As a programmer, you spend most of the time pressing keys. Therefore, it only makes sense that you invest in the best keyboard for programming in 2017.
And if you're in the market for a pointing device to go with your keyboard, check out our looks at the best computer mice and the best gaming mice. Best Wireless Gaming Keyboard Most gaming keyboards only work with a wired USB connection, and Corsair is one of the few manufacturers who sells a wireless variant of its popular gaming keyboards. This one is the best option for PC gamers who like to game on the couch. The best keyboards of 2018: top 10 keyboards compared. Whether it’s programming. Stay tuned to TechRadar so you can find the best keyboard, too. Roccat Vulcan 120 Aimo.
Finding the best keyboard for programming is not an easy task with the amount of keyboards available on the market. That’s when buying guides like this one come into play. This list was carefully written, researched, and rewritten (many times) to provide the best information on programming keyboards. Looking for the best keyboard for programming? After spending 127 hours researching and testing 36 different coding keyboards, we have selected top 5 best programming keyboard based on comfort for programming, price, durability & user satisfaction. Best Keyboard for Mac. Check Price on Amazon. Read Review Das Keyboard Model S Professional. While ultimately choosing a keyboard for programming is about what feels best, there are important factors to consider when making that decision. Things to consider include layout, size, durability, type of key used and even customizability.
The idea behind this is very similar to that of a car mechanic. A car mechanic never compromises on the quality of his/her tools; therefore, neither should you as a programmer.
The best keyboard for programming can go a long way in giving you a comfortable experience and could even enhance your productivity.
So, without further ado, lets dive right into it.
This list was updated on May 2018.
Best Keyboard for Programming 2018 Reviews
There is so much variety in keyboards that it sometimes become crazy to find the best one. There are the mechanical keyboard, membrane keyboards, programmable keyboards, ergonomic keyboards, etc.
If that is not confusing enough, each of the sub-type has more categories like tactile mechanical keyboard, soundless mechanical keyboards, etc.
In this list of the best keyboard of coding, we will break it down in terms of features so that it is easier for you to find your best pick.
Best Mechanical Keyboard for Programming
Mechanical keyboards really need no introduction. If you have the money to afford, these are perhaps the best type of keyboards to get. Every keystroke on these keyboards gives you immense pleasure.
They are generally high quality, expensive, and come in many switch types. Depending on your preference, you can choose the weight, actuation point, tactile or smooth feel, and even sound and no sound.
Corsair K95 – Extended
This is the flagship mechanical keyboard from Corsair featuring Cherry MX Red and Brown switches. It has the options for customization and programming.
Although this is by a gaming brand, if you are looking for one of the best values in the market for a quality mechanical keyboard for programming, this is it.
Speaking of durability and quality, this keyboard uses aircraft grade aluminum for its construction.
There is nothing remotely close to the durability this keyboard would give you.
The keyboard offers high-quality features. You would normally expect a keyboard to have ten key rollover – this is typical enough for any keyboard as you do not have more than ten fingers.
This keyboard; however, boasts 122-key rollover, so if you were to sleep on it, the keyboard would still be able to register each press separately.
Sometimes a product truly is so great that its pros would heavily out weight cons. This is such a product. However, nothing is perfect, so here you go: This keyboard has no USB hub despite the fact that it uses two of them itself to power.
This is a full-size keyboard meaning it has the NUM pad on its right but it also has 18 G-Keys. These 18 programmable keys are great for those who appreciate customization.
The programmable keys can be set to three different profiles which in total can give you 54 programmed keys. The control that this keyboard provides and the precision of the key actuation is flawless.
Best apps for removing background. The construction of the keys themselves is such that you will seldom miss judge them.
The basic version of this keyboard offer Cherry MX RED switches. These offer smooth actuation without any audible click.
