PC Peripherals Need help first time buying (brown) mechanical keyboard below 3K

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OrrBitt

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I have two membrane keyboards - Dell KB216 and Logitech K375s - and the keys of both have become hard to press over time. I've seem a lot of people recommending mechanical keyboards, stating that this keys-becoming-hard-after-a-few-months problem does not affect mechanical keyboards.

Below 3K, most people seems to suggest TVS Gold, but it appears too basic, and doesn't have any backlighting, and when I tried it in a shop, I found the backspace key to be too small.

I've researched this topic and have found that brown keys are tactile but not clicky, blue are tactile and very clicky, while red are not tactile or clicky. In shops, I've only come across blue keys.

What I want is:
- a keyboard of full size, with number pad and all
- with backlighting, with the option to set a single white colour for the entire keyboard
- I think brown switch would be the best; I'm not sure about red switch. I'd prefer not to take blue switches as the are loud.

My usage isn't gaming, it's basic typing, like emails and stuff, not as a professional typist.

So far, the keebs I've found are:

- Cosmic Byte Black Eye (CB-GK-11) has brown switches and has the option to set a single colour for all keys, is slightly above 3K, does not have swappable switches, but is OOS.

- Redragon K551 has Outemu red switches, is available on Amazon for 2.7K and 2.6K on the redragon site. It has swappable switches option, but the Redragon site does not seem to provide the keys.
As for single colour for all keys option, the reviewers say it doesn't have this option, while the seller says it is present in only the RGB version and not the Rainbow RGB version:
I think this is the non-Rainbow version, but it has BLUE switches:
redragon.in

MITRA K551 - 104 WIRED MECHANICAL KEYBOARD RGB BLACK (Blue Switch)

Buy Mitra K551-RGB LED Backlit Mechanical Gaming Keyboard online from the Redragon India website. Mechanical Gaming Keyboard with Numlock Keys for Windows PC, RGB Led illuminated keyboard, PC Gaming keyboard
redragon.in redragon.in
This is the rainbow RGB RED switch one:
redragon.in

VARA K551 - 104 WIRED MECHNICAL KEYBAORD RAINBOW BLACK (Red Switch)

Buy K551 RGB LED Rainbow Mechanical Gaming Keyboard online from the Redragon India website. Backlit Wired Keyboard with Red Switches for Windows Gaming PC Fast mechanical keys, precise actuation, audible click sound, and tactile bump feedback.
redragon.in redragon.in

- Cosmic Byte Neon (CB-GK-12) has brown switches but doesn't have single colour for all keys option, and is again OOS.
- Cosmic Byte CB-GK-28 Vanth has red switches keys, with swappable blue switches, but doesn't have single colour for all keys option, and is available for 1.7K.
- Redgear Invador Mk881 has brown switches, is available on Amazon for 2.4K, but doesn't have single colour for all keys option.

I think the best one is the Cosmic Byte Black Eye (CB-GK-11), even though it does not have swappable switches, but it is OOS.

Can anyone suggest any other option? Thanks.
 
first decide on why you want a mech keeb, if its longevity you are after, you can get a cheapo logi wireless keyboard, I used to use this one in my college days and its still going strong (bought it in 2017 ish), that thing has been used so much, all the keys are shiny and I had to get stickers for the legends and now its used in our office, mech keebs are hobbyist keyboards and their main USP is their customizability and yes they are a pleasure to type on.

Now, coming back to your budget I wont suggest any of these for you if longevity is your goal. Cosmic Byte/Red Dragon are the cheapo 500 RS nomal keeb category keyboards, instead if you can increase the budget by 2k and get a RK100 V2 which is a 96% keeb (has all the keys) and if budget is a tight constraint, dont buy a full size keeb, look for a TKL or even a 75% keyboard and you can get one in your budget and if a full size keyboard is non-negotiable, then you'll have to look into second hand market, go to IMKC (Indian mechanical keeb community) discord server and post a WTB thread there and there should be a few peeps (including me) who'll have what you want in offer.
 
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I'll give my 2 cents as well (I think I already replied to a similar thread like this ages back)

I currently have one of those cheap cosmicbyte mechanical keyboards (CB-GK-13 ). Brown switch is a good middle of the road option. Yes while there are dozens of switches out there (I've spent too much time in this rabbit hole for a while), genuinely speaking though, at the very basic level, you are looking at blue,brown and red switches.

Blue as you already stated is too loud and tactile. You won't like Red either as that is just too smooth with no feedback almost.

Longetivity wise how is it so far?
It's been 3 years and I've only faced 1 issue a week back. Keyboard collected enough dust that certain switches weren't responding properly anymore. However I just cleaned it all again properly and it's been working fine again albeit it may be time for a replacement next year (I might consider what @altair21 has suggested). I'm happy with it since I paid around 1.8k during a sale for it.

