What Is MechanicalKeyboards.com?

Updated

MechanicalKeyboards.com is an online catalog and store dedicated to mechanical keyboards and related gear. It carries keyboards, keycaps, switches, DIY parts, accessories, and mice, and it also publishes beginner-to-advanced guides on keyboard technology. It's worth browsing if you want a wide selection in one place, are comparing switch or keyboard types, or need parts for a build. It's less useful if you're looking for a general electronics retailer or mainstream office peripherals.

What the site sells

The catalog is organized around the parts of a keyboard rather than around brands or room categories:

  • Keyboards — including full-size, TKL, 75%, compact/60%+, and numpad models, plus feature-based collections like wireless, analog, 8K polling rate, low-profile, and backlit-legend keyboards.
  • Keycaps — described by the site as a matter of "color and texture."
  • Switches — the site frames these as "sound and feel."
  • Mice — for example the Keychron M5 8K wireless vertical mouse, listed with a 47° ergonomic design, 8K polling, a PixArt 3950 sensor, and tri-mode wireless.
  • DIY parts and accessories — the catalog description lists these alongside the categories above.

The site positions itself as "the ultimate mechanical keyboard catalog," claiming the largest dedicated selection of mechanical keyboards, fast shipping, and dedicated customer support via chat, email, or phone. It also states it has been a source for mechanical keyboards since 2012.

How the catalog is organized

Two structures are visible on the site, and both are useful when you're shopping:

By keyboard size

Category What it typically means
Full-size Includes a number pad
TKL Tenkeyless — drops the number pad
75% Compact but keeps function row and arrow keys
Compact / 60%+ Smaller layouts that cut keys to save space
Numpad Standalone number pads

By feature

Wireless, analog, 8K polling rate, low profile, and backlit legends each have their own collection page. This matters because these are the attributes people usually filter on after they've picked a size.

Buying states you should recognize

The site distinguishes between at least two purchase types, and they behave differently:

  • Pre-order Item — you're reserving a product that hasn't shipped yet.
  • Group Buy Item — a community-style purchase where orders are collected before production.

If you're comparing options, treat these as different from in-stock items: the timeline depends on the manufacturer, not on the retailer's ship speed. The site's free shipping offer applies to orders of $120 or more within the continental U.S., which is a separate condition from whether an item is in stock.

The educational content

Beyond the store, the site runs explainer articles aimed at people choosing gear. Examples listed on the site include:

  • Mechanical Keyboards 101
  • TMR vs. Hall Effect Magnetic Sensors: What You Need to Know
  • Plate-Mounted vs. PCB-Mounted Switches: What's the Difference?
  • Topre vs Hall Effect: Advanced Keyboard Switches
  • How to Select the Perfect Mechanical Keyboard Switch
  • What Is a Mechanical Keyboard Switch?
  • What Is a Mechanical Keyboard?

The site also breaks switches into three basic types, starting with clicky switches, which it describes as providing the most tactility and making an audible click — typically preferred by typists but noticeably louder than other mechanical switches. If you're new to the hobby, this section is the fastest way to build the vocabulary you'll need before comparing products.

When this site fits your task

It's a good starting point if you:

  • Want to see many keyboard sizes and features side by side in one catalog.
  • Are choosing a switch type and want both product listings and background reading.
  • Need keycaps, switches, or DIY parts rather than a whole keyboard.
  • Prefer a retailer that also explains the technology it sells.

Look elsewhere if you:

  • Need a keyboard today and the model you want is a pre-order or group buy item.
  • Want general consumer electronics or non-mechanical peripherals.
  • Need confirmed pricing, stock, or shipping timelines before deciding — check the individual product page, since those details vary by item and aren't fixed across the catalog.

A practical first step: pick your size category, then filter by the feature that matters most to you (wireless, low profile, polling rate), and read the matching explainer article before comparing specific models.