Top 7 Best Waterproof/Spillproof Keyboards

Since most of your day is spend hunched over a keyboard either for work or entertainment, they are prone to damage due to spillage. Their standard design makes them prone to such damage. If any liquid is spilt on top of the keyboard the spacing between the keys act as canals that guide it throughout the internal system causing unimaginable damage.   

Keeping this design flaw in mind, many manufacturers have begun to mould their keyboards in a way to make them waterproof. We shall have an overview of what makes a keyboard waterproof and a look at some of the best waterproof keyboards in the market right now.

What Makes a Keyboard Waterproof?

To be honest, keyboards are not the most waterproof electronic equipment. Even though it is the most prone to damage due to a spill, a standard keyboard isn’t given the most elaborate of liquid protection. However, mechanical keyboards are considered to be more water-resistant than waterproof.

A standard keyboard has a thin-membrane installed which protects the printed circuit board (PCB). If you can dry out your keyboard before any deep seepage, one can save their keyboard. A significant amount of liquid makes it through, and your keyboard is no longer useful. 

The only way to consider a keyboard as a completely waterproof keyboard if it is stated by the manufacturer. You need to understand the difference between “waterproof” and “water-resistant”. Though confused to be the same, there is a difference.

Waterproof keyboards are fine with getting wet and can be completely submerged in liquid without compromising function. Water-resistant on the other hand can handle simple surface-spills but not a large amount of liquid. 

7 Best Waterproof Keyboards

Having understood the fragility of a keyboard and what makes a keyboard waterproof/water-resistant let’s look at some of the best waterproof keyboards available out there in the market. 

We will look at some of the pros and cons of these waterproof keyboards. Additionally, we will study some key factors that make a good keyboard like key action, durability, ergonomics and lighting systems. Let’s have a look. 

Rank	Keyboard	Switches	IP Rating	RGB
1	SteelSeries Apex 3 RGB Gaming Keyboard	SteelSeries Whisper-Quiet	IP32	10-zone RGB illumination
2	Corsair K68 RGB Mechanical Gaming Keyboard	Cherry MX Red	IP32	Vivid RGB lighting
3	Sungwoo Foldable Silicone Waterproof Keyboard	Classic keys	No official IP rating	No
4	Perixx PERIBOARD-517	Membrane	IP65	No
5	Corsair K55 RGB Gaming Keyboard	Rubber dome	IP42	Three-Zone RGB backlighting

 1. SteelSeries Apex 3 RGB Gaming Keyboard

SteelSeries is a Danish manufacturer of gaming accessories. Though not big on the main market, they have a significant following in the gaming community. They have a line of products best suited for gamers on budget looking to improve their gaming experience. One of these products introduced is Apex3.

Apex3 is one of the best waterproof keyboards to come out of SteelSeries. It was launched at the beginning of 2020 and became an instant star in the community.

It is built with an amazing 10-zone RGB backlighting system and has whisper-quiet gaming switches which are good for 20 million low friction keypresses before wear and tear. Since the keys are rubber-dome type, it is not a mechanical keyboard.    

The keyboard is created keeping accidental spills of energy drinks in mind and come with an IP32 grade of waterproofing. It is very ergonomic and comes with a premium magnetic wrist rest providing pall and support and comfort for long gaming sessions. The multimedia buttons here are interesting. Other than the standard buttons for volume control, there is also a clickable metal roller to do the same. 

SteelSeries know that a gaming station can become very messy with cables. To give you a tidy work/gaming space the keyboard comes with a three-way cable routing system giving to multiple options to set-up your system without damaging the cable. 

2. Corsair K68 RGB Mechanical Gaming Keyboard

Corsair Gaming or Corsair as it is commonly called is an American company completely dedicated to creating the best gaming accessories. They are responsible for creating components like keyboards, mouse and headsets to be used at a competitive level.

The Corsair K68 is one of the recent additions in a long line of corsair waterproof keyboards created for gamers on the budget looking to improve their game. The most eye-catching feature of this keyboard is the vivid RGB lighting system.

The keyboard’s lighting system is customizable and gives the users unlimited options along with the pre-installed effects. Additionally, the Corsair Utility Engine (CUE) software gives users controls over macro-programming to create amazing effects with dynamic lighting. 

To avoid any water damage to this masterpiece, the keyboard comes with dust and spill resistance Rated up to IP32 which will protect against any accidental damage. 

The mechanical keys are 100 per cent gold contact of the Cherry MX type to give ultimate gaming performance to its users. They also have no ghosting issues with full key rollover. This to ensure that each keystroke and command is registered exactly as you want it to. There are also dedicated multimedia keys for ease of use. The keyboard comes with a palm rest which gives a good ergonomic feel.

3. Sungwoo Foldable Silicone Waterproof Keyboard

Sungwoo is one of the best waterproof keyboards that are available in the market today. They are compatible with every setup, may it be a laptop or desktop. It is also considered perfect for someone short on work space. It is a budget buy for anyone looking for a safe and functional waterproof keyboard. 

