If you play video games, or just enjoy typing, you may have looked into the mechanical keyboard world. Mechanical keyboards are much different compared to the membrane. Membrane keyboards have a rubber dome so that when you press down on the keycap, it has a “Squishy” feel to it. On the other hand, mechanical keyboards have what’s called a “switch”. The keycap sits on top of said switch and when pressed down, the keycap gives you a smooth, even, LINEAR feel, or a clicky, bumpy, TACTILE feel. Mechanical keyboards have more parts than just that, such as a frame, a plate, keycaps, a PCB, and sometimes even RGB. They all come in different feels and qualities, so essentially, let’s see which ones are the best.
Budget Stock Boards
Now keyboards can be pretty expensive, for instance, if you look over at most any “custom” mechanical keyboard, they normally don’t go below $200. So now you waltz on over to amazon/youtube to find the BEST budget keyboard <$100. This is always a tough decision, and which ones are best for what? Do you want Good Stabs, switches, RGB, or Keycaps? It’s all up to what you want to sacrifice.
Rk61/Rk68 <$60
These two keyboards are some of the most popular keyboards in all of the “Budget” keyboard world. These keyboards have some of the greatest RGB on a “gamer” keyboard. The RK61 is a 60%, Hot-Swappable mechanical keyboard. The RK68 is a Hot-Swappable 65% mechanical keyboard. Both of these keyboards come in either red, blue, or brown Gateron switches. Amazon Link for the RK68: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08FG3WCX8/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_api_glt_fabc_NFJJ486022Y9JBHZX5QB
EPOMAKER EP84 75%
The Epomaker is on the pricier side of the keyboard world. For stock, the total comes out to around $85 on amazon. This keyboard includes a Hot-Swappable PCB, Function keys, and arrow keys. The keyboard can come with many different types of Gateron switches. Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08DKSSL82/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_api_glt_fabc_0ZGYAECY4Y3WX8JA1MQR?psc=1
There are many different types of budget keyboards, but these are probably some of the most popular ones, and the highest quality unmodded. If you want to, modding the keyboard is ridiculously easy on both.
Switches
Mechanical keyboards have what’s called a “switch”. The keycap sits on top of said switch and when pressed down, the keycap gives you a smooth, even, LINEAR feel, or a clicky, bumpy, TACTILE feel. There are many different brands such as Gateron, Cherry, Otemu, and many others.
These all include different “colors” which define what kind of switch you are buying. Blue: clicky, loud, tactile. Brown: tactile, slightly clicky. Red: Linear, smooth, a bit loud. Black: heavy, linear, THOCC. Yellow: Linear, FAST, lighter. Silver: very similar to yellow. There are many more different types of switches, but those 6 are the main money makers and the most popular.
Layout/Plate
Now, if you want a good keyboard you need to have a good plate/board itself. But it all mainly comes down to what you want on your keyboard. Plastic has a cheaper, more hollow feel, while metal has a deep, solid feel. The main downside to metal is that it is more expensive, and is harder to come by. But if you are serious about keyboards, go for a metal base.
The plate of the board is the piece between the keycaps, and the PCB, and it is USUALLY a thinner metal and has lots of variants. The only plastic plates you are going to come across are in cheap, $30 boards.
The layout of the board is very important, do you want a full size, or a small, compact 60%? The sheer amount of layouts is insane.
There are 100% (Full)
TKL, (minus the number pad)
75% (A much more compact version of the TKL)
65% (Minus the function keys on a 75%)
60% (Minus the arrow keys from the 65%)
Customizations/Keycaps
Keyboards are MADE to be modded (at least most of them) and mods can get complicated and sometimes even expensive. And keycaps are one of the most popular mods, and both are very important to make the keyboards look/sound their best.
Customizations
Customizations/mods are the only way to make your keyboard sound great.
The first mod is the tape mod, you can take apart your keyboard, then pull out the PCB. Next, take your scotch tape, and cover the entire bottom of the PCB.
Next, the Foam mod/Dampen mod. This mod includes the same steps as the first mod, except the tape of course. You then take pillow foam, memory foam, or packing foam and STUFF the bottom of your keyboard.
Now, the band-aid mod. The band-aid mod just includes removing the switch, then the stabilizer. After that, take a band-aid and cut a small piece off. Take that piece and put it over/under the slot of where that stab was, and put that stab back on.
Finally, lube mod. Lubing the stabilizers/switches is a painstaking process that can take HOURS to complete. First, take all the switches out of the keyboard, then the stabs. Then get a switch piece removal, and buy some keyboard lubricant. After all of this, you need to watch a video on how to do this, and you are on your way.
Keycaps
Keycaps are the main attraction of the keyboard itself because it just sits on top and is the only visible object on the keyboard. Keycaps are all about the layout you want, and make sure you are getting the right set! Keycaps have different kinds of plastic that you can buy, PBT, and ABS are the main types. PBT is the more expensive, and higher quality one.
Keycaps can come in different colors and have different purposes. Like HyperX PBT pudding keycaps, made for Gamer RGB. or you just want some nice looking colors, on some nice feeling keycaps.
Overall
Keyboards overall can get pretty expensive, and you always need to find the right one for your preference. You MUST keep all of these factors into play when you get your first mechanical/custom keyboard.
