Mechanical Keyboard vs Membrane Keyboard: Pros and Cons

Those who use a keyboard on a daily basis might have already known that not all keyboards are the same. There are two main types of keyboards:

• Mechanical keyboards
• Membrane keyboards

These two types of keyboards come with their own sets of advantages as well as disadvantages.  

What is a membrane keyboard?

Membrane or rubber dome keyboards are the most commonly used keyboards that come with your computers and laptops. They are known and used by most people because of their flexibility and inexpensive material.

A membrane keyboard has three layers which include the top membrane layer, the inner middle layer, and the bottom membrane layer. There is a conductive trace underneath each layer, which is known as PCB. The PCB triggers a keypress.

Here is how it works:

There's a circuit under the rubber layer. On top of this rubber is where the keys and buttons are. This is the visible part of the button. The keys exert pressure on the underlying rubber layer to activate the circuit board. Once this happens, the circuit pushes the information to the CPU, and the output becomes visible on the screen.

The membrane keyboard has a lot of benefits.

• It comes in a compact size and slim design, which is great if you don’t care much about tactility. Since the membrane keyboard is usually smaller in size, it can be easily fit into small bags and luggage.
• It creates less noise. If you like a keyboard that doesn't make much noise, a membrane keyboard is the best bet.
• It's affordable. You can always choose the style you want to have to match your setup. 

That said, there are always two sides to every story, pro and cons, a membrane keyboard has its own issues too.

• It requires much more effort to type because of the actuation force. And this can cause fatigue and wrist pain after long hours of use, especially for those who spend a lot of time typing, like writers and programmers.
• It has a lesser lifespan. A mechanical switch can reach about 50 million keystrokes, while a membrane keyboard can only reach about 2 million keypresses. If one key falls off, you'll likely have to get a new keyboard.
• The nozzles between the keys tend to suck up trapped crumbs and dust. It's difficult to clean because the membrane keyboard keycaps are not removable.

What is a mechanical keyboard？

Image via Amazon.com

Mechanical keyboards use separate switches under each individual key. When you press the key, it’ll send a signal to the computer. Mechanical keyboards use mechanical switches, and these switches come in different types. The switch consists of a base, a spring, and a stem. They often provide the same functionality but operate in different ways. Let's take a look at some of the following switches:

Linear Switch: This switch has a linear feel when you press the keys. This means that pressing a key from top to bottom feels the same. When you press it, there is no bump and clicky feedback. This is the quietest switch of all, and you don't know whether a key is registered until you see the feedback on the screen. This also means that when you press a key, it usually bottoms out.

Tactile Switch: For this switch, when you press a button, you get a touch response. When you press a key, you feel a small bump that tells you that a keystroke has been inserted.

Click Switch: This type of keyboard switch gives a click when you press the key. The best part is that you don't have to press all the way to the bottom for it to register.

While using a mechanical keyboard, you can enjoy a longer lifespan as they offer you more keystrokes than regular keyboards, it's about 30-70 million key presses.

Meanwhile, you can have a more satisfying typing experience. The linear, tactile, and clicky switches all have different responses when you press on them. And the mechanical keyboard switches are very sensitive to touch, detecting each keypress even at the slightest touch.

This is very good for gamer and professional typists. The mechanical keyboard can offer a more accurate and precise keystroke each time you press the key. No matter how many keys you press at a time, each of them will be registered on screen.

While mechanical keyboards may seem like they may win the ‘Best Keyboard’ category, it has its own drawbacks.

First of all, it costs more than a membrane keyboard.

Secondly, mechanical keyboards can be noisy. However, with some noise drowning modifications like O-rings and foam pads, you can reduce the noise to a minimum.

The keyboard is so important for daily working or gaming. And it is necessary to have a pleasant experience. While membrane keyboards are great for regular use, if you want an enhanced keyboard experience with seamless feedback and faster responsiveness, you should take a look at mechanical keyboards. To sum up, there are three things factors worth considering when purchasing a keyboard and they are:

• What you intend to use it for
• Your budget
• The need for portability

If you want to have a deeper understanding of how to choose the right mechanical keyboard, refer to this guide and learn more!