Gaming Keyboards

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What is a Mechanical Gaming Keyboard?

Under the keycaps of a standard keyboard is a sheet, or 'membrane', of flexible rubber domes. When depressed, these domes make contact with a circuit board, which is then registered as a keystroke. This, naturally, results in a squidgy, unsatisfying typing experience, though at least it's a quiet one. A mechanical gaming keyboard functions similarly. But instead of rubber domes, a mechanical keyboard uses physical, spring-operated switches to strike the circuit board. Crucially, there's a massive variety of mechanical switches out there, all offering a unique typing experience. Reds, Blues, Browns - the switches of a mechanical keyboard are usually differentiated by their colour. Some audibly 'click' on each press, some have a tactile response, and 'linear' switches are smooth all the way down.

Yes, you can game on a standard keyboard, and we'd say that a gaming keyboard isn't as game-changing as a gaming mouse. However, there's no denying that quality mechanical gaming keyboards simply feel better to game and type on. Hammering away at the clicky, tactile switches of a mechanical keyboard is immensely gratifying, with each keystroke feeling deliberate and distinct. By comparison, the mushiness of a membrane keyboard sometimes leaves you wondering if a keystroke has even been registered properly. You'll pay more for a mechanical keyboard, but it's worth it when you think about how much you use your keyboard in and out of games.

Wired vs Wireless Gaming Keyboards

The technology of today's wireless gaming keyboards is perfectly fine - fantastic, in fact. When it comes to latency, many wireless gaming keyboards are just as fast as wired ones, so laggy, sluggish inputs won't be an issue. Where the real benefit of a wireless gaming keyboard lies, however, is in convenience. Go all-in one wireless gaming peripherals, including a wireless gaming keyboard, and your set-up will be all their easier to clean, tidy, and cable manage. Some models can connect to multiple devices simultaneously, too. This is incredibly convenient if you're, say, a gamer who works from home. It'd let you toggle your wireless gaming keyboard from your work PC to your gaming PC at the end of a shift, saving you from having to plug a cable in and out every time. And if you're looking to hook a gaming PC up a 4K TV and play some games from the comfort of your couch, a wireless gaming keyboard is the far more convenient option.

However, unlike a mouse, it's not as if you move your keyboard all over your desk while gaming. At most, you move it a couple of inches to a more comfortable typing position every now and then, otherwise it's stationary. As a result, the wire of a gaming keyboard doesn't impact the gaming experience all that much. It's why we haven't seen the same proliferation of wireless gaming keyboards as wireless gaming mice. Simply compare the availability of wired to wireless gaming keyboards, and wired to wireless gaming mice, here at Ebuyer. A wireless gaming keyboard is thought more of a premium option. On the other hand, wireless gaming mice are quickly becoming the standard for a great many people. If you want a complete wire-free set-up, with a wireless gaming keyboard, mouse, and headset, go for it. But if we had to choose between a wireless gaming keyboard or mouse, we'd pick the mouse for sure.

Full-Size vs Small Form-Factor Gaming Keyboards

Barring the 'WASD' cluster and the immediate keys surrounding it, the majority of games do not take advantage of all the keys of a keyboard. This is only exacerbated by the fact that most gaming mice feature at least two side-mounted buttons, which can be used in place of a keyboard's keys. In mainstream triple-A games and competitive titles, anything to the right of 'G' might as well be no man's land. It's not as if, at least by default, you have to reach across the keyboard and hit the number pad in the middle of Call of Duty. So, why include these keys on a gaming keyboard if they're so often unused?

Small Form-Factor Gaming Keyboards

Well, that's where small form-factor keyboards come in. Chop the number pad off a full-size keyboard and you're left with what's known as a 'tenkeyless' keyboard. '60%' keyboards, the smallest mainstream form-factor, not only omit the number pad, but dedicated arrow and function keys, too. A small form-factor keyboard affords you more room on your desk to manoeuvre you mouse. This allows you to play at slower, more precise sensitivities, perfect for those who play first-person shooter games. And if you haven't got a lot of room for a gaming set-up, a small form-factor keyboard will slot in nicely.

Full-Size Gaming Keyboards

Although these small form-factor keyboards are increasing in popularity, many still prefer the functionality of a good ol' full-size keyboard. Sure, a full-size keyboard takes room away from your mouse, and you may not even use all its keys 90% of the time, but at least you'd have them at your disposal. If a game calls for, say, the 'Home' key, it'll be right there - no need to mess with function layers. And if you also use your keyboard outside of games, a proper, dedicated number pad and arrow and function keys come in extremely handy in day-to-day computing tasks.

Gaming Keyboards at Ebuyer

Here at Ebuyer, we stock a wide variety of wired and wireless gaming keyboards, in all sorts of sizes, from the best brands, including Razer, ASUS, Corsair, and more. While you're here, why not check out our range of gaming mice, too. Spread the cost of your gaming peripheral purchases with our flexible finance offers. And if you want your new gaming keyboard by tomorrow, next-day delivery is also available.

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