My journey with mechanical keyboards

When I was in secondary school I always heard how superior mechanical keyboards were compared to membrane keyboards for gaming. The first keyboard that I bought was a Cooler Master Quickfire Ultimate with Cherry MX Brown switches. As a secondary school boy, it took me a while to save up for it. Fortunately, in Singapore if you are from a lower income family, you can qualify for bursaries when you do well in school. That gave me enough money to buy my first mechanical keyboard. At that time, only cherry switches were available as they held the patent for the design unlike today where there are many different types of switches available in the market. I used this keyboard for a really long time until I started to get into custom keyboards in 2020.

My personal Cooler Master Quickfire Ultimate

The rise of custom keyboards

During the pandemic, the mechanical keyboard community experienced rapid growth. Many people began exploring custom keyboards because they were spending more time at home and had more time to engage in new hobbies. Additionally, as more people started working from home, they had more disposable income due to savings on transportation and dining out. Streamers like Taeha Types also contributed to the popularity of custom keyboards.

Custom keyboards are often acquired through group buys, which is a way for the community to collectively purchase a specific product. This approach ensures there is enough demand for the product to be produced. The group buy model also helps reduce costs, as manufacturers can produce the product in bulk. Most makers of custom keyboards are small businesses run by enthusiasts, meaning mass production involves significant financial risk. The group buy model mitigates this risk by securing orders in advance. Buyers typically wait several months to receive their products while the manufacturer completes production. Although this poses some risks, such as potential delays due to unforeseen circumstances, the community has been very supportive of these makers.

Prices of custom keyboards during the pandemic

The prices of custom keyboards are typically high due to the fact that they are made in small quantities. Despite that, people still purchased them over typical gaming keyboards as they are often superior in quality and always came with tons of customization options. The pandemic has also caused a shortage of electronic components which has driven up the prices of custom keyboards. A typical TKL at that time would cost minimally around USD 300 for a barebones kit. A fully built keyboard would cost around USD 450. This was considered a budget custom keyboard at that time and people were raving about how at this price point and quality it was a steal. This high cost has made custom keyboards inaccessible to many people.

My personal KBD8X MKII with Zelios and Zilent switches

Democratization of custom keyboards

The democratization of custom keyboards began when companies like Drop, Keychron, and Glorious started producing custom keyboards at significantly lower price points compared to those previously available on the market. These companies leveraged their resources to mass-produce keyboards, benefiting from economies of scale to reduce costs. This increased competition in the market, compelling other companies to lower their prices as well. The competition became so fierce that many counterfeit products with similar designs and comparable quality emerged, sold at a fraction of the price. This has sparked endless debates on the ethics of buying counterfeits and their impact on the community.

This shift marked the beginning of the democratization of custom keyboards, making them accessible to people who previously couldn't afford them. Singaporean YouTuber Lewis Toh further popularized the idea that quality keyboards don't have to be expensive. He reviewed many budget-friendly keyboards available in the market, often overlooked by Western YouTubers, providing a refreshing perspective.

As time went on, more companies began producing custom keyboards, pushing the limits of what was possible at lower price points. Now, you can get a custom keyboard for as low as USD 25 with hot-swap sockets and RGB lighting. While these may not be top-tier, they offer a good starting point for newcomers to the hobby. Keyboards in the USD 100-300 range are also becoming very high quality, featuring elements that were exclusive to high-end custom keyboards just 1-2 years ago. Companies like QwertyKeys have demonstrated that producing a high-quality custom keyboard at a relatively low price point is achievable.

This evolution has truly democratized the custom keyboard market, making it more accessible and diverse than ever before.

The Benefits of Custom Keyboard Accessibility

In 2020 - 2021, when I discussed mechanical keyboards with friends, they were often deterred by the high prices and perceived elitism within the community. I believe that making custom keyboards more accessible is beneficial as it allows more people to join the hobby and enjoy a better typing experience compared to standard gaming keyboards. It also allows people to express their individuality through their keyboards, a personal item used daily. Having a keyboard that you love can make your day just a little bit better, even if they don't necessarily conform to what the community deems as "good".

As my Singaporean parents would tell me, "Don't care what people think, happy can already."