It would be incorrect to say that membrane keyboards are not relevant anymore. If that was true, membrane switches would have disappeared from the market. It has been decades since mechanical switches existed on the market and in the last decade, the market saw a sharp rise in the production of mechanical keyboards with a variety of mechanical switches for various purposes.

  • Corsair K55 Core
    Corsair K55 Core RGB Gaming Keyboard
    Best Overall Membrane Keyboard
    $40 at B&H
  • best gaming keyboard deals hub february
    Logitech G213 Prodigy Gaming Keyboard
    Best Gaming Membrane Keyboard
    $50 at Best Buy
  • Redragon K503 Wireless RGB Gaming Keyboard
    Redragon K503 Gaming Keyboard
    Best Budget Membrane Keyboard
    $40 at Amazon
  • Roccat Magma Silent Membrane Gaming Keyboard
    Roccat Magma Silent Membrane Gaming Keyboard
    Best RGB Membrane Keyboard
    $49 at Amazon
  • Lenovo Legion K310
    Lenovo Legion K310
    Best Mid-Range Membrane Keyboard
    See at Amazon
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However, the membrane switches are still ideal as they provide silent operation, are cheaper, and can provide features as good as some of the finest mechanical keyboards for less than half the cost. The actuation process of a membrane switch is quite simple, incorporating three layers where two layers use printed conductive traces and the third one is sandwiched between the two, avoiding the actuation of the switches when the keys are not pressed.

Whether you are a professional who has a lot of typing work or a seasoned gamer who plays every night for several hours, these membrane keyboards will provide a quiet operation, good ergonomics, great aesthetics, and dedicated software support for more customizations.

Game ZXC's Picks for the Best Membrane Keyboards in 2024

Corsair's fantastic software support for its peripherals has made it one of the most reputable brands in the PC market. It's not difficult to find a good membrane keyboard from Corsair's keyboard lineup and fortunately, the K55 Core RGB is exactly what most users will need. If you are someone who wants good responsiveness, great aesthetics, and some dedicated media controls, the K55 Core RGB won't disappoint you in any way.

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Boasting a 104-key layout, the keyboard provides all the necessary keys along with a panel of dedicated multimedia buttons on the top right. Whether you want to adjust the volume or change the current media, the panel serves as a handy purpose. Furthermore, the availability of Windows Lock and LED brightness control buttons makes things convenient. As you would expect, the K55 Core RGB has customizable RGB lights and users can use the iCUE software to change the lighting effects. Corsair's K55 Core RGB, thankfully, isn't expensive and fits the budget of most users.

It has been roughly eight years since the launch of the legendary Logitech G213 Prodigy gaming keyboard, and to this day the keyboard doesn't disappoint. With a beautiful 104-key layout, incorporating some media controls and RGB lighting, the G213 looks mesmerizing in the dark through its contrasting black chassis and bright LED lighting. It uses tactile Mech-Dome switches that are spill-resistant and provide a mechanical-like feel at an affordable price, helping gamers enjoy gaming to the fullest.

The keys have a 4mm travel distance and don't require more than 50g of force. All of this without generating any noise whatsoever. The LED lights shine through the letters and numbers, utilizing five individual lighting zones that are customizable through the Lightsync RGB software. Its ergonomics are also on point with a dedicated wrist rest that allows you to place your palm on the platform. The only complaint is its small text below the four status LEDs on top, which use a dark color, making it difficult to understand what is currently toggled on or off.

When it comes to offering more for less price, nothing beats Redragon. Specialized in making budget gaming peripherals, the Redragon K503 is one of the cheapest yet feature-packed membrane keyboards, with features and functions generally found on premium models. From the layout itself, you can tell that it is equipped with a lot of additional keys apart from the general 104-key layout. These include multimedia as well as productivity-related keys, that will help you control the media files or open up your email, or search through the internet easily.

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Below those are RGB LED-lit keys, which are 6mm tall, and have a quiet operation while providing tactile feedback. The RGB lighting can be customized via the keyboard itself and all you need to do is press the FN button along with the arrow keys to cycle through seven lighting modes. The keyboard also comes with an extended chassis at the bottom, providing a small platform for users to place their palms on, which is far from a deal-breaker, and better than having nothing for the wrist.

While almost every membrane keyboard listed here comes with some sort of RGB lighting, the Roccat Magma stands out due to its AIMO Illumination. It's how the keyboard displays vivid lighting modes without a lot of configurations. However, don't expect Roccat's Swarm to be as user-friendly as Corsair or Razer. Still, even with just the base modes, the RGB lighting effects are quite bright for illuminating your gaming setup. This is achieved via a transparent RGB top plate that lets the LEDs shine from underneath the top layer and through the keys too.