If your budget permits it then I would suggest you to take whatever the mech enthusiasts here suggest you to do so, they know far more than I do and will for sure get you the best. However if you're not too keen to spend that much on what would be your first mech kb, there is nothing wrong with buying a cheap chinese mech kb that matches your needs, often then not they either break in the first month or work for years to come lol. Personally I couldn't bring myself to purchase a keyboard for more than 3k at that time. I suppose the hobby is a bit like coffee as well, there are people who will grind their own coffee beans while I'm here sipping filter coffee from the nearby darshini lol.
 
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hit me up if you do decide to upgrade, you haven't even scratched the surface of mech keebs : D and if you type a lot and macros are your thing, you'll love QMK/VIA support that only comes with expensive keebs, and ofc swapping switches and keycaps or even lubing your stabs can drastically alter the feel of your keeb, mech keebs definitely are expensive but they are well worth the cost
 
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In my experience, mech keyboards breaks way too fast. I have had around 5 keyboard so far, 4 outemu red and blue switches, one TVS gold blue cherry mx switch. All of them have problems within 1 year. Double press issue, keys not registering sometimes etc. One cosmic byte i had, I RMAd it twice in a year.

I feel like mechanical keyboards are just not for someone who just wanna use it regularly but rather for who are into keyboard mods and stuffs. Or maybe I am just unlucky with them idk.
 
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Have similar experience as Rezep with Redgear Invador Mk881 ( Brown). Bought in 2019 oct. Still using it and it works fine and is much better than my last keyboard.
Brown switches are good for fingers too as we dont need to hit bottom and get used to it after some time.

Rainbow color is annoying, default patter is some dancing nonsense, but goes away easily with 1 hotkey.
Blue leds are all almost dead by now.
Some times a single key does error out due to dust buildup but resolves on its own after some time or on cleaning,

So as a baseline, its pretty good. Once it breaks i would look at better options but so far its still going strong.
 
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Hachune said:
In my experience, mech keyboards breaks way too fast. I have had around 5 keyboard so far, 4 outemu red and blue switches, one TVS gold blue cherry mx switch. All of them have problems within 1 year. Double press issue, keys not registering sometimes etc. One cosmic byte i had, I RMAd it twice in a year.

I feel like mechanical keyboards are just not for someone who just wanna use it regularly but rather for who are into keyboard mods and stuffs. Or maybe I am just unlucky with them idk.
Click to expand...
Failures are not due to switches but the quality of the underlying board.
Most of the top selling mech keyboards on amazon are from the lowest feasible manufacturing price band - in order to hit that price point, something has gotta give.

Would suggest not to get fixated on the switches - there is no major difference between the diff switch brands
Instead try getting an option that is one step above the bottom barrel pricing (i.e. >2K for wired / under 3K for wireless for basic variants)
 
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Spend a bit more (5K) and get something much better. Even I've used the cheap Cosmic Byte ones. They do last, for sure. However, their tactility starts getting iffy over time, and the backlight starts failing. eventually.

This is what I use currently (browns):

Royal Kludge RK84 V2 Wireless : Meckeys.com : 75% Keyboard

Hot-swappable wireless mechanical keyboard with Mechanical key switches, RK84 Version 2, comes with foam dampener. key switches, ABS bottom shell with double-shot ABS keycap., RGB backlit keyboard. Customization available both on-board & via a Royal Kludge proprietary software., Ergonomic...
www.meckeys.com www.meckeys.com

Excellent keyboard for an excellent price.
 
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OrrBitt said:
Below 3K, most people seems to suggest TVS Gold, but it appears too basic, and doesn't have any backlighting
Click to expand...
They are actually the best full sized option in that budget, unless you are typing in the dark, for which, I presume you need the backlighting. I had a couple of those (including my first ever kbd) and they last long, really long (~20 years between two of them, I ended up selling the second one in TE in working condition).
 
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ibose said:
They are actually the best full sized option in that budget, unless you are typing in the dark, for which, I presume you need the backlighting. I had a couple of those (including my first ever kbd) and they last long, really long (~20 years between two of them, I ended up selling the second one in TE in working condition).
Click to expand...
If I'm not wrong, those ones were the cherry mx TVS Gold keyboards right? I think the new ones are Outemu or some other brand now, not sure how that will affect the keyboards now.
 
Rezep said:
If I'm not wrong, those ones were the cherry mx TVS Gold keyboards right? I think the new ones are Outemu or some other brand now, not sure how that will affect the keyboards now.
Click to expand...
Yes, my second one had blue switches. Not aware that they changed them.
 
I just ordered the Redgear Invador Mk881 Brown switch keyboard from Amazon. It has a 40% off coupon, so the original price was Rs. 2399, but I got Rs. 960 off. Great price, especially considering this is the first time I'm buying a mechanical keyboard.

I've added the link to the Amazon thread of Hot Deals and Coupons section.
 
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