Backlit keyboards are such a blessing. Since most of us aren’t really bound by fixed working hours or tend to work and play on the go, the popularity of laptops with backlit keyboards has risen tremendously.
And because they’re so convenient and comfortable, manufacturers haven’t missed this opportunity. Most laptops on the market today offer laptops with backlit keyboards that have fantastic colors and look amazing. But which one to choose?
To save you the hassle, I’ve done all the research already (I totally got my geek on, don’t judge me) and found the 10 best laptops with a backlit keyboard!
The Apple MacBook Air 13 is an excellent choice all around. It has a powerful processor, 8 GB of RAM, and ample storage capacity. What’s more, it’s also small in size and lightweight, so you can easily carry it around.
Regarding its keyboard, it’s incredibly comfortable and easy to see thanks to the white letters on black keys design.
- Size: 14 inches
- Resolution: 1920 x 1080 pixels
- RAM: 4 or 8 GB
- Storage: 32 or 64 GB
- Size: 15.6 inches
- Resolution: 1920 x 1080 pixels
- RAM: 4 GB
- Storage: 128 GB
Best Laptop with a Backlit Keyboard – Comparison Table
| Image | Product | Rating | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
Best Overall | Apple 13″ MacBook Air Core i5 CPU, 8GB RAM (2017 Model 128GB)
| 10 | Check On Amazon |
 | Asus ROG Strix G, 15.6” IPS Type FHD, Intel Core i7
| 9.5 | Check On Amazon |
| | Acer Aspire 5 Slim Laptop, 15.6 inches Full HD IPS Display, AMD Ryzen 3 3200U
| 9.4 | Check On Amazon |
| | ASUS Chromebook Flip C434 2-In-1 Laptop, 14″ Full HD Touchscreen 4-Way NanoEdge, Intel Core M3-8100Y
| 9 | Check On Amazon |
 | ASUS TUF FX504, 15.6” Full HD, 8th-Gen Intel Core i5-8300H
| 8.6 | Check On Amazon |
 | ASUS ZenBook 13 Ultra-Slim Laptop- 13.3” Full HD Wideview, 8th Gen Intel Core I5-8265U
| 8.2 | Check On Amazon |
 | ASUS F512JA-AS34 VivoBook 15 Laptop, 15.6” FHD Display, Intel i3-1005G1 CPU
| 8 | Check On Amazon |
 | DELL XPS7390-7954SLV 2-in-1 Convertible 13.4-inch FHD InfinityEdge Touchscreen
| 7.7 | Check On Amazon |
 | Razer Blade 15 Base Gaming Laptop 2020: Intel Core i7-10750H 6-Core
| 7.4 | Check On Amazon |
 | HP Envy x360-15.6″ FHD Touch – 10th gen i7-10510U – 12GB – 512GB SSD
| 7.2 | Check On Amazon |
Laptops with a Backlit Keyboard – Our Reviews
Just looking at the specs of a laptop will not give you the full picture, you need way more info than that! Here’s an in-depth review of each and every backlit keyboard laptop in more detail.
1. Apple MacBook Air 13 — Best Backlit Keyboard Overall
Hardware Specifications
| Processor | Intel Core i5 |
| RAM | 8 GB |
| Storage | 128 GB SSD |
| GPU | Intel HD Graphics 6000 |
| Display | 15.6 inches 4k (3840 x 2160) touchscreen |
| Operating System | macOS |
Top 3 Features
With a resolution of 1440 x 900 pixels, it’s more than enough to cover the small screen space.
If you used an Apple product in the past, you’d know how high-quality their products are, and the MacBook Air 13 is no exception. In addition to the backlit keyboard, you get unmatchable performance, extended battery life, and a high-quality display.
There’s nothing to complain about regarding the laptop’s keyboard. The black keys with the white letters and the white light are a pleasure to look at. You can also control how bright the light is, according to your surroundings.