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The Roccat Magma is not just limited to flashy lights, but has excellent silent membrane switches that provide anti-ghosting and use rubber dome keys that are fully responsive and have a great lifespan. Furthermore, a detachable wrist rest is added to the bottom to support your hand and can be removed if the desk space is less.

Despite being a membrane keyboard, the Lenovo Legion K310 provides great reliability compared to generic membrane keyboards. Even though it lacks some fancy features like multimedia keys or wrist rest, the core functionality of this keyboard remains one of the best for a price of $50. The membrane switches on K310 are ultra silent as well as pretty quick in actuation. Each key is rated at a good 20 million click lifecycles, making it an excellent long-term solution.

As you may have seen on most membrane keyboards, one of the major problems they face is the limited key rollover feature. With just a 4-12 key rollover, most membrane keyboards do not register a lot of inputs simultaneously, but the K310 features a 24-key rollover, registering a lot of inputs at the same time. Lastly, the keyboard also gives you the 5-zone RGB illumination, which can be controlled via the function key paired with multimedia controls.

The Corsair K57 RGB is the best you can get with membrane switches. If you have no budget constraints and want the best possible functionality, the K57 RGB won't make you regret it later. Only its hefty cost may send some users away, as there are plenty of good mechanical keyboards for a hundred bucks. Still, if you love silent membrane switches that also actuate at sub-1ms response time, the Corsair K57 RGB is the right choice for you.

It brings a full 104-key layout along with a dedicated row of macro keys on the left. Looks like Corsair is also inspired by Logitech's gaming keyboard design, as macros are very much loved by professionals who can program any complex action for executing it mid-game. The top right corner includes some dedicated multimedia keys plus a Win lock and brightness adjustment button, just like the K55 Pro. However, it also brings a dedicated wrist rest, which is absent from the K55 Pro, and provides reliable wireless connectivity through a 2.4GHz dongle, which also works flawlessly with other Corsair wireless peripherals.

Things to Consider When Buying a Membrane Keyboard

Just as with mechanical keyboards, finding a membrane keyboard that you'll actually like isn't a matter of simply choosing the most recognizable brand or deciding solely based on how the keyboard looks. To get a keyboard that will support your day-to-day activities, keep the following in mind:

  • Layout: Unlike a decade ago, smaller layouts have become more popular than the regular layout. A full 104-key layout is the standard one, offering the Numpad and Special key panel, but takes more space on the desk. There are other 104-key layouts that may also bring more dedicated multimedia or macro keys and maybe a little larger. On the other hand, there are keyboards with a more compact layout, boasting fewer keys than the standard layout. These may introduce some hassles in multitasking, but are overall a better choice for most users with limited space.
  • Type: Membrane keyboards can boast slightly different mechanisms for actuation. The most common one is the Full Travel membrane keyboard, which uses a rubber membrane on a matrix of electrical switches. Whenever a key is pressed, the membrane touches the bottom layer and pushes back the key as a result of elasticity. However, some membrane keyboards feature a low profile design, also known as Chiclet keyboards, mostly found on laptops. These keyboards have shorter keys and are easier to carry. Chiclet keyboards are also much more silent in operation, but aren't as popular as the full travel ones.
  • Customizability: Membrane keyboards with dedicated software support will let you create macros on the keyboard and may allow you to change the lighting effects if there are any. Some keyboards, although rare, are also foldable to provide better portability.
  • Connection: Wired membrane keyboards have lower input latency and are generally cheaper. It can be a bit difficult to manage their cables and that's why wireless membrane keyboards exist on the market. These are generally low-profile keyboards and have a good range of operation.
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FAQ

Q: Are membrane keyboards better than mechanical?

Yes, in general, mechanical keyboards are superior since they offer better tactile feedback, faster actuation, better reliability, and more customization. However, it really depends on what you are looking for. If you want very silent operation on a budget, then membrane keyboards are the better choice.

Q: Why are membrane keyboards so cheap?

Because they use inexpensive components, generally requiring a few layers and printed conductive traces that actuate when the keys are pressed. This is unlike mechanical keyboards that use mechanical parts in every key, unlike hollow keys used on membrane keyboards.

Q: Do red switches feel like membrane switches?

Red switches are linear and silent, and while standard membrane switches are also linear and silent, red switches are much faster in actuation and are smoother.