Summary

• Hot-swappable PCBs, wireless connectivity, and multi-OS compatibility are now common on budget mechanical keyboards.
• Even gasket mounts, multi-layer sound-dampening, pre-lubed switches, and premium materials are seen on most budget models.
• VIA compatibility, multi-function knobs & LCDs, and Hall effect switches are further making budget keyboards more attractive.

Mechanical keyboards bring enormous joy to users who appreciate a premium typing experience, good sound, and esthetics. These satisfying qualities have, at their core, a set of hardware and software features that together produce a keyboard that's both pleasing to use and extremely functional.

However, until a few years ago, these features were limited to premium keyboards that were inaccessible to the vast majority of users. Thanks to growing interest and more favorable manufacturing economics, even budget mechanical keyboards now sport almost all of these desirable features, bringing excellent and affordable offerings to users around the world.

10 Hot-swappable PCBs

Add any switch you like to your keyboard

The ability to replace your keyboard switches wasn't as commonplace as it is today. Even as recently as 2021, when I was looking for a cheap mechanical keyboard, having hot-swappable switches was far from the norm. So, the best you could do when buying a budget board was to do extensive research on which switches you'd like the most, and then take a leap of faith that the keyboard would deliver.

If you're just entering the mechanical keyboard space, this feature can greatly lower the risk of entry.

Things are much better now. Even $50 mechanical keyboards come with hot-swappable PCBs, enabling anyone to instantly change the switches to modify the keyboard's sound and feel. If you're just entering the mechanical keyboard space, this feature can greatly lower the risk of entry. You no longer need to worry about getting stuck with the switches your keyboard comes with.

9 Wireless connectivity

2.4GHz as well as Bluetooth

There used to be a pretty significant price gulf between wired and wireless keyboards, especially if you wanted a mechanical model along with a laundry list of other features. My first mechanical keyboard was a wired model from Cosmic Byte, and while it was fine for the most part, I knew I had compromised on the connectivity in favor of a cheaper model.

Similar to hot-swappable PCBs, wireless connectivity has made its way to keyboards costing as low as $50, with some models priced even lower.

Fast forward to today, where outside the enthusiast category, wireless connectivity has become the standard. "Tri-mode connectivity," as manufacturers call it, lets you connect your keyboard to your computer using a cable, Bluetooth, or a high-speed 2.4GHz dongle. This versatility allows you to seamlessly switch between devices as well as enjoy the lowest latency when you need it the most.

Similar to hot-swappable PCBs, wireless connectivity has made its way to keyboards costing as low as $50, with some models priced even lower.

8 Multi-OS compatibility

No need to choose between Windows and Mac

For those of us who use our keyboards mostly for work, having dedicated OS-specific keys is a godsend. This is why many people stick with their Magic keyboard on the iMac. However, if you want to upgrade to an actually decent typing experience, you need to find an option that either features the same layout as the Magic keyboard or can work with Windows as well as macOS.

That's exactly what today's budget mechanical keyboards are doing. Nearly every single model now comes with a toggle that you can use to switch between Windows and Mac modes, where the functions of a few keys are modified as needed. Even Keychron has some $60 keyboards that sport this feature, albeit without wireless connectivity.

Still, you have tons of other brands that combine Windows, Mac, and even Linux compatibility with the rest of the features on this list.

7 Pre-lubed switches and stabilizers

This used to be a luxury

If you've dabbled in mechanical keyboards, you'd know the importance of lubing switches and stabilizers. Without lubing, switches can sound scratchy instead of smooth and creamy, and stabilizers can be too loud. This is why lubing is an essential step when building your own mechanical keyboard.

This is one of the reasons for the high-quality typing sound on many budget mechanical keyboards today.

If you bought an affordable prebuilt mechanical keyboard a few years ago, chances are that you didn't get factory-lubed switches and stabilizers. Often, users either bought better replacement switches that came pre-lubed, or took out their existing switches (on a hot-swappable PCB), lubed them, and installed them back.

Fortunately, many budget models today already come with pre-lubed switches and stabilizers, so you don't need to go through the hassle yourself. This is one of the reasons for the high-quality typing sound on many budget mechanical keyboards today.

6 Premium materials

Cases and keycaps got a glow up

I don't think most of us even thought about the material of our keyboard's case or keycaps, let alone dreamed about aluminum or wood construction. ABS plastic was, and still is, the most-used material for cases and keycaps, and aluminum cases were limited to high-end enthusiast models. However, in a few short years, we've seen PBT keycaps becoming more popular on budget models.

