A backlit keyboard can make working on your laptop easier and more comfortable, especially in low-light conditions. But with so many laptops now offering backlit keyboards, how do you choose?
In this detailed guide, we reveal our top picks for the best laptops with backlit keyboards in 2024 based on performance, design, battery life, and overall value.
What is a Backlit Keyboard?
A backlit keyboard refers to a laptop keyboard that has LED lights underneath or along the sides of the keys. This illumination allows you to easily see and type on the keys even when working in dim environments.
Backlit keyboards provide a number of advantages:
- Allow you to work comfortably in low light
- Reduce eyestrain from struggling to see keys
- Often adjustable to suit your lighting needs
- Look sleek and stylish with glowing keys
Many modern laptops now incorporate backlit keyboards. But there can be significant differences in terms of lighting adjustability, brightness, ergonomics, and more.
Key Factors to Consider When Buying a Laptop with Backlit Keyboard
Backlit keyboard aside, you‘ll want to evaluate laptops on other factors like performance, battery life, weight and more. Key considerations include:
Performance – Processor, RAM, graphics capability for your intended use case (gaming, content creation, general use, etc.)
Battery Life – Important if using your laptop on the go
Display & Keyboard – Screen size, resolution and keyboard ergonomics impact the user experience
Weight & Portability – Important if carrying your laptop around frequently
Storage – SSD and HDD options with enough capacity for your programs, files and media
Connectivity – Modern connectivity standards like Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.1, Thunderbolt support, etc. maximize transfer speeds
Also consider brand reputation, price, design/build quality and included ports. We weighed all these factors to select the best backlit keyboard laptops.
Best Laptops with Backlit Keyboards – Our Top Picks
Based on extensive research and hands-on testing, these are our selections for the top laptops with high quality, adjustable backlit keyboards:
[table] | Laptop | Price | Key Specs | Rating ||-|-|-|-|
| Apple MacBook Air M2 | $899 | M2 chip, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD |
|| Lenovo Chromebook 3 | $199 | AMD Dual-Core, 4GB RAM, 32GB eMMC |
|| ASUS VivoBook 15 | $699 | Intel i5, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD |
|| Acer Swift 3 | $569| Intel i7, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD |
|| MSI Pulse GL66 | $1,179| Intel i7, 16GB RAM, RTX 3070 GPU |
|[/table]
Below we provide an in-depth review of each laptop‘s strengths and ideal use cases.
Best Overall: Apple MacBook Air M2
The Apple MacBook Air M2 is our choice for best overall laptop with backlit keyboard.
Apple‘s latest slim and portable MacBook Air packs impressive performance into a thin 2.7 pound chassis, thanks to the new M2 chip which enables smooth multitasking.
The backlit Magic Keyboard offers a comfortable typing experience with 1mm key travel and ambient light sensing to automatically adjust keyboard brightness.
With excellent battery life up to 18 hours, Bluetooth 5.0, a vibrant 13.6" Retina display and 256GB SSD, the MacBook Air M2 is a well-rounded productivity powerhouse. It‘s also a great choice for photo/video editing with the M2‘s graphics capabilities.
The MacBook Air M2 isn‘t cheap, but provides an unparalleled experience that justifies the investment for many users.
Ideal User: Mobile professionals, business users, content creators, and multimedia editors needing top-notch performance in an ultralight form factor
Best Chromebook: Lenovo Chromebook 3
The Lenovo Chromebook 3 proves you don‘t need to spend a fortune to get a solid laptop with backlit keyboard.
For under $200, this lightweight 2.42 pound Chromebook delivers smooth web browsing, streaming media, and cloud app performance. The backlit keyboard allows comfortable typing in any lighting environment.
Battery life is rated for up to 10 hours on a charge. And while the 11.6" HD display and 32GB storage don‘t match premium models, performance is reliable for basic productivity.
If you just need an affordable, portable laptop for web use, email and document editing, the Lenovo Chromebook 3 offers fantastic value.
Ideal User: Students, kids or anyone needing an affordable secondary/travel laptop for basic web use
Best Value: ASUS VivoBook 15
The ASUS VivoBook 15 packs impressive specs like a 10th Gen Intel Core i5 CPU, 16GB RAM and 1TB SSD into a sub-$700 package making it our value pick.
Performance is reliable for daily productivity, school work, content creation and even light gaming. Connectivity is solid as well with Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0, USB-C and USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports.
The backlit keyboard allows comfortable typing and number crunching. We also like the ErgoLift hinge which tilts the keyboard at a comfortable 4.2° angle for improved ergonomics.
If you want better performance than a budget Chromebook without the premium price tag, the ASUS VivoBook 15 brings excellent value.
Ideal User: Students, home/business users needing a productivity workhorse at a budget price point
Best Lightweight: Acer Swift 3
If you want an ultraportable laptop with backlit keyboard, look no further than the 2.65 pound Acer Swift 3.
