Membrane vs. Mechanical vs. Optical Keyboards

Which type of keyboard is best? Mechanical keyboards have been around for longer, but were supplanted by keyboards with softer, quieter membrane keys. Some gamers swear by the clickety-clack of mechanical setups, while others favor the new kid on the block, optical keyboards, which use light rather than physical metal contact filaments. We’re going to try to put this issue to bed, but we fear that even the APC team might remain divided.

Value

Straight out of the gate, optical keyboards stumble. Using a combo of sturdy mechanical keys and lightbeam-based switches results in a costly manufacturing process, and optical keyboards tend to be expensive.

“Mechanical keys vary significantly when it comes to input response, with more expensive keyboards typically having