The 5 Best Gaming Keyboards for Students Under ₹2,500 (2025)

 

The 5 Best Gaming Keyboards for Students Under ₹2,500 (2025)

By The Tech Guru

Your mouse helps you aim, your headset helps you hear, but your keyboard is your connection to everything else. If you're still using that "mushy," cheap membrane keyboard that came with your PC, you're doing yourself a disservice. A bad keyboard is terrible for typing long assignments (so much finger fatigue!) and even worse for gaming (missed inputs, slow response).

But before you buy, you need to know about the two biggest choices: Mechanical Switch type and Keyboard Size.

A 30-Second Guide: Red vs. Blue vs. Brown Switches

This is the most important choice. It determines the "feel" of your keyboard.

• Blue Switches: The "Typist's" choice. They are loud, "clicky," and have a tactile bump you can feel. Amazing for typing assignments, but your hostel roommate might hate the noise.

• Red Switches: The "Gamer's" choice. They are smooth, linear (no bump), and quiet. This allows for the fastest possible key presses in games like Valorant or BGMI.

• Brown Switches: The "Hybrid" choice. They have a tactile bump (like Blues) but are quiet (like Reds). This makes them the perfect all-rounder for a student who does 50% gaming and 50% assignments.

The "TKL vs. Full-Size" Dilemma

This is the second biggest choice:

• Full-Size (104 keys): This is the classic keyboard with the number pad on the right. If you're an engineering or finance student who needs to input a lot of numbers for coding or spreadsheets, you need a full-size keyboard.

• Tenkeyless (TKL - 87 keys): This layout removes the number pad. Why? This gives you a huge amount of extra desk space for your mouse to move, which is a massive advantage for FPS gamers who use low DPI settings.

Now that you know the basics, here are the 5 best gaming keyboards for students on a budget.

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1. Redragon K552 Kumara: The TKL Champion

Overview

The K552 is a legend. It's the most popular, most reviewed, and most-recommended TKL keyboard in this price range for a reason. It's built like an absolute tank, with a metal and ABS plastic construction, and delivers a premium mechanical feel for a shockingly low price.

Key Specifications

• Layout: TKL (87 Keys)

• Switch Type: Outemu (Available in "Clicky" Blue or "Linear" Red)

• Keycaps: Double-shot injection molded (legends won't fade)

Pros & Cons

• Pros:

  • Incredibly durable, over-engineered build.

  • Double-shot keycaps are a premium feature at this price.

  • Compact TKL design saves desk space for gaming.

  • Comes in both Red and Blue switch versions to suit your preference.

• Cons:

  • The "clicky" Blue switches are very loud.

  • The design is a bit dated (though classic).

Who it's Best For:

The FPS gamer who wants the best possible "bang-for-your-buck" TKL keyboard and values durability above all else.

Is it really built like a tank? Read our deep-dive Redragon K552 Kumara Review.

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2. Cosmic Byte CB-GK-16 (Firefly): The Best TKL for Typists

Overview

This is the other massive TKL contender from the popular Indian brand Cosmic Byte. The CB-GK-16 is specifically for students who want that satisfying, "clicky" mechanical feel for their assignments but also need a fast keyboard for gaming. It uses the very popular "Clicky" Outemu Blue switches.

Key Specifications

• Layout: TKL (87 Keys)

• Switch Type: Outemu Blue (Clicky & Tactile)

• Keycaps: Standard, good-grip keycaps (50-million keystroke life)

Pros & Cons

• Pros:

  • Fantastic, satisfying "clicky" feel for typing.

  • 100% anti-ghosting means every key press registers in-game.

  • Compact TKL design.

  • Good RGB lighting with 11 animations.

• Cons:

  • Blue switches are very loud, which could be a problem in a shared hostel room.

  • Only comes with Blue switches.

Who it's Best For:

The student who does a lot of typing (coding, essays) and wants that classic, loud, clicky mechanical feel in a compact TKL size.

Stuck between TKL and Full Size? Read our Redragon K552 (TKL) vs K551 (Full Size) Comparison.

