Mechanical keyboards, explained simply

Mechanical keyboards use an individual switch under every key. That makes them more consistent, more durable and — for many people — much nicer to type on.

Choosing a switch

• Linear: smooth from top to bottom, quiet and fast
• Tactile: a small bump tells you the key has registered
• Clicky: a bump plus an audible click — satisfying, but loud

If you share a room, start with linear or tactile switches. Hot-swappable keyboards let you change switches later without soldering.

Layouts and sizes

A 75% layout keeps the arrow keys and function row while saving space for your mouse. Full-size keyboards add a number pad, which is helpful if you work with numbers all day.