What Are Gaming Keyboard Types? What Percent of Keyboard Is Best for Gaming

A large number of adults have grown fond of playing games on their PCs in their spare time, thanks to the modern era. However, many of them don’t know about the particular components implicated in gameplay. One of the most well-liked peripherals for PC gaming is the gaming keyboard. If you enjoy playing video games, picking the right gaming keyboard can improve your gaming mastery. The right keyboard may be used for much more than just sending emails and posting amusing comments on your favorite social networking site.

As we all understand, Gaming keyboards are a high-end purchase because they are created with premium materials and have unique characteristics that other keyboards lack; they are pricey. If you enjoy playing video games on your gaming PC, you undoubtedly already know how crucial it is to have the perfect gaming keyboard and would likely make the purchase. But why is it so pricey, you might think if you’re unfamiliar with it? 

Due to the great demand for gaming keyboards, their price is high. Professional gamers and others that require a keyboard made exclusively for gaming use gaming keyboards. The fact that there is a low annual production of keyboards due to the strong demand causes prices to rise. Furthermore, gaming keyboards frequently have unique characteristics that make them better suited for gaming.

The extra keys and buttons, the illumination, and the durability are a few of the elements that drive up the cost of gaming keyboard. These features make it simple to play games and browse your computer screen. Additionally, they provide ergonomic advantages that make it simpler for you to continue working as you play. Are you seeking for a keyboard to play demanding or 4K games because you enjoy playing video games? Which gaming keyboard will work best for you? Do you want to know? What are the major gaming keyboard types? We’ve got you covered in that scenario. You will be knowledgeable about the various kinds of gaming keyboards, why they are so expensive, and lastly, how to pick the best one for you by the time this blog post is over. So let’s get going!

Different Types Of Gaming Keyboards  

Do you understand gaming peripherals’ importance to your enjoyment as a player? And you’re aware that the appropriate keyboard may truly make or break that experience, right? You may not realize it, but you actually have more of a say than you might think. The two main categories of keyboards are mechanical keyboards and membrane keyboards. Keyboards are categorized by the switch technologies they employ. The availability of both switch types is due to the significant price disparity between them, with mechanical keyboards being far more expensive to build. 

Mechanical Keyboard   

When most people think of gaming keyboards, they envision the strong, classic-looking ones from the 1980s; they are mechanical ones. A more accurate description would be that each keycap on a mechanical keyboard has a high-quality plastic key switch underneath it. Rather than a rubber membrane that provides mushy resistance to your keystroke, a mechanical key feels precise because your finger forces a low-friction mechanism to slide down a shaft actively resisted by a spring.  

A few essential parts make up every switch. The easily detachable keycap clicks onto the stem, which defines the key’s overall travel distance and the actuation distance, or how far the key must be pushed to record a keystroke, depending on its shape and height. A spring that is housed inside the housing supports the stem. Some keys also include a bump or click in the middle of the key’s travel, which is often enabled by a springy metal clip that the stem needs to push through as the key is depressed. Finally, the switch must complete an electrical circuit when activated with metal contacts. 

Types Of Mechanical Keyboard Switches 

The three mechanical switch kinds determine the keyboard and the intended audience for it. 

Linear Switches 

   The stem of a linear switch moves up and down without encountering any obstructions, making it the most basic mechanical switch. The stroke, or actuation, of the key, occurs when it bottoms out at the conclusion of its travel. Because it enables quick and clear control in a game where milliseconds matter, gamers frequently favor this type of switch. The simplest mechanical switch is a linear switch since its stem can go up and down without running into any obstacles. When the key bottoms out at the end of its travel, it is said to have been “actuated” or “stroked.” Gamers typically prefer this form of the switch since it offers quick and obvious control in a game where milliseconds matter. 

Tactile Switches 

Although there is a hump in the middle of its downward descent, this is comparable to a linear switch. This hump occurs just before the key bottoms out and coincides with the actuation point. This has several effects. Because each key doesn’t have to travel as far to actuate, typing can be done more quickly. Because touch typists don’t have to bottom out the keys, it is quieter than linear switches. Additionally, because of the distinct tactile hump, they provide a feel that many typists enjoy. For all of those reasons, typists who don’t also play video games typically choose this switch. A typical tactile switch is Cherry’s, Cherry MX Brown. 

