The most commonly available keyboard type is the ubiquitous membrane keyboard. But membrane keyboards don't offer the best typing experience compared to their mechanical counterparts, which feature discrete mechanisms for each key. This mechanism, or "switch" as it's technically called, provides a lot of benefits such as tactile feedback, faster response time and in many cases an audible click which is quite pleasing. All these factors greatly enhance your typing and gaming experience. We've scoured the mechanical keyboard options available on Amazon, and come up with some relatively affordable choices. These SKUs have been curated based on the specifications and features they offer.
Cosmic Byte CB-GK-16 Firefly RGB Mechanical Keyboard (TKL)
The first thing you’ll notice about the Cosmic Byte Firefly is its compact form factor. Featuring a ten keyless (or TKL) design, the keyboard takes up minimal desk space, ensuring your mouse has enough room to let you perform those impossible 180-degree flick shots. In terms of aesthetics, the Firefly is no slouch either, as it enables you to cycle through 18 preset patterns for its RGB backlighting lighting. The switches are Outemu Blue rated for 50 million operations, so durability is assured. Coupled with anti-ghosting and a 1000Hz polling rate, this is an entry-level keyboard that gamers will appreciate.
TVS-e Gold Bharat Wired Mechanical USB Keyboard
The TVS gold mechanical keyboard is well known among keyboard enthusiasts as a hidden gem – well at least its older version was. This newer refreshed version featuring Long Hua Blue switches and USB interface hopes to keep the legacy going. The keycaps have laser-etched characters so you can be assured that they won’t fade quickly; also, the scalloped keys provide good ergonomics. The keys also have Indian vernacular characters as well as the rupee symbol, although there is a variant available without the Indian characters. With a weight of 1.2kg, it has a certain heft that denotes its quality. If you work in Indian languages or you want to take a trip down memory lane, this is the keyboard for you.
Zebronics Zeb- Nitro Mechanical USB Keyboard
The Zebronics Zeb Nitro exudes sturdiness with its 1.15kg weight, switches rated for 10 million operations, and the high quality braided cable. The LED-backlit keys have a single colour LED, i.e. Blue, but offer a number of patterns, pulsating speeds and brightness levels to choose from that keeps things interesting. The rubber grips on the bottom ensure that the keyboard doesn’t slip during those high-energy gaming moments, and the retractable kickstands enable you to angle the keyboard for a comfortable typing position. The N key rollover feature ensures that even if you are pressing many different keys at once (for combos, etc.), each keystroke will register. The mechanical switches and keycaps are removable.
DSI 90-Key USB Multimedia Mechanical Keyboard
The USP of the DSI Multimedia keyboard is that it features Cherry Red switches (as opposed to the imitation switches that are usually found at this price point). Red switches are quieter so you won’t disturb people around you with all the clickety-clack noises. And while Red switches don’t offer tactile feedback, their advantage is that they are lighter to press, which makes Red the preferred choice for gaming. The DSI keyboard is compact, featuring the TKL (ten-keyless) design; however, it does have a few additional keys in the layout. For instance, the media control keys are placed in a different vertical row below the escape key. Dedicated media control keys are always appreciated, but the placement might require getting used to as users might accidentally hit one of these keys when reaching for frequently used keys such as TAB or CTRL.
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Siddharth Parwatay
Siddharth a.k.a. staticsid is a bigger geek than he'd like to admit. Sometimes even to himself. View Full Profile
