Buying a new accessory for your PC can get confusing due to the sheer number of products that are out there. Whether you’re under a strict budget or looking to splurge a little extra for a premium product, it is necessary that you know exactly what you’re looking to get out of the device. If you’re in the market for a new keyboard, there are several things you need to consider before making the purchase. A lot of these factors are subjective and depend on your usage pattern. If you haven’t made up your mind yet, we’re here to help you out. So, here are the top 7 things you should consider when buying a new keyboard.
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In This Article
Ergonomics
One of the most important things that you should consider before buying a new keyboard is its ergonomic features. This includes the overall design of the keyboard along with elements like a wrist rest and adaptive feet. Your typing experience on the keyboard relies a lot upon its ergonomic feel and how well it suits your wrists. Ideally, you want a keyboard that accommodates the natural position of your wrists and does not cause them any fatigue over an extended period of time.
Mechanical or membrane keyboard?
Another important factor you should keep in mind while buying the keyboard is its keystroke type. While mechanical keyboards are all the rage these days, they do cost more than their ‘membrane’ counterparts. If you’re looking for a keyboard for office use, the mechanical switches may be a bit too loud for a quiet environment. However, if you’re looking to add a keyboard to your home setup, the tactile feedback of the keystrokes in a mechanical keyboard is something you will appreciate a lot.
If you’re looking for a gaming keyboard, mechanical switches are the way to go. There are other things you should also consider while looking for the perfect gaming keyboard, like durability and key programming, but we’ll get to those aspects later. Need a flashy RGB keyboard to go with your gaming rig? Read this article for some of the best options under Rs 3,000.
Size and portability
If you’re a digital nomad and are frequently travelling with your keyboard, you need to take its portability into account. Traditional keyboards are meant to be a permanent fixture on your desk, which is why their portability often takes a back seat. If a compact keyboard size is your biggest priority, you may want to look at tenkeyless (TKL) keyboards. As the name suggests, these keyboards offer ten fewer keys than their traditional counterparts. The ten-key number pad on the right side of the device is ditched to keep it compact. Portable keyboards also lack media keys and have less spacing between the regular keys.
Dedicated media keys
If portability is not a big concern, you may want to go all out and get a keyboard with dedicated keys for media controls. These keys come in very handy while controlling aspects like the volume and playback without relying on the mouse and onscreen controls. Most keyboards also offer customisable macro keys which can be programmed to carry out tasks like opening an app, taking a screenshot, and a whole range of other tasks. If you’re looking to buy a wireless keyboard, the dedicated media keys will certainly make a nice addition, allowing you to control the media playback on your PC from a distance.
Durability
The build and make of the keyboard is something you should not look past while buying one. This includes the casing and the key switches. Most affordable keyboards use an alloy shell for the casing. If you’re looking for a device that will last you years, splurging some extra money on the one with an aluminium plate is worth it. If you’re a gamer, mechanical switches can survive heavy use and offer excellent tactile feedback along the way. Even if a switch develops a fault, it can be easily replaced.
Wired or wireless?
This is a pretty straightforward category that should not require a lot of thought. If you’re not fond of keyboards and like the option to move around with your keyboard, you should go for Bluetooth connectivity. However, wireless keyboards are notorious for having latency issues, which means your commands may take a fraction of a second to register. While this isn’t a big issue for regular users, it is a significant factor that must be considered when buying a gaming keyboard. If you’re willing to spend some extra money, go for a gaming wireless keyboard which comes with a Bluetooth transmitter of its own. This will solve any latency issues.
Price
The price of the keyboard is entirely dependent on what you want out of it. Wireless keyboards tend to be pricier than their wired counterparts. If you can’t compromise on mechanical switches, it may come at a cost as well. The build quality of the device also demands a small premium. While buying a keyboard it is a good idea to make a mental note of your non-negotiable features and the attributes that you can compromise if it means getting a good device that is under your stipulated budget.
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Conclusion
These are the 7 essential things you must consider while buying a new keyboard. While you’re here, check out this article for our list of the best mechanical keyboards you can buy right now. Got a broken keyboard you can’t fix? Read this article for some important tips.
