Are Expensive Mechanical Keyboards Worth It?

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Whether or not you think a mechanical keyboard qualifies as “expensive” is personal. For some people, a $100 mechanical keyboard is several times the amount of money they want to spend on a device for that purpose. However, for some people, myself included, that’s the entry-level price point for devices you might select for personal use. So, the question comes down to it: Is that price worth it? Let’s examine that in-depth.

Whether a Mechanical Keyboard Works for You Is a Personal Matter

The Hexgears GK735 keyboard is a budget-priced mechanical keyboard.

Just because I think a keyboard is “the best thing since sliced bread,” doesn’t mean another keeb enthusiast is going to have the same experience. Different people have different desires for what they get out of a device and some people are going to prefer things that I don’t care about. As with any electronic device, what works for you works for you. You don’t need other people’s validation to do what makes you comfortable and happy as long as you aren’t hurting anyone, and using a keyboard rarely hurts anyone, even if I think that keyboard is a piece of junk.

Do More Expensive Keyboards Use Better Parts?

The Ducky One 2 Series 10 is a reliable, mid-range mechanical keyboard.

In general, the more expensive a keyboard is, the better the parts it comes with. Keyboards are made up of many different parts, including but not limited to, a frame (which can be made of many different materials,) a printed circuit board, a matrix of circuit activating mechanisms (typically in the form of a rubber or silicone membrane or mechanical switches), and keycaps. All of these parts cost money to manufacture. When you want a keyboard with more expensive parts, you have to pay the manufacturing cost. However, this doesn’t mean that low-cost keyboards are necessarily bad or that high-cost keyboards are better.

Gaming Keyboards Are Often Overpriced

Costing almost $170, the Razer BlackWidow V4 had too many problems for me to use it full-time.

One thing to note is that keyboards marketed specifically as “gaming” keyboards are often overpriced. Many “name-brand” gaming keyboards, such as the Razer BlackWidow V4, cost well over $100 and don’t perform any better than a keyboard $40 or $50 cheaper. For more information on that specific keyboard and problems I encountered with it, check out my full review. That doesn’t mean they aren’t good for certain use cases and if that’s the keyboard you want, then by all means go for it. However, be aware that you are paying an additional “sticker tax” to have a Razer-branded device.

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