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The next big thing in mechanical keyboards is magnetic switches.
Mechanical keyboards quickly went from a niche product to mainstream during the pandemic, as everybody was looking to upgrade their home offices — and maybe for a new hobby, too. Brands like Akko, Drop, Ducky, Epomaker and Keychron became household names, and today’s enthusiasts can choose between dozens of different layouts and buy parts from even more vendors.
Since then, things have gotten a bit stale — even as what were once high-end features have migrated to budget keyboards. RGB lighting has long become standard, as the likes of Angry Miao and others continue to find innovative new ways to use it. The number of switches available feels infinite, from the lightest switches for gamers to the heaviest for even the most energetic typist — all in linear, tactile and clicky variants and an endless amount of colors. A few years ago, a gasket-mounted keyboard, which gives you a softer, bouncier typing feel, was something enthusiasts could only find on high-end boards, but now everybody essentially does the same.
In some ways, that’s great: The average build quality of mechanical keyboards on the market has never been higher and prices have come down. But the entire scene has also become a little bit boring. That’s where magnetic switches, with their ability to quickly change the actuation point (the point during the keypress where the switch registers your downstroke), come in.
techcrunch.com
Mechanical keyboards quickly went from a niche product to mainstream during the pandemic, as everybody was looking to upgrade their home offices — and maybe for a new hobby, too. Brands like Akko, Drop, Ducky, Epomaker and Keychron became household names, and today’s enthusiasts can choose between dozens of different layouts and buy parts from even more vendors.
Since then, things have gotten a bit stale — even as what were once high-end features have migrated to budget keyboards. RGB lighting has long become standard, as the likes of Angry Miao and others continue to find innovative new ways to use it. The number of switches available feels infinite, from the lightest switches for gamers to the heaviest for even the most energetic typist — all in linear, tactile and clicky variants and an endless amount of colors. A few years ago, a gasket-mounted keyboard, which gives you a softer, bouncier typing feel, was something enthusiasts could only find on high-end boards, but now everybody essentially does the same.
In some ways, that’s great: The average build quality of mechanical keyboards on the market has never been higher and prices have come down. But the entire scene has also become a little bit boring. That’s where magnetic switches, with their ability to quickly change the actuation point (the point during the keypress where the switch registers your downstroke), come in.
Magnets are switching up the keyboard game | TechCrunch
The next big thing in mechanical keyboards is magnetic switches. Mechanical keyboards quickly went from a niche product to mainstream during the pandemic,
techcrunch.com
