Introduction
Mechanical keyboards have become vastly popular since the late naughties mainly due to how accessible technology has become as a medium for entertainment i.e. gaming systems, better internet, and popular services that allow you to monetize your gaming activities such as Twitch.
With this developmental explosion has come a wide selection of peripherals that have become incrementally better over time and far more interesting to look at — however, they’ve also become better tools for slaying your opponents in-game too!
One of those advancements is the reinvention of the mechanical keyboard — and yes, we say reinvented because mechanical keyboards have actually been around for many decades even though they fell out of favor for a while against their membrane counterparts.
Let’s address the elephant in the room though…
Do you need a mechanical keyboard?
You don’t need a mechanical keyboard to have a fairly decent typing or gaming experience, however, they’re well-known for improved tactile feedback and better ergonomics due to how they’re designed meaning they’re usually more comfortable to use for longer periods of time.
Mechanical keyboards also have greater scope for customization as it’s easy to switch your keycaps out for custom ones, though, you can also customize the type of switches you use as well such as Cherry MX Red, Brown, Blue, and more that will affect the speed of the actuation when pressed.
Basically, if you’re wanting a more tailored gaming or typing experience then you definitely do need a mechanical keyboard.
Editor’s Choices – Our Top Mechanical Keyboard Picks
Before we check out some of the other reasons why you should get a mechanical keyboard, why not have a browse of some of our editor’s picks?
Alternatively, you can browse a more comprehensive selection of mechanical keyboards here.
6 Reasons Why You Need a Mechanical Keyboard (A Better and More Tailored Gaming Experience)
1. Increased Durability
Because of how popular mechanical keyboards have become as the superior choice for gamers, more focus has been spent on increasing how durable they are to use for longer periods of time.
Most of this focus has gone on making sure the switches can withstand rapid presses in succession whilst also being able to hold up under this type of pressure for more years.
In fact, some switches are known to be able to withstand up to eighty million clicks or more which means you shouldn’t have too much trouble with them wearing out or becoming damaged quickly into their lifespan.
This also goes so far as to some specific companies designing proprietary switches to try to gain an advantage over the competition which is great for us gamers as it means better switch technology that lasts longer and performs better.
2. Improved Tactile Feedback
Mechanical keyboards come in all shapes and sizes, and the same goes for the switches too.
Generally speaking, most mechanical keyboards use the Cherry MX branding of mechanical keyboard switch mainly because they’re known for their efficiency, quality, and reputable service as a brand.
However, some proprietary switches have also been designed by other major companies such as Razer who are also looking to become seen as one of the premium manufacturers of mechanical keyboards and mechanical keyboard switches.
More to the point, though, mechanical switches give vastly superior tactile feedback compared to their membrane counterparts.
That’s because they’re designed to have varying levels of pressure required for actuation, but also because they usually give audible or tactile (perceptible by touch) feedback when pressed enough to be registered meaning you have instant feedback based on what you’ve just done.
This might not seem like it matters much but it’s another thing to behold when you’re actually given the option to try it out for yourself.
3. More customization
Mechanical keyboards are better designed for modular elements meaning lots of the parts are interchangeable for things you prefer or might want to try out such as different switches, etc.
In light of this, most mechanical keyboards can be used as a base for different switches, lighting, and keycaps which means you can completely transform the base portion of your keyboard to have it perform entirely different from how it was bought.
In a way, it’s sort of like LEGO where you can insert different parts and create different outcomes for your gaming experience.
4. (Generally) Better Build Quality
Because the vast majority of gamers now use mechanical keyboards, most gaming peripheral brands have shunted most of their funding toward making better mechanical keyboards.
This means sturdier materials, textured design effects, superior RGB lighting, and of course, better switches.
The only caveat in most cases is that this can sometimes mean mechanical keyboards are a little more expensive than membrane ones, though, the improved longevity usually means this is a better investment for the end-user.
5. Faster Actuation
Another unique benefit of mechanical keyboards, when compared to membrane keyboards, is that the actuation times can be adjusted depending on your preference, and in most cases, can be sped up for faster registration of your button press depending on the type of switch you pick.
This means you have a slight tactical advantage over someone who uses a membrane keyboard which typically has a slower and more variable outcome based on your keypresses which could be a crucial difference in a competitive setting.
This actuation is compounded by the fact that you usually have a tactile or audible response meaning you know exactly when the key has been pressed which is great for muscle memory and autonomic processing.
6. Typing Satisfaction
Lastly, and probably the most talked-about benefit of mechanical keyboards, is that they’re extremely satisfying to type on thanks to the clicky response of your keypresses and general meatiness.
In most cases, mechanical keycaps are larger compared to membrane keyboard keycaps as they require more space for the switch mechanism which actually acts as a boon to give you a better sense of where everything is.
Some slimmer keycap designs have also been made, though, they’re rather uncommon and kind of take away from the general experience of having a mechanical keyboard in the first place.
As we’ve mentioned throughout the article, though, many of the advocated benefits of mechanical keyboards such as variable switches, keycap interchangeability, and tactile feedback all play their part in making mechanical keyboards an absolute joy to type on which is why we think they’re definitely worth it.
Relevant Articles
- Best Keyboard for Typing All Day: Top 7 Picks (Ergonomic Comfort For Work and Gaming)
- Best Keyboard for Couch Gaming (Top 10) – Bring the PC Magic into Your Living Room
- Best Gaming Mouse for Beginners – Top 9 (Easy to Get Started With)
- Best Gaming Mouse for Small Hands – Top 10 (Play Better With The Right Fit)
- Are Headphones Necessary for Gaming? (A Snapshot Overview)
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