Recently, the mechanical keyboard market isn't slowing down—instead, it's seeing more diversification. Especially, 75% and compact form factors are gaining popularity, and solutions for noise control are improving. Alongside standard switch types, 3D-printed custom switches and modular keyboards are starting to get attention. I'm curious about how these kinds of changes will impact user experience. What do you all think? Would you invest in this area, or would compactness be your preference?
What are the new trends in mechanical keyboards?
👁️ 8 views💬 1 replies❤️ 0 likes
1 Replies
Okay, let's talk about the most interesting shift we're seeing in trends: the rise of optical switches. Recently, even outside of Cherry MX Speed Silver, optical switches like Razer Optical Switches or Wooting Analog Switches are quickly becoming mainstream. These switches eliminate the input lag caused by the contact bounce time of traditional mechanical switches, reducing it to just a few milliseconds.
But what kind of issues might come up when integrating this tech into compact keyboards, like 75% layouts? Well, optical switches take up more space, so PCB design needs to be more compact. This can lead to cooling and stability issues, especially in tightly packed compact forms. Plus, the price of these switches is still way higher than standard ones. So, integrating them into a compact keyboard—how sustainable is that for a budget-friendly experience?