Mechanical vs Membrane Keyboards

Most keyboards are either membrane keyboards, where a rubber dome presses a contact sheet, or mechanical keyboards, where every key has its own switch. The difference changes how typing feels, how loud it is, how long the keys last and how much you pay. This guide compares mechanical vs membrane keyboards using the manufacturers’ own specifications, and explains linear, tactile and clicky switches.

How a membrane keyboard works

Cherry, one of the oldest keyboard switch makers, calls rubber dome or membrane technology “the most widespread keyboard mechanism for producing affordable keyboards”. Under each key sits a rubber dome. When you press, the dome collapses and closes a contact on the membrane below, which sends the signal. When you let go, the dome springs back.

The membrane itself is usually three layers: two sheets printed with electrical traces and a spacer between them. Wikipedia notes that the dome must be pressed all the way down to bridge the two contacts. Laptop scissor keyboards are a compact version of the same idea.

How a mechanical keyboard works

A mechanical keyboard has a separate switch under every key, made of a housing, a spring and a stem. Cherry explains that pressing the key moves the stem, which brings two contacts together and sends the signal. The key registers part of the way down, before it bottoms out, at what is called the actuation point.

Wikipedia adds that there is no single agreed definition of “mechanical keyboard”, but the term usually means these individual metal-contact switches.

Mechanical vs membrane: the differences

	Membrane	Mechanical
Under each key	Rubber dome on a sheet	Its own switch
Registers	When fully pressed	Partway down
Rated life (Cherry)	Up to 10M per key	Many MX: over 100M
Noise	Quiet	Depends on switch
Price	Usually cheaper	Usually higher
Swap switches	No	On hot-swap models

Lifespan

Cherry says a membrane keyboard can reach “up to 10 million operations per individual key”. For its mechanical switches, Cherry rates MX Red and MX Brown at over 100 million keystrokes, while clicky MX Blue and quiet MX Silent Red are rated at over 50 million. Not every mechanical switch has the same rating, so check the switch your keyboard uses.

Noise

Cherry describes membrane typing as producing “minimal noise”. Mechanical keyboards vary. RTINGS, which measures keyboard noise with a decibel meter during a standard typing test, says linear switches “tend to be the quietest”, tactile switches make moderate noise and clicky switches “are the loudest”. It also notes that the case, plate, keycaps and dampening matter, so two keyboards with the same switches can sound quite different.

Price

Cherry says mechanical keyboards “are generally more expensive” than rubber dome or scissor keyboards, because each key has its own switch. RTINGS adds that cheaper rubber dome keyboards remain popular for offices, while mechanical keyboards are gaining popularity for their more premium, customisable feel.

Repair and customisation

On hot-swappable mechanical keyboards, switches plug into sockets on the circuit board. Cherry says standard MX switches can then be replaced “without soldering or technical knowledge”, using a switch puller. On other mechanical keyboards the switches are soldered in. Keycaps are also easy to replace on many mechanical keyboards, although Logitech notes that keycap stems vary, so keycaps from one keyboard may not fit another.

Linear, tactile and clicky switches

Mechanical switches come in three main feels. Cherry sums them up: a clicky switch signals the actuation point with a click and a bump, a tactile switch with a bump only, and a linear switch with neither.

Type	Feel	Example	Rated life
Linear	Smooth all the way	MX Red	Over 100M
Tactile	Bump at actuation	MX Brown	Over 100M
Clicky	Bump and click	MX Blue	Over 50M

Cherry’s current MX2A specifications show how they compare:

MX Red: 45 cN operating force, 2.0 mm pre-travel, 4.0 mm total travel.
MX Brown: 55 cN operating force to get over the bump, 45 cN actuation force, 2.0 mm pre-travel.
MX Blue: 60 cN operating force, 50 cN actuation force, 2.2 mm pre-travel.

Pre-travel is how far the key moves before it registers. Operating force, as RTINGS defines it, is the force needed to get over the tactile bump, while actuation force is the force needed to register the key.

Which is better for typing and gaming?

For typing: choose by feel. Tactile and clicky switches tell your finger when the key has registered, which some typists prefer. Linear switches and membranes feel smoother. Try your speed on the typing speed test with each keyboard you are considering.
For gaming: Logitech says linear switches suit double-tapping and rapid keystrokes. Corsair is more cautious: unless you play at the highest level, it says your choice of switch “will have no measurable impact on your performance”.
For shared spaces: a membrane keyboard or a linear switch keeps noise down. Corsair notes that clicky switches can be picked up by headset microphones.

Logitech claims that even tactile and clicky switches are “significantly faster” than a standard membrane keyboard, but it gives no measurement, and response time also depends on the keyboard’s controller and settings. For what really affects keyboard delay, see our guide to input lag.

Other keyboard features to check

Switch type is only one part of a keyboard. Before buying, also check:

Rollover: how many keys register at once. Read keyboard ghosting and N-key rollover.
Magnetic switches: a newer type of switch with an adjustable actuation point. See Hall effect keyboards and rapid trigger.
Your own speed: measure how fast you press keys with the KPS test and the spacebar counter.

Frequently asked questions

Is a mechanical keyboard better than a membrane keyboard?

It depends on what you value. Mechanical keyboards usually last longer, register before the key bottoms out and can be customised, but they cost more and can be louder. Membrane keyboards are cheaper and quiet.

How long do mechanical keyboards last?

Cherry rates many MX switches, such as MX Red and MX Brown, at over 100 million keystrokes, and MX Blue at over 50 million. It rates membrane keyboards at up to 10 million presses per key.

Are mechanical keyboards louder?

Often, but it depends on the switch. RTINGS says linear switches tend to be the quietest and clicky switches the loudest. Cherry describes membrane keyboards as producing minimal noise.

What is the difference between linear, tactile and clicky switches?

Linear switches move smoothly with no bump. Tactile switches have a bump at the point the key registers. Clicky switches add an audible click to the bump.

Is a mechanical keyboard faster for gaming?

Mechanical switches register before the key bottoms out, and Logitech claims they are faster than membranes. Corsair says that for most players switch choice makes no measurable difference. Practice and settings matter more.

What is a hot-swappable keyboard?

A keyboard whose switches plug into sockets, so you can pull them out and fit different switches without soldering.