Whether we are on our phones or computers, keyboards have become an essential part of our daily lives. We use it to send messages, play games, do our work, and so on, and getting the right keyboard is extremely important. In this article, I am going to go over several different types of keyboards and help you choose the best type for you.
I am going to briefly explain the pros and cons of several types of keyboards. Whether you like the click-clack of mechanical keyboards, the silent operation of membrane keyboards, or the LED lights and speed of gaming keyboards, this article will help you make an informed decision on the type of keyboard that you should buy.
Types Of Keyboards 2021
Companies have made several different categories of keyboards based on typing experience, pricing, ergonomics, flashiness, latency, and so on. You can choose the type of keyboard based on what’s important for you.
1. Mechanical Keyboards
If you meet any keyboard enthusiast, they will usually swear by their mechanical keyboards and it is easy to understand why. Mechanical keyboards are known for their typing speed and durability. If you are a heavy typer, then you may want to consider mechanical keys. The keys have a nice travel to them, are extremely responsive and the typing experience is extremely satisfying.
They also produce loud clicks while typing (like a typewriter) but that can be a pro or a con. Mechanical keyboards are also generally much more expensive than their counterparts. These keyboards also have different types of key switches and you can check out their differences in the video below:
2. Membrane Keyboards
Membrane keyboards are the most common types of keyboards available today. They are extremely popular in offices. These keyboards are much quieter and thinner compared to their mechanical cousins. These keyboards are also inexpensive.
However, they are less satisfying than mechanical keyboards. The keystrokes on very cheap membrane keyboards can feel mushy and shallow. They are also less durable, responsive, and accurate compared to mechanical keyboards.
3. Chiclet Keyboards
These keyboards are usually used in laptops. They are usually thin and quite stylish. They are slightly more expensive than membrane keyboards but they do have a shorter key journey and tactile feedback. This makes them feel less mushy compared to membrane keyboards.
4. Wireless Keyboards
Wireless keyboards are extremely popular right now. It uses a receiver that plugs into your computer and you can use the keyboard wirelessly after that.
It is a great way to reduce clutter on your table and you can place the keyboard wherever you want. This is also a nice tool if you use your TV as a monitor. It’s far more convenient than a wired keyboard but cheaper wireless keyboards have latency issues.
If you like the convenience and a lack of clutter, then go for these types of keyboards. If you like playing competitive multiplayer games, or games where precision and timing are important, then you should go for a wired keyboard.
5. Gaming Keyboard
Do you like being a part of the PC master race? Then you should get yourself a gaming keyboard. The main features of gaming laptops are:
- Macro functions: You can assign custom functions for your keys easily.
- High key rollover: Most keyboards have 1 or 2 key rollovers. This means that if you press more than 2 keys simultaneously, the keyboard will not register them. However gaming keyboards have high rollover (5-6) key rollovers and even if you press 5 keys simultaneously, the keyboard will register the keystrokes.
- RGB: Well, most “gaming” hardware like gaming CPU cases come with RGB, and gaming keyboards are not an exception. On cheaper keyboards, you will have a single backlight but better gaming keyboards have adjustable RGB.
If gaming is your priority, then you should go for mechanical wired gaming keyboards.
6. Ergonomic Keyboards
Do your hands and wrists get tired from long hours of typing? Then you should try out ergonomic keyboards. These keyboards do not look like the ones that you are used to.
These keyboards have ergonomic shapes that can help you reduce the strain on your wrists. Contoured keyboards, vertical keyboards, and split keyboards are examples of ergonomic keyboards. These keyboards are great for economics but they are hard to get used to.
7. Roll Up Keyboards
If you hate lugging around your large keyboard, then you should check out roll-up keyboards. You can roll up these keyboards and put them in your bag to save a ton of space. They are a great replacement for virtual keyboards and are wireless. While typing on them is not particularly great, they offer a great amount of portability.
8. Handheld Keyboards
These wireless keyboards are used usually with Android TV boxes. It helps you type easily and not rely on selecting individual letters from the screen. It is an extremely handy device but it is usually less durable than other keyboard types.
Final Take
These are the different keyboard types that are available on the market. They all have their own advantages and disadvantages and you can mix and match them to get a perfect keyboard for you. If you have any keyboard-related doubts, let me know in the comments section down below.