Can you use a membrane keyboard for gaming?

Can budget alternatives really see you through the battlefield?

The vast majority of gaming keyboards are mechanical, but that's not to say everyone has a mechanical deck hooked up to their rig. In fact, membrane options can provide a far more affordable alternative to the often costly (Razer's models can reach $250) switch-clickers. Yes, you can use a membrane keyboard for gaming but it's important to know what you're getting yourself in for when you opt for one of these cheaper models.

After all, mechanical switches make up the best gaming keyboards for a reason. They're more durable, often provide a snappier response, and come with n-key rollover far more often. Some even take this a step further, allowing you to customize the specific actuation point (the point of a keypress at which the board recognises a keystroke) or swap out your switches entirely. Not only that, but mechanical keyboards are actually coming down in price these days, with a handful of options regularly dropping below $100 / £100.

Still, if you're up against a budget that rules these decks out it's helpful to know that there's still plenty of game in a membrane keyboard. We've dived into the mechanical vs membrane keyboard debate before, but if you've found yourself on the budget side of this argument, these are the things you need to know going in.

This is perhaps the most important point to note if you're considering investing in a long term solution. Membrane keyboards simply don't last as long as their mechanical counterparts. That's because every time you hit a key on a membrane deck, you're pushing that plastic cap against a rubber sheet, and rubber wears away pretty fast.

Of course, if you're after a stop-gap or you don't use your gaming PC for hardcore sessions every evening, this might not be too much of a concern. Membrane keyboards will still hold up for a good while before they start to give out and you won't have to be overly cautious with them during everyday use either.

If you're not fussed about the satisfying clack of a mechanical keyboard, or even if you don't want the extra noise these clickers often bring about, it's worth noting that membrane keyboards are softer to type on. That can feel mushy and a little strenuous after a longer period of time, but with time they can become second nature - especially if you're a heavier typist anyway.

This won't have much of a real world effect in-game. If you're a pro player on a mechanical deck, you'll still be a pro on a membrane one. However, the heavier actuation force sometimes required will take some getting used to in the first instance and if you're playing particularly fast competitive titles, this softness could be a slight hinderance. The SteelSeries Apex 3 TKL, for example, is a particularly heavy deck, but there's still plenty of snap back in its keys which means you'll still be able to move quickly across the board.

Outside of the actual typing experience, response times, and durability, many players opt for a cheaper membrane keyboard because they can still access a range of gaming-specific features without having to invest in mechanical keys. RGB lighting, dedicated volume controls, and programmable keys are all available on budget decks like the Razer Cynosa V2 and the Roccat Magma. You'll also still find anti-ghosting to keep you on form and plenty of models offer cable routing options and spill-resistance as well. While the typing speeds may feel more sluggish, there's plenty on offer here to see you interacting with your games in new ways.

So, to summarize: yes, you can absolutely use a membrane keyboard for gaming. While cheaper and less durable, they still offer a solid range of play-specific features and keep your setup looking flashy while doing so. Even though a mushier, heavier typing feel may lead to more breaks in your gameplay and can slow down particularly fast competitive titles, the everyday player isn't going to watch their performance melt just by scoring a cheaper deck.

However, a word of caution. There aren't as many wireless gaming keyboard options here due to that lower price point, and if you're after a hot-swappable keyboard, you'll need to visit the mechanical side of the market.

Still, there's plenty to love here nonetheless - especially considering these decks rarely hit three figures in price.

We're rounding up plenty more cheap gaming keyboard options here at GamesRadar+, as well as all the best Razer keyboards as well. Or, for a full budget setup, check out the latest cheap gaming mouse deals.

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Managing Editor of Hardware at GamesRadar+, I originally landed in hardware at our sister site TechRadar before moving over to GamesRadar. In between, I've written for Tom's Guide, Wireframe, The Indie Game Website and That Video Game Blog, covering everything from the PS5 launch to the Apple Pencil. Now, i'm focused on Nintendo Switch, gaming laptops (and the keyboards and mice that come with them), and tracking everything that suggests VR is about to take over our lives.

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