Summary
Keyboards are among the most used everyday items in the world, yet most people still use mushy membrane keyboards. These keyboards dominate the market because they’re cheap to make, not because they offer a good experience. Here’s why everyone should stop using them.
Membrane Keyboards Are the Worst
Membraneand other membrane-based keyboards like rubber domes rely on a pressure pad (membrane) to register keystrokes. While rubber domes give you some tactile feedback, it’s in the form of a squishy, undefined key press that provides absolutely zero thrills for the user. Other than the sound of the plastic keycap hitting the chassis, there’s no distinct “click.” The membrane mechanism is reliable enough to last for a few years yet cheap enough that nobody will care when it breaks—you can find basic models for under $10.
The keys eventually become inconsistent in how they feel and register keystrokes as the rubber domes wear out from constant stretching. Keys that are used frequently start feeling softer than the rest. Additionally, the cheap plastic chassis on most membrane keyboards is prone to flexing and bending as you type, further diminishing the typing experience. Simply put, membrane keyboards suck.
For PC gamers, the drawbacks of membrane keyboards are even more noticeable. In competitive online games, a single missed keystroke can sometimes mean the difference between winning and losing a match. That’s why serious gamers ditched membranes in favor ofmechanical keyboardsyears ago.
They’re Horrible for the Environment
Products that are cheap to make rarely last long, and this is especially true for rubber domes. Each key has a limited lifespan of around 5–10 million keystrokes, which could last the average person around 5–10 years. However, this is nothing compared tomechanical keyboards, which have switches designed to handle 50–100 million keystrokes. Plus, membrane keyboards start feeling mushy long before the keys go out, while mechanical keyboards largely retain their characteristics.
Before I switched to a mechanical keyboard, I’d buy a new membrane keyboard every couple of years because the old one couldn’t endure my heavy use. I’ve gone through more than ten keyboards in my lifetime, all of which eventually ended up in a landfill. These cheap, semi-disposable plastic and rubber peripherals significantly contribute tohard-to-recycle ewaste, creating a perpetual cycle of buying, using, and discarding broken keyboards. This is on top of questionable production practices and the environmental costs of shipping.
Here’s What You Should Buy Instead
Mechanical keyboards are a much better alternative to membrane keyboards. Instead of a membrane and rubber domes, each key in a mechanical keyboard has its own switch. The switch contains a tiny spring-operated mechanism that registers your keystroke accurately, precisely, and consistently.Different switchesprovide different tactile feedback and sound, allowing you to pick an option that suits your preferences.
It’s a sophisticated and durable mechanism that can last a lifetime of regular use. Just don’tspill your coffee or soft drinkonto it. Plus, if youbuy a hot-swappable model, you can easily replace individual switches in the rare event they break.
Mechanical keyboards have quietly undergone a revolution in the past few years. Their increasing popularity has led to more manufacturers, more options, and cheaper prices thanks toeconomies of scale. Ten years ago, a basic mechanical keyboard would’ve set you back around $100; today, you can get models for under $30, such as this60% MageGee mechanical keyboard. If your budget is tight, you can alsoshop second-hand, as used mechanical keyboards can still be perfectly functional.
I’ve tried severalbudget mechanical keyboards(under $30) and was surprised by their quality and feel. While the knock-off switches aren’t on the level of the Cherry MX Browns on myCorsair K70, they’re still about 80% as good and far superior to any membrane keyboard.
If you’ve tried a mechanical keyboard and didn’t like it because its keys were too tall, I’m delighted to let you know thatlow-profile mechanical keyboardsare an option. If the switches you tried felt scratchy, try a keyboard with pre-lubed switches, such as theKeychron Q5 QMK, or if they were too loud, try a combination ofsilent switches and O-rings. Yet another option isHall Effect switches.
If none of that works for you, and you just can’t get enough of that rubber dome feel, get aTopre keyboard. It’s a hybrid between a rubber dome and a mechanical keyboard, as it uses both domes and springs. Another excellent option for a hybrid switch isscissor switches, found on most laptops and low-profile keyboards.
While a nicer keyboard won’t necessarily make you afaster typist, you’ll still get to interact with a peripheral that’s far more satisfying to use when you replace that old membrane keyboard with a mechanical one. Plus, with their increased durability, mechanical keyboards contribute far less to ewaste in the long run.
