Are Mechanical Keyboards Fragile? How to Improve Their Durability

Mechanical Keyboards Are Highly Durable

Compared to membrane keyboards and others, mechanical keyboards are highly durable.

This is because, in mechanical keyboards, the switch that detects key input is independent from the circuit board, and each key has its own switch, making it less likely for a switch failure to affect the circuit board.

How Does It Work? The Structure and Mechanism of Mechanical Keyboards

What makes mechanical keyboards different from other keyboards? This article explains their structure and mechanism.

In other words, it can be said that mechanical keyboards are not more prone to breaking compared to other types of keyboards.

What Affects the Lifespan of Mechanical Keyboards?

The factors that affect the lifespan of a mechanical keyboard are:

1. Key switches
2. Battery (in the case of wireless models)

Lifespan of Key Switches

The lifespan and durability of mechanical keyboards are greatly influenced by the lifespan of the key switches.

For many models, the key switches of mechanical keyboards are designed to withstand over 50 million keystrokes, so if used properly, you can use them for several years without any trouble.

However, if there is a defect in the key switch itself or if you neglect maintenance as described later, the lifespan of the key switch may be shorter.

With a "hot-swappable keyboard," where you can replace only the faulty key switch, you can simply replace the defective switch and continue using the keyboard for a long time.

What is a hot-swap keyboard? A thorough explanation of its features, advantages and disadvantages, and how to choose one.

Among mechanical keyboards, the "hot swap" feature has attracted a lot of attention in the past few years. This section provides a thorough explanation of what hot-swapping is, its features, advantages and disadvantages, and how to choose one.

Also, choosing a keyboard that uses durable key switches is one option. Recently, there have been many products with no physical contact points, such as "magnetic sensor switches" that detect input using magnetism and "optical switches" that detect input with light, which means a longer mechanical lifespan.

What Is the Magnetic Sensor Switch System for Keyboards? Mechanism, Advantages, and Disadvantages

The magnetic sensor switch system is gaining attention as a new type of keyboard key switch. This article explains how it works and discusses the advantages and disadvantages of choosing a keyboard with a magnetic sensor switch system.

What Are Optical Keyboards and Optical Switches?

With the rise of competitive gaming, optical keyboards and switches are gaining more attention for their speed and reliability. In this article, we explain how they work, along with their advantages and disadvantages.

Battery Lifespan

In recent years, wireless mechanical keyboards have become mainstream as well. In the case of wireless models, the keyboard is equipped with a built-in battery (or uses replaceable batteries) to send signals from the device.

Batteries degrade not only with charging frequency and charging methods but also over time, so their performance generally declines after about five years.

However, even if the battery can no longer be charged at all, most wireless mechanical keyboards are designed to be used with a wired connection, so if you use them wired, you do not need to worry about battery lifespan.

Which is better for wireless keyboards: built-in battery or replaceable batteries?

The current mainstream for external keyboards is wireless keyboards. Wireless keyboards are available in both battery-powered and rechargeable (built-in battery) types, but which should you choose?

Regular Care and Maintenance Can Improve the Durability of Mechanical Keyboards

Keyboards with simple structures may seem like maintenance-free devices, but in fact, they require proper care such as cleaning. In particular, mechanical keyboards, which have key switches, require regular cleaning.

Even when cleaning, it does not have to be a complete disassembly; simply removing the keycaps and cleaning out dust and debris is enough to prevent key switch malfunctions.

If you buy a mechanical keyboard, make cleaning a habit!

Mechanical switches have a very high input resistance frequency. However, the switches are therefore susceptible to dust. In this issue, we have compiled tips on how to clean a mechanical keyboard well and use it for a long time.

Additionally, mechanical keyboards are used for gaming purposes, but even though they are highly durable, typing with excessive force can cause damage to the switches or the circuit board. Therefore, using them gently is also a key point to enhance their durability.