Specs at a glance: Detachable Wrist Grip, wired, 100% Anti-Ghosting, 122-Key Rollover, 18 Programmable keys with different profiles, Key-by-Key Back light, Media Control, Aircraft Grade Aluminium Chassis
Pros
Cons
Best TenKeyless Mechanical Keyboard
The TenKeyLess mechanical keyboards, as the name suggests, have fewer keys as compared to a normal sized keyboard. Specifically, they lack the num pad on the side. This is highly essential for those who are short on space or for those who like to carry their keyboard around.
Corsair Vengeance K65
The best one in this also happens to be the one from Corsair.
It has the same rugged, anodized aluminum chassis as the Corsair K95 above, but obviously, has ten keys less.
If you are looking for solid and best tenkeyless mechanical keyboard for programming, then this should be on the top of your list.
Unfortunately, there is one drawback. There are no programmable keys on this keyboard.
Being a much smaller keyboard, it is also quite affordable as well as portable. You can take this around with you all the time in your travels. It even has a detachable USB with cable routing.
Despite being a 10-keyless keyboard, it uses the standard key sizes. Therefore, the typing still remains comfortable.
The keyboard uses MX Red Switches. It has Anti-Ghosting and Full Key Roll over features too.
However, if you like to customize your keyboard, then this isn’t the perfect choice for you. This is for those who prefer precision and comfort.
Specs at a glance: Cherry MX RED, 100% Anti-Ghosting, 100% Key Rollover, Aluminium Chassis
Pros
Cons
Best Budget Mechanical Keyboard
Best database software for mac os x. Let us face it, we all want a mechanical keyboard. However, they are generally quite expensive. This is also true for programmers who are on a type budget.
Therefore if you are looking for the best keyboard for programming at a budget with mechanical switches, you are in luck.
TOMOKO Mechanical Keyboard
Granted, it does not use the best of construction material, but most of us don’t really care as long as the keyboard works and feels great.
That is basically the idea behind this keyboard.
This keyboard uses Cherry MX Blue switches that will provide you with a tactile feedback. Meaning, you feel the click and noise. This is generally said to improve speed and precision.
This is a tenkeyless mechanical keyboard, so it lacks a num pad. However, it has an FN key with which you can gain access to media controls.
Other than that, this is a very simple keyboard. It is compatible with both Windows and MAC.
One of the best features of this keyboard is that it is water-resistant. Therefore, if you accidentally spill something over, you can rest assured that it’ll still get the work done.
It also comes with key-cap puller so that you can clean the insides of the keys sometimes.
Specs at a glance: Cherry MX Blue, Anti-Ghosting, Water-Resistant
Pros
Cons
Best Professional Keyboard for Programming
If you are serious about your programming career, then you need to get a keyboard that is designed for professionals. These are the keyboards that have some of the highest quality switches.
WASD Code 87 Keys – High-Quality Keyboard for Coding
This back-lit illuminated mechanical keyboard is considered to be one of the finest among professionals. For that reasons, it is also one of the best keyboard for programming.
This is a simple looking keyboard; however, it greatly balances its look with its performance. There are two Switch types that you can get: Clear and Green. Green are more expensive because they come pre-installed with O-ring dampeners.
The clear switch gives you a tactile feel to the keystrokes. Everything about this keyboard speaks of quality.
That also comes with a hefty price tag. This has to be one of the most expensive tenkeyless mechanical keyboards in the market.
You get a lot of other goodies with this keyboard. You get a 6ft micro USB cable, a USB – PS/2 converter and also a Keycap Puller.
Unlike some of the high-end keyboards mentioned here, this particular keyboard is not made out aluminum, but of rigid plastic that feels solid. You will have no flexing issues caused by strains.
In terms of versatility not only does this keyboard have the function key, but offers something else that is unique, a DIP switch. This is there to give you hardware level configurable output.
For example, one of the functions it provides is the ability to switch to other keyb.oard layouts like DVORAK and COLEMAK.
Specs at a glance: Cherry MX Clear/Green, Anti-Ghosting, N-Key Rollover, Keycap Remover, USB – PS/2 converter.
