7 Best Backlit Keyboard Laptops in 2023

A backlit keyboard was once a premium feature, but has since become almost a must-have. It adds a ton of value if you burn the midnight oil or play games well past the bedtime.

Answering business emails without waking up the house with lights or finishing that last boss in Elden Ring is easier with a backlit keyboard.  For gamers, an advanced lighted keyboard opens up the gateway of aesthetics and customization as well.

Nowadays, laptop brands have backlit keyboards as one of the essential features because of the high demand. Whether you’re a writer, college student, or a gaming enthusiast who loves his Twitch streaming, a backlit keyboard can save you from typing mistakes.

In this article, we’ll review the seven best backlit keyboard laptops and add a comprehensive buying guide. 

Want to know more? Let’s start.

Top 7 Backlit Keyboard Laptops

Ready to learn about these nifty, backlit-keyboard scribes? Check them out below!

1. Portable, Thin, Convertible: ASUS Vivobook S 14 Flip

ASUS Vivobook S 14 Flip

• CPU: 3.3GHz AMD Ryzen 5 5600H
• RAM: 8GB DDR4
• Storage: 512GB SSD
• Display: 14-inch WUXGA (1920 x 1200)
• GPU: Integrated ‎Intel Iris Xe
• Battery: Up to 9 hours

$599.00

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If you’re down for a portable, powerful, touchscreen laptop with a backlit keyboard, ASUS Vivobook S14 Flip might be your jam.

The newer Ryzen 5 processor and Intel Iris graphics make a great combo for productivity and general tasks, but also Excel spreadsheets, multitasking, and even light-to-mid photo editing.

A high-quality, 14” WUXGA display is touchscreen and can be flipped all the way back. It’s a great way to add more spark and interactivity to your work sessions, teaching, or bring out your inner artist to play.

Vivobook is also a great choice if you’re often out and about. At only 3 lbs of weight and 8-9 hours of battery life, it’s easy to carry around, use in tent mode, and will last a full workday.

As for the keyboard, you activate the backlight by pressing F7. The light is bright, and you can also activate the numpad on a trackpad. I also like that ASUS decided on antibacterial coating — since we all spend a lot of time typing.

The biggest concern would be 8GB RAM. While I think it’s enough for everyday tasks and general productivity, I’d also upgrade to 16GB, especially since this is a touchscreen.

If you don’t need a dedicated GPU for CAD work or gaming, Vivobook S14 Flip is an excellent and reasonably-priced laptop with a backlit keyboard that is reliable, interactive, and fun.

2. Great Acer Option: Acer Aspire Vero

Acer Aspire Vero

• CPU: 2.9GHz Intel Core i7-1195G7
• RAM: 16GB DDR4
• Storage: 512GB SSD
• Display: 15.6-inch FHD (1920 x 1080)
• GPU: Integrated Intel Iris Xe
• Battery: Up to 7 hours

$617.00

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Acer’s Aspire laptops are some of the most popular choices for productivity. The Aspire Vero is a newer laptop with backlit keyboard, but just as reliable, practical and useful.

With an 11th-gen. i7, Intel Iris graphics, and 16GB RAM, this is a work machine from the get-go. It will easily handle number crunching, data work, writing tasks, and light media work.

I also like the 15.6” display that’s crisp and color-accurate. Granted, this is 100% sRGB, so if you’re looking for more precise color calibration, maybe check out the ROG Zephyrus or LG gram.

Vero comes with a full-size and very tactile keyboard that feels good while typing. I also like a few quirks: for example, the E and R keys are turned backwards and green, which is probably due to Acer’s ecological initiative.

Namely, Vero is made from recycled materials, and the overall design reflects that — the chassis is green. Though the body is sturdy, I can’t say I like the green specks splattered over it, but maybe that won’t bother you.

The bigger issue is the battery life, which in my tests sits around 6-7 hours. This is far from bad, but make sure to bring a charger if you’re headed to the office.

However, with great specs, color-accurate display, smooth trackpad and good ports, Acer Aspire Vero is worth considering. If you’re looking for a practical laptop with backlit keyboard — and support sustainability — this device might just be it for you.

