Are Membrane Keyboards Good for Gaming?

The short answer is it depends, membrane keyboards can be used for gaming, but your mileage may vary depending on what kind of games you will play and the quality of the keyboard you will buy.

You might even prefer a membrane keyboard to a mechanical keyboard due to it being cheaper and quieter to use but it might come with some costs like being less responsive or having more input latency.

An Overview of Membrane Keyboards

Membrane keyboards, briefly, are keyboards that were designed for use in conjunction with computers. They’re not made of separate mechanical switches. Instead, they’re equipped with a single membrane surface that comes with pressure pads inside the keyboard that are activated by key switches.

They’re topped with smooth plastic. These keyboards are distinct because they do not have many moving parts hence it sometimes can affect durability. Membrane keyboards are in many cases produced using plastic.

They’re staples in a wide assortment of fields and industries in this day and age as well, which means it is more common and easier to get than a mechanical keyboard. It isn’t even unusual to see avid gamers using these keyboards, but most competitive gamers would prefer a mechanical keyboard.

The Perks of Membrane Keyboards for Gaming

If you’re a gamer or a streamer, you may appreciate how comparatively silent membrane keyboards are. It’s common for gamers to type rapidly and some gamers are sensitive to the clicking sound a mechanical keyboard makes. The great news is that it doesn’t matter how fast you type membrane keyboards only creates significantly lower noise.

Gamers are usually fond of ample choices. People who opt for these kinds of keyboards do not have to feel limited at all. They can pick from a broad array of brands that offer gaming membrane keyboards and even “mem-canical” keyboards, keyboards that mimic the feel of using a mechanical keyboard while being a membrane keyboard.

These keyboards are generally cheaper than mechanical keyboards because they are made from materials that tend to be cheap to produce. If you’re a gamer who wants to save money, the membrane path may be optimal for you.

Membrane keyboards are slimmer and lighter. Since so many gamers do a lot of traveling, this can be a significant positive point. If you routinely take trains, buses, and planes, then you won’t have to fret about carrying anything bulky and awkward around.

Most membrane keyboards are also more water-resistant than most mechanical keyboards. If you always keep a cup of coffee or water nearby your workstation or gaming table, water spilling on a membrane keyboard will not outright destroy the board.

The Downsides of Membrane Keyboards for Gaming

Although there are undoubtedly several membrane keyboard benefits for gamers, there are also a handful of downsides to seriously consider. These keyboards may not be fitting for all gamers. They’re not ideal for gamers who require efficient and fast feedback. They’re also in no way appropriate for people who want the highest degree of product durability due to the membrane might deteriorate faster than a mechanical switch. The membranes may not be able to hold a candle to mechanical keyboard parts in the longevity and repairability arena.

Gamers in some situations would prefer swapping out problematic keyboard parts and fixing them themselves. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to deal with membrane keyboard parts replacement. If you notice that a part of your keyboard just isn’t functioning correctly, then you may have to replace the panel in full. This can be pricey for gamers who are low on funds and the more economic option is just throwing the broken keyboard into the rubbish bin and buying a new one. Mechanical keyboards have the advantage of being easy to repair because you just have to solder off the problematic key switch and replace it with a new one and it is good as new.

Most gamers out there choose mechanical keyboards over membrane choices. Gamers frequently say that mechanical options provide them with gaming sessions that are a lot faster and more dependable.

Membrane Keyboards Designed for Gaming Purposes

If you are adamant about using a membrane keyboard, you can pick up any generic office keyboard and use it for your gaming, but an office keyboard often has low pooling rates which can have a negative effect on your input latency in the game. But don’t worry as there are many membrane keyboards specifically designed for gaming that has high polling rates and excellent response time.

There are some membrane keyboards that are on par with your conventional mechanical gaming keyboards. Below is a list of some of those keyboards.

Membrane Keyboard	Keyboard Name	Form Factor	Switch type	Backlight	Connection type	Availability and Prices
	HyperX Alloy Core RGB	Full Size	Membrane	5 zones backlighting	Wired	Check out this keyboard at Amazon.com
	Redragon K512 Shiva	Full Size	Membrane	Customizable RGB lighting	Wired	Check out this keyboard at Amazon.com
	Razer Cynosa V2	Full Size	Membrane	Customizable RGB lighting	Wired	Check out this keyboard at Amazon.com
	Logitech G213 Prodigy	Full Size	Membrane	Customizable RGB Lighting	Wired	Check out this keyboard at Amazon.com

ALSO READ:

• Are Linear Key Switches in Keyboards Better for Gaming?
• Mechanical Keyboard Switches Explained
• Keyboard Form Factor and Keyboard Layout – What’s the Difference?