In the world of computer peripherals, there is an enormous amount of options, especially when it comes to keyboards. Just to give an example: some have RGB lighting, others have a lower percentage than a regular one, and there are also wireless ones with different technologies like a 2.4G receiver/Bluetooth. But have you ever wondered:
Is a membrane keyboard worse than a mechanical one? Does being wireless make it worse?
In this article, we’ll give some tips to help you choose a keyboard that will accompany you during your computer sessions.
Membrane Keyboards
Let’s start talking about the most used and sold keyboards, whether by basic users, office workers, or our parents. This type of keyboard is characterized by being the most economical, also by having less durability in its internal components. Another thing that characterizes it is its silence when pressing the keys, obviously, this is not all, and there are more elements than meet the eye.
We need to understand how membrane keyboards work. The first thing is that we have a rubber covering the keyboard’s circuit line, each press we make on a key will cause this rubber to sink right into the key we are pressing, and then the circuit signal is sent.
This will make the travel much shorter and at the same time make it a silent travel, with this, we won’t feel the need to press the keys hard when typing.
Main advantages:
- Silent travel
- Lower cost
- Spill resistance
Main disadvantages:
- Less precise
- Shorter lifespan
- Key ghosting
When choosing this keyboard:
We have to take into account that we will have disadvantages, but these will only be disadvantages if they are not a necessity for us.
For example: Someone who works in office tasks and is working from home, may not be willing to spend 8 to 10 hours a day listening to the sound of their own keys, or simply works until late at night and this sound may bother the rest of the family.
In that hypothetical case, this person might feel inclined to have a keyboard that offers silence and is also willing to sacrifice precision, the possibility of pressing several keys at once, durability, and the sensations that a mechanical keyboard transmits.
Of this type of keyboard, there are many models, to mention a few, I would recommend these:
Logitech G213 Prodigy
HyperX Alloy Core RGB
Low Profile Keyboards
These keyboards are characterized by seeking user comfort by being less tall, some also prioritize silence in their keystrokes and are comfortable for almost all hands due to their ergonomics.
This type of keyboard has a very loyal audience, its focus is to be comfortable, make little noise, and they can also combine it with fewer keys to reduce the space they use.
Something that makes this option very interesting is that there are not only membrane versions, but there are also versions with mechanical switches, but the downside is that there is less variety to choose from, and this is due to the shorter travel of the switch, which is different due to its size.
Main advantages:
- Smaller size
- Portability
- Better ergonomics
- Shorter travel
Main disadvantages:
- Fewer switch varieties (mechanical)
- Higher prices
- Not comfortable for all hands
For the example of that user:
It has to be a person who is uncomfortable with the size of regular keyboards, who is mainly looking for comfort to type for long hours, and whose wrist care is paramount. Here it is optional whether to have membrane or mechanical switches, but if we choose to have a mechanical low-profile keyboard, we have to know that the cost will go up and we will have fewer options to choose from in terms of switches and keycaps.
The ones I would recommend in this section would be these:
Redragon K632 at 60%
Razer Ornata V3 TKL
Ergonomic Keyboards
In this section, only people who want to place their hand on the keyboard and let its shape do all the work to make them feel comfortable will be included.
There are several models, but one standout among them all is the Logitech Ergo K860, which I personally tried and can attest to being the best I’ve had in terms of comfort.
There are also more economical alternatives that you can judge by the quality each one offers you, but definitely if all you want to achieve is comfort, sacrificing any other positive or negative aspect and regardless of whether it is not mechanical. Definitely, this type of keyboard is your choice to choose from.
Mechanical Keyboards
Mechanical keyboards are by far the most popular. People of all kinds decide every day to switch to a keyboard that offers them better feedback when pressing the keys, greater customization in the keys, and of course the fact that they are more reliable in video games.
This type of keyboard also has many variations. There are full-size versions and we will also find reduced versions in a smaller percentage than a regular keyboard, where in exchange for having a smaller size in the keyboard, we will have to make some combinations with the FN + another key to access the missing keys.
The travel in this type of keyboards is fully customizable, we can choose in the market what type of switches to install, as long as it is compatible with the pins of the keyboard body, another thing we can modify is the Keycap of the keyboard, there are many on the market of many different materials and every day new options appear to choose from.
Being able to exchange almost all parts of the keyboard ensures us a lot of durability over the years.
Unlike the membrane keyboard, which, if it were to wear out or break the circuit, would no longer work and there would be no way to repair that section, because the circuit would already be broken and for the price of a possible repair, it is cheaper to buy a new keyboard to replace it.
Main advantages:
- More precise response
- No Ghosting
- Customization of switches and keycaps
- Longer lifespan
Main disadvantages:
- Noise when typing
- Typically, they have a higher price than membrane ones
- Worse ergonomics due to their height
For this example:
We can put the case of a person who enjoys the sensations when typing, who appreciates the sound and travel of the keyboard. Also, who needs the advantages of being able to press several keys at once. It is for people who only seek to make an investment for a keyboard that will last for years where they will have the possibility to replace the switches if they stop working or want to change their sound for another. Last but not least, that they are fanatical about customization on their keyboard.
Of this type, I can recommend the following:
HyperX Alloy Origins Core
Logitech K835
There are millions of options on the market
To choose from and this is a small guide, each person has to prioritize what their needs are when using their keyboard and based on that choose which one best suits your style.
Now, returning to the main theme of the post and to answer the questions from the beginning, the most relevant thing is to know our needs as users, there are many options that can overwhelm us, especially if we are just showing interest in this world that grows in options every day.
To make a quick summary of the types of keyboards, we visited
The membrane one: is an ideal option for those who don’t want noise and only seek to write documents and office tasks.
Low-profile ones: on the other hand, are a good option if our need is a keyboard that doesn’t cause discomfort in the wrists.
Mechanical: Perhaps it’s your choice if you have a real need for it to sound fantastic every time we type, if we can press all the keys at the same time to make the most incredible combo, or simply enjoy modifying our keyboard with Keycap changes.
Greetings, digital legends! I’m Gabriel Gutiérrez, the backstage accomplice at Joystick Latino. A licensed musician with a photographer’s eye, I’ve been venturing into the gaming world from my Atari 2600 since the age of 6. I’m addicted to anime, a fan of the irreverent humor of ‘South Park’ and ‘Rick and Morty,’ and a fearless explorer of cinematic horror.