Pros
Cons
Best Wireless Keyboard for Programming
If you like to have a clean desk space, then your keyboard of choice will definitely be a wireless keyboard. Whether you should go for a wired or wireless keyboard is entirely up to you. However, there are a few more things you need to consider as compared to a wired keyboard.
Microsoft L5V-00001 – Best Valued Wireless Keyboard for Programming [Package]
This is one of the best keyboard for programming if it is comfort that you are after. I know this is not just a keyboard but an entire package, the value that it gives is phenomenal.
This is a highly ergonomic keyboard for programming. It fashioned in a way that your wrist and hand posture remains in a comfortable position while you type.
Most of the typists are increasingly moving towards ergonomic keyboards and due to the health hazards a conventional keyboard provides for prolonged typing.
Warning: Do not loose or break the dongle, this will render your keyboard and mouse useless.
With this keyboard, you get an ergonomic mouse as well as a separate numpad. The mouse itself is among the most beautiful and comfortable piece of peripheral that I have seen.
Specs at a glance: Split-Curved ergonomic design, comes with Microsoft Sculpt Mouse and a separate numpad, battery lasts 36 months, cushioned palm rest, 2.4 GHz radio frequency wireless
Pros
Cons
Best Membrane Keyboard for Programming
Membrane keyboards are your average affordable keyboards; the kind of keyboard that you would normally see in schools, offices or on laptops. The chances are that if you do not know the difference, you possibly are using a membrane keyboard right now.
Most of the membrane keyboards are very cheap to find. You can only find high-quality membrane keyboards in the gaming models.
The only high-quality membrane keyboard that is built for typing and programming is the Apple Wired Keyboard.
Apple Wired Keyboard
Apple products don’t really need an introduction. They are not to be the cream of the their pack. The Apple Wired Keyboard has a signature white on gray color and a simple texture.
The best part about this keyboard are the keys themselves. I am not talking about their actuation points or their sounds; I am talking about the pure feel of the keys.
If you have ever touched the keyboard on a Macbook, then you will have a very good idea about how this keyboard feels too.
Unfortunately, there is one drawback. This keyboard can only be used on MACOS perfectly.
If you want to use it on Windows, you will need to tweak it a bit.
The keys are soft with shallow actuation points. The are made of material and coating that gives you extensive grip so that you do no accidentally miss the key.
This keyboard is optimized for key travel. Meaning there is a thorough research done on how the keyboard is supposed to type. This type of perfection is typically expected from Apple anyways.
The keyboard also comes with multimedia control. It also incorporates two USB ports. It is slim and highly stylish. The keyboard is made of aluminum for highest durability.
Specs at a glance: Membrane keyboard, ultra-thin, two USB ports, multimedia controls, aluminium chassis.
Pros
Cons
So basically when looking for the best keyboard for programming, you need to decide between a mechanical or a membrane keyboard.
Many programmers prefer membrane keyboard because they are affordable. Now membrane keyboards have their subsets such as Rubber Dome, Conductive Rubber, and Scissor-Switch Membrane Keyboard.
Best programming membrane keyboards are mostly rubber dome membrane keyboards.
However, a vast majority of professional programmers, even professional typists, would recommend going for mechanical keyboards. To simply define them, they are the keyboards that make a clicking noise when the keys are pressed.
A membrane keyboard is simple to purchase; you just have to choose whether you like the design and form factor mostly and that is it.
With mechanical keyboards, it is a bit different because mechanical keyboards have different switch types. Switch types differ in the kind of sound the make when pressed and also their feel and actuation point is different.
With mechanical keyboards, you can find the type of keys that suit your needs the best. Some keys are fast; others are more precise. Some are soundless; others have a clicking sound.
We have talked further about different switch types further below in this article.
Other Accessories for Programmers
You will be delighted to hear that you can further improve your coding experience by investing in accessories and peripherals designed specifically for software developers. You can find monitors, mice, and even keyboard dedicated to improving your professional life.