3. Chromebook With Backlit Keyboard: HP Chromebook 14

HP Chromebook 14

• CPU: 1.1GHz Intel Celeron N4020
• RAM: 4GB DDR4
• Storage: 32GB eMMC
• Display: 14-inch HD (1366 x 768)
• GPU: Integrated ‎Intel UHD Graphics 600
• Battery: Up to 13 hours

$239.99

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So maybe you want a machine that can do the basics very well, doesn’t cost much, and has a backlit keyboard. If that’s the case, HP Chromebook 14 might be a good solution.

For a very affordable price, the Chromebook can do a lot (within the Chrome OS, of course). HP’s Chromebook works great with Chrome apps, entertainment, G Drive, and general tasks. It’s a great choice for the elderly, kids, or regular office tasks.

Chromebook 14 comes with a 14” display that can stream 4K content. It’s a bright, crisp, vivid panel that won’t strain your eyes while you’re working.

The machine is portable. I got around 11-12 hours on a single battery charge, which is enough for anyone. Moreover, at 3.24 lbs, it’s a practical choice if you’re buying it for kids or the elderly, since they can easily carry it around.

Like most HP’s devices, Chromebook 14 comes with large keys and compact, comfy keyboard. The backlight is strong, and the whole thing feels very neat.

Like most Chromebooks, HP’s machine suffers from limited storage. 32GB is enough for the basics, although you will mostly do the tasks in cloud. More importantly, make sure to upgrade the 4GB RAM along the way.

As for entertainment, I thought the speakers could be better, so maybe an external set isn’t a bad idea.

But overall, I like HP’s Chromebook. Next to Acer, it’s one of the best there is — and it has a beautiful backlit keyboard.

4. Superb Screen Quality + Backlit Keyboard: Samsung Galaxy Book3 Pro

Samsung Galaxy Book3 Pro

• CPU: 2.2GHz Intel Core i7-1360P
• RAM: 16GB DDR5
• Storage: 512GB SSD
• Display: 14-inch AMOLED (2880 x 1800)
• GPU: Integrated Intel Iris Xe
• Battery: Up to 15 hours

$1,191.28

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Perhaps you want a backlit keyboard AND a stellar display. In that case, Samsung Galaxy Book3 Pro brings it on, along with top-notch specs and excellent portability.

I’m sure all the photo, video editors, creative people, and CAD-enthusiasts will appreciate the 14” display on Samsung. It’s an AMOLED panel with great brightness, high color accuracy, super contrasty and colorful.

Plus, the visuals are backed by the latest-gen. Intel Core i7 and 16GB of fast DDR5 RAM. Talk about power! As such, Samsung is great for most Photoshop work, but also general productivity and complex projects.

I was surprised with portability. At 2.58 lbs of weight, Galaxy Book3 is lighter than the MacBook Air, which is awesome. As for battery life, it’s lower than the advertised 15 hours, but the laptop can still pull a respectable 9-10 hours of juice.

Speaking of Macbooks, it feels like Samsung mimicked Apple’s design — and who could blame them? This extends to the beautiful, comfy and practical keyboard as well. The keys are large and great to type on, although the trackpad can sometimes get annoyingly imprecise.

This is one of the pricier laptops on this list, but the quality you get is amazing. Samsung Galaxy Book3 Pro is a newer laptop with backlit keyboard, yet the overall execution smokes many competitors. With a ridiculously good display, thin profile and sturdy build, it’s a versatile machine that will last long.

5. College and Gaming Performance: ASUS TUF Gaming F15

ASUS TUF Gaming F15

• CPU: 2.6GHz Intel Core i5-11400H
• RAM: 8GB DDR4
• Storage: 512GB SSD
• Display: 15.6-inch FHD (1920 x 1080)
• GPU: 4GB NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2050
• Battery: Up to 5 hours

$779.80

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ASUS TUF is one of my favorite laptops with backlit keyboards, for several reasons. It is inexpensive, powerful, sleek — and comes with a unique backlight, which I happen to quite like.

