The last time I paid attention to the keyboard scene was somewhere around 2019-2020 ish i don't remember exactly but i remember back then optical mechanical switches were groundbreaking technology that had just been introduced by razer (I think? Or maybe it was somebody else and I'm completely having a brain fart) and cherry MX was still considered the gold standard for switches.

I've completely checked out of the scene since and only popped my head back in a few days ago because I'm looking to buy a new one and now I'm seeing, at least on the surface level that nobody likes/cares about cherry mx anymore and there are different types of switches that I've never of before(not just different brands, different technology altogether), and also I'm having trouble, atleast on Amazon, with finding keyboards from the "conventional" or "mainstream" brands. For example I can only see a few razer keyboards, only 2-3 Logitech G keyboards and even they are low profile ROG is sold out everywhere except like one model. HyperX also only has a few. Pretty much the only brand i can find more than 3 keyboards of, on Amazon is corsair. Is it just amazon or has there been some sort of keyboard exodus by the mainstream industry? Why can't I see or find anything am i searching wrong? The most basic and broad search I've done is "mechanical gaming keyboard".

The keyboard i currently use is some random chinese one with faulty keys and random black switches that I haven't seen before or since that i bought in 2018. For the keyboard i want to upgrade to, I'm looking for a nice and clicky preferably with that satisfying *thunk* sound, decent enough polling rate at the very least not looking for any industry leading eSports shenanigans, RGB to go with the return of my unicorn vomit build 100% keyboard(volume wheel would be nice but not a necessity), thick meaty metal build that preferably comes with a wrist rest because I've got giant gorilla hands that hate thin low profile keyboards, no plastic body because I've spent my entire life using plastic keyboards and i know my autistic ass mind will subconsciously associate plastic with cheap and I'll be unhappy and bitter with my purchase and i don't want that, and finally, I just want to buy something from a respectable mainstream company with a good warrenty man i don't care about no gimmicks like hotswap or stuff I'm never gonna do and i don't wanna buy from some niche brand that has little or no service in India at all where if something goes wrong I'll be stuck with a dud. No mainstream brands only.

But the problem is I can barely find any! Even a niche or lesser known brand like keychron I can only find a couple. The only keyboards i could find that meet some, not all of my criteria are the corsair k70 pro and k100, but even they don't meet all of my requirements and I'm both cases I'm limited in the switches I can get, in the case of the k100 i don't get a choice at all and it costs 10,000₹ more than the k70 and i cannot in any world justify that, and while the k70 pro does come under my budget it's literally the only option I see and I'd like to have more choices before i make any financial decisions and I don't wanna rush into anything. But i just cannot see anything else! What's going on here? Does anybody know?

I don't wanna ask AI Because I don't want to become a part of the problem but I'm genuinely confused guys. When last I checked there was so many keyboards from so many brands on Amazon and now there's barely any.

As the title says. I want a new keyboard, one that’s good for typing and gaming. I see the Vanguard 96 available for $150 with the tactile switches (which I prefer to linear).

I know people constantly lament how Corsair is overpriced, but the alternatives I have been seeing over the past few days don’t seem much better. Often it’s some brand that once I look them up I see countless Reddit posts and reviews of quality control issues, enough to be far more significant than other brands. Yes, nuphy and Keychron have some awesome models, but it’s only a bit cheaper and they apparently are very finicky. Plus they lack certain features; not to mention that if I add on a palm rest, which I need, the price is about the same as the vaanguard96.

Plus, while I don’t like the look too much, I could swap out the keycaps and at least somewhat remedy that.

The only other alternatives I’m given are strange obscure brands in the range of $180-$500, or building it myself, which would be very expensive, not to mention it’s something I have no experience with.

I know “gamer brand bad,” but with all that in mind, do you think this would be a terrible idea for the time being?

I have browsed around so many reviews from others who have experienced using their HE keyboards and their experiences varies but it leans more on the negative side such as rattly keys, switch issues in less than a year, and software inconsistencies.