FAQ & Guide
Before you buy something, it is always a good idea to know as much as about the product as you can. This makes you a smart buyer and plus it enlightens you about the terminologies and the aspects of a product.
For buying the best keyboard for programming, you need to consider the follow key features.
Now you should note that you cannot expect all of the features to be on one keyboard. There will always be trade-offs.
What are Switch Types?
Switch types basically define the type of feel and feedback you would receive from key presses on mechanical keyboards.
There are many different switch types, and they are differentiated by their color. You would typically find them in Blue, Brown, Red, Black and also in propriety designs such as the ones on Razer BlackWidow keyboards.
Each different switch type (color) has different Key Feel, Feedback and Actuation Point. These are the three important parameters that a gamer would choose the switch type from.
Key feel can range from tactile and smooth; feedback can range from bump to click; whereas, the actuation point can range from 45 g to 80 g.
This Infographic should help you further with choosing switch types.
How Do You Silence Mechanical Keyboards?
There are many reasons why one would want to silence their mechanical keyboards.
There are many other reasons. However, the good news is that there is a very easy way to turn the sound off.
You simply have to get O-rings and Key-Cap puller. Then you remove the keys one-by-one and place that rubber O-ring on the plungers of the keys. This dampens the sound.
There are many types of O-rings that you can get. Each has its own level of reduction.
Not only WASD makes amazing keyboards, but they also make awesome O-Rings for the Cherry MX switches.
Best Cherry MX O-Rings
They have two variants
You will also need a Keycap Puller.
Best Keycap Puller
This is not a highly technical tool. Therefore, you don’t really need to think twice about it.
Define Anti-Ghosting and Key Rollover?
Ever experienced the phenomenon where you type really fast, and the keyboard accidentally registers and extra keystroke out of nowhere. This is ghosting.
Most of the advanced, and in fact all of the keyboard listed here have the feature called anti-ghosting.
Anti-ghosting basically gets rid of this problem. So if you are programming and you are pressing the keys really fast, the keyboard will not go crazy and accidentally press the Windows key, for example, for you.
Key Rollover pertains to how many keys you can press at a single time before the keyboard locks out.
If a keyboard has 6 Key Roll Over, it means you can press six keys, and the keyboard will register all 6 in sequence, on the seventh simultaneous press, the keyboard will lock out.
You can sometimes know this when the computer makes a beeping sound.
Most of the gaming keyboards have a good number of Key Roll Over. A 10 key rollover accounts for all ten fingers on our hands. A number greater than this is commonly featured on gaming keyboards. Wonder why you would need more than that – perhaps when you are raging and you happen to slap all the keys on your keyboard.
Conclusion
There are many types of keyboard available in the market. If you are looking for the best keyboard for programming, you first need to define your needs.
Do you need a wireless or a wired keyboard? The decision can most certainly change once you have looked at the vast variety of keyboards that you can get.
It is without a doubt that mechanical keyboards for programming are still the reigning king. The best thing about them is that you can get to choose exactly the type of feel you want thanks to the different switch types.
You can also look into other or more common and cheaper keyboard types like the membrane keyboards.
What to Expect from the Best Keyboard for Programming 2018?
Only time will tell what new technology the next year brings. We can see a trend that the mechanical keyboards are finally getting cheaper. This means we can hope to find more under some dozen bucks mechanical keyboards next year in 2018.
We are also seeing a growing trend for getting ergonomic peripherals. We can expect this trend to continue.
The trend for modular keyboards is on the decline. Therefore, we do not expect them to show up in 2018. In fact, with the current trend, the simpler the keyboard, the better it is.
Your Next Keyboard: Why Go Mechanical?
If you're a computer user of, shall we say, 'a certain age,' you remember a time when a room-filling cacaphony of clicking was synonymous with typing as words appeared..uh, on a sheet of paper. Typewriters were, in a sense, the original mechanical keyboard, and generations of 20th-century office workers and aspiring novelists honed their typing chops on them. But as the hardy, ribbon-based machines gave way to computers, a different kind of mechanical keyboard came to the fore: the battlewagon keyboards of the early days of computing. And they were beasts. They used keys that clicked and rattled, and many of them felt like they would last forever. (Indeed, some of them are still in service.)
