Mechanical Keyboards - Once You Go Mechanical, You'll Never Go Back

If you are sitting in front of the computer for over 6 hrs. a day, 5 days a week, then you need a good typing experience. 

The experience of typing on a mechanical keyboard is like none other. From the distinct sound, to the feedback that you receive from the input, to the indent on the keys so that you know your finger landed on the center of the key and not the edge, the travel of the keys on each stroke, the resistance, etc. It is a completely different experience and in my opinion the best experience that you can get. Then again as a child I had an actual typewriter to play with, and maybe I am just nostalgic.

Before we get into the keyboards I like, let's talk about the switches. 

Yes, all switches are not created equal, and whether you are using a keyboard mainly for typing or something more specialized like gaming, you might want to choose a keyboard with a specific type of switch.

Linear

Linear switches are the simplest ones. They feel the same from the moment you start pressing the key until bottoming out. There is no tactile feedback or noise when hitting the actuation point (the point where the keypress gets registered – usually somewhere in the middle). So, most of the time, you will probably bottom out on each keypress.

Tactile

Tactile switches provide tactile feedback, when hitting the actuation point. As you press the key down, you will notice a small bump, which lets you know, that your key press got successfully registered.

Clicky

Clicky switches provide an additional click sound, when hitting the actuation point. The main advantage of tactile and clicky switches is that you don’t have to push the key all the way down. You can release the key immediately after you receive the feedback.

The most popular mechanical keyboard switch manufacturer is the German company Cherry. Cherry created the famous Cherry MX Switch in the 1980s and patented it. The switch became pretty much the standard for mechanical keyboards. Almost every mechanical keyboard used Cherry MX switches. Today, the patent is already expired and everyone is allowed to use the concept of the Cherry MX switches. With the gain in popularity of mechanical keyboards in the last few years, several manufacturers introduced their own switch types. The Cherry MX switches are still very popular though.

Personally, I don't have a switch preference, so much as I just look for a good typing experience and if I like the sound the keys make, the feedback I receive from each key stroke, and I can type without constantly making mistakes or having to look down at the keys, then that is a positive experience. 

I do not game, at all, mostly my keyboard experience consists of regular productivity-related typing and a fair deal of development-related typing. The later means a lot of banging on the keyboard when things are not working. I have been know to bang on the keys not only with my hands but also my face. So, the sturdiness and durability of the keyboard is a big deal for me. 

Also, there are a ton of really good, but also really expensive mechanical keyboards out there. Not to say that they are useless to me, but my opinion is that perhaps if you are doing competitive gaming you might see the advantage, but if not I wouldn't waste your money. At the end of the day, the keyboard is an accessory and there are other areas of your computing system where that money can be spent. 

I also tend to favor compact keyboards as you will see below.

Here are my top mechanical keyboards, which I have either tried or owned:

 

Havit Mechanical Keyboard

Retro Coolness!

When I look at this keyboard, I feel like I am looking at something from Star Wars movies. This would be the keyboard that the resistance would use. No fancy backlighting, no-nonsense, just business. 

I like the ergonomics of the keyboard in terms of how spacious this thing feels. While Havit curves the layout from north dipping in the center back to rising as you move south, what makes me feel comfortable is how spacious the keys feel. Each keycap feels like it has the circumference of a big soft marshmallow. 

There are two angles to set this keyboard at. The flat default without the legs out actually elevates the F rows slightly. That is something I noticed and liked with my particular typing habits. I found myself enjoying the full capabilities of my typing prowess when I pulled the feet out and had it elevated. The angle may be high for some typists, but I do prefer it like that.

As I mentioned before, there’s no backlighting on this keyboard which, kind of makes this not feel like a gaming keyboard at all. This is not something that particularly bothers me since I am mostly working out of a well-lit office. This is a great keyboard for typists, like me. 

One thing to note is how they have chosen to put dedicated number keys on the right side instead of the traditional INS, HOME, PGUP, DEL, END, PGDN keys that you might see in other keyboards. If you are doing a lot of financial-related work you might be particularly attracted to this setup. 

Keychron K6

Grey goes with everything!

For most uses, the Keychron K6 is a good wireless/wired mechanical keyboard. Its small design and ability to pair with up to three devices over Bluetooth make it a very good choice for using with your smartphone or tablet. 

Despite the long pre-travel distance of the Gateron Brown switches, they feel great to type on, and surprisingly, the keyboard doesn't cause any fatigue. It has excellent build quality and full RGB backlighting that you can customize directly on the board. 