This budget gaming laptop runs on an 11th-gen. i5 and the dedicated RTX 2050, which are quite enough to run most of the games on the market today with solid fps and high settings. When it comes to college work, there’s really not much to worry about — the laptop will handle the school curriculum.

I also like what ASUS did with the display. It’s a thin-bezel, 15.6” panel with a high refresh rate for fast maneuvers, and elevated above the keyboard for better immersion. Gaming on it feels very satisfying.

The keyboard is tactile, very comfy and easy to type on, and comes with a yellow backlight, which I adore.

Plus, TUF is one of the rare gaming laptops that has a great cooling system, even when under stress.

The body weighs 5 lbs and the battery lasts roughly 5 hours. These figures aren’t bad, but if you plan to spend a whole day on campus, bring a charger.

Moreover, if you want to future-proof your gaming laptop and boost performance, I’d upgrade the initial 8GB RAM to 16GB pronto.

Still, for this price, ASUS TUF is one of the best budget gaming laptops with backlit keyboards, next to Acer Nitro 5. It’s a  sleek, powerful, and simply gorgeous thing.

6. Reliable and Budget-Friendly Laptop: Acer Aspire 3

Product Title

• CPU: 2.8GHz AMD Ryzen 5 7520U
• RAM: 8GB DDR5
• Storage: 512GB SSD
• Display: 14-inch FHD (1920 x 1080)
• GPU: Integrated Radeon 610M
• Battery: Up to 7 hours

$349.99

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Aspire 3 is a more affordable version of the Acer Aspire Vero above. This laptop still gives a great bang for the buck — and comes with an excellent backlit keyboard.

Packing a newer Ryzen 5 processor and the integrated Radeon graphics, Aspire 3 is more than capable of handling everyday office tasks, emails, G Drive Suite, and even data work.

The 14” IPS display is sharp and pleasant to work on. I actually quite enjoyed watching movies on it.

As for the keyboard, the light is bright enough to work during the night, and the keys feel very tactile and strong.

I also like that this is one of the lighter laptops. At 3 lbs, it’s super easy to pack in a bag and carry to the office.

The lighter chassis doesn’t mean flimsy build. In fact, Aspire is one of the sturdier laptops, which is great for everyday wear and tear.

Even though it’s portable, a slightly better battery life would have been welcome. I got around 6-7 hours of work, which is ok, but make sure to bring a charger.

Similarly to a few other laptops on this list, if you want to make the Aspire 3 last longer, make sure to upgrade the initial RAM to 16GB.

Overall, Acer Aspire 3 is an excellent solution for people on budget — and a good, reliable laptop with backlit keyboard.

7. Sleek and Flexible 2-in-1: HP Envy x360

HP Envy x360

• CPU: 2Ghz AMD Ryzen 7 5825U
• RAM: 16GB DDR4
• Storage: 512GB SSD
• Display: 15.6-inch FHD Touch (1920 x 1080)
• GPU: Integrated AMD Radeon RX Vega 8
• Battery: Up to 10 hours

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Closing off this list, there’s another touchscreen laptop with backlit keyboard. HP Envy x360 is a versatile, powerful convertible with sleek design.

Let’s start with the screen — the 15.6”, hi-res touchscreen display is crisp, colorful, and very responsive. It’s great for presentations, real estate, note taking, teaching, and college.

The laptop runs on a capable Ryzen 7 processor and Radeon Vega 8 graphics, paired up with 16GB RAM. In benchmark tests, this machine zaps across general tasks, Excel spreadsheets, and can also work well with mid-level photo editing. The GPU is a bit of a bottleneck — if you’re into CAD, gaming or video editing, I’d go for a dedicated GPU.

I love the HP’s keyboard. With bright backlight and compact design, the keys feel great to type on, and the trackpad is precise and comfy.

Plus, the entire design looks very elegant. The metal chassis feels premium, so this is a great choice if you want to leave a great impression — or simply appreciate aesthetics.

The laptop is light enough at 3.78 lbs, and shouldn’t be a problem to carry around. But I got around 7-9 hours of battery life, depending on the tasks. This could be enough for most people, but pales in comparison to MacBooks’ or LG gram’s batteries.

