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If you’ve never used a mechanical keyboard before, you’ll be surprised to know that they’re constructed differently from the standard, cheap keyboards you can buy at Best Buy. The cheaper keyboards you can purchase from common retailers use membrane technology to determine which keys on the board you press. Let’s look at the differences between membrane and mechanical keyboards.

Mechanical vs. Membrane Keyboard: At a Glance

	Mechanical	Membrane
Price	$–$$$	$
Key Technology	Switch Matrix	Rubber or Silicone Membrane
Customizable?	Yes	No
Actuation Force	35+ g	180+ g
Lifespan	30–70 million keypresses	5 million keypresses

Membrane vs. Mechanical Keyboard: Differences Explained

There are several differences between mechanical and membrane keyboards, including the technology used in building the devices, the average price points, and the actuation force of the keys. Let’s examine those differences in-depth.

Price

The most glaring difference that people see right away when choosing between membrane and mechanical keyboards is the price point. The Amazon Basics low-profile wired keyboard, for instance, is just $18.04. Compared to some of the hundred-plus dollar keyboards that feature mechanical switches, it makes sense that many users would opt for the cheaper device without ever researching why it’s cheaper.

Technology

Membrane keyboards use a rubber or silicone membrane stretched over the keyboard’s printed circuit board (PCB). On the underside of the membrane is a series of tabs painted onto the layer with electrically conductive paint. When the user presses the key down, the electrical paint completes a circuit on the PCB that sends a signal to the computer to tell it what key you pressed.

Mechanical keyboards use a matrix of spring-loaded switches. The switches have housing, a spring, and a stem. When the user presses the key down, the switch presses down the spring, which touches the PCB and connects the circuit.

Actuation Force

A key’s actuation force is how hard you need to press down on the key for the circuit to connect and register the keypress. Mechanical keyboards have significantly lower actuation forces than membrane ones. This is because the switch springs are much lighter and easier to press than a rubber or silicone membrane.

When using a rubber or silicone membrane, the membrane must be elastic enough to return to its previous configuration and return the keycap to the upright position. To achieve this level of elasticity, the membrane is much harder to press down because the elasticity gives it more resistance.

Rubber or silicone membrane keyboards typically have an actuation force between 180 grams and 600 grams, but can be higher. Conversely, the low end of the spectrum for mechanical switches is around 35 grams and it only goes up from there. However, most mechanical switches max out around 180 grams of force.

Lifespan

Mechanical keyboards generally last longer than membrane ones. The lifespan of a typical membrane keyboard is around 5 million keypresses. That means around the time you press a key for the five millionth time, your keyboard will start to degrade. It may drop inputs, have trouble returning the keys to the upright position, or any number of other issues relating to age.

Mechanical keyboards have widely variable lifespans. However, the average mechanical keyboard lasts between 30 million and 70 million keypresses, with some lasting as long as 100 million presses. That means that the average mechanical keyboard lasts 6 times longer than the average membrane one.