A mechanical keyboard is the one peripheral you touch every waking hour, so it is worth getting right. This guide covers the four decisions that shape how a board feels and how long it lasts.
Switch type
Switches fall into three families. Linear switches (often red) move smoothly with no bump — popular for gaming. Tactile switches (brown) have a gentle bump so you feel each keypress, which many typists prefer. Clicky switches (blue) add an audible click on top of the bump.
- Type all day in a shared room? Choose linear or silent tactile.
- Want feedback without noise? Tactile is the safe middle ground.
- Love the sound and work alone? Clicky is yours.
Layout and size
Full-size boards include a number pad. Tenkeyless (TKL) drops it to free up desk space for the mouse. 75% and 65% layouts go smaller still, keeping the arrow keys but shrinking everything around them.
Hot-swap sockets
A hot-swap board lets you pull switches out by hand and drop new ones in — no soldering. If you are not sure which switch you want, buy a hot-swap board and experiment later.
Build quality
Look for a steel or aluminium plate, PBT keycaps rather than thin ABS, and a braided or detachable USB-C cable. These three details separate a board that lasts five years from one that feels hollow in six months.
Where to start
If you want one recommendation: a 75% hot-swap board with tactile switches and PBT keycaps covers 90% of people well. Come talk to us and we will match one to your desk.