Keyboards

Membrane

  • under $50: Logitech K380 ($35)
  • standard: MX Keys ($69 w/o numpad, $109 w/ numpad)
  • ergonomic: Logitech Ergo K860 ($129 $119)
  • MacOS: Magic Keyboard w/ Touch ID ($149 w/o numpad, $199 w/ numpad)

Pre-Built Mechanical

  • polycarbonate (plastic) body: Aula F65 ($59) or F75 ($69) or F87 ($59)
  • aluminium body
    • Crush80 ($159 for non-RGB, $169 for RGB)
    • Womier RD75 ($139 $119)
    • Womier SK65 ($99 $75) or SK71 ($99 $79) or SK75 ($119 $109) or SK87 ($129 $119)
    • Lemokey P1 ($129)
    • Epomaker Tide75 ($119 or $139 depending on colours)
    • Chillkey ND75 ($99 or $109 depending on colours)
    • Rainy75 ($99)

Keychron’s V and Q series keyboards are quite good, but the price is a bit high. You might get better value with other options

  • low-profile
    • Nuphy Air60/Air75 ($119 or $129 depending on switches) or Air96 ($129 or $139 depending on switches)
    • Lofree Flow84 ($159) or Flow100 ($169)

Custom Mechanical

$ varies

Keyboard

  • 60%
    • around $100: Tofu60 ($108)
    • under $150: QK60 ($145)
  • 65%
    • around $100: KBD67 Lite ($109 for wired, $129 for wireless)
    • under $200: QK65 V2 ($165 to $185 depending on colour)
    • Keychron: V2 Barebones ($74 $64) / Q2 Max Barebones ($189)
  • 75%
    • under $100: NextTime75 ($59 or $67 depending on colour) / Monsgeek M1W V3 ($99 $89)
    • under $150: Cidoo V75 Plus VIA kit ($133)
    • under $200: QK75N ($180 or $195 depending on colour)
    • Keychron: V1 Barebones ($64 $54, $74 $64 with knob) / Q1 Max Barebones ($189)
  • TKL
    • under $100: ?
    • around $200: QK80 MK2 ($199 or $209 depending on colour)
    • Keychron: V3 Barebones ($74 $64) / Q3 Max Barebones ($194)
  • full-size
    • under $200: QK100 ($165 or $175 depending on colour)
    • Keychron: V6 Barebones ($79) / Q6 Max Barebones ($199)

Switches

these are 100% based on personal preference, if you like a different switch that’s fine!

$ depends on amount + retailer

  • linear
    • cheaper: Milky Yellow
    • better: JWK Alpaca / Oil Kings / Sea Salt Smoothie / Aqua Kings
    • silent: TTC Frozen Silent V2 / WS Silent Linear
  • tactile
    • cheaper: Akko V3 Lavender Purple Pro / Akko V3 Cream Blue Pro
    • better: Anubis / Baby Kangaroo / Quinn
    • silent: TTC Silent Bluish Whites V2 / Outemu Silent Jade Yellow

Lube

$ depends on amount

  • switch lube: Krytox 205g0
  • stabiliser grease: Permatex dielectric grease