What's Mechanical Keyboard? And How To Choose One For Gaming? Find The Answer Here

You don’t need to be a hardcore gamer to know that the keyboard can make or break your gaming experience.

If you are on the market for the best peripherals money can buy for gaming and wondering “what's mechanical keyboard?” and are they the best for the job. Here is the answer:

What's Mechanical Keyboard?

Mechanical keyboards are what jump to most people’s minds when they think of keyboards in general. They are old but sturdy and a more proper definition is these peripherals have high-quality plastic key switches under the keycaps.

These mechanical keyboards switches are made up of:

• Keycap: the cap with number/letter printed on it.
• Stem: When you press the key, the stem will move down.
• Housing: the case that holds all the components together.

When you type, you actually press on a keycap and then the physical switch will be activated. To know if you have pressed the key hard enough to register, pay attention for the click sound, when you hear it, rest assured that you haven’t missed any number or letter.

Linear vs. Tactile

The next part of our answer to the question “what's mechanical keyboard?” will help you tell linear and tactile keyboards apart.

The most significant difference between the two types is users need to press a key all the way down to register with a linear keyboard while with a tactile one, pressing half-way down is enough, letting you moving to other keys more quickly and easily.

Cherry MX Switches

In the 1980s, a company called Cherry exclusively manufactured plastic key switches known under the name Cherry MX. Now, other companies like Corsair, Razer, and Logitech are also making these switches.

This information might sound irrelevant to our question of “what's mechanical keyboard?” but keep reading, it will help you with picking the right keyboard for gaming.

So here are the most common Cherry MX switches along with their best use for those who are wondering which mechanical keyboard switch is the best for the game they usually play:

• Cherry Blue: this switch is great for hardcore typists as they work even when pressed halfway. They have audible feedback and tactile but unsuitable for games that require fast-loading weapons battles.
• Cherry Green: a bit stiffer.
• Cherry Red: linear or gaming switch. Light touch and smoother clicking. This switch is suitable for many games as it goes all the way down.
• Cherry Black: stiffer and excellent for games that call for precision or for gamers who don’t want to accidentally hit a key. Some of the best matches for this kind of switch is role-playing games and real-time strategy games.
• Cherry Brown: tactile switch and also the perfect cross between a keyboard for gaming and one for work.
• Cherry Silver: ideal for games requiring heavy pounding of the keys as they are linear switches.

Choosing The Right Mechanical Keyboards For Gaming

Now when you have had a quite in-depth answer to the question “what's mechanical keyboard?” Let’s move on to how you can choose the right keyboard for gaming.

Here are what you need to think about when making your selection:

Actuation force

Actuation force is the force you need to apply for the key to register. The range of this force is wide, from 35 grams to 350 grams.

Actuation distance

The actuation distance measures how far the key needs to go down to register an input. The industry’s average is 2mm but on some keyboard, the distance is as short as 1mm.

You may think the shorter distance will make you a better gamer but it isn’t always the case. Many gamers reported making more mistakes due to the lighter feel.

Tactility

Tactility includes the resistance and the feedback you receive when you type. Most mechanical keyboards are more tactile than their membrane counterparts.

Noise level

If you are wondering whether mechanical keyboards loud, the answer is yes, this particular type tends to be noisier because they make the click sound at both the beginning and the end of a keystroke.

Durability/lifespan

Mechanical keyboards are more durable than any of their counterparts. A prime example would be Cherry MX switches, which have a lifespan of up to 50 million keystrokes.

Cost

So now when you have had your answer to the question “what's mechanical keyboard?” and the criteria based on which you can choose the best one for gaming.

Pricing differentials between mechanical keyboards wireless or wired options, those with and those without RGB lighting are huge. So make sure you know exactly what you want before you purchase.

Here are the pros and cons of mechanical keyboards compared to membrane ones:

Pros:

• They are longer-lasting.
• They are easier and faster to type on.\
• Mechanical keyboards are more responsive.
• Their feedbacks are stronger.
• They are more precise and comfortable.

Cons:

• Mechanical keyboards are usually more expensive
• They are louder and heavier.
• Cleaning them will be harder because of the taller keys.
• They are easily damaged if you spill food or drink on them.

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