Mechanical keyboards are all the rage these days, especially among gamers.
But with so many different options on the market, it can be tough to decide which one is right for you. In this blog post, we'll break down the different types of mechanical keyboards and help you choose the best one for your needs.
What Is A Mechanical Keyboard?
A mechanical keyboard is a type of keyboard that uses physical switches to register keystrokes. These switches are usually located under the keycaps and are activated when the key is pressed.
The most popular type of switch is the Cherry MX switch, which comes in a variety of colors that correspond to different levels of actuation force. For example, Cherry MX Red switches require less force to activate than Cherry MX Brown or Black switches.
The main advantage of mechanical keyboards over traditional membrane keyboards is that they're much more durable and provide a better typing experience.
In addition, mechanical keyboards can be customized with different keycaps, switches, and lighting effects to suit your personal preferences.
Types Of Mechanical Keyboards
There are three main types of mechanical keyboards: full-size, tenkeyless, and compact. Full-size keyboards include a numeric keypad on the right side of the keyboard, while tenkeyless keyboards omit the numeric keypad in favor of a smaller footprint. Compact keyboards further reduce the size of the keyboard by omitting some keys entirely, such as the navigation keys or F-keys.
Full-Size
A full-size mechanical keyboard includes a numeric keypad on the right side of the keyboard. This makes them ideal for gaming or office use, but they can be cumbersome to carry around due to their large size.
Tenkeyless
Tenkeyless (or TKL) mechanical keyboards omit the numeric keypad in favor of a smaller footprint. This makes them more portable than full-size keyboards and easier to fit on your desk.
However, some people find them more difficult to type on because they're not used to having their hands so close together.
Compact
Compact mechanical keyboards further reduce the size of the keyboard by omitting some keys entirely, such as the navigation keys or F-keys. This makes them even more portable than TKL keyboards, but they can be difficult to get used to if you're not familiar with compact layouts.
Important Features
Keycaps
Keycaps are the removable caps that cover each individual key on a keyboard. They come in a variety of materials, such as ABS plastic or PBT plastic, and can be either backlit or non-backlit.
In addition, they can be found in different shapes and sizes depending on your preference. Some people prefer taller keycaps for easier typing, while others prefer shorter keycaps for a sleek look.
Switches
As we mentioned earlier, switches are located under each keycap and determine how much force is required to press down on a key.
The most popular type of switch is the Cherry MX switch, which comes in a variety of colors that correspond to different levels of actuation force. For example, Cherry MX Red switches require less force to activate than Cherry MX Brown or Black switches.
In addition, some switches are designed for specific purposes, such as gaming or office use.
Lighting Effects
Many mechanical keyboards come with built-in lighting effects that can be customized using software programs such as Razer Synapse or Corsair iCue.
These lighting effects can range from simple static colors to complex animations that respond to your typing or gaming actions.
Some people prefer RGB lighting for its customization options, while others find it unnecessary and prefer a simple single-color backlight for their keyboard.
Conclusion:
There's no one "best" mechanical keyboard; it all depends on your personal preferences and needs.
If you want a durable keyboard with a better typing experience, then a mechanical keyboard is definitely for you.
If you need something more portable, then consider getting a TKL or compact keyboard. And if you want something with customizable RGB lighting, then make sure to get a keyboard with built-in lighting effects.
No matter what you choose, you're sure to enjoy your new mechanical keyboard!
