Why You Should not Overspend on a Mechanical Keyboard

Prime-of-the-line keyboards are sometimes costly, however does that imply the cheaper ones aren’t any good? I massively overspent on my present mechanical keyboard, solely to search out out I did not actually must.

Are Cheaper Keyboards Inherently Worse?

I used a Redgear MK881 mechanical keyboard just about each day between 2018 and 2023. Throughout this time interval, the keyboard went by a fairly laborious bashing. By the point I changed it with a Keychron K2 V2, it was nonetheless going sturdy. This was a roughly $34 keyboard, so if you happen to ask me, the reply to the heading query is not any.

Cheaper mechanical keyboards are usually not unhealthy in any respect. You could find hot-swappable choices with customizable RGB and typically even software program help for beneath $50 on Amazon reasonably simply. Until you are nit-picking, these are completely serviceable keyboards.

From what I’ve skilled leaping throughout keyboards, the first distinction comes right down to the switches. Cheaper keyboards use low-cost switches from Kailh, Gateron, and typically even Cherry MX. I’ve beforehand in contrast the three swap sorts that can assist you decide one of the best, however they’re roughly going to really feel the identical no matter whether or not you get a blue, purple, or brown swap keyboard.

In case your board is hot-swappable, you may get a pack of switches, swap every thing out, possibly add a layer of froth beneath the PCB, and you will be good to go. You would additionally lube your switches for a smoother typing expertise.

Do They Miss Out on Options?

Software program options are one side the place cheaper keyboards lose out to dearer choices. Most cheaper mechanical keyboards haven’t got accompanying software program, that means you will not be capable to arrange macros and program-specific profiles.

That is true for backlighting as effectively. Whereas a dearer keyboard would possibly offer you per key RGB management and dozens of various presets, cheaper keyboards would possibly solely have a couple of preset choices so that you can cycle by.

However that is all there may be to it. Funds choices have caught up rather a lot lately and you may get keyboards for as little as $80 that supply hot-swappable switches, quantity management knobs, 2.4 GHz and Bluetooth wi-fi connectivity, and extra. The Royal Kludge S98 even gives a wise display with every thing else talked about above for lower than $100 on Amazon on the time of writing.

What Spending Extra on a Keyboard Will get You

In case you’re spending more cash on a keyboard, someplace within the $150-200 vary, the very first thing you may discover is considerably higher construct high quality. These keyboards are considerably heavier and constructed with premium supplies like aluminum frames. You get higher high quality keycaps, higher RGB, and, after all, higher switches.

How a lot that impacts your typing and consumer expertise in comparison with a sub-$50 keyboard is determined by your private choice. That mentioned, you’ll be able to’t go mistaken with these keyboards, because the typing expertise will virtually definitely be higher. The switches shall be rather a lot smoother, the keys shall be higher stabilized, higher supplies shall be used throughout the board, extra software program options shall be out there, and if you happen to decide one up with magnetic switches, much more customization.

Different small knacks like screens, devoted macro buttons, and management knobs are additionally generally discovered on dearer keyboards. Whereas some finances choices additionally provide these options, keyboards on the upper finish of the worth spectrum do a a lot better job of the particular implementation.

What About Design and Construct High quality?

That is one other side that dearer keyboards do rather a lot higher. That is to not say that cheaper keyboards are worse-made or will not final you a very long time. So long as you are correctly cleansing your keyboard sometimes, it’s going to final you so long as you are keen to make use of it.

The main distinction comes within the inventory expertise. Whilst you can spend cash to purchase higher switches and keycaps for almost any mechanical keyboard, the dearer ones include nicer keycaps and switches out of the field. I take advantage of each my Keychron K2 V2 and Arion Frost K8 Professional of their inventory varieties, and the latter offers a a lot smoother typing and consumer expertise courtesy of higher supplies used throughout the keyboard.

How A lot Ought to You Spend on Your Subsequent Keyboard?

I do not see the purpose of spending greater than $100-$150 on a mechanical keyboard, given the insane variety of choices out there. Choices on this worth vary cowl virtually every thing you want, together with software program help for personalization and loads of swap choices.

In case you’re on a finances, you may also decide up most finances keyboards within the $50 to $80 vary. You would possibly miss out on software program help and further controls, however the board itself will not disappoint. Moreover, you may probably get choices that help hot-swapping, so that you’re free to experiment with completely different switches. We have you coated if you happen to need assistance selecting the proper keyboard to your typing wants.

So do not fall for the advertising and marketing hype or restricted version drops. Until you’ve a selected or area of interest requirement, reminiscent of these supplied by Alice keyboards, you do not have to spend a lot cash in your new buy.