The Keychron K6 is very good for programming. It has impressive typing quality as the switches are light to press and give satisfying tactile feedback. It also doesn't feel cramped to type on and isn't tiring to use, despite having a compact design. 

There are no macro-programmable keys and no companion software to customize the board to your liking.

This one also looks like something from Star Wars, maybe a more modern version of the resistance keyboards for the field (compact and portable). I particularly like the versatility of using it in wired or wireless mode. This keyboard is even more compact than the one above, which is great if you are a fan of just sitting back, kicking your feet up, and typing with the keyboard in your lap.

ANNE PRO 2, 60% Wired/Wireless Mechanical Keyboard

By now you should see a trend here, a lot of compact keyboards. That's right, I like compact keyboards.

The Obinslab Anne Pro 2 is an excellent 60% compact gaming keyboard that feels very well-built and looks sleek in most computer setups. It has exceptionally low wired latency, full RGB backlighting with individually-lit keys, and all keys are macro-programmable with the companion software. 

This keyboard is available with a wide variety of switch options, the unit it tested had Gateron Brown switches, which had a good amount of feedback, weren't too loud, and provided an excellent typing quality. Unfortunately, the height of the keyboard and the lack of incline settings or an included wrist rest may cause fatigue during long typing sessions, and the lack of arrow keys may bother some people. The keyboard comes in black also. 

The Ducky One 2 (Mini)

The Ducky One 2 line is one of the best mechanical keyboard lines for typing that I have laid my fingers on. 

These are versatile keyboards that are available in different sizes, color schemes, and switch types. This Mini variant.

I have tested the version with Cherry MX Black switches, but you can also buy it with a variety of Cherry MX switches and Gateron switches, so your experience will change depending on the switches. The Brown switches on our unit are light to press, and the typing quality feels outstanding because the switches provide good tactile feedback and the keycaps feel great.

You can reprogram any of its keys, but since it doesn't have dedicated software, all programming has to be done directly on the keyboard. Also, it has limited ergonomics because it doesn't come with a wrist rest, but you still shouldn't experience much fatigue. All things considered, typing is fantastic and it's probably one of the best mechanical keyboard choices for office use.

Keychron C2 Full

If the first two keyboards on the list are used by the resistance, this would definitely be the evil empires keyboard of choice. Used by stormtrooper throughout the galaxy for all the after-action reports.

The Keychron C2 is a full-sized wired mechanical keyboard that's decent for a variety of uses. It has a sturdy-feeling build quality and the tactile Gateron Brown switches provide great typing quality. However, they're a little loud, so this switch type may not be ideal for quiet offices. You can alternatively get Gateron Red and Blue switches, and there's a hot-swappable version if you'd rather change out the switches entirely. There are various lighting options, I own the RGB version. 

Unfortunately, the keyboard has a tall profile and doesn't come with a wrist rest, you can always purchase a wrist cushion, so you may experience fatigue when typing for long periods. It also doesn't come with companion software so you can't reprogram keys without third-party software.

Redragon K552

My current keyboard!!!

The Redragon K552-RGB is a good mechanical gaming keyboard with clicky tactile switches and a TenKeyLess design that's simple and functional. 

Its impressive build quality and superb RGB lighting with individually backlit keys competes with keyboards at twice its price. 

The backplate is really heavy making it almost impossible for you to move the keyboard even on a slippery surface when typing. This is one of my favorite features, it feels really planted on the desk, a lot like a typewriter. The keys are really clicky and loud, again, like an old fashion typewriter. I find myself receiving comments about my furious typing during Zoom meetings all the time. I do not really care, it makes me feel good when I am typing and that is all that matters to me. 

The keyboard does not have a ton of extra features or companion software, but for me that matters not, I just want the meat and potatoes. 

Alright, there you have it. A few humble, fun, and tested options for mechanical keyboards. 

You might have noticed a couple of things while going through this list. 

First, I really fancy compact keyboards. Most of the choices on this list fall into that category.

Second, I do not game, so while most of these would be fine for gaming, except maybe the ones without dedicated arrow keys, I think they would be better for someone who wants or has to type for extended periods and would like and experience beyond BLAH!

Finally, Most if not all of these options can be purchased, in the US at least, for about $100 or less. This goes back to the point I was making at the beginning of this article, which is that the keyboard is merely an accessory, so it seems silly to me that someone would spend $200-400 on a keyboard. You can pout that money towards more computing or storage and make your overall experience a lot better with faster performance. 

I hope you enjoyed the content. 

Each section title contains a link to where the reviewed keyboard can be purchased.

I will be doing a similar post on mice soon, stay tuned for that. 

J.