What’s the Big Deal About Mechanical Keyboards Anyway? Unpacking the Hype
1 min read
Summary
A mechanical keyboard uses individual switches, unlike a laptop or budget keyboard’s rubber dome and printed circuit board
This gives a mechanical keyboard a more precise feel, making it ideal for gaming and improving productivity for writers and programmers
It also offers a longer lifespan, usually around 50 to 100 million keystrokes, compared to 5 to 10 million on a membrane keyboard
Mechanical keyboards provide tactile and audio feedback to confirm a keystroke has occurred, improving typing accuracy and speed
While it is true that mechanical keyboards were once the standard, their current popularity is growing for those who wish to relive the nostalgia of the past, those who require functions such as macros or custom lighting, and of course, enhanced gaming and typing experience
For these reasons, mechanical keyboards are worth the higher price tag for many users, but it does come with a small learning curve and can be loud depending on the switch type