Membrane vs. Mechanical vs. Optical Keyboards

ROUND 1

Value

Straight out of the gate, optical keyboards stumble. Using a combo of sturdy mechanical keys and lightbeam-based switches results in a costly manufacturing process, and optical keyboards tend to be expensive.

Membrane keyboards are almost unilaterally the cheapest option. Many business environments have made the shift to membrane keyboards, usually due to price and quietness. Generally, a multipurpose membrane keyboard is cheaper than a mechanical model with the same features, primarily due to the lower cost of the materials. Membrane key tech has effectively reached its apex, too, so industry efforts can be focused on making the production process more affordable.

Mechanical models