DisclosureGameRath may earn a commission if you buy through links on this page, at no extra cost to you. How we make money
Keyboards don't get discounted as aggressively or as often as mice and headsets, so when a couple of well-regarded mechanical boards both dip at the same time, it's worth paying attention. This week that means a full-size veteran and a compact, budget-friendly TKL alternative — two very different desk footprints, two different reasons to buy.
GameRath may earn a commission if you buy through links on this page. Here's what's actually worth grabbing.
Razer BlackWidow V3
The Razer BlackWidow V3 is a full-size mechanical board that's been a default gaming recommendation for years, and for good reason: an aluminum-topped frame that doesn't flex under heavy typing, a choice of Razer Green (clicky) or Yellow (linear) switches, and per-key Chroma RGB. It launched at $140, and with newer Razer boards now on shelves, it regularly shows up discounted into the $70-$90 range. The doubleshot ABS keycaps aren't the most premium material on the market and will shine with heavy use over time, but the switches and build quality underneath hold up well past the price cut. If you want a full-size layout with a numpad and don't mind the bigger desk footprint, this is still an easy recommendation at sale pricing.
Logitech G413 SE
If a full-size board is more desk than you want to give up, the Logitech G413 SE is the compact counterpoint. It's a tenkeyless (TKL) mechanical keyboard with a brushed-aluminum top plate, Logitech's own tactile mechanical switches, and a noticeably smaller footprint that leaves more room for mouse movement — genuinely useful if you play at low DPI or just want your desk to feel less cramped. It launched well under $100 to begin with, and discount pricing regularly pushes it into the $50-$70 range, making it one of the more accessible ways into a mechanical board that doesn't feel like a budget compromise. The tradeoff versus the BlackWidow: no numpad, and single-zone backlighting instead of per-key RGB — a fair trade for most people who'd rather have the desk space.
What to actually check before buying
- Switch type. Clicky, tactile and linear switches feel and sound very different — if you've never typed on the specific switch listed, look up a typing-sound video before buying, especially if you share a room or a desk with someone else.
- Layout region. Some listings default to ANSI (US) layout but ship international variants depending on warehouse stock — double-check the layout photo matches what you expect, not just the product title.
- Keycap material. Doubleshot ABS (common on both boards here) will shine with heavy use over a year or two; PBT keycaps resist this better but aren't standard on either of these models.
- Software requirement. Per-key RGB customization on the BlackWidow requires Razer Synapse; if you don't want another background app running, factory lighting profiles are still fine out of the box.
Bottom line
Neither of these is a flashy, just-announced board — they're both proven, several-years-old designs that have earned their reputations, now selling for meaningfully less than launch price. The BlackWidow V3 is the pick if you want a numpad and don't mind the size; the G413 SE is the pick if desk space matters more than extra keys. Our full BlackWidow V3 review has the detailed breakdown if you want more before deciding. Rounding out the rest of your setup this week? Check our gaming mouse deals and gaming headset deals too.
Not sure a discount is real? Our Best Gaming Deals hub rounds up GPUs, peripherals and free games and shows how to spot a real deal.