Clicky Switches  

 A clicky switch, a variant of the tactile switch, produces an audible click at the bump. As you might expect, these mechanical keyboards are the loudest since each keystroke produces a clicking sound. They are reassuring for new users who aren’t yet at ease using a keyboard and require more feedback when typing. Some keyboard clicks are simply more appealing to some typists. However, be in mind that these keyboards are loud and can be annoying if you are working with others. Perhaps the most well-known clicky switch is the Cherry MX Blue.  

Membrane Or Rubber Dome Keyboards

Most of the contemporary, low-cost keyboards used in laptops, portable game controllers, mobile phones, and other devices are membrane or rubber dome keyboards. Unlike a mechanical keyboard’s spring and metal connections, membrane or rubber dome keyboards use rubber domes to deliver feedback. They feature a straightforward design with a rubber dome that, when pressed, completes the circuit on the printed circuit board (PCB) of the keyboard underneath. Because of their simplicity, they can be produced more affordably than mechanical keyboards, which makes them the perfect choice for gamers on a tight budget.

Flat-panel and full-travel membrane keyboards are the two different types of membrane keyboards. Appliances like microwaves, refrigerators, and copiers use the former. On today’s most popular computer keyboards, you’ll find the latter. They have a three-layer membrane positioned over a key assembly. The top layer is formed by a hole in the middle layer when the key is depressed, causing top-layer conducting material to come into touch with bottom-layer conductive material, forming a circuit and registering the keystroke. 

Dome-switch keyboards 

Keyboards with dome switches combine the features of mechanical and flat-panel membrane keyboards. Due to the various design options, this technology is also sometimes referred to as a membrane switch or rubber dome. A silicone dome connecting two circuit-board traces to complete the connection detects a keystroke when you type and press it down in a low-cost keyboard, which is how most of them work today. 

Scissor-switch keyboards 

Typically seen in laptops and other low-profile keyboards, including some found in gaming laptops and desktops, the scissor-switch keyboard is a form of rubber dome keyboard. Scissor-switch keyboards join the keys to the keyboard using two plastic pieces that interlock similarly to how scissors do, in contrast to their use of rubber domes. In comparison to conventional rubber dome keyboards, this scissor-type mechanism offers a reduced travel time and distance. Despite the fact that these switches are mechanical, they are not regarded as a component of mechanical keyboards because they lack spring-loaded switches and keycap customization capabilities. Because of the smaller key size and spaces between keys, scissor-switch keyboards are often more difficult to clean than other membrane keyboards, but they are also less likely to accumulate debris. 

Optical or photo-optical keyboards 

Light-responsive keyboards and photo-electric keyboards are other names for optical or photo-optical keyboards. These keyboards are quick and use light-emitting diodes (LED) and photo sensors to detect key presses visually. A 0.2 ms reaction time, which is ten times faster than conventional mechanical switches, is possible with the HP OMEN Sequencer Mechanical Keyboard. Optical keyboards are sturdy since they are frequently waterproof and dust-resistant.

What Is An 80% Keyboard? 

The phrase “80 percent keyboard” refers to small keyboards that keep the function row, arrow keys, and home cluster but do away with the number pad. These keyboards typically have 87 keys and are smaller than full-sized keyboards. These keyboards, which are frequently smaller than a full-sized keyboard, are preferred by enthusiasts who seek a compact keyboard with plenty of keys. Keyboards with an 80 percent key coverage are primarily designed to let users type with their hands in front of them without touching any keys. Because of its two-row layout, 80 percent of keyboards are typically less taxing on your wrists and arms than regular keyboards. Because using an 80 percent keyboard involves no repeated action with your hands, it also lessens wrist stress. 

What Is A 60% Keyboard?

The number pad, F keys, navigation key cluster, and arrow keys are typically absent from a 60 percent keyboard, which is mechanical. The advantages of a tiny form factor outweigh the lack of functionality for people with little desk space. Because the smaller size gives the user more freedom to move their keyboard around, some gamers favor 60 percent of keyboards. 60 percent of keyboards are frequently backlit with colored lights, like the majority of gaming keyboards today. Some models have more lighting choices, including RGB lighting with over 16 million color combinations and the ability to create light patterns that can be synced with music or games.