I have been wanting to move on for quite some time from my clicky Razer Huntsman Mini and I have been eyeing on some of the other compact form keyboards that have either HE or TMR features.

• Give me the price ranges such as Budget, Mid, Expensive of the options ya'll recommend. I am not looking for something too premium since I am just getting into this.
• I have been eyeing on some of the other compact form keyboards. Around between 60% and 75% Compact.
• All I need are decent hardware quality, consistently reliable software, and 3-mode connectivity.

I can't find anything,

https://preview.redd.it/itimsaqj5h2h1.png?width=669&format=png&auto=webp&s=f8d07098308f978d0ae5db4cb1506eab89392b5c

This is the type of pink I like but hi75 is 75% and aluminium but I want a portable keyboard. I'm a capslockcel so I need to be able to make capslock change lighting so I know I'm in capslock. The problem is some keyboards will have shit software and lack open source compatibility.

I have once again found myself in need of a niche product that probably doesn't exist. For my very specific workflow I would benefit from having an extra row of function keys to map as shortcuts and hotkeys, but it looks like (perhaps understandably) nobody is making keyboards with all 24 function keys anymore. There is plenty of supply available online in the form of vintage terminal keyboards, and while their interface could be adapted they are stuck with an old layout that lacks the system and context menu keys which I also heavily use, or have some other outdated layout quirks.

I do not require high quality keys or even mechanical switches, I would be perfectly fine with just a generic membrane keyboard from Tesco that just has two rows of function keys instead of one.

The other option is having a separate macro keypad next to the keyboard, but I'd rather not have an extra device with an extra cable on the desk, and having to move one hand off the keyboard to access it could get annoying, but I feel like that's exactly what I will have to settle with.

To conform with rule 1, my budget for something like this would probably be up to $200, size not really a concern since I already have a full size keyboard with a numpad (and this would only add an extra row at the top), and the main physical layout constraint is having the system and context keys in the usual place (and keeping the numpad).

Hey everyone,

I’m looking to buy a high-performance Hall Effect keyboard (75% to 80% form factor). My budget is around $200 for the board alone (I already bought the Gateron Magnetic Jade Emerald switches, so they don’t need to be factored into this budget). Because of these switches, N-pole downward compatibility is a must.

My strict needs are Linux compatibility with good software, 8k wired polling, ARGB backlighting, and rock-solid, bug-free firmware/hardware. I initially wanted tri-mode wireless, but I'm willing to drop it to a "nice-to-have" if the wired performance is worth it. Premium aluminum builds, physical knobs, and macro keys are also big pluses.

Here are my current notes on the contenders. Let me know if I got anything wrong or if you have a clear favorite:

NuPhy WH80: On paper, this is my absolute dream board. The hardware package is perfect—great aesthetic, premium sound dampening out of the box, a knob, and that dedicated physical profile slider to switch instantly between custom key maps and actuation profiles is amazing. However, I’ve read numerous community complaints about wonky firmware.

Wooting 80HE: Great performance, 8k polling, and flawless Linux support (Wootility). Cons: No knob, and the stock plastic case feels cheap for the price. I can fix the premium feel by buying the official Zinc alloy case or a KBDFans aluminum case, but this setup is starting to look expensive to get a nice premium feel.

Keychron Q1 HE or 8K wired version: Seems to be the solid entry level choice, great knob, flawless Linux support via Keychron Launcher web-app. Cons: Maxes out at 1,000Hz wired polling instead of true 8k for the wireless version. Also, I am unsure if the different versions are compatible with Gateron Jade Emerald switches.

MonsGeek M1 V5 TMR: Awesome hardware, hybrid mechanical and magnetic switches, 8k polling, big battery, and has a knob. Cons: The connectivity switch is hidden under the Caps Lock key, and official software support on Linux is supposedly a clunky headache compared to Wooting/Keychron.

My questions for the community: For NuPhy WH80 owners: Have recent updates fixed your biggest complaints, or is it still a buggy risk? Also, do you find the additional macro keys genuinely useful, or are they just a waste of space?