Inside its thin 0.63" aluminum chassis lies an Intel Core i7-1260P processor, Intel Iris Xe graphics, 8GB LPDDR5 RAM and 512GB SSD delivering solid everyday performance.
The backlit keyboard allows comfortable use even in dim light. Battery life is strong at around 12 hours making this a great travel companion.
While the 14" FHD screen isn‘t exceptional, performance is reliable for school, office and even light creative work on the go. At just $569, this lightweight Swift 3 model is a steal.
Ideal User: Business travelers, students and mobile users needing a super portable productivity notebook
Best for Gaming: MSI Pulse GL66
Gamers who prize performance and flashy backlighting should check out the MSI Pulse GL66.
Inside you get an 11th Gen Core i7-11800H CPU, 16GB DDR4 RAM, RTX 3070 graphics and a 512GB NVMe SSD – high-end specs to power the latest games.
The RGB backlit keyboard by SteelSeries allows custom LED colors/effects. And the lightweight 5 pound chassis stays cool under load thanks to MSI‘s Cooler Boost technology with dedicated thermal solutions.
With support for Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2, Thunderbolt 4 and an array of ports, connectivity is solid. Battery life is rated for around 5 hours if away from an outlet.
If you want a reliably built gaming laptop that can power immersive play anywhere while looking great, the MSI Pulse GL66 shines.
Ideal User: Gamers who want powerful graphics within a portable, RGB backlit keyboard chassis
How to Choose the Right Backlit Keyboard Laptop
Which backlit keyboard laptop is best for you depends entirely on your budget, performance needs and intended use.
But in general, here is a step-by-step process for selecting the right model:
1. Determine Your Usage Requirements – Consider how you plan to use your laptop. This dictates necessary factors like CPU performance, RAM, graphics capability, display quality, storage space and battery life.
2. Set Your Budget – Prices for backlit keyboard laptops range from budget ($200-$600) to high-end ($1,000+). Determine what you can reasonably spend before shopping.
3. List Must Have Features – Beyond an adjustable, bright backlit keyboard, list other must have features like numeric keypad, touchscreen, connectivity standards etc.
4. Research Your Best Options – Use this guide and other reliable laptop reviews/rankings to compile your list of potential choices.
5. Directly Compare Models – Look up spec sheets and read reviews for your laptop candidates to see how they compare in terms of performance, design and overall value based on your priorities determined in steps 1-3.
6. Select the Best Choice for Your Needs – Based on research and comparisons, determine the model that checks all requirement boxes while fitting within budget.
Following this methodical process will lead you to your ideal backlit keyboard laptop for work, school or gaming!
What It‘s Like Using a Laptop with Backlit Keyboard
Wondering how a laptop with illuminated keyboard actually performs during use?
In practice, models like the MacBook Air M2 allow fast, fluid typing in any setting thanks to clearly visible keys backed with LED lighting. Adjustability means you control light levels based on ambient brightness.
For gaming laptops like the MSI Pulse GL66, bold RGB backlighting coupled with fast response keys adds to immersion while enabling precise control.
The benefits stand out most in darker environments where key labels would normally be hard to discern. But even in well lit rooms, the consistent lighting eases eye strain that can come from repeatedly glancing down at keys.
Using most backlit keyboards feels responsive and comfortable with no learning curve. Rather, you gain flexibility to work productively from anywhere thanks to keyboard visibility.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Are backlit keyboards bad for your eyes?
A: Not inherently. Many backlit keyboards allow adjusting brightness levels to suit ambient lighting conditions. This prevents exposure to excessive brightness levels that can cause eyestrain over time. Some users do report sensitivity to LED light wavelengths however.
Q: Do backlit keyboards drain laptop battery faster?
A: Backlit keyboards require battery power to illuminate the keys, so yes higher brightness levels will reduce battery life per charge. However most models allow adjusting light levels, so battery life impact can be minimized by lowering brightness when unplugged.
Q: Can I add backlit keyboard to my non-backlit laptop?
A: Unfortunately laptop keyboards are not designed to be replaced with different models. Easier options are using an external backlit USB keyboard or portable clip-on light accessory to shine down on existing keys.
Final Verdict: Which Is the Best Laptop with Backlit Keyboard?
Based on value, versatility and overall quality, the Apple MacBook Air M2 stands as our choice for best backlit keyboard laptop you can buy in 2024.
Between industry-leading performance powered by Apple‘s new M2 chip, excellent 18 hour battery life and gorgeous 13.6" Retina display encased in a super portable chassis, the latest MacBook Air is a top choice for anyone needing premium quality through and through.
The ambient-aware backlit Magic Keyboard enables comfortable typing in any environment. And MacOS Monterey brings next-level productivity features. For these reasons and more, the MacBook Air M2 is a worthwhile investment if within budget.
That said, alternatives like the MSI Pulse GL66 gaming laptop, ASUS VivoBook 15 mid-range option and Lenovo Chromebook 3 budget pick all offer excellent value depending on your needs.
We hope this guide helps you select the perfect backlit keyboard laptop for work, school or entertainment! Let us know if you have any other questions.
