5 Reasons Why You Should Get a Mechanical Keyboard (Small Changes, Big Results)

Introduction

Mechanical keyboards are becoming the go-to for typists and gamers the world over thanks to the improved functionality they can offer when compared to membrane keyboards.

In most cases, this improved functionality will be the deciding factor for whether you should get a mechanical keyboard or not and that is exactly why we’ve constructed this list to highlight some of the key benefits.

First of all, though, let’s try to directly tackle the question.

Should You Get a Mechanical Keyboard?

If you’re a casual gamer who plays a couple of hours here and there throughout the week without great concern for where you stand in the global ranks then we don’t think there should be any great pressure to buy a mechanical keyboard.

However, mechanical keyboards have come down vastly in price, and in most cases, are usually the same price as membrane keyboards meaning you can potentially get a lot more bang for your buck with a mechanical keyboard.

For this reason, we definitely think you should get a mechanical keyboard as they’re usually built better and offer improved functionality when typing and gaming; more on that below — but first, let’s take a look at our favorite picks.

Editor’s Picks – Our Favorite Mechanical Keyboards

Here are a few of our recommended mechanical keyboard picks by our editor.

Title
Low Cost
SteelSeries Apex 3 RGB Gaming Keyboard – 10-Zone RGB...
Best Value
Corsair Wired K60 RGB Pro Mechanical Gaming Keyboard -...
High-End Enthusiast
Razer Huntsman V2 Optical Gaming Keyboard: Fastest Linear...
Image
SteelSeries Apex 3 RGB Gaming Keyboard – 10-Zone RGB...
Corsair Wired K60 RGB Pro Mechanical Gaming Keyboard -...
Razer Huntsman V2 Optical Gaming Keyboard: Fastest Linear...
Price
$50.21
$79.99
$159.99
Prime Eligibility
-
Amazon Prime
Amazon Prime
Low Cost
Title
SteelSeries Apex 3 RGB Gaming Keyboard – 10-Zone RGB...
Image
SteelSeries Apex 3 RGB Gaming Keyboard – 10-Zone RGB...
Price
$50.21
Prime Eligibility
-
Buy Here
Best Value
Title
Corsair Wired K60 RGB Pro Mechanical Gaming Keyboard -...
Image
Corsair Wired K60 RGB Pro Mechanical Gaming Keyboard -...
Price
$79.99
Prime Eligibility
Amazon Prime
Buy Here
High-End Enthusiast
Title
Razer Huntsman V2 Optical Gaming Keyboard: Fastest Linear...
Image
Razer Huntsman V2 Optical Gaming Keyboard: Fastest Linear...
Price
$159.99
Prime Eligibility
Amazon Prime
Buy Here

Alternatively, you view a more comprehensive list of mechanical keyboards here.

5 Reasons Why You Should Definitely Get a Mechanical Keyboard

1. Tactile Feedback

Tactile feedback is a function that was overlooked on keyboards up until recently, especially in membrane keyboards where there is virtually no feedback when pressing keys down.

As a function, both for typing and gaming, tactile feedback is massively advantageous as it allows you to get a better sense of what you’ve pressed and where certain keys are on your keyboard without needing to look.

It builds a mental map in your head that can make you a better touch-typist and a more responsive gamer in terms of actuation times and reactions.

Funnily enough, mechanical keyboards were the go-to option for many decades, however, they were replaced in terms of popularity during the nineties and naughties by their cheaper-to-make membrane keyboards — this is a good example showing that cheaper doesn’t always mean better.

However, mechanical keyboards didn’t always have obvious tactile functionality either, and in most cases, it is only the more recently made mechanical keyboards that utilize modern switch mechanisms (Cherry MX, Razer Switches, etc) that feature clicking or tactile functionality when pressed.

2. Faster Actuation

Leading on from the previous point, newer mechanical keyboard switch mechanisms haven’t just provided us with the benefit of tactile responsiveness — they’ve also paved the way for customizable and enhanced actuation functions whereby you can get a faster keypress (less distance required) depending on the switch you choose.

Although this may seem extreme, even shaving off a few milliseconds on your response times can make the difference between you getting the win over your enemy.

For competitive gamers or people who like to play online against other players, this can offer you a crucial advantage that can often add up over hundreds of games which could, in turn, be the difference between a silver ranking or a gold ranking.

In fact, in combination with tactile feedback, having a faster actuation on your keyboard switches means you’ll know exactly when the key has been pressed which will help you get used to the faster presses.

3. More Customization Options

Mechanical keyboards are better designed for customization thanks to their swappable keycap design.

This means you can choose the color or even the type of material for the keycaps you want to use, however, if you’re even more technical then you can even replace the switches altogether for custom ones.

In case you didn’t know, custom switches will offer different experiences in terms of tactile functionality and the general feel when typing.

For example, some switches require more pressure to be activated, others more distance traveled, and some even give audible feedback when pressed such as a clicking sound.

4. Better Build Quality

Build quality is something that hasn’t had much focus up until recently — in fact, most gaming keyboards were made with rather flimsy plastic up until recently where we’re now seeing a surge in demand for more premium-looking and premium-feeling peripherals.

This includes the use of metals such as brushed aluminum, though, some more specialized keyboards are even being made with certain types of wood.

The reason for this focus on quality seems to be due to the more public nature of the gaming scene whereby it’s seen as prestigious to own high-end and more specialized equipment for your PC gaming setup.

In fact, most manufacturers are so certain that you’ll have a durable and long-lasting experience with their products that they’ll usually offer five or more years’ worth of guarantee meaning you can get a replacement for free if anything goes wrong or becomes defective.

5. More Satisfying To Type With

Perhaps one of the most popular reasons for obtaining a mechanical keyboard is to have a more satisfying experience on it typing whereby you’ll hear every clunk and click of each keypress which is like music to your ears.

In fact, depending on the switches you choose, some of the keypresses may offer a more high-pitched click whereas others offer a more low-end sort of thud.

If you’re an enthusiast, you can even opt for multiple keyboards depending on if you’re gaming or if you’re typing meaning you can always have the perfect experience regardless of the activities you’re partaking in.

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