, making it easier to move around and utilize.
Because the wireless keyboard lacks a USB port, it no longer has an infinite power source, so you’ll have to attach batteries. Because the batteries will deplete over time, you should always be prepared to perform some care if they run out of energy. The advantage of using a wired connection is that you never have to worry about the battery draining.
Disposable and reusable batteries are the two most common battery types. It’s normally better to choose the reusable method because you won’t have to change the batteries as often.
Disposable batteries can quickly add up in price. A reusable battery will need to be charged more frequently, but the benefit is that you won’t have to go to the shop to buy batteries.
Con: The Cost
Wireless keyboards are generally more expensive than wired keyboards. Wireless keyboards require additional gear to connect to a computer through Bluetooth, such as Bluetooth technology and some type of independent power source.
There are some incredibly cheap wireless mechanical keyboards on the market, and I would suggest models like the Keychron.
The Keychron can be obtained with a bluetooth configuration and is reasonably affordable.
Another nice alternative is to search through Amazon’s wireless keyboard area to discover the exact keyboard you need.
They have a lot of different keyboards, with prices ranging from cheap to very expensive.
Other Methods for Increasing Gaming Reaction Time
Other than changing to a wire keyboard, there are a few other things you can do to improve your gaming keyboard.
Moving to a switch that has a shorter actuation distance is the most significant improvement you can make. You can have a little faster response by choosing a faster gaming switch.
The Razer Huntsman is a trendy keyboard right now since its optical switches are perfect for gaming because of the short actuation distance as well as how quickly they register your keystrokes.
The Apex SteelSeries Pro is another choice, as it will let you personalize and modify the actuation distance on the switch.
This lets you fine-tune which parameters improve your game performance the most. Isn’t it amazing?
Conclusion
Wireless keyboards simply do not cut it when it comes to competitive gaming.
We’d love to see Bluetooth technology advance to the point where it’s as fast as or even quicker than wired, but we’re still a long way off.
An 79-millisecond delay is simply too long for a key to register in the heat of battle with a wireless keyboard.
Wireless keyboards can be great for people who don’t need to react quickly when they play games. Most keyboard users will be happy with a wireless keyboard.
Wireless keyboards provide amazing portability and allow you to type from places where you wouldn’t be able to otherwise. They also help to keep your workspace decluttered and clean by removing one cable from the equation.
You should also keep an eye out for connection issues, interruptions, and battery consumption. If you’re not tech-savvy, you might find it tricky to connect and set up the keyboard, so bear that in mind before you buy.
Thank you for taking the time to read this. Have fun typing!
