Best Mechanical Keyboard Under $100 – List of Top 5

Living in the 21st century can be pretty daunting, especially when everything made of good quality requires an extra amount of money. Newbies get demotivated as soon as they join a gaming platform. Since your character’s death is only a matter of seconds, that depends on the response time of your gaming gears.

All the great features come as you go up the money ladder. However, unless you’re a competitive player, you shouldn’t be spending too much on features available in cheaper equipment as well.

Mechanical keyboards are the first love of gamers, programmers, and anyone who needs to type a lot. These keyboards are different from the conventional ones as they come with mechanical switches rather than rubber membranes. The prime function is the quick response time and instant registration of your commands. They also provide tactile feedback to the users.

The best-quality mechanical keyboards are usually very expensive and not affordable by many. Many brands realized the problem and started manufacturing a few products that offer similar features, just in lesser amounts. These mechanical keyboards are indeed worth buying since they serve the main functions without being heavy on your wallet.

This article aims to provide you with all the needed information and a few profitable products to cut your research time. It would be best if you kept in mind that there are various types available. Some produce extra key noise while others are quiet. There are also ergonomically designed keyboards available with the insertion of LED lights. 

Even though these are some of the best picks for you, it all comes down to your preferences. If you’re buying a mechanical keyboard solely for gaming purposes, you should give durability the utmost priority. Now let’s get started with the best gears under $100.

Best Mechanical Keyboard Under $100 – Buyer’s Guide

For people into a lot of typing, gaming, or programming, there is a wide range of options meeting different sets of requirements. But before looking at the factors that distinguish the products of each brand, there is something even more critical. You should know why people usually prefer a mechanical keyboard over a regular membrane keyboard. Awareness of all the unique characteristics such keyboards offer is also essential in today’s world.

A mechanical keyboard comes with a high-quality switch, individual spring, and a supportive base. The prime advantages of using this type of keyboard include a high-performance rate, great tactility and feedback, removable keycaps, and excellent key rollover.

They are also more durable than membrane keyboards and are more comfortable and easy to use. The best feature of the mechanical keyboard that turns out to be extremely useful during intense gameplays is that they are way more responsive to the keystrokes than the regular keyboard.

Most of the options available on the market provide these basic features. What differentiates these products from one another is the build quality and addition of extra features. Continue reading to figure out your personal preferences that would help you further narrow down the list of options.

Form Factor

The form factor of any keyboard is the basic layout with a varying number of keys. The most common and traditional format is the full-size keyboard. This comprises all the total 104 keys, including the num-pad group. It is an ideal choice for people who mainly work with numbers.

For people who do not prefer large layouts and want to reduce the distance to bring in the mouse closer, Tenkeyless or 80% form factor is a perfect choice. This type lacks the num-pad but doesn’t compromise on a convenient configuration. It is a highly demanding form by gamers and programmers because of the straightforward minimalistic approach.

The forms coming into existence just recently include the varying percent of form factor. The 60% layout gives up on the function as well as the navigation keys. All the features are there but under the function layer.

There’s also a 40% layout that goes a step further and only incorporates the alpha keys and some essential command keys. The rest of the features are present under two function layers. This is a rapid and portable approach once you get used to the function layers.

Layout

This is another factor that buyers should consider before deciding on a purchase. Firstly, three central regions across the world have different layouts. These include the ANSI standard in North America, the ISO used across most parts of Europe, and JIS, a Japan-specific layout.

Among all three, ISO is the most commonly used layout in many different countries. But it is also conditional to what the target audience is familiar with. There are also a few mechanical layouts one should be aware of. These have an enormous impact on the user experience as compared to the previously mentioned layouts.

The first one is QWERTY, which is very common and is considered the standard for the manufacturers. One of its alternatives includes the DVORAK layout, not mainstream but has a specific number of buyers in the market. The driving concept for this layout was to reduce hand movement and increase typing speed. But because it is unconventional, you’d have to spend a lot of time learning the configuration first.

