Corsair consistently puts out top level products and their K55 RGB keyboard is absolutely no exception.

It features a nice take on RGB backlighting that keeps things simple but also limits customization options. You can change colors and patterns (pulse, wave, etc) across 3 zones to make it feel customized, but that's where the customization ends.

I listen to a lot of music, so I really enjoy having dedicated media keys so I can skip songs etc while gaming. So it's great to see dedicated media keys as well as volume control on the K55.

Detachable wrist rests can either be really good or really bad when it comes to less expensive keyboards. Luckily, Corsair chose to go with a very comfortable rest with rubber inserts to make it even better to use.

All-in-all, these reasons are why Corsair's K55 is my #1 pick for the best gaming keyboard under $50.

Redragon constantly delivers when it comes to their budget gaming peripherals. Whether it's one of their mice or a keyboard like the K552 Kumara, you can always expect to walk away with a solid product.

At right around $30, the K552 Kumara is easily one of the cheapest keyboards to offer real mechanical switches. They're not CherryMX by any stretch of the imagination, but they are proper mechanical switches and they feel great to use nonetheless. They are a blue switch so expect to feel a nice tactile bump and hear the audible *click* when you press a key.

One drawback is the fact that the K552 is tenkeyless and has no numpad. But, this is only a problem if you find yourself consistently using it. Otherwise, most people can probably do without it. Plus, no numpad means an extra 3-4 inches of space on your desk.

The particular model I've suggest has red LED backlighting and should cost roughly $30. But, there are 3 alternative K552 options available to choose from - the lighting profile is the only difference. There's one that comes without any backlight that costs a little less, one that comes with a rainbow backlight for a little more, and one that has RGB backlighting for just shy of $50.

Velocifire's TKL02 is a great option for under $50. It's wireless, features brown mechanical switches, and a sleek minimalist look.

It uses brown mechanical switches from Content - a company similar to Outemu and Kailh. They're not super high-quality like Cherry MX, but they work well enough.

The TKL02 only has a single backlight color - a blueish white. And only the option to turn it off and on. However, the backlight is, in my opinion, at a perfect level for both daytime and nighttime use. It's not too bright and definitely not too dim.

Tenkeyless (missing the numpad) keyboards aren't my personal go-to keyboard, but they work great for most people. I think I'm in the small percentage of people who still use the numpad, so it's hard for me to go without one.

All-in-all, when it comes to wireless mechanical keyboards for under $50, our options are still pretty limited - but Velocifire's TKL02 is easily one of the best options.

EagleTec's KG010 mechanical gaming keyboard is easily one of the best for under $50. There's a huge variety of different colors available, so make sure you check them all out!

The KG010 uses Outemu Blue switches which are pretty decent. In comparison to Cherry MX Blue, they are louder and feels like they require a bit more actuation force, but are ultimately comfortable to use, very responsive and offer great feedback.

There's a huge variety of different colors and backlight options for the KG010, including a black body + RGB backlight option and a white body + RGB backlight. There are also some sporting a really clean looking brushed aluminum finish that I really wish I had seen before ordering the one I did. 

Although the EagleTec KG010 doesn't offer some of the features that my number 1 pick does, it's an amazing entry-level mechanical keyboard for under $50 regardless. The switches are good, the backlighting is good, the full NRKO is awesome and everything else about the KG010 and the KG011 (white/silver models) is well above par. 

Keep in mind that there are options offering full RGB backlighting, some with 6-color backlighting, some with no backlighting and some with a single color - there's a ton of options all around the same price range so check them all out! 

The Cooler Master Devastator 3 keyboard + mouse combo is a great buy for under $50. Yes, it's a combo and you're here for just a keyboard, but hey, it's great quality and you really can't beat that price if you need a new mouse at the same time.

The keyboard is really great, and the keys actually feel somewhat mechanical by offering a more tactile feel than your average membrane keyboard would.  It also has dedicated media buttons so you can switch songs or change the volume easily enough. The unit is lightweight but feels relatively durable and not cheap like you would assume.

One downside is that the keyboard's LEDs can only be toggled on/off, and when they're off it's nearly impossible to actually see what's what..

The mouse is not what you would expect from a ~$30 combo deal either, it really goes above and beyond what you're probably thinking you'll get with a combo this inexpensive. It's highly accurate and features 3 preset DPI levels (1000/1600/2000) which are great options for most types of gaming for the majority of PC gamers. It also has 2 thumb buttons along the left side and rubber grips on both sides near the front.

All-in-all, Cooler master went all out with the Devastator 3 keyboard + mouse combo, and for just shy of $40? That's a hard deal to refuse and it makes for an awesome budget setup!