The membrane keyboard offers play-specific features, but it is less durable and less expensive. A cheaper deck may not lead to improved performance only because of a heavier, mushier typing feel, but everyday players will not feel slowed down by a cheaper deck. The vast majority of gaming keyboards are mechanical, but that doesn’t mean everyone has a mechanical deck hooked up to their rig. Membrane keyboards can be used for gaming, but you need to know what you’re getting into.
Mechanical keyboards come with N-key rollover, are durable, and typically provide a snappier response. With some boards, you can even customize the actuation point (the point at which the board recognizes a keystroke) or replace the switches altogether. Also, a handful of mechanical keyboards sell for less these days. In the event that your budget prohibits these decks, it’s helpful to know there’s still plenty of room for a membrane keyboard. In our previous post, we discussed the mechanical versus membrane keyboard debate, but if you’re on the budget side, here’s what you need to know.
The durability of membrane keyboards
In terms of long-term investment, membrane keyboards simply don’t last as long as mechanical keyboards. That’s because every time you hit a key on a membrane unit, you’re pushing the plastic cap against a rubber sheet, which wears away pretty quickly.
It might not matter if you’re looking for a stop-gap or don’t use your gaming PC every evening for hardcore sessions. You won’t have to be too careful with membrane keyboards during everyday use either, as they will still last for quite a while before they start giving out.
A membrane keyboard is soft
Even though membrane keyboards are soft to type on, after a long period of time, they can become mushy and strenuous if you’re a heavy typist.
You’ll still be a pro if you have a mechanical deck. If you play high-speed competitive games, you might not like this softness at first. You’ll still be able to move quickly with the SteelSeries Apex 3 TKL’s snap-back keys, despite its heavy weight.
Features still abound with membrane keyboards
There are many reasons why players prefer membrane keyboards over mechanical keyboards, beyond typing experience, response times, and durability. On budget decks like the Razer Cynosa V2 and Roccat Magma, RGB lighting, volume controls, and programmable keys are all available. Typing speed may feel slower, but the connectivity options are impressive. You can interact with your games in a variety of ways, and there are plenty of anti-ghosting features.
