How is a mechanical keyboard different from an ordinary keyboard?

A mechanical keyboard differs significantly from an ordinary keyboard in several aspects, including structure, performance, user experience, and price. Let's take a closer look at the differences between them.

1.Structure

Ordinary Keyboard: Typically adopts a membrane structure, where a simple spring and conductive membrane are placed under the keycap. When a key is pressed, the spring compresses and pushes the conductive membrane into contact, triggering a circuit signal.

Mechanical Keyboard: Employs a more complex mechanical structure, with each key equipped with an independent switch (i.e., "axis"), triggering a circuit signal through metal contacts. This structure provides mechanical keyboards with significant advantages in key feedback and durability.

2.Performance

Key Conflict: Ordinary keyboards may experience key conflicts when multiple keys are pressed simultaneously, meaning the input signals of certain keys cannot be accurately recognized, affecting input accuracy. Mechanical keyboards, due to their independent switch design, can usually achieve 6-key or even full-key no-conflict, ensuring accurate input during high-speed continuous keystrokes.

Feel and Keystroke Characteristics: Ordinary keyboards have a relatively simple key feel, lacking obvious tactile feedback and pressure variation, which may lead to finger fatigue over extended use. Mechanical keyboards, through special design, provide nonlinear keystroke pressure changes and distinct tactile feedback, making the keystroke feel more comfortable, accurate, and stable. Additionally, different mechanical keyboard axes (e.g., white, black, blue, brown, red) offer different hand feelings.

Service Life: Limited by their membrane structure, ordinary keyboards have a relatively short service life and are prone to key failure or wear. Mechanical keyboards, with their switch design, can withstand millions of keystrokes, often reaching millions or even higher, maintaining stable performance over long-term use.

3.User Experience

Typing Sound: Ordinary keyboards typically produce less noise when typed on, while mechanical keyboards have a relatively louder typing sound. However, some mechanical keyboards adopt silent designs to reduce typing noise.

Customizability: Mechanical keyboards often offer higher customizability, allowing users to replace keycaps, adjust key trigger forces, and customize backlight effects according to personal preferences. Ordinary keyboards lack these features.

4.Price

Ordinary Keyboard: Due to their simpler structure and materials, ordinary keyboards are usually priced lower, suitable for users with limited budgets or as spare keyboards.

Mechanical Keyboard: Due to their more complex structure, materials, and special manufacturing processes, mechanical keyboards are generally priced higher. However, with market development and technological progress, there are now also cost-effective mechanical keyboards available.