The laptop comes with an Intel Dual-Core i5 processor known for being powerful without costing an arm and a leg. Additionally, it has 8 GB of RAM capacity, so it can handle multitasking without any hiccups.
Being 13.3 inches in size and less than 3 lbs in weight, the laptop is quite portable. What’s more, as an Apple product, it runs on the user-friendly, versatile macOS.
- Excellent battery life
- Highly portable and lightweight
- Sleek, modern design
- Speedy performance
- Display resolution could’ve been better
2. ASUS Chromebook Flip – Best Chrome OS Laptop with Backlit Keyboard
Hardware Specifications
| Processor | Intel Core m3 |
| RAM | 4 or 8 GB |
| Storage | 32 or 64 GB eMMC |
| GPU | Integrated Intel UHD Graphics 615 |
| Display | 16-inch Retina Display with True Tone technology |
| Operating System | Chrome OS |
Top 3 Features
Also, the laptop offers a touchscreen display that’s incredibly convenient and easy to use.
It’ll last through an entire day of usage without running out of power.
Chrome OS laptops are often overlooked, but the ASUS Chromebook Flip is here to make a statement about its high-quality build and excellent performance.
The keyboard is white with silver letters, which might be a little challenging to see in certain lights. However, it makes up for that by allowing you to adjust its backlight to make it a little easier to see.
The 14-inch, 2-in-1 laptop has a NanoEdge design, so the bezels are as small as can be. Combine that with the white and silver aesthetics and you end up with a premium-looking laptop.
To guarantee excellent performance, the laptop boasts an Intel Core m3 processor and two RAM configurations: 4 or 8 GB. The former configuration might be enough for some people, but I always recommend going for the largest RAM capacity possible.
- Excellent value for the money
- Touchscreen laptop
- Incredible battery life
- High-quality display
- The keyboard is hard to see in bright rooms
3. Acer Aspire 5 – Best Windows Laptop with Backlit Keyboard
Hardware Specifications
| Processor | AMD Ryzen 3 |
| RAM | 4GB |
| Storage | 128 GB SSD |
| GPU | AMD Radeon Vega 3 |
| Display | 15.6 inches, IPS technology, 1920 x 1080 pixels |
| Operating System | Windows 10 Home in S mode |
Top 3 Features
It has a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels, more than enough on a 15.6-inch screen.
Besides, the storage is an SSD known for its reliability and high transfer rate.
You’ll likely need to recharge it multiple times throughout the day.
The Acer Aspire 5 is one of the most popular laptops on the market, and I can’t help but agree with the public voice. It retails at an incredibly affordable price, yet offers high-quality components.
Firstly,, the Aspire 5 looks and feels premium. It has a silver build with a black keyboard and white letters, making it easy to see. Also, the backlight gives the laptop a boost, so you can easily type in dimly-lit rooms.
Even though this laptop only has 4 GB of RAM, the powerful AMD Ryzen 3 processor makes up for it. Additionally, it boasts an AMD Radeon Vega 3 GPU to run some light games and designing apps.
For an average user, you’ll love how speedy the laptop is, and you won’t run into any issues. However, if you’re a designer, gamer, or programmer, this might not be the best option for you.
- IPS and ComfyView display
- Affordable
- Slim design
- Incredibly lightweight
- Subpar battery life
4. ASUS ROG Strix G — Best Performing Laptop with Backlit Keyboard
Hardware Specifications
| Processor | Intel Core i7-9750H |
| RAM | 16 GB |
| Storage | 1TB SSD |
| GPU | NVIDIA GeForce 1650 |
| Display | 15.6 inches, LED-backlit, 1920 x 1080 pixels |
| Operating System | Windows 10 Home |
Top 3 Features
Besides, the screen has small bezels that make for an immersive display.
However, it can last much longer on average usage, like just web surfing.
If you’re looking for a laptop that offers excellent performance, you’re in luck because ASUS ROG Strix G is second to none. Thanks to the fact that it’s a gaming laptop under $1500, it offers unmatchable specs that you can’t go wrong with.
