It also comes fully-loaded with features, boasting three connectivity options, multi-device connectivity, and a luxurious wrist pad to kept our wrists comfortable especially during long typing sessions. Due to the added height of the keys, we found our wrists bending upward to type effectively, but the wrist pad does offer enough support to mitigate the issue.

Despite being a metal, aluminum is also easy to work with. It’s about 3 times lighter than steel and lighter than most other metals. The malleability of aluminum makes it easier to accommodate different case sizes and designs, and you can create a high-quality case with minimal effort. The Epomaker AK84S is a feature-rich, 75% mechanical keyboard with a compact 84-key layout. Optimized for ultimate functionality, it features Windows and Mac compatibility, dual-connectivity, and is fully hot-swappable with either optical or mechanical switches. A mechanical keyboard has an individually sprung switch under every key. This type of switch is a lot more hard wearing than a dome board and doesn't have that mushy feel that a worn dome board would have. Using a mechanical board takes some practice until you really appreciate its benefits.The Keychron K1 is an ultra-slim, tenkeyless mechanical keyboard. About half the height of a regular board, it features low-profile switches and shorter low-profile keycaps. Besides this, it offers cross-platform compatibility as well as both wired/ wireless modes. A Mechanical Keyboard is the perfect product for computer enthusiasts looking to take their efficiency, comfort and enjoyment of their system to the next level. As your primary interface with your computer, a quality keyboard will change the way you interact with a computer.

Mechanical boards are durable too. Most mechanical switches feature a 50 million + actuation life cycles which is 10-20 times more than that of a dome keyboard. Apple’s Magic Keyboard is the most comfortable, reliable and good-looking keyboard we’ve ever had the pleasure of using, and it’s simply the best keyboard for Mac users. It’s actually incredible how sleek and thin this keyboard is, especially considering how comfortable it is to use.

Armoury Crate

An aluminum case is a good choice for a keyboard for many reasons, all of which affect the durability, appearance, sound, and workability of the keyboard. Aluminum is a common metal used in electronics because it’s readily available, lightweight, and easy to work with. Any durability you sacrifice when choosing an aluminum alloy over steel is slight, and it’s worth the increased workability. Constructed with a CNC anodized aluminum frame, the build quality is solid and there isn’t any flex. Besides providing plenty of strength, the frame also acts as a built-in switch plate for the PCB. The PCB itself is entirely hot-swappable and can house a selection of 3-pin mechanical switches. The MD870 Sleeker is solid and functional, aluminum mechanical keyboard. It has a standard TKL layout with 87 keys and just the right amount of spacing on the board. Despite having no software, it supports secondary FN functions and is compatible with both Windows and Mac layouts. Besides Gaterons, the AK84S is also available in Epomakers own Chocolate switch. Chocolates come in similar colors as traditional switch types, including: Blues, Browns, and Silvers. In contrast to Gaterons, they have a slightly reduced operating force (45+5gf) for a smoother typing experience.

The Lofree 1% Transparent is undeniably appropriately named. This mechanical keyboard, pre-lubed Kailh Jellyfish mechanical switches that are comfortable to type on, is not just stunning, with its beautifully clean transparent keycaps, which have with a hallow center and a removable press-and-fit lid so you can customize them withtiny sequins or beads for fun, and a sleek equally-transparent top cover. The case itself is comprised of two aluminum slabs. Together, they secure a bottom-mount plate for stability and consistency when typing. To help filter any unnecessary noise, sound dampening foam lines the PCB. This makes it easier to hear the raw and satisfying sounds of the switches. It's not just pretty though; the typing performance is also on-point. Those switches are very responsive and great to type on, especially when combined with this keyboard's gasket mounted design, which also helps with making it slightly quieter than other mech keyboards. There's also no noticeable latency with the wireless connection, even thoughit does take a second for it to re-establish, we've noticed.

Whoops!

If you are a regular computer user then it makes sense to invest in a hard wearing peripheral that will enhance your experience. There is no point having an extreme gaming system if you are using a cheap keyboard, it will be mushy and unresponsive for typing and gaming. Built with a brushed aluminum top plate that curves over to form the sides, the design is strikingly minimalistic. As there is no top piece, the frame reveals the switches as well as floating key-caps. Unfortunately, the switches are not hot-swappable, like you might expect with this kind of design. Due to being durable, malleable, and relatively inexpensive, aluminum is a fantastic material for a keyboard. Unlike plastic, it’s also easier to recycle, which is considerably better for the environment. On the whole, keyboards tend to have a more premium feel if they are made from aluminum. The Logitech MX Keys Mini is among the best keyboards in the mini keyboards market. Being not only compact but also thin and lightweight, it's just as ideal for travel and commutes, as it is for home use, which gives it that versatility many remote and hybrid workers are seeking these days. So, while we were prepared to be underwhelmed by it, we were floored by its performance and the typing comfort it offered during testing. Not only is this Cherry SX scissor-switch keyboard robust and affordable, but it also delivers a great performance and even greater comfort, making it a pleasure to use even though it’s not exactly what you’d call eye candy.

For the switches, the Hades 68 is available in several popular Gateron and Cherry MX colors. These include Silent Browns, Speed Silvers, and Yellows, etc. Besides having a wide range of switch options, you’ll also appreciate the excellent factory-lubed stabilizers that are both smooth and quiet. For switches, the board comes equipped with Cherry MXs. This particular model features linear Reds; however, there are six other colors to choose from. Considered by many to be the best switches on the market today, they are responsive, receptive, and smooth under your fingertips. It's a little on the pricey side, however. So it'll turn off a lot of users. But, if you've got the money, and you can take full advantage of it at work, then it's absolutely worth the investment. Meanwhile, those keycaps are gorgeous, stamped with Sindarin phrases and Tengwar script – alongside, of course, the regular English alphabet and keyboard legends, and come in a concave form to keep your fingers in place. You even get a set of extra keys from Drop's Autumn in Rivendell Kit so you can customize it to an extent. We only wish the keycaps were slightly bigger, as the way they're designed right now, their smaller size makes each key feel a little cramped.The main advantage of a mechanical board is the feel. If you have never typed on a mechanical keyboard before then you are in for a treat. The feeling is odd to start with but it is something you would be reluctant to not have afterwards. Rubber domes usually need the key to be depressed all the way [bottoming out] to register a keypress. This is not the case with a mech board as the key press usually registers around half way down the keystroke. This makes mech boards the ideal choice for a keen typist. So, we take our keyboard testing seriously. Each keyboard that lands on our desks is treated and utilized as our main keyboard for a week or more. That's the best way to ensure that we're not only experiencing it the way consumers would in the real world, but also coming across any quirks, flaws, and issues. Aluminum 6061 is the most common and arguably best aluminum type for keyboards. This precipitation-hardened alloy contains magnesium and silicon, and it features strength and corrosion resistance. Aluminum 6061 is also easy to weld and work in a machine, so you won’t get as frustrated as with other types. A mechanical keyboard is a premium option that offers a whole new world of options up to a user. Due to their increased manufacturing costs and design complexity, they tend to be a lot more expensive than a dome keyboard.