Kyle’s back with a new article for one of his longtime hobbies – mechanical keyboards!

So you’ve given in and have decided to get into the world of mechanical keyboards. Welcome to the rabbit hole! With affordable yet high-quality pre-built keyboards coming out this year and more accessible options, you couldn’t have picked a better time to get into the hobby. Today, we will help you have an easier time deciding on your first keyboard!

We’re sure you’ve heard a ton of terms being thrown around. Things like tactile switches, gasket-mounted, or even Cherry Profile, but don’t worry about those yet. This article will keep things friendly and straightforward and help you decide what kind of keyboard you’re getting.

Mechanical Keyboards – Pre-built vs. Custom

There have been a lot of debates regarding getting a pre-built keyboard or a custom keyboard as your first. Pre-built means a keyboard you can purchase from the market with switches, case, and PCB all assembled out of the box. Custom keyboards entail more work for the buyer because you customize and choose everything from the board to the casing, the keycaps and switches, and the assembly process. Years ago, you would only have a few options when it came to pre-built. Today, you have many fantastic budget options that give you a bang for your buck, so we recommend getting one of these and customizing it the more you get into the hobby.

Mechanical Keyboards – Shapes and Sizes

No, keyboards don’t come in small, medium, and large. When deciding on your keyboard’s size, consider the number of keys on your board. Does it have function keys and a numpad? There is a full-size keyboard. Does it only have function keys but no numpad? That’s a tenkeyless keyboard. If you remove the function keys and the numpad but keep everything else, you have a 60% keyboard. Keyboard size doesn’t indicate performance as much as it is a comfort factor. More prominent keyboards don’t mean larger keys, but they tell a more spread layout, which significantly helps the typing position and form factor. Likewise, a more compact keyboard doesn’t mean more minor keys but a more grouped-together arrangement. These keyboards are perfect for traveling but are a little cramped for users with larger hands. At the end of the day, it boils down to what you use the keyboard for. If you use the numpad a lot, then you might wanna get a full-sized keyboard. If you don’t have a lot of desk space, 60% should work fine.

Mechanical Keyboards – Switches

Switches are what differentiate mechanical keyboards from regular membrane ones. The common misconception most people have is that mechanical keyboards are all clicky, loud, and disturbing to those around them. That is, however, not true at all! The most popular option people just getting into keyboards tend to get are those with clicky switches. These are mechanical switches with an audible click and a tactile bump that indicates the switch has been pressed down and actuated. These keys are popular with people who like having audible feedback to indicate a key press but can be disruptive when working around others. The second type of switch is called a Tactile switch. They’re like clicky switches but lack the audible click and instead have a tactile bump to indicate an actuation. They sound more poppy when being used and are a lot less disruptive in sound, but their typing feel boils down to preferences. If you hate the sound of clicks but love the feeling of typing on them, then tactile switches are the one for you. The last type of primary switch are Linear switches. These switches don’t have an audible click or a tactile bump but actuate smoothly up and down. They’re preferred by both typists and gamers alike due to their low actuation force and fast response time. They sound a lot more tacky and are the quietest of the three. 

It helps to try the different switches, cases, and typing feels of different keyboards before deciding what keyboard you want to buy.

Now that you have that premium mechanical keyboard feel, why not attach it to one of the laptops on sale this month?

Read More:

These Awesome MSI Laptop Promos Might Be Your Sign To Get A New One – VRSUS