With the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 GPU, the laptop can handle gaming, designing, and 3D modeling like no other.
The ROG Strix G boasts an Intel Core i7 processor and an incredible RAM capacity of 16 GB. Whether you’re running demanding apps or you’ll be multitasking using multiple windows simultaneously, this laptop can take a beating.
However, being 15.6 inches in size and weighing 5.29 lbs significantly take away from the laptop’s portability.
- Incredible cooling system
- Large storage and RAM capacities
- RGB backlit keyboard
- Excellent GPU
- Not the best battery life
- Pricey
5. ASUS TUF FX504 – Feature Rich Backlit-Keyboard
Hardware Specifications
| Processor | Intel Core i5-8300H |
| RAM | 8 GB |
| Storage | 1 TB SSHD or 256 GB SSD |
| GPU | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 |
| Display | 15.6 inches, TN or IPS, 1920 x 1080 pixels |
| Operating System | Windows 10 |
Top 3 Features
Generally, TN panels are better for gaming, while IPS panels are preferred for day-to-day usage.
Either way, it offers a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels.
It’s not the best option out there because of the HDD part, so if that’s a bother for you, you can opt for the 256 GB SSD configuration.
Gaming laptops are on a level of their own when it comes to performance; that’s why I decided to add the ASUS Tuf FX504 to this list. This laptop is worth every penny for how incredible it looks, feels, and performs.
The FX504’s all-black design with the red-backlit keyboard is a pleasure to look at. Its design is so modern and has some red elements and patterns to match the keyboard and tie it all together.
The FX504 comes with an Intel Core i5 processor and 8 GB of RAM. It also comes with the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 GPU to handle any graphics-intensive task.
Weighing just over 5 lbs, this isn’t a laptop that you can carry around easily. However, that’s justifiable, considering its large 15.6-inch screen and high-quality components.
- TN or IPS panels
- Powerful GPU
- Comfortable keyboard
- SSHD model is a little slow
6. ASUS ZenBook 13 — Best Portable Laptop with Backlit Keyboard
Hardware Specifications
| Processor | Intel Core i5 or i7 |
| RAM | 8 GB |
| Storage | 512 GB SSD |
| GPU | Integrated Intel UDH Graphics 620 |
| Display | 13.3 inches, NanoEdge, 1920 x 1080 pixels |
| Operating System | Windows 10 Home |
Top 3 Features
Besides, it has a display resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels, which is incredibly high, considering how small the screen is.
If you like working on the go, having a small portable laptop is life-changing— specifically, having the ASUS ZenBook 13. Its small size and 2.5 lbs of weight make for an easy-to-carry laptop without sacrificing speed or the ability to multitask.
The 13.3-inch screen with small bezels is so easy on the eye; you’ll actually start enjoying spending time in front of your laptop.
It comes in processor configurations: i5 and i7, so you can choose whichever best fits your needs. The i7 laptops are definitely more powerful, but it’s also more expensive. However, both configurations have 8 GB of RAM, which is more than enough.
The backlit keyboard is incredibly comfortable and easy to get used to; it’ll even encourage you to type more.
- Slim design
- Comfortable keyboard
- Incredibly display
- Speedy performance
- The fan can be a little loud
7. ASUS VivoBook 15 – Laptop with Backlit Keyboard Offering Best Value for Money
Hardware Specifications
| Processor | Intel i3 or i5 |
| GPU | Intel Graphics Coprocessor |
| RAM | 8 GB |
| Storage | 128 GB or 512 GB SSD |
| Display | 15.6 inches, NanoEdge, 1920 x 1080 pixels |
| Operating System | Windows 10 Home in S mode |
Top 3 Features
However, the colors look a little washed out, which can be disappointing.
It’s also worth noting the Intel i5 model comes with 512 GB.
Its battery life is below average, and you’ll need to recharge it multiple times throughout the day.
