Good Gaming Mechanical Keyboard

A mechanical keyboard improves your efficiency when working on your computer or when you have extended gaming sessions. It is an essential component, especially if you write a lot on the computer. Normally, many prefer a cheap keyboard, but mechanical keyboards come at a higher price, that’s why!

But which keyboard should you choose? What are all the details about the switches behind the keys? What’s new in 2022 in terms of mechanical keyboards?

What is a mechanical keyboard and why should you buy one?

Cheap normal keyboards have a kind of rubber foil under the keys that acts as a kind of spring and makes contact with the integrated under this foil when a key is pressed. The downside to this system is that it often does not make contact with a key and must be pressed as far as it will to make contact.

Laptops are not far from normal keyboards either, they have poor tactile feedback, they are only pressed for a few millimeters, the keys being very thin (low profile).

The mechanical keyboard is different, it has metal mechanical switches that activate before reaching the maximum point of contact. There are other types of switches that are considered mechanical but work completely differently. These switches (switches) individually have a dome-shaped rubber and a very sensitive conical spring.

Many switches also have very high and precise touch sensitivity. For gaming, you can use more “fluid” and faster switches to operate a specific key.

Building materials are also built to withstand.

Each switch must withstand millions of pressures. Even with heavy use, a good mechanical keyboard can last you many years. The vast majority of switches are compatible with each other, so if you have an old keyboard you can use the switches on another keyboard.

Choose type (layout)

The first step is to choose the right keyboard shape for you. A traditional full-size keyboard is the most common. A numpad keyboard may not work for you, especially if you don’t use the keyboard for math calculations.

Keyboard 80%

So a smaller mechanical keyboard without a numpad may be more suitable for you in this case and the price may be lower. A keyboard without a numpad will have fewer switches in total, so the price should be considerably lower. Such keyboards are also called 80% keyboards.

In addition, the keyboard is smaller, you can keep the mouse much closer to the keyboard, this adds to the speed when you make the transition from mouse to keyboard.

60% keyboard

These models are becoming more and more popular in recent years. A 60% mechanical keyboard has only the most used keys, the alphabet, numbers and the usual keys on the edges.

They do not have function keys, f1, f2, f3, etc. (but can be operated by the combination of the Fn key and numbers). They also have the peculiarity that they do not have plastic edges on the sides, all these are pluses for certain categories of users.

Make sure that the keys you use regularly are not missing in these cases. There are also the buttons above the arrows, page down / up, delete, screenshot, etc.

40% keyboard

These models have no special number keys or orientation arrows.

They are very small, they fit in your pocket. They are ideal for conversations and for those who write a lot. Not recommended for gamers.

Choose the type of switch for the best mechanical keyboard

If you know the size you want, now comes the tricky part. Until recently, this technology was patented by a company, so there weren’t many switches to choose from. In the meantime, the patent has expired and each company has been free to create its own switches. Therefore, various switch models have appeared on the market.

The colors of the switches are what define the switch style.

It is difficult to explain the differences between them, it is best to type them in a store. The most used variants: blue, green, brown, transparent, red and black. They come in three different variants:

• those with a high click sound (blue and green)
• those with sensitive touch sense (brown and transparent)
• linear switches (black and red)

Each of these categories is divided into two versions:

• heavier (requires higher pressure when pressed)
• lighter (requires less pressure when pressed)

Switch names

• 1. MX Blue
• 2. MX Green
• 3. MX Brown
• 4. MX Clear
• 5. MX Black
• 6. MX Red

Key type

• 1. Clicky
• 2. Clicky
• 3. Touch
• 4. Touch
• 5. Linear
• 6. Linear

Pressing power

• 1. 50g
• 2. 80g
• 3. 45g
• 4. 65g
• 5. 60g
• 6. 45g

Power activation key

• 1.  60g
• 2. 90g
• 3. 60g
• 4. 95g
• 5. 80g
• 6. 60g

Optical-mechanical keyboards

More recently, some manufacturers have implemented mechanical optical keyboards, which no longer have physical contact in the switches, but are optical sensors that are triggered when the switch reaches a certain distance from the receiving sensor.

They are much faster in response time, which can make them much different from conventional mechanical keyboards. I expect this technology to be on all gaming keyboards in the future.

In addition, since there is no physical contact in the switch, they should have a longer lifespan.

I can’t tell you what kind of switches each one prefers, but I can tell you that most people prefer the touch model and the ones with high click sound.

It is best to test them. For gamers, blue and brown switches are the most commonly used, but there may be exceptions.

For those who write a lot (typists), for example those who are learned with typewriters, a keyboard with green switches is more suitable because it provides stronger key feedback.

Modding, mechanical keyboard customization

Now that you have chosen a model, here are the main advantages.

You can customize each key as you like, being an individual switch, the button housings can be replaced very easily without affecting the pressing method, the switch will remain the same, only the button housing will be replaced.

So, the customization possibilities are endless.

Keyboard lighting

Here, depending on everyone’s preferences, most mechanical keyboards have lighting. But there are also people who prefer keyboards without lighting, which can be distracting.

Top 6 Good Mechanical Keyboard Recommendation

Award	Design		Retailer
Best Mechanical Gaming Keyboard	Staff Pick	Redragon Brahma PRO	Check Price
Keyboard for Games	Budget Pick	Redragon Vata	Check Price
A Complete Gaming Keyboard	Best Pick	Razer Huntsman Elite	Check Price
A Recommended Keyboard		Royal Kludge RK61	Check Price
Platinum XT Mechanical Keyboard		Corsair K95 RGB	Check Price
A Very Popular Keyboard		HyperX Alloy Origins	Check Price

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