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3. Cosmic Byte CB-GK-18 (Firefly): The Best TKL for Gamers

Overview

This is the sister keyboard to the GK-16, and it's the one I recommend for pure, competitive gamers. It has the exact same great TKL body, but it swaps out the switches for Outemu Red switches. These Red switches are linear, quiet, and require less force, making them faster for in-game reactions.

Key Specifications

• Layout: TKL (87 Keys)

• Switch Type: Outemu Red (Linear & Quiet)

• Keycaps: Standard, good-grip keycaps (50-million keystroke life)

Pros & Cons

• Pros:

  • Quiet, linear Red switches are ideal for fast-paced gaming.

  • Much quieter than Blue switches, making it "hostel-friendly."

  • 100% anti-ghosting and 1000Hz polling rate for pro-level responsiveness.

• Cons:

  • Linear switches are less satisfying for pure typing, as there's no "bump."

  • Only comes with Red switches.

Who it's Best For:

The serious FPS or MOBA gamer who wants the fastest, quietest, and most responsive TKL keyboard for competitive play.

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4. Redragon VARA K551: The Full-Size Workhorse

Overview

What if you're a student who can't live without the number pad? The Redragon Vara is your answer. It's essentially the full-size (104-key) version of the legendary K552. You get the same tank-like build quality, double-shot keycaps, and reliable performance, but in a full-size layout that's perfect for both work and play.

Key Specifications

• Layout: Full-Size (104 Keys)

• Switch Type: Outemu Red (Linear & Quiet)

• Keycaps: Double-shot injection molded

Pros & Cons

• Pros:

  • Includes the full number pad for productivity, coding, and spreadsheets.

  • Durable build quality with a metal and ABS body.

  • Quiet Red switches are great for both gaming and late-night study sessions.

• Cons:

  • Takes up much more desk space, leaving less room for your mouse.

  • Not ideal for low-DPI FPS players who need a lot of mouse room.

Who it's Best For:

The Engineering/Coding/Finance student who needs a single keyboard for heavy data entry and serious gaming, and has the desk space for it.

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5. Ant Esports MK1300 Mini: The Budget Value King

Overview

Ant Esports is another Indian brand that delivers incredible value. The MK1300 is a TKL keyboard that packs in all the essentials—mechanical Red switches, a compact layout, and good build quality—at a price that is often the lowest on this list. It's the perfect first step into mechanical keyboards.

Key Specifications

• Layout: TKL (87 Keys)

• Switch Type: Ant Esports Red (Linear & Quiet)

• Keycaps: Standard keycaps

Pros & Cons

• Pros:

  • Extremely aggressive pricing, often the best value-for-money.

  • Quiet, linear Red switches are great for gaming.

  • Plug and play, easy to use, and compact.

• Cons:

  • Build quality is good but doesn't feel as "premium" as the Redragon models.

  • Fewer lighting modes and software support than other brands.

Who it's Best For:

The student on the absolute tightest budget who wants to get the benefits of a mechanical Red switch keyboard for the lowest possible price.

Conclusion

Ditching your old membrane keyboard for a mechanical one is a massive quality-of-life upgrade. It makes typing assignments more comfortable and your gaming more responsive. Whether you're a coder who needs a full-size layout or an FPS gamer who needs a compact TKL, these 5 picks prove you don't have to spend a fortune to get a fantastic, dual-purpose keyboard.

Quick Comparison Table

Model	Layout	Switch Type	Best For
Redragon K552 Kumara	TKL (87-Key)	Red or Blue	The TKL Champion (Durability)
Cosmic Byte CB-GK-16	TKL (87-Key)	Blue (Clicky)	Typing & Assignments
Cosmic Byte CB-GK-18	TKL (87-Key)	Red (Linear)	Pure Gaming (Quiet)
Redragon VARA K551	Full-Size (104-Key)	Red (Linear)	Productivity & Gaming
Ant Esports MK1300	TKL (87-Key)	Red (Linear)	The Budget Value King