To get the best bang for your buck, you won’t find better than the ASUS VivoBook 15. It offers high-quality components that make for a speedy performance without breaking the bank.
Even though this laptop comes in a variety of models with different specs, I’ll be focusing on the Intel i3 model, but keep in mind that if you want high specs, this laptop offers them.
The laptop’s Intel i3 is the most popular budget-friendly processor on the market that offers good performance and reliability. Additionally, it comes with 8 GB of RAM capacity, which is incredible at such a price point.
In addition to the smooth backlit keyboard, this laptop offers an ergonomic design. When you flip it open, the keyboard is raised by 2 degrees off the surface, providing you with a comfortable typing position.
- ErgoLift hinge
- Comfortable keyboard
- Speedy
- Multiple processors configurations
- Average display
- Battery length could be improved
8. Dell XPS7390 — Best 2-in-1 Laptop With a Backlit Keyboard
Hardware Specifications
| Processor | Intel Core i7-1065G7 |
| RAM | 16 or 32 GB |
| Storage | 512 GB, 1 TB or 2 TB |
| GPU | Intel Iris Plus Graphics |
| Display | 13.4 inches, touchscreen, HDR, 1920 x 1200 pixels |
| Operating System | Windows 10 Home |
Top 3 Features
It looks premium, and it’ll truly immerse you into your task without straining your eyes.
The Dell XPS7390 is the best 2-in-1 laptop with a backlit keyboard because not only does it offer a beautiful touchscreen display, but it also offers high-quality components and excellent performance.
The XPS7390 weighs around 4.5 lbs, which is a little heavy for a 13.4-inch laptop. However, its design is sleek with small bezels and an edge-to-edge keyboard to prevent unnecessary bulkiness.
The Intel Core i7 processor is one you can’t go wrong with. It’s truly powerful, so you can say goodbye to freezes and glitches.
Additionally, if you like multitasking, you’ll love this laptop’s RAM capacity. It comes with two possible configurations: 16 and 32 GB. The former is more than enough for anyone, while the latter is overkill.
- Incredible battery life
- Immersive display
- Large RAM capacity
- Three storage configurations
- Overheats while charging
- Expensive
9. Razer Blade 15 — Premium Backlit Keyboard Pick
Hardware Specifications
| Processor | Intel Core i7-10750H |
| RAM | 16 GB |
| Storage | 256 or 512 GB SSD |
| GPU | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 or 2070 |
| Display | 15.6 inches, 144 Hz, 1920 x 1080 pixels or 4K |
| Operating System | Windows 10 Home |
Top 3 Features
Also, there’s a model with 256 GB of storage if you’re looking to save some money.
The Razer Blade 15 is a high-end laptop with equally high-end components and specifications, and the fact that it’s a gaming laptop ensures excellent performance without any hiccups.
Keyboard-wise, it comes with a customizable backlight color through Razer Chroma. Besides, it’s incredibly comfortable to type on.
Combining an Intel Core i7 processor with 16 GB of RAM makes for next-level performance. What’s more, the 15.6-inch laptop comes with a refresh rate of 144 Hz and NVIDIA GeForce RTX GPU. If you’re a hard-core gamer or you just appreciate powerful laptops, the Razer Blade 15 is for you.
- Incredible specs
- A variety of models
- Excellent display quality
- Powerful
- Expensive
- Disappointing battery life
10. HP Envy X360
Hardware Specifications
| Processor | Intel Core i7-10510U |
| RAM | 12 GB |
| Storage | 512 GB SSD + 12 GB Optane |
| GPU | Intel UHD Graphics |
| Display | 15.6 inches, IPS, 1920 x 1080 pixels |
| Operating System | Windows 10 Home |
Top 3 Features
With the 1920 x 1080-pixel resolution, you’ll get a sharp, crisp image.
If you want the best storage capacity possible, but you don’t want to deal with HDDs’ low transfer rate, the HP Envy X360 is here to save the day.
