Mechanical Keyboards and Regular Keyboards – A Guide
Looking to buy a new keyboard these days could be confusing when you have brands selling hundreds of different kinds of “Mechanical Keyboards” and “Regular Keyboards”.
What is a Mechanical Keyboard, you ask? Well, a Mechanical keyboard uses specific key switches. These switches give off a satisfying feeling when typing and are more responsive.
A Regular Keyboard uses a rubber pad that collapses when a key is pressed making it less responsive and boring to type with. You can keep on reading for an in-depth guide.
What is a Regular Keyboard?
To first know the intricacies behind a Mechanical Keyboard, understanding how a regular keyboard works is beneficial. A regular keyboard uses a membrane layer with a printed circuit connected to a circuit board. When the keys are pressed, the circuit is completed and a signal is sent to the computer.
This technology is used in the majority of our regular keyboards and is budget-friendly. Compared to other keyboards, they provide a less satisfying feel to typing making them the best fit for ordinary users. These are not only cheap but also protect from dust and liquid.
What is a Mechanical Keyboard?
Now these special keyboards use something which are called mechanical switches. Each of these keys has separate switches underneath them which register key presses.
Though they might be pricey, gamers and enthusiasts often prefer these keyboards as they give off a satisfying feel during typing or gaming. Not only are they durable, but as these keys have separate switches underneath, they are more responsive and are less prone to input lag.
Differences between Regular and Mechanical Keyboards.
Here are some of the major differences that make mechanical keyboards superior to regular keyboards
1. Key Switches
Mechanical keyboards use individual mechanical switches under each key. These switches consist of multiple components, including a spring and metal contacts, providing tactile feedback and an audible “click” sound (depending on the switch type)
however, regular keyboards use rubber dome or membrane switches, which involve pressing down a rubber dome that collapses to complete the circuit. This makes them quieter but less tactile.
2. Typing Feel and Feedback
Mechanical Keyboards Offer a more tactile and precise typing experience. You can feel when a key is activated, often with a distinct “click” (for clicky switches) or a soft bump (for tactile switches). This can make typing faster and more satisfying for many users.
Likewise, regular keyboards have a softer feel and usually require pressing the key down (bottoming out) to register a key press. The feedback is often mushier compared to mechanical switches.
This is the main reason why most enthusiasts go for mechanical keyboards as they like the sound of “clicks” when typing.
3. Durability
Mechanical switches used in mechanical keyboards are durable and long-lasting. These switches can often handle 50-100 million keystrokes which makes them an ideal choice for gamers or typists.
On the other hand, regular keyboards wear out faster as the rubber inside degrades over time. They are made for fewer keystrokes which makes them less ideal.
4. Customization
Mechanical keyboards allow users to customize them in any way they see fit. The Keycaps can be swapped out with different switch types (linear, tactile, or clicky) or even build custom ones from scratch.
Regular keyboards on the other hand lack this property. The membrane structure comes fixed and keycaps are generally not interchangeable.
5. Price
Due to their responsiveness, and complex switch mechanisms, Mechanical Keyboards Tend to be more expensive.
Having said that Regular Keyboards Are typically cheaper and more widely available since the membrane technology is more affordable to produce
One question some people might still have is:
Are Mechanical Keyboards for Gamers?
The reason why the majority of gamers use these keyboards is because of how responsive these switches are. This helps in playing games that require a quick reaction time and reflexes.
Some people may prefer the feel of a membrane keyboard, or they may not notice a significant difference between the two types of keyboards. It’s also worth noting that a good gaming keyboard is not necessarily determined by the type of switch it uses but by its overall design, build quality, and features.
Our article on Mechanical Keyboards and Regular Keyboards ends here. For more, try checking out our Keyboards page.