Switches

After deciding on the size and layout of your mechanical keyboard, your next goal should be to know how you want your keys to feel. There are three different kinds of switches, each one serving a specific group of users. These installed switches allow the mechanical keyboards to be more durable and perform optimally.

The mechanical switches are divided into three categories: linear, tactile, and clicky. Linear controls resemble membrane keyboards as they are incredibly smooth and produce no sound when pressed. They are perfect for users that wish for silent typings and are typically the most preferred by gamers. Their consistent movement and smooth press offer extra speed, which gives the players the upper hand in competitive leagues.

On the other hand, tactile switches offer a slight bump when pressed. They fall somewhere between the linear and clicky buttons. They also produce an audible sound when the keys are pressed down. People that use these types of controls are usually those who have recently switched from a membrane keyboard. 

The last option is the clicky switches. They produce the most noise relative to the other two types. Their main objective is to create feedback for the users with the large bump when actuated. The clicky switches are perfect for fast typing and are therefore the preferable choice for programmers. 

Key Rollover

The key rollover of a mechanical keyboard determines its ability to detect and register simultaneous keystrokes. The high-quality keyboards generally come with n-key rollover (NKRO). This lets the computer system process each keystroke regardless of however many keys you press at a given time.

The key rollover of the mechanical keyboard usually depends on the connector type. A keyboard with a USB connection only provides up to 4 or 5 key rollovers. In contrast, a PS/2 connection gives n-key rollover assistance. 

If you’re into creating a gaming environment to increase concentration during gameplays, you should also search for the availability of RGB lights. In the end, all you have to do is to set your preferences prior. Then look for the mechanical keyboard that offers the required features.

FAQs

1. Why should you switch from a normal/membrane keyboard to a mechanical keyboard?

If you don’t have a hobby of playing PC games or are not a programmer, it is fair that you stick to using the membrane keyboard. They are comparatively quieter, cheaper, and more portable. However, mechanical keyboards are designed for people who primarily use keyboards in their work, providing distinctive key-feel and accuracy.

They are more well-built, durable, and have a quick response time and feedback. All these features are enough of a reason to make you want to get rid of regular keyboards.

2. How durable are the mechanical keyboards?

Typically, a good-quality mechanical keyboard can withstand up to 50 million keystrokes. That means they can last around 10 to 15 years under circumstances that require heavy use.

On the contrary, a regular membrane keyboard only has about 5 million keystrokes. In similar conditions, this type of keyboard usually lasts up to 2 years maximum. With the advanced tech in use nowadays, few mechanical keyboard companies have produced up to 80 million keystrokes.

3. Which Cherry MX switch is the most suitable for gamers?

Even though numerous brands manufacture keyboard switches, many brands make use of Cherry MX switches. They offer six types of controls, two for each category. With further advancement, they have also designed a button offering great speed. It is named Cherry MX Speed Silver. It belongs to the linear switch category and has a prime function to increase keypress time by shortening the actuation.

4. Is it worth buying a mechanical keyboard?

This is often the most striking question since all keyboards come to use for the same function. Then why fall into the hype of a mechanical keyboard that’s comparatively more expensive. The answer is simple. You don’t need to spend extra money if you don’t work on a keyboard for most of your day.

So instead, ask yourself, how often do you type or play your favorite videogame? If it’s a significant amount of time, it is advisable to avoid using a regular keyboard not designed for your convenience. 

The mechanical keyboard also becomes a must-buy product if you’re connecting it to an expensive PC. It is because membrane keyboards usually don’t contain the best software and features. 

Final Thoughts

Even under $100, you get loads of options for mechanical keyboards from the most popular tech-related brands. The best selection would be the gears not too low on the prize wheel since you’re chances of compromising on the product’s quality. However, for prices close to 100 bucks, you get similar functionality and performance and the necessary features. 

However, what it does lack are certain additional features like an LED backlight, extra programmable keys, and a built-in USB support system. These are not some features you cannot live without, especially when your budget is limited. 

For regular keyboard users, $100 may sound a lot. But the ease and comfort mechanical keyboards provide are worth investing in. All that is left to do now is make a worthwhile purchase. And with the given list and guide, you’ll be done with the task in no time.