Mechanical Keyboard Sound Isn't That Simple
Figure 1: I couldn't think of a more literal way to represent this article if I tried... Looking back just a few years ago, there’s no doubt that the huge influx of people that joined the hobby at the peak of the COVID pandemic were drawn to keyboards by way of YouTube, TikTok, and other audio-visual content platforms. Even as the output from these content creators has waned in recent months, their collective impact and legacy on the keyboard hobby is rather firmly etched in the history books. As a result of all of their sound tests, build logs, and opinion videos, the message is clear to any new person joining the hobby: mechanical keyboards are all about the sound. Thock this, clack that. Whether it’s keyboards, keycaps, or even singular switches, seemingly everyone new to the hobby meticulously pores over each component of their keyboard not in an attempt to figure out how it will feel in hand, but how it will sound as they’re furiously grinding their way out from...
Mar 27, 2024
While I wish I could spend the rest of the day and Drop’s article word limit on talking about all of the different switch brands we know of out there today, alas I cannot. Even though this was only a precursory glance of what all is out there, this should be enough to help many newcomers gain some sort of traction in understanding just exactly what they are looking at when buying switches. If you happen to need some more help, perhaps check out the article I wrote on Switch Marketing Terms: What to Know and What to Ignore. Or, if you’re really feeling adventurous, go buy some random brands and try them out!