Laptop With Best Keyboard For Programming
That's the appeal of today's mechanical computer keyboards: They feel like products built for the ages, in these days of disposable tech. Even throughout the 1980s and early 1990s, mechanical keyboards were as common a part of computer setups as floppy disk drives—because the people who were creating and using them knew what typing could, and should, be. Sadly, with the explosion of the home PC market in the 1990s and into the early 2000s, sturdy mechanical boards fell out of favor, as manufacturers looked for cheap, mass-market ways of getting tens of millions of people on their machines and online. Typing, that most basic of computing activities, became something you and your fingers had to endure, not enjoy, on subpar gear.
Luckily, the keyboard-quality pendulum has swung back in the other direction over the last decade. Mechanical keyboards are once again viable, even popular, alternatives to the bundled cheapie. They cost more, but they are far more rugged than a run-of-the-mill model. And keyboard makers now make them in lots of flavors to serve most major subclasses of buyers: productivity-minded users (with plain models), gamers (with keyboards replete with LED bling), ergonomically minded folks, and more.
A mechanical keyboard is a bit of an investment, though, so here's what you need to know in order to make the right choice.
At the Heart of Mechanical: The Key Switch
First and foremost, the thing that defines a mechanical keyboard is the key switch it uses. Most budget keyboards today use dome-switch technology, which registers a keypress when you type and push down a silicone dome and connect two circuit-board traces. (This technology is also sometimes referred to as 'membrane switch' or 'rubber dome,' with minor variations in the essential design.) Though this style is easy and inexpensive to manufacture, pressing the keys requires a relatively large amount of force, which can result in a heavy, mushy feel to the fingers and a lack of either tactile or auditory feedback when you type. Plus, after a fairly 'short' time (five million keystrokes, give or take), the domes can lose their springiness and either work less well or stop working altogether. So you'll probably have to replace the keyboard at least once or twice over the life of the computer that you use it with.
Mechanical switches, by contrast, get rid of the silicone altogether. Pressing down on the key activates a real, physical switch, usually involving a spring as the pushback mechanism, that registers what you type. Because the parts used are much more substantial than those in dome-switch keyboards, mechanical keyboards typically have a much longer life span. (Many boast ratings of 50 million keystrokes or more per switch, and may well outlast the first—or fifth!—computer you use them with.) The typing feedback also creates a more direct relationship between your fingers and what appears on the screen. Because of the hardware involved, mechanical keyboards tend to be thicker, heavier, and more expensive than their dome-switch counterparts. They are more of an investment, but one that will pay off in sheer satisfaction if the quality of typing really matters to you.
When shopping for a mechanical keyboard, you will want to pay attention, above all else, to the kind of switch it uses, and whether it offers auditory feedback (in other words, a click you can hear) or tactile feedback (a 'bump' you can feel), or both. Also important is the amount of pressure that the switches require to activate (the 'actuation force'). That will greatly affect its functionality and the possibility of finger fatigue.
The Classics: Cherry MX Switches
The best known and most frequently encountered mechanical key switches come from a company called Cherry Industrial. These 'Cherry MX' switches come in a range of styles that offer different operation and feedback to better match with your own personal preference, and the work or play you plan to do most on them. (Note that most have an actuation point of 2mm.)
The different types of Cherry MX keys are named for colors. This rundown of the most common Cherry switches will help you better match what you need with the mechanical keyboards you can buy. Keep in mind that some keyboard makers use switches of a similar style, made by companies other than Cherry. But almost every manufacturer maintains the same basic 'color' scheme and related traits to help keep confusion down. (So, for example, Cherry MX Blue switches, and Blue-'style' switches from other makers, both tend to be clicky.)
