From membrane to mechanical keyboards, boy have keyboards gone a long way. However, when it comes to purchasing these keyboards, they’re relatively expensive, and their mechanical switches lead them to exhume an aura of durability.
With that said, though, do mechanical keyboards break quicker? Here’s everything we know.
Do Mechanical Keyboards Break Quicker?
No, mechanical keyboards do not break quicker than membrane keyboards but still require care. In fact, membrane keyboards reach the end of their lifespan with around 5-7 million keypresses, while mechanical keyboards can go well over 30 million keyboards without breaking.
Because of this, there’ll seldom be a time when you see a mechanical keyboard’s switch actually breaking from wear and tear. However, that does not mean that mechanical keyboards do not break at all.
Switch Pressure
Mechanical keyboards are made up of mechanical switches present underneath every keycap. While they are meant to be applied to pressure, excessive pressure can damage the stabilizers present underneath the keycaps, damaging the stabilizers.
Moreover, if you apply a lot of pressure to the switches themselves, chances are you’ll break the springs causing them to not actuate further towards the point of activation.
Water Spillage
Mechanical keyboards deal with water spillage much better than membrane keyboards. But, they still are prone to be completely rendered out of commission if the water ends up hitting the PCB. The switches, too aren’t going to be able to handle water as well.
So, while mechanical keyboards do have water resistance, you’ll need to opt for specialized keyboards in places where they’re susceptible to a lot of water.
Dust
Mechanical keyboards have a lot of moving parts. In most cases, dust will be the primary reason why your keyboard is malfunctioning. Once specks of dust and grime get into your switches, they can cause issues such as double typing or completely flatten out the switch in some cases.
Thankfully though, this usually isn’t permanent, and you can easily fix it by just cleaning your mechanical keyboard. If you don’t consistently clean your keyboard, the dust may seep into your switches, wreaking havoc on your PCB. So, be careful!
Are Mechanical Keyboards More Durable Than Membrane Keyboards?
Yes, mechanical keyboards are more durable than membrane keyboards. This is thanks to their robust construction, their usage of durable switches, and high-quality materials. On the other hand, membrane keyboards are generally not built to last because of their rubber sheet and extremely thin plastic PCBs.
So, even if you opt for an extremely cheap mechanical keyboard, you will still end up with a more consistent and durable experience as compared to a similarly priced membrane keyboard thanks to the inherent build structure of mechanical keyboards.
The Verdict: Do Mechanical Keyboards Break Quicker?
No, mechanical keyboards do not break quicker. However, they still can break. So, if you keep them away from water or dust and don’t apply excessive force to them whilst cleaning them regularly, you’ll be able to use the same keyboard for many years!