Finding a 15.6-inch laptop that weighs less than 5lbs is a nice surprise; you can easily carry this laptop around.
By now, you should know how powerful the Intel Core i7 processor is. Well, the laptop offers even more than an excellent processor with its 12 GB of RAM.
Multitasking? Highly-demanding apps? Gaming? HP Laptops have it all. You name it, and the Envy X360 can handle it.
- 2-in-1 laptop
- 512 GB SSD + 16 GB Optane
- Excellent display
- Short-lived battery
Guide to Choosing & Buying a Laptop with a Backlit Keyboard
Picking the best laptop that suits your needs is nowhere near a stroll in the park. There are so many factors you need to consider, and each plays its own role in your laptop’s performance. Here’s everything you need to know before making a buying decision.
Size
The laptop’s size is a huge sign of whether it’s portable or not. If you like working on the go and want a laptop that you can carry around easily, opt for one with a screen size around 13 inches. That’s essentially the ideal size that most people choose to go for, just in case they need to carry the laptop around wherever they go.
However, if portability isn’t your priority, having a 15.6-inch laptop is an incredible experience. The large display can really immerse you in work or games.
Storage
Whenever possible, opt for SSD storage. Compared to HDD, laptops with SSD storage is a lot more reliable and offers higher transfer rates, eliminating freezes or slowness.
Additionally, try to opt for a capacity of at least 128 GB. Keep in mind that your OS and installed apps take up a large portion of the capacity. Even better, opting for a capacity of 512 GB is a dream come true! It’s always better to have extra storage than to have to delete files by force.
Display and Resolution
Generally, try going for a display resolution that’s at least 1920 x 1080 pixels, which is the optimum for most screen sizes. If your laptop of choice has a smaller size, you can afford to go for a lower resolution without too much loss in quality.
Additionally, try going for an IPS display because it offers vivid colors and wide viewing angles. On the contrary, if you’re looking for a gaming laptop, you might enjoy a TN panel.
RAM
The larger your RAM is, the better your laptop will perform. A capacity of 8 GB or higher is more than enough for an average everyday user. However, if you’ll be running demanding designing or coding software, I recommend going for a 16 MB capacity. Anything higher than 16 is just overkill.
Operating System
The most popular OS among laptops is Windows 10 Home. We’re all familiar with it; it’s versatile, user-friendly, and reliable.
However, if you go for an Apple product, you’ll end up with macOS, which is also reliable and user-friendly.
Lastly, if you’ll be using your laptop for Google’s apps and tools, you might enjoy a Chrome OS laptop.
Battery Life
Nobody likes recharging their laptop multiple times a day. Always try going for a laptop with an extended battery life of around 10 hours or higher. Additionally, I recommend lowering display settings and turning off any features that you don’t need to save energy.
Even though backlit keyboards drain your laptop’s battery, it’s not that big of a deal. They won’t absorb that much power, so you can leave your backlight on for as long as you’d like.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Laptops Have Backlit Keyboards?
Most laptops on the market today have backlit keyboards. However, it’s safer to double-check with the seller or the manufacturer.
What’s the Benefit of Having a Backlit Keyboard Laptop?
A backlit keyboard makes it much easier to work at night. You’ll no longer have to squint your eyes to see the letters.
Does a Backlit Keyboard Drain Laptop Battery?
Definitely! The light used to backlight the keyboard gets power from the laptop’s battery, using up some of its charge.
Conclusion
By now, you should have a clear idea of what to look for in a laptop with a backlit keyboard, and maybe even settled on one! Here’s a quick recap of the best laptops with backlit keyboards.
My favorite laptop is the Apple MacBook Air 13 for its incredible battery life, a comfortable keyboard, and portability.
The ASUS Chromebook Flip follows as the best Chrome laptop. It’s perfect for those who only use Google apps.
Lastly, the Acer Aspire 5 is a laptop you can’t go wrong with. Not only does it come at a very affordable price but it also offers high-quality components and excellent performance.