Cherry MX Blue
A close approximation of the old-school buckling-spring switch (see below), but with a new-style mechanism, Cherry MX Blue switches are both tactile and clicky. With Blue switches, you feel as well as hear the completion of a keystroke (via a bump when it activates, and a distinct click). These switches are ideal for serious typists (many of whom insist that the switches deliver a turbocharging bounce you can't get anywhere else), but they are not best for gaming applications, as they have a rather higher actuation force (50 centi-Newtons, or cN) than you might prefer for a fast-twitch gun battle.
Another potential downside of the Blues: Some people find the keys' audible click quite loud (and possibly, annoying), which may cause problems in close quarters, whether at the office or at home. An office full of Cherry MX Blue keyboards will sound suspiciously like a big-city newsroom, circa 1935.
Cherry MX Black
With the highest actuation force of the standard Cherry varieties (60cN), the Cherry MX Black switch can come across as stiff. This type is thus less suitable for the kind of nimble key work most speed and touch typists depend on, and fast-fingered gamers tend to shun it. But this makes Black an excellent switch for cases where precision is paramount: entering mission-critical data (say, for an accountant or at a point-of-sale terminal) or for certain kinds of more deliberate gaming, as you will seldom have to worry about accidentally striking a key twice. Cherry MX Black switches are also neither tactile nor clicky.
Cherry MX Red
Similar to MX Black, Cherry MX Red switches lack both tactile and auditory feedback. But they have a lower actuation force (45cN), so they can be hit more quickly and more often, giving you the edge in any game demanding ultra-quick input. MX Red keyboards tend to be favored by gamers who play games that require fast-twitch actions. These same qualities, however, keep them from being a good choice if typing is your primary activity, as they make it easier to register more keystrokes than you intend or to trigger typos on a slightly stray stroke. Certain highly precise typists, though, will appreciate their light touch.
Cherry MX Brown
If you spend about as much time scribing emails and Word documents as you do mowing down charging zombies in first-person shooters, the Cherry MX Brown switch may be for you. Its 45cN actuation force is identical to what you get from the Red switch and, like it, the switch isn't clicky, but it gives you the same typing-boosting tactile bump you get from Blue. It's often cited as a good balance for gaming and typing between the clicky MX Blues and the 'fast' MX Reds.
Cherry MX Speed Silver
Much like MX Reds, Cherry MX Speed Silvers demand the same 45cN actuation force, albeit with a shorter actuation point of just 1.2mm. (Reds have a 2mm actuation point.) The total travel distance is shorter too, at 3.4mm as opposed to the 4mm travel distance of the Cherry MX Reds. Having to press down less of a distance contributes to these switches' namesake trait: speed. As a result, the delay between pressing down a key and performing an action is kept to a minimum, making Speed Silvers a refreshed favorite for gamers.
Other Cherry MX Switches
The above switches are the kinds you're most likely to find in a keyboard you purchase today, but Cherry's rainbow does extend a bit further, to a few much less common types. Cherry Clear switches are tactile like Brown, but possess a higher actuation force; Green switches can be considered stiff Blues, both tactile and clicky; and White switches are quieter Greens. Several other types have specialized uses (such as just for space bars), but they will seldom be identified as such on any package or marketing material.
The Non-Cherry Brigade
A number of companies make switches that either mimic or try to improve on the Cherry MX switch functionality. Some gaming-keyboard switches, for example, have shorter actuation points to register your keypress action more quickly. Razer, for one, recently developed a hybrid 'Mecha-Membrane' variety that uses mechanical means to activate a silicone dome switch. We've seen this used in the likes of the Ornata Chroma, as well as in the Cynosa Chroma and its underglow-laden twin, the Cynosa Chroma Pro. But we'd consider these spinoffs as opposed to true mechanicals. (Cooler Master has offered similar 'hybrid' switches.)
