Luxia Le

This article contains affiliate links.

The Amazon Basics Low-Profile Wired Keyboard is a tempting offer for people who want a new keyboard for a low price. However, for the keyboard enthusiast this device likely won’t make the cut. It has many severe issues that make it unwieldy for people who are more well-versed in keyboard technology. Let’s examine what makes this keyboard not worth the money you might spend on it.

Amazon Basics Low-Profile Wired Keyboard: At a Glance

Keyboard	Amazon Basics Low-Profile Wired
Price	$13.53
Tier	Budget
Switches	N/A
Keycap Profile	Low-Profile
Keycap Material	Plastic (Unknown)
Interface	USB-A
Layout	USA ANSI
Keyboard Type	Membrane (Plunger)
Hot-Swappable?	N/A

Amazon Basics Low-Profile Wired: My Thoughts

To succinctly answer what I thought of this keyboard: I hated it. There were very few, if any, positive thoughts that I have towards this keyboard. I really did not like it at all and have no intention of using it in the future. It’s going right in the box of keyboards and staying there unless someone needs a crappy, cheap keyboard.

Price

Firstly, this might be the only sector where the Amazon Basics Low-Profile Wired keyboard gets a point. At the price point, it sits at, I don’t have any negative feelings. Even though the keyboard was certainly not for me. Users will be hard-pressed to find a keyboard at this price point that has any of the accouterments associated with modern, premium keyboards. So, it really makes sense that this is a piece of crap. At a price of just under $14, you don’t have much budget to create something great in terms of technology.

Construction

The keyboard is extremely poorly constructed. The whole thing is made from cheap flimsy plastic. It feels extremely light in the hand, very cheap feeling. I doubt this keyboard could survive any manner of serious use. People who hit their keys hard will probably break it in a few months.

Keycaps

The keycaps are made of an unidentified plastic material. They cannot be removed from the keyboard. So, if you don’t like them, the only option is to get a new keyboard. They are low-profile chiclet keys where the keycaps also act as the plunger for the membrane and have a very standard construction for this price point. The legends are printed on the keycap face and likely will wear off after long periods of use.

Keyboard Mechanics

The Amazon Basics Low-Profile Wired Keyboard is a membrane keyboard that uses a chiclet mechanism with a rubber or silicone membrane under the keys. That can—and does—make the keyboard feel mushy under one’s fingers. I wouldn’t say it’s the most unpleasant keyboard I’ve ever felt. Some membrane keyboards feel like they have goo under the keys. However, the membrane is hard to press and requires a high actuation force. My fingers got tired very fast when using this keyboard. Additionally, the membrane was not very responsive. The keyboard frequently dropped inputs while gaming and there was delay on occasion when pressing keys.

Problems I Encountered While Using the Amazon Basics Low-Profile Wired Keyboard

The first problem I encountered when using the Amazon Basics Low-Profile Wired Keyboard was the weight of the keys. I don’t have the means to provide a numerical representation of the actuation force accurately. However, it was much heavier than any mechanical keyboard I’d ever used, despite having a lower travel distance. I found myself mashing the keys trying to get a key registered. Typing was more difficult and my hands would start to hurt after just a few hours of usage, which doesn’t work for me since I need to be able to write for eight or more hours at a time.

I also encountered issues with the keyboard’s responsiveness. The keyboard frequently dropped inputs when using it, especially in situations with repeated inputs. This made it more difficult to play games compared to my usual keyboard choices.