Best Backlit Keyboard Laptop – The Full Guide [2023]

There are many different criteria that people want from a laptop, with one of the main features being a backlit. It’s often said that a backlit keyboard is the sign of a higher quality laptop, so it makes sense that many people are looking for a laptop that has one.

Although it isn’t advised for you to work in dark environments for long periods of time – this isn’t going to be great for your eyes – sometimes we just have no choice. And in dimly lit areas is where backlit keyboards really come into play.

So, which laptops have a good backlit keyboard that you can use, and which don’t? Well, we’ll be finding out the top ones and letting you know if they’re worth the investment.

Best Backlit Keyboard Laptop

ProductImageScreen SizeSpecsGet More Info
ASUS ZenBook UX534ASUS ZenBook UX534 Full HD IPS-Level 15.6 Inch Laptop (Intel i7-8565U, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Graphics, 512GB PCI-e SSD, 16GB RAM, ScreenPad, Backlit Keyboard, Windows 10), Royal Blue15.6 inch16GB RAMCheck Price at Amazon
Apple MacBook Air2020 Apple MacBook Air (13-inch, 1.1GHz dual-core 10th-generation Intel Core i3 processor, 8GB RAM, 256GB) - Silver13 inch8GB RAMCheck Price at Amazon
Huawei MateBook D 15HUAWEI MateBook D 15 - 15.6 Inch Laptop with FullView 1080P FHD Ultrabook PC (AMD Ryzen 5 3500U, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD, Windows 10 Home, Multi-screen Collaboration, Fingerprint Reader), Space Grey15.6 inch8GB RAMCheck Price at Amazon
ASUS ZenBook UX431FAASUS ZenBook UX431FA 14 Inch Full HD IPS-Level Thin Laptop (Intel i3-10110U, 256 GB PCI-e SSD, 8 GB RAM, Windows 10, Includes NumberPad and Backlit Keyboard)14 Inch8GB RAMCheck Price at Amazon
Dell Inspiron 15 3000Dell Inspiron 15 3000 15.6 Inch FHD Anti-Glare LED-Backlit 2019 Laptop - (Silver) AMD Ryzen 5-2500U with Radeon Vega 8 Graphics, 8 GB RAM, 256 GB SSD, Windows 10 Home15.6 inch8GB RAMCheck Price at Amazon

ASUS ZenBook UX534

ASUS ZenBook UX534 Full HD IPS-Level 15.6 Inch Laptop (Intel i7-8565U, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Graphics, 512GB PCI-e SSD, 16GB RAM, ScreenPad, Backlit Keyboard, Windows 10), Royal Blue

Operating System: Windows | Screen size: 15.6 inch | RAM: 16GB | Storage: 512GB SSD | Processor: Intel i7 | Average Battery Life: 8.5 hours

For those looking for a high quality laptop with a decent quality backlit keyboard, then the Zenbook UX534 is a great choice. You might not think of ASUS as the first brand when you’re looking for a premium laptop, but this is a pretty great deal.

This laptop is a similar price to the more premium models out there, like the Macbook Air and the cheapest Lenovo Thinkpad. However, you’re getting significantly better specs than you would with the base models of these more expensive brands.

It has 16GB of RAM, which you’re going to notice the difference if you compare it to a 8GB laptop. It also has increase RAM too, and an i7 processor to match.

Another interesting thing about this model is that it has a screenpad, which is essentially just a screen in the touchpad of the device. This makes navigation a little easier, as you simply press the screenpad to open files. It takes a little while to get used to, but it can definitely decrease your navigation time.

This model has a nice finish too, as its lightweight chassis make it an easily portable laptop. Overall, if you’re looking for a really good laptop with a backlit keyboard, then the ASUS UX534 is definitely one you’re going to want to consider.

Apple MacBook Air

2020 Apple MacBook Air (13-inch, 1.1GHz dual-core 10th-generation Intel Core i3 processor, 8GB RAM, 256GB) - Silver

Operating System: Apple OS | Screen size: 13.3 inch | RAM: 8GB | Storage: 256GB SSD | Processor: Intel i3 | Average Battery Life: 9 hours

New Apple Macbooks are known for having a backlit Magic keyboard installed, and they’re one of the best options for those looking for a laptop with an illuminated typing experience.

The Macbook Air has pretty much everything you could need from a laptop. The display is of a really high quality, better than 95% of alternatives out there on the market. It has 8GB of RAM and enough storage for most people, too.

The only downside of this Macbook Air is that it comes with an i3 processor, which obviously isn’t as good as an i5, i7 or even an i9 processor that you can get nowadays. For a laptop that can cope with anything, then the minimum you want to be looking for is a quad core processor.

Overall, Macbooks aren’t the best choice for everyone one there, and you’re likely already an Apple fan or more comfortable with a Windows laptop. So if you’d like a Mac, then the new Air is a great choice. But if you don’t, then there are plenty of Windows laptops out there too!

Huawei MateBook D 15

HUAWEI MateBook D 15 - 15.6 Inch Laptop with FullView 1080P FHD Ultrabook PC (AMD Ryzen 5 3500U, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD, Windows 10 Home, Multi-screen Collaboration, Fingerprint Reader), Space Grey

Operating System: Windows | Screen size: 15.6 inch | RAM: 8GB | Storage: 256GB SSD | Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 | Average Battery Life: 7 hours

For those looking for the best value for money out there, then I think that the Matebook provides excellent value for money. Although some people want to avoid Huawei products in general, it’s one of the better options out there for folks who are looking to spend a little to get a lot.