Best Keyboard For Programming Mac Vs Pc
Razer also offers true mechanical switches, known as Razer Green (tactile and clicky), Razer Orange (tactile and silent), and Razer Yellow (linear and silent). Here's where one vendor goes off the color rails: The Razer Greens are most similar to Cherry MX Blue switches, Razer Oranges are closest to Cherry MX Browns, while Razer Yellows are congruent to Cherry MX Reds. Razer key switches exhibit unique travel distances and actuation points, too: Greens and Oranges are 4mm deep and actuate at 1.9mm, and Yellows are 3.5mm deep and actuate at 1.2mm. You'll want to try these before you buy as they are a world of their own.
Logitech's mechanical keyboards, on the other hand, have become increasingly popular for their homebrew Romer-G switches. These come in both Tactile and Linear flavors and are rated for a whopping 70 million keystrokes. Romer-G switches are outfitted with an actuation distance between that of the Cherry MX Reds and Silvers, and they require the same 45cN force to actuate. Furthermore, Logitech now posits GX Blue switches as an alternative to Cherry MX Blues. You can find all of these options in variants of the Logitech G513 Carbon.
None of these has become quite as popular or as widespread as the Cherry MX switches, though, so for the most part they're not worth discussing in depth. If you come across a keyboard brand using an unfamiliar switch type, try to determine both its actuation force (explained above) and its actuation point (at which depth of the keypress what you type is registered). Compare these values with those of the Cherry switches, and you should get an idea of what you're in for. Trying them in person is also recommended; we've tried imitation Blue, Brown, and other switches, and noted some subtle and not-so-subtle differences in feel from the Cherry standard. One major, common maker of Cherry-like key switches is Kaihua Electronics, better known by its subsidiary brand Kailh. Kailh switches are often used in lower-cost mechanical models, and indeed, if you yank a keycap off a late-model mechanical keyboard and don't see the word 'Cherry' on the switch, 'Kailh' is the next most likely branding you might see.
One of the most unusual switches you can find is, in fact, a quintessential mechanical example. The buckling-spring switch was used in the now-legendary IBM Model M keyboards that made such an impact in the 1980s—some of which are still in use today. It can still be found in keyboards from Unicomp, the company that acquired the manufacturing rights to it. (The Unicomp Ultra Classic definitely lives up to its name.) Buckling-spring keyboards use a genuine spring to activate the switch; when it buckles in the middle as you press it, it causes tactile and aural feedback (the latter from the spring hitting the wall of the switch enclosure). Keyboards using this style of switch are rare these days, but they're prized for their unparalleled typing capability and psychological satisfaction.
Additional Features
Their switches aside, mechanical keyboards have the same feature considerations as other kinds of keyboards. You may want key backlighting, whether of one color or an entire spectrum you can program at your whim. ('Per-key' RGB backlighting, in which you can program each key across the whole RGB spectrum, is the ne plus ultra of key backlighting, but it adds to the cost. See our favorite RGB keyboards.) Multimedia controls, whether they're activated by pushing separate buttons or using a Function key to access a secondary ability on one of the standard keys, can make it easy to adjust volume or move backward and forward in your track list while playing music.
Look for convenience features such as a volume dial or roller. (Corsair is well known for nifty volume rollers on some of its high-end mechanical boards.) And dedicated macro buttons can be a real boon for gamers, saving you the trouble of executing tricky key combinations or menu manipulations every time you want to perform a common action.
In any case, whatever you want from a keyboard, you can find a mechanical keyboard capable of making it a reality—with more heft, longevity, and style than you may have thought possible. Mechanical keyboards are back and here to stay, and likely to only get better as more and more buyers realize the benefits they offer to laser-focused typists, hardcore gamers, and everyone in between.
If you're not wedded to mechanical key switches, check out our overall roundup of the best general-purpose keyboards we've tested, as well as the best gaming keyboards. And if you're in the market for a pointing device to go with your keyboard, check out our looks at the best computer mice and the best gaming mice.
The Best Mechanical Keyboards Featured in This Roundup:Best Wireless Keyboard For Mac
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