Are you new to mechanical keyboards? Do you need any tips or suggestions?
Are you new to mechanical keyboards? Do you need any tips or suggestions?
Hello all, I'm currently in the market for a mechanical keyboard to pair with a PC that I recently built. Of course, all of my previous keyboard experience has been with whatever keyboard comes included with the computer. I grew up pounding on those Apple membrane keyboards from the Late 1990's and early 2000's, which is actually what I'm using as an interim keyboard right now. Or I was using a Laptop integrated keyboard, where I felt like I was slamming my fingertips into the desktop trying to write my term papers for university.
So, me being the naive, starry eyed twenty-something that I am, I figured buying a mechanical keyboard would be as easy as walking into Best Buy, Staples or London Drugs and picking one up off the shelf. And then I saw the price tags.
So, to be a bit more informed, I went on google/search engine of choice and YouTube to do some research on mechanical keyboards. However all the information I've come across has been a little overwhelming, and the vast majority of it involves building, or modding, a custom keyboard. I'm not opposed to a custom keyboard, but based on what I've seen they can be pretty expensive. Not to mention, there are so many different models out there that it's easy to get decision paralysis. So I figured, why not ask the internet for recommendations?
Right now, all I'm looking for is a good pre-built mechanical keyboard that won't cost me an arm and a leg.
Budget: $150.00 Canadian (~$115.00 USD)
Main Purpose: Daily Driver: Programming/Writing Reports. Gaming is a secondary use case, but not as important
Desired Features:
Number Pad: Yes, how do people do anything without a Numpad??
Function Row: Yes
Connection: Wired + Bluetooth (will settle for only one or the other if necessary)
Switch Type: *Tactile preferred, followed by Linear. Clicky are a bit too loud for work.
Switch Profile: No preference, don't mind if they're low profile or regular.
Lighting/RGB: Don't really care as long as it has at least a white backlight
Media Control: At least give me a volume button or volume key.
Programmable Keys: Don't really care about these too much right now, that may change down the road however.
Hot Swappable: Nice to have, but not strictly necessary
Device Compatibility: Both Windows and Mac if possible.
*Switch preference is based on testing display models at the store.
I'd also like to avoid being forced to buy online if I can, but it's not a hard and fast restriction. I'll cross that bridge when I come to it.
Anyway, I'm not expecting this to get much attention, but I'd be happy to hear anyone's mechanical Keyboard recommendations for a first time keyboard buyer.
If you're diving into this, just acknowledge the truth that your first mech keyboard won't be your final one. I'd opt for a versatile model from a more mainstream brand (like Keychron with Cherry Brown versions) and use it as a stepping stone for your next purchase. Otherwise, you might end up stuck in endless analysis.
I'm getting used to it too. It's the same realization I had about potentially making more custom PCs in the future. Thanks for the tip! I was thinking about a Keychron from the V series, but I've heard some negative things about their shipping and support. I'm not really into buying from Amazon if I can skip it.
If the built-in keyboard on my Lenovo laptop had a much bigger travel distance—like sometimes feeling like I'm hitting the desk with my fingers instead of just typing—and if the arrow keys were bigger, it would be ideal.
Do you have any recommendations for larger Lenovo keyboards? Maybe I can avoid getting caught up in the mechanical keyboard trend before it's too late.
Not too long ago I was in the same boat, using brown switches that were still too loud. I’m thinking silent brown will be my choice when I get a new one. You’re used to membrane keys that require a strong push, and now you’ll barely need to touch them. I found this annoying at first but eventually got used to it, though I’ll still prefer a heavier press in the future.
Keychron V6 Max would be my suggestion for a good starting point for a custom mechanical keyboard that fits our needs. It comes in full size, supports both wireless and wired connections, and is hot-swappable. It’s more affordable than the larger Q6 Max model. You’ll find a decent quality ABS case instead of aluminum. Keychron was my first keyboard after getting my son a GMMK Pro. I still use my Keychron K4 at home for spreadsheet work because it has a numpad over my mostly used 75% layout keyboards.
The Mac/Win switch and customization options are appealing. On the Viper V765, the keycaps seem to float above the key case. I got used to it, though it initially looked quite odd.
Thanks for the recommendation! I just looked up the V6 Max on Keychron's website and it looks like a really nice board. However, one thing I noticed is that the site seems to imply that it's wireless only. Not really an issue, but if you have experience with it being both, I'll take your word for it. Unfortunately, it seems that the V6 Max is only available on the American version of the site, which also isn't a big deal. I think anyway.
Based on what I've seen, scrolling their site, I'm also considering the V5 Max, the K4 Pro and K10 Pro. Seems like the K10 Pro is pretty similar to the V6 Max, but with no gaskets and less foam.
However I did come across some some mixed information about Keychron's customer service. Some people seem to have had good experiences with them, but many have, or claim to have, had not so great ones. It may very well be a case of vocal minority, but it makes me slightly hesitant to order from them. Not sure if you folks have any insight on that point however.
That's actually pretty true for me as well actually. I grew up on a Mac and my custom PC is actually only the second windows computer that I have ever owned, the other being a Lenovo laptop that I bought specifically because my 2012 Macbook Air couldn't run an application I needed for my college program. Everything else I use is a Mac, so having the ability to change quickly between the two modes across multiple devices, even if I don't go swapping out the specific keycaps every time, is very attractive.
I didn't encounter any problems with the ordering process on their site or with getting the keyboard. My board has always worked fine, so I never needed to contact customer service for assistance. The ordering experience on the site was satisfactory in my opinion.
Hey there,
Similar to others, I was in the same situation last year when I entered mechanical. The options were overwhelming. After careful thought, I chose a keyboard that matches my HP Omen gaming laptop in style. I went with the Corsair K70 Mk2 Low profile. It includes Cherry MX low-profile switches, making it a nice keyboard for typing (especially for work) and great for gaming. It has RGB, but you can adjust it to a subtle look using iCUE software—one of the top apps for managing colors. It doesn’t make that annoying clicky-clack sound when typing, which I really dislike.
You're on the right track. Give these keyboard picks a try so you can experience them firsthand.
My next choice will be 10keyless or 60%, and I’ll stick with a low-profile design.
I’m also considering a Logitech G915, mainly because it has a smaller footprint and is perfect for gaming.
A little tip here. With a hot-swap board, you can add various switch types at once (samplers are on the market) to help you pick what suits you best. The same applies to keycaps. Your options aren’t limited to just Red, Blue, Brown—there are many versions of each, and the distinctions aren’t as clear-cut as they seem. I chose Jelly Purples from Akko, a tactile option (Cherry Brown) with stronger actuation and better feel than regular Brown. I created two boards: a Glorious barebones wired TKL for my desktop and a Redragon wireless TKL prebuilt for portability. They differ slightly in sound and texture because of the chassis materials (Glorious is aluminum, Redragon is ABS), but both are excellent. It’s enjoyable to select and craft something tailored just for you. I wish I’d started sooner. The Glorious board was around 250CAD total (kit, switches, caps), while the Redragon version was about 150CAD all in. That’s roughly 80CAD off for each, to cover the expensive drop keycaps I bought. Don’t misunderstand—I’d use them again, but they’re a bit overpriced for their quality. The Drop model matched the exact color and layout I wanted, whereas the white box brands didn’t.