You can use a laptop or a desktop computer without a mouse as long as you have a keyboard to input information – which is why the keyboard is such a crucial piece of equipment in any computing setup.
If you’re shopping for a keyboard, you must have heard about mechanical keyboards. They’re expensive, bulky, and clatter noisily at every touch. Granted, there are some budget versions out there, but how different are they from regular keyboards?
In this article, we’ll deep dive into why people get mechanical keyboards in the first place.
What is a Mechanical Keyboard?
What makes a mechanical keyboard mechanical is the spring-activated switches underneath each key. Every keycap has its own switch, which gives a tactile feel and an audible click to every touch.
Essentially, the switches serve as a bridge between the keycap and the circuit board that conveys the signals to your computer.
Since they are installed individually instead of collectively, mechanical keyboards provide much better accuracy which is helpful for activities such as typing quickly or fast-paced gaming. With mechanical keyboards, you can actually feel and hear yourself clicking away without doubting if your fingers keyed in every other word.
Naturally, switches are the most important part of a mechanical keyboard. The three basic types of switches are linear, tactile, and clicky.
- Linear switches are smooth and quiet with no clicks or tactile bumps. Those who like silent yet responsive keyboards should opt for this variant.
- Tactile switches have significant a bump when you press the key halfway. These will benefit gamers and writers as they are balanced in terms of responsiveness and type-feel.
- Clicky switches have an added click sound to match the tactile bump. Generally recommended for writers who have to go through fast typing.
Now, the most common brand of switches is the CHERRY MX switches, which come in different colours to signify the different types.
In essence:
- MX RED are standard linear switches
- MX BROWN are tactile switches
- MX BLUE are the notorious clicky (and tactile) switches
Not only those, but CHERRY also makes low-profile switches that are flatter in thickness and silent switches, which make barely any sound when you press the keys.
All CHERRY MX key switches feature CHERRY’s unique Gold Crosspoint technology that ensures high-precision key contact and reliability.
Mechanical Keyboards vs. Membrane Keyboards?
Now that you know what mechanical keyboards are, let’s look at the other side of the coin.
Most conventional keyboards, including the ones comes that come installed on most laptops, are membrane keyboards.
These are definitely much cheaper and more common. Unlike mechanical keyboards, membrane keyboards only have a rubber layer under each key – which is where the “membrane” in its name comes from. They connect with the circuit when you press a key.
Because of this, membrane keyboards lack tactile feedback, resulting in a “mushy” and inconsistent feeling when you type. This can be disastrous (game-wise) when you’re gaming and trying to hit many keys simultaneously or near-simultaneously. Fast typers won’t enjoy it too when they realised the many possible typos found in their documents.
Besides that, membrane keyboards have an overall shorter lifespan since the rubber layer will eventually degrade, tear, or lose the ability to make contact with the circuit board.
When that happens, you would have to replace the entire keyboard, in comparison to just replacing one or two switches on a mechanical keyboard.
That said, membrane keyboards are typically much cheaper since they lack the various individual moving parts, making them easier and faster to produce conventionally. Compared to mechanical keyboards, membrane keyboards are also less bulky, but that comes at the price of being less durable as well.
Here’s a quick TL;DR of the differences between mechanical keyboards and membrane keyboards:
|
Mechanical Keyboards |
Membrane Keyboards |
|
All keycaps have individual spring-loaded switches |
A one-piece rubber membrane that goes under all keycaps |
|
Expensive |
Cheap |
|
Clicky (loudness is subjected to switch type) |
No feedback (mushy) |
|
Bulky |
Mostly thin and compact |
|
Durable (average lifespan is up to 70 million presses; over 10 years) |
Less durable (average lifespan is 5 million presses; 5 years) |
|
Customisable and attractive |
So, Is It Really Worth Getting A Mechanical Keyboard?
If everything above hasn’t convinced you that mechanical keyboards are the better choice yet, then let’s delve deeper.
The biggest problem with membrane keyboards;
Here, you have no real feedback while typing, and you need to actually press the key all the way to the bottom for the circuit to connect. Also, they may be cheap but are generally not very durable. And what happens if a keyboard doesn’t respond well? You tend to… press harder - bad for durability.
Meanwhile, for mechanical keyboards;
On the other hand, mechanical keyboards have a lighter actuation force, so you don’t need to assert as much energy while typing or gaming. That makes typing much more precise and faster. Not to mention, most people enjoy the physical pleasure of typing or using clicky keys.
Good to know; accuracy is important for a keyboard
Mechanical keyboards can also sense and execute simultaneous keypresses swiftly and precisely. Many gaming mechanical keyboards, like the CHERRY keyboards, feature a “Full N-key rollover” which ensures that every keypress is sensed, no matter how many keys you are pressing on at the same time.
It is why gamers love mechanical keyboards;
Yes, most gamers prefer mechanical keyboards since some fast-paced games require a lot of combo keystrokes. With a mechanical keyboard, you can keysmash to your heart’s desire without having to second-guess the command inputs. No more accidental buffs or deaths!
Mechanical keyboards are healthier for you!
Additionally, switching to an ergonomically designed mechanical keyboard like the CHERRY MX10.0 can be good for your health.
