For those who don’t know already, there’s a massive spring sale happening over at Amazon this week, and as always, gaming peripherals are a real staple of the retailer’s listings.
Mice, keyboards, headsets, and other categories are always on sale during these events. So much so, I actually have a hard time recommending products to our readers outside of the big sales. It’s always better to wait, generally.
As a guideline, I’d consider a full setup: a mouse, keyboard, mouse pad, headset, and maybe a controller. Depending on the type of games you play, a controller might not be needed, but I tried to throw one in for good measure. I’m assuming you have your own PC and monitor here — those are going to be pretty hard to fit into a budget of $100, after all.
My budget gamer setup
My personal selection at Amazon leans heavily on the retailer’s Big Spring Sale to get decent models from well-known brands on a budget. It’s possible to go lower than this, but you’ll generally get stuff from no-name brands that are of questionable quality.
Did I manage to fit everything into a $100 budget? Hmmm, not really. If you lose the controller and mouse pad, then this setup does come to just $99.97. Obviously, I’d recommend some form of mouse pad!
If you’re on a budget, these are definitely good picks, however. I’ve focused on getting a decent wireless mouse and headset, which is my personal preference. The Razer Orochi V2 is a solid pick that will suit most people, and the Logitech G435 is also great for the money. I’ve tested several of the brand’s headsets and have always been impressed.
One area where I’ve made a compromise is the keyboard. Instead of going for a mechanical model (my preference), I’ve gone for a cheaper membrane-based model. That said, the SteelSeries Apex 3 is a full-sized RGB keyboard for a very reasonable price.
Honorable mentions
Got a bit more cash to spend? These are a few alternative models that didn’t make my initial cut but still come with heavy recommendations. In some cases, they’re a little pricier than the initial options, but in others, it’s simply a matter of preference.
For example, I personally prefer a wireless mouse, but the Logitech G502 is easily one of the best value wired gaming mice on the market currently. The HyperX Cloud II is an amazing wired headset, too. It’s a real classic, and I loved the previous model when I tested it a few years ago. Again, I like wireless, but you get really great value if you go for a wired model in this case.
The Keychron K2 keyboard is a must-buy if you have a bit more cash to spend, in my opinion. Unlike the previous choice above, this is a full mechanical keyboard, and I’ve been seriously impressed by the Keychron models that I’ve tried on my journeys. It’s not a super ‘gamey’ brand, but Keychron makes some of the nicest-feeling keyboards you’ll find anywhere if you’re on a budget.
Finally, I’ve also thrown in a full-size RGB mouse mat and a Gamesir G7 SE: a controller from a brand that we love here at TechRadar. While a relative newcomer on the scene, we always recommend Gamesir to those on a budget — especially when they’re on sale like today.
