A quick overview of keyboard types: Membrane vs. Mechanical

A quick overview of keyboard types: Membrane vs. Mechanical

The keyboard is an intrinsic part of every PC setup, with a choice of which every user will eventually question themselves while searching for the perfect experience for gaming, work or simply everyday use.

To start our overview, let's quickly outline a definition of a mechanical keyboard and its differences from a conventional membrane keyboard.

To cut it short, a membrane keyboard is a generic and most commonly used type of keyboard that you may encounter on most laptops and inexpensive keyboards, which are the definition of a stale appliance. Keys on those keyboards are flat and typically set atop the rubber pad, offering little to no tactile feedback. Although we should mention certain advantages: it's cheap and more resistant to liquid and dirt.
In case you need a visual hint, that is what it looks like:

Membrane keyboard example

Mechanical keyboards, on the other hand, are quite the opposite. Each key has a switch underneath it, which makes the construction the most durable of the two. While the keyboard needs more attention to not collect all of the dust from your workplace, it has more significant advantages over the membrane one. And with the help of cleaning tools, you may neglect even this little problem.
Of course, in a nutshell, both keyboard types serve the same purpose - to transfer information to the PC via click. But due to the tactile aspect, mechanical keyboards are preferred among people who work with typing regularly(e.g., programmers, editors and gamers). The sound, the motion and the feedback the user gets from pressing the button do make a difference.
Here's an example of a mechanical keyboard:

Thanks to their construction, mechanical keyboards are highly customizable: you can change the keycaps to get a fresh look on your keyboard or change switches to get a completely new feel. And all that comes without mentioning various possible RGB configurations.

But what are the cons? In short - price. The construction of a mechanical keyboard makes it more expensive to produce, and, of course, with some of the hype taking over the market, the prices for some of the models may go up to hundreds of dollars solely for the name of the brand.
But if you are looking for an upgrade from your membrane keyboard without breaking the bank, you can check out some reasonably-priced yet efficient solutions that will not disappoint with the performance.


Let us know whether this article was interesting, and share your experiences with both keyboard types.
Which one is better for you? Do you feel like your device affects your performance?

 

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