If you’re a professional who works on a keyboard for the majority of your time, then you’ll know that wrist fatigue can really be a bummer on productivity and may cause various complications in the long run. You wouldn’t want Arthritis to happen at the age of 40, right?
Thanks to the high customizability, mechanical keyboards let you choose the perfect key travel distance. You are free to change the switches and even the layout so that you can make sure the keyboard fits your hands perfectly. Those are definitely something a mass-produced membrane keyboard cannot do.
Pro tip: Get a palm rest to save your wrist from fatigue + complement your keyboard for ultimate comfort! Pictured above is the CHERRY AC 3.3, which is compatible with all CHERRY MX 3.0s keyboards.
Another thing we mentioned before is that mechanical keyboards tend to be more expensive than membrane keyboards.
That’s true for the most part, but budget mechanical keyboards exist too. For example, you can get the budget CHERRY G80-3000s in Malaysia for as low as RM239. In terms of mechanical keyboards, that’s a steal!
Plus, mechanical keyboards are more durable especially if they came from notable brands, thus saving you money in the long run. For example, CHERRY’s keyboards come with a 2-year warranty for repairs, making it much easier and cost-effective to repair your keyboard instead of just getting a new one.
CHERRY Mechanical Keyboards - Yes or No?
You might have noticed that we kept mentioning CHERRY in this article. Well, there’s a reason for this frequent name drop.
CHERRY is the world’s oldest manufacturer of computer keyboards and one of the biggest names in the computer hardware industry. That’s largely because of their high-quality, made-in-Germany CHERRY MX switches.
As the pioneer of mechanical keyboards and switches, CHERRY’s keyboards naturally feature a variety of their switches. It’s also worth noting that all CHERRY products come with a 2-year local warranty for Malaysians, under CHERRY MY and Fusion Tech Supply Sdn Bhd!
If you’re considering getting a mechanical keyboard, why not take a look at CHERRY’s most recent lineup?
BUY - CHERRY Keyboards in Malaysia 2022:
Table of Contents
This model is reminiscent of the 1988 CHERRY G80-3000, so you’ll get that classic vintage look and feel with a modern twist.
The G80-3000 comes with a trimmed side profile, making it look modern and sleek, perfect for both work and play.
Costing no more than RM400, it comes in four switch varieties: the MX RED, MX RED Silent, MX BLUE, and MX BROWN. You can also choose between a full-size keyboard or a Tenkeyless (TKL) version, as well as an impressive RGB illumination in more than 16 million colours, customizable through the CHERRY UTILITY software.
A winner of the 2021 German Design Award, the CHERRY MX2.0s is a sleek and minimalist keyboard that is designed to have no flex thanks to its internal ridges that keep the keyboard flat and secured. It comes in both non-backlit and RGB versions and is suitable for gamers, content creators, and professionals.
This is the most affordable CHERRY MX full-size mechanical gaming keyboard. You’ll have the option to choose from four switch varieties: MX RED, MX RED Silent, MX BLUE, and MX BROWN, so you can make sure that the keyboard is perfect for you
The CHERRY MX3.0s is a superior step up to the MX2.0s due to its high-quality extruded aluminium housing that offers a premium typing experience and vibe.
Aimed towards gamers, content creators, serious typists and professionals, this keyboard is available in black, pink and white colour finish and comes in non-backlit or RGB versions.
Although this is a wired keyboard, the Micro-USB cable is detachable, so you can easily bring it on your travels. You can also outfit the premium aluminium gaming keyboard with MX RED, MX RED SILENT, MX BLUE and MX BROWN switches for just a starting price of RM329.
If a detachable wire is just not doing it for you, how about a completely wireless one? The CHERRY MX3.0s Wireless is identical to the wired version, with an updated Type-C port for charging, and connects to your computer through either a wireless USB dongle or Bluetooth 4.0.
The CHERRY MX10.0 utilizes the CHERRY MX Red low-profile RGB switches to achieve a sleek, minimal look that still packs a solid punch in terms of features. With a top height of just 22mm, the keyboard is ergonomic and comfortable to use even without a palm rest, and also has zero-flex thanks to its aluminium body.
The kickstand, also made entirely of aluminium, folds back automatically as soon as the keyboard is lifted. While the switches are unique to the keyboard, the keycaps are still customizable and compatible with most keycaps on the market.
Most importantly, the MX10.0 comes with its own carrying case, which features a slot for the detachable cable. That makes it perfect for travelling nomads, content creators, and typists who don’t want to be confined to the same desk all day.
As we mentioned before, the CHERRY AC 3.3 Palm Rest is the perfect complement to your CHERRY mechanical keyboard. Made of high-quality aluminium, it’s ergonomically optimized to support a natural hand position while playing or typing to prevent wrist strain.
Also, the AC 3.3 Palm Rest is available in two different colours to match your keyboard!
Conclusion
Mechanical keyboards can be game-changing, literally, if you’re an avid gamer or typist. The only downside we see so far is that they tend to cost a little more than their membrane counterparts. But in return, you get customizability, durability, amazing touch and feel, and ergonomic designs.
All in all, our verdict is that mechanical keyboards are a worthwhile investment for the long run. Trust us, once you go mechanical, you can’t go back!
[This article is made in collaboration with CHERRY Malaysia]