Though foldable, it is the same as a full-sized keyboard with all the standard alphanumeric keys. The keys are sensitive and good spacing to avoid typing errors. Since made of silicone, the keys are noise proof and smooth. 

It is a spillproof keyboard that can be credited to the use of high-grade silicone to create it. There is no fear of spill or dust damage and doesn’t require any additional protection. It is a washable keyboard and any accumulated dust can be cleaned using a simple swab of water or alcohol.  

4. Perixx PERIBOARD-517

The key PERIBOARD-517 may not be one of the fanciest keyboards on this list but it does the work when it comes to being a spillproof keyboard. It is rated at IP65, one of the highest waterproof ratings on this list, if not the market. It is a perfect fit for a busy workplace like industries or medical offices. 

This waterproof keyboard has a standard design with nothing too flashy. It has basic alphanumeric and function keys. The antimicrobial coating makes sure that there is no chance of developing any pesky bacteria, perfect for a clinic or hospital environment.

As a wired keyboard, the manufacturer provides a 6ft long cable to give the user a long radius of maneuverability. As noted before, this is one of the highest-rated waterproof keyboards on this list. As an IP65 rated device, this keyboard liquid being forced on it from a nozzle for 15 mins without being damaged.

If there is any spillage the keyboard is designed to let the liquid drain out via an intricate system inside the keyboard which leads out through drainage holes. Letting the keyboard airdry afterwards will be ideal. To clean out dust one can just use a simple alcohol swab. Though waterproof, do not put the keyboard in a dishwasher.   

5. Corsair K55 RGB Gaming Keyboard

Corsair Gaming has some of the best lines of gaming accessories for novice and professional players. The K55 RGB gaming keyboard is an accessory best for a gamer on the budget. The keyboard is created with someone in mind who doesn’t like leaving their seat once they start gaming. 

The K55 model is created by keeping clumsy gamers in mind. The keyboard is dust and waterproof. It is rated IP42 on the international waterproof scale and can take some serious spills without showing signs of slowing down. 

The keyboard has a dynamic RGB lighting system spread across three zones with users having the option to customize the colours and effects. There are dedicated multimedia keys that control volume and play/pause so you need not leave your game to toggle through your background music. The keys are quiet and show quick responsiveness, perfect for gaming and typing. 

The keyboard comes with Corsair iCUE software to provide users with options to customize the keyboard lightings as they wish. The macro keys can be programmed from here to carry out different tasks as you see fit. 

6. AUKEY KM-G6 Mechanical Keyboard

AUKEY gaming is responsible for making great gaming accessories. They have amazing gaming mouse and keyboard designs. The KM-G6 is one of their latest additions in keyboards and a hit among gamers. This waterproof keyboard has everything from LED lighting to anti-ghosting keys which makes for an amazing gaming experience.

The AUKEY KM-G6 is a waterproof mechanical keyboard and provides IP rated waterproofing. This means that a simple spill can be handled by wiping it off with a tissue. 

There are many variations to mechanical key types. The KM-G6 comes integrated with Outemu Blue switches. These switches are known for having an ultra-fast response and satisfying key travel. For the more technically inclined, the keys have a pre-travel of 2mm and 4mm actuator travel. 

The keys are designed using double-shot moulded ABS keycaps (check our article on PBT VS ABS Keycaps) and brushed metal panel to make them durable and abrasion-resistant. The keys have a crisp click to them and will remain so for about 50 million keystrokes. The keys are designed with full N-key rollover which means every keystroke will be detected accurately. Perfect for competitive gamers and typists alike. 

The LED-backlight system has a 6-colour backlight, which means each row has a separate colour, with 9-preset effects and 2 slots for assignable lighting. You are given the option to customize the lighting to best suit your needs.  

7. Logitech G213 Gaming Keyboard

Logitech is one of the oldest technology-based companies to build laptops and PC equipment. Their keyboards are one of the best in the world. The Prodigy series was created keeping gamers in mind. The G213 is one of the best keyboards to come out of this series. 

As a gaming keyboard, the Logitech G213 is created to respond four times faster than any other standard keyboard. While good for competitive gaming, this keyboard is also a good fit for typing. 

A gaming keyboard is nothing without a good backlight system. The Colour Spectrum on this keyboard is some of the best. You are given the option to customize 5 lighting zones from about 16.8 million colours to match your build and fulfil your desire. There are dedicated media keys provided to control background audio without stopping your game.

The G213 is a waterproof keyboard with a protective membrane to keep the device safe from any day-to-day spillage you may encounter. There is an in-built palm rest to help you with long gaming sessions.  

Conclusion

A workplace is full of accidents, especially the one’s setup at home. Since electronics are prone to quick damage it is necessary to invest in durable devices. While wireless keyboards seem fancier, there aren’t many waterproof keyboards in the market. As can be seen above, you can purchase a waterproof keyboard and still have some style.