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
  • Lofree Flow Lite84 ($129) or Lite100 ($139)
  • Nuphy Air60/Air75 ($119 or $129 depending on switches) or Air96 ($129 or $139 depending on switches)

Custom Mechanical

Everyone has different preferences for keyboard cases, switches, and keycaps. These are just some popular options recommended by the online reviews I’ve seen, but you may like other options and that’s totally fine!

Keyboard

• 60%
  • around $100: Tofu60 ($108)
  • under $150: QK60 ($145)
• 65%
  • around $100: KBD67 Lite ($109 for wired, $129 for wireless)
  • under $150
    • Monsgeek M7W ($136)
    • Monsgeek M7 VIA ($113)
  • under $200: QK65 V2 ($165 to $185 depending on colour)
  • Keychron
    • V2 Barebones ($74 $64)
    • Q2 Max Barebones ($189)
• 75%
  • under $100
    • NextTime X75 ($59 or $67 depending on colour)
    • Feker IK75 Pro ($90)
    • Akko 5075B ($59)
  • under $150
    • Cidoo V75 Plus VIA kit ($133)
    • MonsGeek M1 V5 VIA ($136, $147 for ISO layout)
  • 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: Flesports MK870 ($57) / NK87 ($135 $75)
  • around $150
    • Nuphy Gem80 ($149 for wired, $169 for tri-mode)
    • Monsgeek M3W ($147)
    • Monsgeek M3 QMK ($147)
  • around $200: QK80 MK2 ($199 or $209 depending on colour)
  • Keychron
    • V3 Barebones ($74 $64)
    • Q3 Max Barebones ($194)
• full-size
  • under $100: besides Keychron, there aren’t too many under $100
  • around $150: Monsgeek M5W ($154)
  • under $200: QK100 ($165 or $175 depending on colour)
  • Keychron
    • V6 Barebones ($79)
    • Q6 Max Barebones ($199)

If you really want to pay up, more aesthetic-oriented keyboards such as the Mode Sonnet have options for things like walnut and copper. Those are expensive, however, and most people likely aren’t willing to spend that much on a keyboard.

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