Can anyone definitively confirm if the Gateron Jade Emeralds fit on the Keychron Q1 HE?

Which of these would you pick given my budget, Linux, and high-performance requirements? Open to any other suggestions I might have missed!

Thanks in advance!

I'm looking to move away from using my laptop keyboard or those Logitech ones and want something nicer/more personal for my desk at work. I've been looking into a lot of different mechanical keyboards, which I'm new to, and honestly it's a bit overwhelming. My only preferences are that it's a 65% layout, it's aluminum, the switches aren't too loud that they're a distraction to others around me and it's US$200 or under. I really like the look of the Varmilo Muse65 He Summit but I see some conflicting info on if the Gateron White Magnetic switches are quiet enough for an office environment.

I just build my first custom keyboard and I used a Keychron Q7 barebones for the base, but i've just encountered a problem. I was typing to make sure that all of my keys were working but realized that my 3 key doesn't work properly. I have to use an excessive amount of force just to make the 3 key work. I don't think it's the switches because I tried swapping of the switch for another and still had the same problem. If anyone knows any possible fixes or the cause of my problem please let me know. I can record a video if the problem if needed.

So I ordered a keychron v6 max and it looks and feels good but apparently it has alot of issues according to alot of buyers so should I try get a refund or should i keep it??

Im looking to get a gaming keyboard, and if this helps I only play Minecraft and Gd

I am hoping to find either a brown or maybe a wood color, like 100% keyboard. i would love it to be mechanical for the responsiveness and nice sound. any advice or reccomendation would be greatly appreciated

Hello! My current keyboard is finally on the way out, and I've had a lot of trouble with it over the years for various reasons. I am ready to move to the next keyboard in my life, and my chronically tired and picky self is making this a small nightmare to navigate. So, I have organized a bunch of preferences and requirements, and would love any and all suggestions you all have for me.

TL;WR

• Budget: <$400 is ideal, $1k cap.
• Size: 100%/Full or more
• Sound: Quiet, this is important
• Upkeep: Easy to clean, this is important
• Connectivity: Wired is ideal but I'm flexible
• Color: Pink is ideal but I'm flexible
• Material: Easy to clean but won't let my fingers slip (IDK keyboard/key materials)

Requirements

• Budget: Ideally less than $400, but I can go all the way up to $1k if needed.
• Size: 100%/Full or more, I use my numpad a lot for number entry, coding, and gaming. The gaming includes an MMO, so I know extra buttons would see use, too.
• Sound: It must be quiet, I live with someone sensitive to sound (I am as well, though less so) and I game on call with friends a lot. Having a clicky keyboard for the last few years has been an absolute nightmare that I have barely adapted to.
• Upkeep: I will admit I have executive dysfunction and chronic exhaustion, I oftentimes cannot bring myself to clean my current keyboard for far too long. My next keyboard must be easy to clean, both keys and the board itself. It would be even better if the keyboard was resistant to getting dirty in the first place. Keyboards with gimmicks that make cleaning easier would be the true ideal, but don't put all eggs in this basket unless you know of the keyboard that someone made specifically for me in some pocket of the internet I'm not aware of.

Preferences

• Connectivity: I would significantly prefer wired, but if my dream keyboard only comes in wireless I will simply push through the latency and overcome
• Color: My favorite is pastel pink, but I'm flexible. The ideal looks something like Pastel Pink > White > Pastel Purple > Black > Pastel Blue > everything else, essentially. This is probably the least important preference in the list, though. Just know that warm (excluding pink) & saturated colors (excluding black/white) are at the bottom of the list and that's about it.
• Material: I do not know anything about different materials, as long as my fingers do not slip off keys easily and things are easy to clean, I am happy!

Thank you all for the help and i am so so so so sorry if this is a difficult ask, i've just had so much trouble with keyboard hunting in the past and I thought to consult the experts this time around. Please save me, oh wise ones!

I have an amazon credit and im interested in getting a new keyboard, so i've been looking at what they have to offer on there. as of now, im between the logitech g pro x, huntsman v3 mini, or the apex pro mini 3. any help?