It comes with a good 8GB of RAM and 256GB of SSD space, matched together with an AMD Ryzen 5 processor. These are pretty good specs for a laptop, especially when you consider its price. The specs are not the only good thing about this laptop though, as the display is of a decent enough quality too.

This laptop is a good option for those looking for something casual to use for browsing, or even a good budget option for a student. The inbuilt fingerprint reader is more of a gimmick than anything, and it’s not as good quality as some more expensive readers new laptops have. But for most people, this isn’t going to be a necessity.

Not all versions of this laptop come with backlit keyboards however, so may sure that you purchase the option that does. It also has a HD webcam built into the laptop, which is going to be key if you spend a lot of time on video calls and conferences. All in all, it’s a decent value laptop that will last you a few years.

ASUS ZenBook UX431FA

ASUS ZenBook UX431FA 14 Inch Full HD IPS-Level Thin Laptop (Intel i3-10110U, 256 GB PCI-e SSD, 8 GB RAM, Windows 10, Includes NumberPad and Backlit Keyboard)

Operating System: Windows | Screen size: 14 inch | RAM: 8GB | Storage: 256GB SSD | Processor: Intel i3 | Average Battery Life: 6.5 hours

Another good laptop with a backlit keyboard is this UX431FA. This is a cheaper ASUS Zenbook than the one already mentioned, and it’s of a decent quality for its low price.

This laptop has a good responsive backlit keyboard that has a numberpad built into it as well – the numberpad is also illuminated. It has an IPS display which gives a good, bright image that it’s clear from all angles (this is what an IPS display really helps with). It’s a laptop with a lot of focus on the quality of the display, which has a slim bezel design and is made to be quite large in terms of screen area, even for a 14 inch laptop.

The laptop has an ergonomic design that uses an easily adjustable hinge, making it good if you’re trying to maintain a good posture while typing. It’s a very well designed laptop, and it’s available at a pretty decent price. Like the ASUS Zenbook 13, another similar laptop to this one, it offers good value.

So if you’re looking for a laptop with a good screen, audio and specs, then the UX431FA may suit.

Dell Inspiron 15 3000

Dell Inspiron 15 3000 15.6 Inch FHD Anti-Glare LED-Backlit 2019 Laptop - (Silver) AMD Ryzen 5-2500U with Radeon Vega 8 Graphics, 8 GB RAM, 256 GB SSD, Windows 10 Home

Operating System: Windows | Screen size: 15.6 inch | RAM: 8GB | Storage: 256GB SSD | Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 | Average Battery Life: 6 hours

Another trusted laptop series that you can rely on is the Inspiron Series from Dell. Out of this series, the Inspiron 3000 is one of the most trusted and often overlooked laptop for those looking for something simple yet effective.

Though nothing really stands out about this laptop, it does everything you need it to pretty well. The laptop itself is described as the perfect family laptop, as it can do pretty much anything and be used by anyone.

It has good audio and the display is perfect for watching any films or YouTube that want to, with bright visuals. The HD display is also anti-glare, which might be important if you work in an office environment. It uses an Nvidia graphics card too, which is the sign of a decent quality laptop.

Overall, whilst this laptop wouldn’t be my first choice, it does fit the criteria for those looking for a laptop with an illuminated keyboard. So, it deserves its place on the list.

Common Questions about Backlit Keyboard Laptops

Can I install backlit keyboard in my laptop?

If you already have a laptop that doesn’t have a backlit keyboard, then it’s likely going to be more trouble than it’s worth to try and install a backlit keyboard into it. Instead, you should probably look at getting a separate keyboard that’s illuminated, and just connecting it to your laptop.

How do I know if my laptop has a backlit keyboard?

Not all laptops have a backlit keyboard, and sometimes it can be really difficult to tell whether yours has one installed or not. If you aren’t sure whether your laptop has a backlit keyboard, you can check this pretty easily by turning all the lights off and looking at the bottom right of your keyboard, near the Right Arrow. This is whether the laptop will be most illuminated to your view, and you’ll be able to tell whether your laptop keyboard is backlit or not.

Is a backlit keyboard necessary?

For many people who have the ability to touch type, a backlit keyboard actually isn’t going to be a necessity. The majority of people out there can’t touch type however, so they do prove to be a useful part of a laptop for those people who still use the hunt and peck method.

What is the point of a backlit keyboard?

Backlit keyboard aren’t necessarily there so you can type essays in the dark, as this isn’t good for your eyes. They’re there to increase convenience when you’re looking to type things quickly in lower light environments, but you shouldn’t make a habit of typing in the dark all of the time.

Does backlit keyboard drain battery?

A backlit keyboard laptop will use more battery than a standard laptop keyboard, so bear in mind you might want to have your laptop plugged in when you’re using it. Generally, things like having a touchscreen will use a lot more battery than the backlight on your keyboard, so this isn’t something you’ll need to worry too much about.

Conclusion

All in all, for many people a backlit keyboard isn’t going to be an essential, but it’s a nice thing to have as part of your laptop. They can come in handy, especially when you’re trying to stream videos in dark rooms.

This isn’t the only thing to consider with your laptop keyboard though. Your key travel distance is also going to be an important factor, as well as having a numeric keypad too – this can make things a lot simpler if you work with numbers.

So, there are a few good decent backlit laptops out there, and hopefully this guide has helped you to find one!

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About Jon

Hey, I'm Jon. I'm an engineer by trade, so it makes sense that I'm obsessed with anything technology related! On the weekends, you can find me playing around with my computers or fixing something around the house. Feel free to leave a comment if you want to get in touch.

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