Are you confused about telling the shopkeeper which type of keyboard you want to buy, a regular or mechanical keyboard? Before making a decision, you must know the difference between a magnetic axis keyboard and a traditional mechanical axis keyboard. So, move forward with which suits your needs best.
First, let's know what a mechanical and regular keyboard are. The mechanical axis keyboards offer a more comfortable typing experience for everyday use, while magnetic axis keyboards enable precise control for gaming. We will also discuss the benefits of these two, so continue reading this article till the end.
Magnetic Axis Keyboard Vs Traditional Mechanical Axis Keyboard
Magnetic Keyboard: A magnetic axis keyboard uses magnets to register your keystrokes. These magnets allow users to set the actual distance of the keys within a single button. This magnetic feature of the keyboard gives it power to the nine levels of settable actuation height.
If you are a gamer, a magnetic axis keyboard is all you need to keep precise control over the keys with more flexible magnetic switches.
Traditional Mechanical Axis Keyboard: A mechanical switch keyboard is a traditional keyboard that uses similar metal contact switches. It has a switch to trigger or respond to your press under each key. At the bottom of the PCB board, more than 100 independent switches trigger the signal action.
Let’s get familiar with the key difference between a magnetic axis keyboard and a traditional mechanical axis keyboard.
1. Key Differences: Mechanism and User Experience
The magnetic keyboard uses magnets and Hall effect sensors to detect the key presses. When you press a key, the magnet under these keys moves, and the sensor under the bottom of these switches measures the strength of the magnetic field to determine the distance the key is pressed.
However, a key switch mechanical keyboard generally uses the principle of a contact switch, which makes contact turn ON or OFF. It has features like a simple process, convenient maintenance, a general feel, big noise, and many more. These keyboards are more responsive, more accessible to repair, and more customizable than magnetic or others.
2. Durability and Longevity: Magnetic vs. Mechanical
Mechanical keyboards are better for the long run, durable, and offer you more than magnetic keyboards.
Mechanical keyboards are traditional, so they are also heavier and costly. Mechanical keyboards have replaceable switches and removable caps with a longer lifespan. Price-wise, these keyboards are heavier, more expensive, louder, and harder to clean.
3. Customization Options: A Comparative Look
Magnetic keyboards use a magnetic layer to complete a circuit that triggers your key press and response to it. Mechanical keyboards use a switch under each key with a key cap, so these keyboards are more customizable. Mechanical keyboards switch colors as per the different types of keyboards, with Red being linear, Brown being tactile, and Blue being clicky.
You can easily customize these keyboards' look, feel, sound, and functionality. You can easily remove caps and hot-swap switches and even customize these switches.
4. Cost Analysis: Investment vs. Long-term Value
As per price, mechanical keyboards are more expensive than magnetic keyboards. But as a long-term investment, mechanical keyboards win the race and offer more value than any other type of keyboards in the market, including magnetic keyboards.
If you want to buy a keyboard with higher durability and long lasting, mechanical keyboards are the best choice. But if you are looking for something at a lower price with a short lifespan, magnetic keyboards are all you need.
User Perspective for a Magnetic Axis Keyboard and a Traditional Mechanical Axis Keyboard
A choice between a magnetic axis keyboard and a traditional mechanical axis keyboard” depends on the user’s preferences and needs. Here’s a user perspective of both of these keyboards:
Personal Preferences in Typing Experience
The personal preferences in typing experience vary as per the user's requirements. Some users prefer mechanical keys' precise, tactile feel, while others move towards magnetic keyboards' smoother and quieter operation.
To identify which suits you best, you can also get the experience that aligns best with an individual's preferences.
Gaming Vs Typing: Which Keyboard Wins?
Mechanical keyboards can satisfy gamers' preferences for more durable, customizable, and responsive keyboards. Mechanical switch keyboard types vary from linear, tactile, and clicky, giving users a variety of selections.
However, if you are a person who focuses on comfort during long typing sessions and appreciates a smoother, quieter experience, magnetic keyboards will be the best for you.
Which One is Good for Professional Use: What Do Experts Prefer?
The keyboard preferences depend on the person, but professionals must perform tasks like coding, writing, data entry, or others for an extended period, so magnetic keyboards offer smoother and quieter operation at the workplace.
However, depending on the individual settings and the more dynamic, mechanical keyboards' customizable and tactile nature might be favored.
Consumer Guide to Choose the Right Keyboard
Here’s a consumer guide for choosing the right keyboard between a magnetic axis keyboard and a traditional mechanical axis keyboard as per your needs and comfort:
1. Choosing the Right Keyboard for Your Needs
If you are looking for a keyboard with more extended durability, high investment value, customizable, better key features, and a great typing experience without considering the amount of money you will spend, Mechanical keyboards are the best choice.
On the other hand, if you prefer a smooth and quieter operation while working and looking at a keyboard for a short period and considering the keyboard on a budget, the Magnetic keyboard is all you need.
2. Maintenance and Care for Longevity
Proper maintenance and cleaning will prevent failure and ensure your keyboard is in full working order. So, removing and cleaning the keycaps of mechanical keyboards is easy. But a magnetic keyboard does not have such features as removing keycaps as it can’t be properly cleaned.
Maintaining and caring for the mechanical keyboards is more convenient than maintaining the magnetic keyboards.
3. Top Picks: Best Keyboards in Each Category
Mechanical keyboards are the winner in all of the categories we discussed above. These keyboards are more durable and long-lasting than membrane keyboards and easy to maintain. Its varied switch options serve individual preferences and offer a distinct typing experience with tactile feedback.
But if your preferences are different, quieter operation, making it suitable for shared spaces, the magnetic keyboard is the best choice.
Conclusion
The Mechanical keyboard is a traditional keyboard with individual switches for each key, usually spring-activated. These switches are the main difference between mechanical and magnetic keyboards. In contrast, magnetic keyboards use a newer innovation and prioritize a smoother, quieter operation using magnetic fields instead of physical switches.
The future of typing lies between a magnetic axis keyboard and a traditional mechanical axis keyboard. Magnetic keyboards hold the technological advances, and mechanical ones are more durable and have higher functionality.
