Mechanical keyboards are the new fad of the gaming world. Something started this avalanche of support for this new design and people are now all over it. If you haven’t heard anything about mechanical keyboards before (which is very unlikely), then this might seem weird. After all, this trend came out of nowhere and seemingly for no reason. Especially for gamers!
So, if you plan on diving into this whole new world then you need to know a couple of things. Mainly the difference between the regular and the mechanical keyboards. We are going to tell you about the pros and cons of each one, so you can make a good decision while choosing between them. Continue below!
What is a Mechanical Keyboard?
To your surprise, these types of keyboards were actually the first design of keyboards from way back. It was a satisfying and comfortable way to type stuff into your computer, so it was the most popular for a long time as well. Then came the new keyboards, which we call regular ones nowadays. These were much cheaper because they didn’t require the expensive and fragile parts that a mechanical one did. They quickly overtook the market, leaving the better alternative in the dirt. Up until recently of course.
A mechanical keyboard has so called “mechanical switches” under each and every key. If you don’t want to be technical, then let’s just call them springs, because they basically work the same way. These switches push up the keys really fast, which is why they were especially popular in offices. They made typing fast much easier and there was (and still is) active feedback since it’s very tactile in nature.
Generally speaking, mechanical keyboards also feel a lot better than regular ones. They produce a loud clicking noise each time you press a button and it’s insanely satisfying (for us gamers at least). If you have ever used a typewriter then you know the feeling. This technology isn’t new at all, it simply resurfaced because the tactlessness of mechanical keyboards served a purpose again, gaming. The keys adjust to the movement of your fingers way better and it can have a huge effect on your typing. Although, if you don’t like loud keyboards then we advise against getting a mechanical keyboard. You would not like it at all and maybe not your roommates either. However, there are some switches that are more on the quieter side.
Like all keyboards, however, the most important part is the durability and quality of its build. Mechanical keyboards get a little more attention and a bigger budget, because they are made to last. This produces a huge market filled with high-quality keyboards, although these tend to have a higher price. It’s completely worth it though, as mechanical keyboards can last up to 2 times as long as regular ones with good care. Plus you can replace individual keys much easier than “regular” keyboards.
There is one downside to this all though. Mechanical keyboards are higher and heavier than regular ones. This is obviously because the material used to make them is generally higher quality and much more durable, thus more dense. If you don’t plan on traveling with your gaming gear then there’s nothing to fear, though. For the most part, the weight is not bothersome anyways, that’s what our gaming backpacks are for!
What is a Regular Keyboard?
90% of the keyboards that people use today are “regular keyboards”. As said before, they came after mechanical keyboards as a cheaper alternative and quickly overtook the world. This is because they have a so called “rubber dome” under the keys. Sometimes this is also referred to as a membrane. A regular keyboard has 3 of these types, one for each section of it. Then there is another set of 3 underneath them. If the two touch an electric circuit forms and signals your PC to put a letter or number on your screen. Whichever you press. The two touch because you push down a key, which has a pointy middle part underneath that can make the membrane stretch downwards.
This has a ton of effects on the way your keyboard feels and types, so it’s best to know what’s good about them and what isn’t.
The best part is that they are mostly quiet. If you don’t go slapping your keyboard around or typing like a madman, then it will likely be completely silent. This works great in an office environment, where such a quiet environment is expected. But if you want to use your keyboard for gaming then it’s still a pretty good choice, because the noise might distract you if you aren’t wearing noise canceling headphones.
They are also a lot lighter. This is because they don’t have a lot of dense and heavy parts, which makes them great for traveling. They are very portable, so you won’t have a problem with transporting them from one place to another. And once again, they are much cheaper because of this! There is a huge price difference between mechanical and regular keyboards, so take that into account when choosing.
And now it’s time for the con: durability. As we have discussed previously, regular keyboards are made cheaply and not to last. There are several brands out there who make high-quality ones, but even they aren’t as durable as mechanical keyboards. This is because the membrane wears out after some time and either gets mushy or way too thin. After that the keys will barely register and you will find yourself only typing half of what you want. It can get really frustrating.
What’s Better: Mechanical or Regular Keyboards?
For most people, the choice is easy to make, as they want a higher quality keyboard that feels better, even if that means spending a little more money. We can’t blame them, as we do think that mechanical keyboards really are better overall. But whether you switch or not depends completely on your situation. If you would rather not hear your keyboard constantly clicking, then it might not be worth to get a new and expensive one. Completely understandable.
But if you do plan on switching to a mechanical keyboard, then we hope that you got every bit of info that you might need for this transition. Your gaming performance might just get better because of it.
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