If you want a sleek, powerful convertible with backlit keyboard, HP Envy x360 is a smart — and relatively affordable — choice that will last long.

Buying Guide for Backlit Keyboard Laptops in 2023

With multiple purposes behind a laptop with backlit keyboard, we focused on features that can power cheaper all-around models, and more high-end laptops for gaming and professional use.

CPU Is an Essential Piece for All Laptop Categories

If you’re looking for the best laptop for college or need an affordable everyday device, the CPU of choice will revolve around Intel Core i3 or AMD Ryzen 3. A better and more future-proof choice would be the 12th generation of Core i5 or Ryzen 5 equivalent.

Gamers, professionals, and users not restrained by the budget can opt for more power and look for Core i7 or Ryzen 7 and 9 CPUs.

Integrated and Dedicated GPUs Fighting for Attention

Again, like with the CPU, a choice of GPU depends on the purpose of the laptop. You can choose a device with an integrated Intel or AMD graphics cards if you’re not a gamer or need CUDA cores for 3D or video rendering and similar professional tasks.

Casual gamers can work with Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 or 3060, while high-end users would want RTX 4070 or higher for maximum performance in laptops for gaming.

Chiclet Backlit Keyboards For Night Owls

Most laptops use chiclet-style keyboards to ensure comfortable typing with fewer typos. You can check all about different keyboard types here. However, realistically, you will have choice between chiclet membrane keyboard in vast majority of devices, or mechanical keyboards in the case of high-end gaming laptops.

As for the layout, bigger laptops have keyboards with numeric keypads, while smaller form factors have standard keypads. 

Backlit keyboards have become more common lately, and you can get them in cheap Chromebooks and high-end gaming rigs. LED lights illuminate the keys, and you can find white backlight in multipurpose, business, and professional devices and colored or full RGB light in gaming models.

Memory to Keep Your Laptop Going

To work with a functional laptop in 2023, you will need at least 8GB of RAM. If you run Windows 11 operating system and like multitasking, we recommend 16GB. 

Chromebooks need less RAM, and MacBooks use the memory more efficiently, but if you run demanding apps, Apple laptops will also benefit from more RAM.

A Bigger SSD is Faster

Everyday laptop with some additional Cloud storage can go by with 256GB of storage. However, most users will save photos and videos and play some games. You won’t have to worry about running out of space so much with 512GB.

If you’re looking for a professional device or need a gaming laptop, look for devices with at least 1TB of storage space. Remember, SSDs with bigger capacity also perform better.

Bright Display to Compliment the Illuminated Keyboard

Display size varies from 13-inch to 17.3-inch models, with 15.6” and 16-inch laptops being the most popular. OLED displays provide the best picture quality but come at a high price. You should focus on IPS panels that cover the picture quality requirement, and you won’t have to break the bank.

Full HD is most common resolution. However, you can find QHD and 4K laptops, but they will also cost you more. Gamers will also look for a high refresh-rate of at least 144 Hz to stay competitive in online gaming sessions like CS: GO, COD: Modern Warfare, or DOTA 2. 

It Starts and Finishes With a Budget

Since you can find a backlit keyboard on an affordable Chromebook, you can find cheap laptops if writing in dark spaces is your only goal. Not all low-end and middle-range laptops come with backlit keys.

FAQs about Backlit Keyboard Laptops

Verdict

As a general rule, you should always try to get the most out of your budget. With a broad category of laptops with backlit keyboards, focus on getting the most out of other components.

Aside from an RGB keyboard, gamers will want a competent GPU. Student or business laptops will rely more on middle-range hardware and boost its affordability.

Since there is no one laptop to cover all needs, here is a quick recap of the best options:

• Samsung Galaxy Book3 Pro is a higher-end device that combines an AMOLED display and backlit keyboard with a powerful CPU.
• If you aim for affordability, Acer Aspire 3 checks all the boxes with backlit keys, excellent price, and competent components.
• ASUS TUF Gaming F15 is a great choice if you want a jack of all trades that perform well in gaming and is kind on the budget.

Our comprehensive laptop buying guide can help if you’re still undecided on which device to buy.

If you have questions, use our comment section and hit us up!