Keyboards costing around $100 and even lower are increasingly using premium materials to one-up the competition.

Even keyboard cases have been upgraded from ABS to aluminum and wood on several affordable models. You no longer need to spend upwards of $200 for a keyboard that feels premium. Keyboards costing around $100 and even lower are increasingly using premium materials to one-up the competition.

5 Gasket mounts

Deeper sound and comfortable typing

For the longest time, gasket mounts were solely seen on premium models or custom models people built themselves. Compared to a tray-mounted or sandwich-mounted plate, a gasket-mounted plate adds separation between the plate and the rest of the keyboard frame. This minimizes noise and vibration, introduces flexibility, and results in a deeper, thockier sound.

Gasket-mounted keyboards are now unusually common in the sub-$100 category, so much so that it has become a no-no for brands not to use a gasket mount. If you've been waiting to try out a gasket-mounted keyboard, there has never been a better time. From established brands to new entrants, everyone is offering countless models for you to choose from.

4 Multi-layer sound dampening

The interior matters as much as the exterior

Having sound-dampening material inside a budget keyboard was unthinkable only a few years ago. Even pricier models didn't come with as many layers of foam as seen in many budget models today. You can easily find budget keyboards with 5-layer sound-dampening, which is a huge contributor to a better-sounding keyboard.

Today, you can commonly see Poron foam, PET film, IXPE foam, and many other materials in sub-$100 keyboards, which together with a gasket mount, result in some of the best typing experiences on the market. The quality of internal construction of affordable mechanical keyboards has seen a tremendous rise in the past few years, signaling a golden period for mechanical periods.

3 VIA compatibility

Macros, layouts, combos, backlighting, and more

VIA compatibility still isn't as commonplace as I'd like it to be, but we've seen a huge shift in manufacturers' attitudes toward it. Earlier, it was seen as a dispensable feature, but now more and more brands are trying their best to bring VIA support to each of their newer models. VIA is an open-source utility that you can use as a web app or a downloadable program to endlessly customize your keyboard.

Whether you are a sucker for macros and key combos, need multiple layouts on the same keyboard, remap keys for different functions, or want to customize the backlight, VIA is your go-to tool. You can even have multiple layers of configurations on the same keyboard, which is basically indispensable on compact 65%, 60%, and 40% keyboards.

2 Multi-function knobs and LCDs

Cute and functional at the same time

The new trend of tactile knobs and customizable LCDs has taken budget keyboards by storm, with seemingly every brand offering them on multiple models. Whether you just want a metallic knob for media control, an LCD screen to see your favorite GIFs in action, or both, you no longer need to look for long before landing on a decent model.

I've personally used keyboards with knobs and LCDs, and I can confirm that these aren't just gimmicks.

These features coming to budget keyboards is one of the more pleasant surprises, as you no longer have to pick between a quality typing experience and such nice-to-haves. I've personally used keyboards with knobs and LCDs, and I can confirm that these aren't just gimmicks. They might make or break your decision when choosing your next budget mechanical keyboard.

1 Hall effect switches

Premium analog experience arrives on budget keyboards

Hall effect (HE) keyboards are the latest game-changing entry in the keyboard space. Using magnetic analog switches instead of mechanical switches, these keyboards are incredibly fast and bring unprecedented benefits to competitive gamers. Moreover, as there's no physical content between the switches and the PCB, HE keyboards can be more durable and reliable.

Instead of the relatively expensive Wooting and Razer HE keyboards, you can try out more affordable models from Keychron, Womier, DrunkDeer, and more.

Even though this trend is relatively new, you can already see many budget HE keyboards making their way to the market, bringing superior benefits to a larger audience. Instead of the relatively expensive Wooting and Razer HE keyboards, you can try out more affordable models from Keychron, Womier, DrunkDeer, and more.

The future of affordable mechanical keyboards looks bright

Even if you aren't a fan of budget mechanical keyboards, you have to agree that premium features arriving on more affordable models will continue to move the market forward. Not only will the prices of pricier keyboards fall, but we might also see budget brands come up with more innovative features in the future.

One thing is certain — the mechanical keyboard market has never been more exciting. The price of entry has never been lower, there's endless choice, the quality is sky-high, all while more and more features are making their way to budget keyboards.