Are Low-Profile Mechanical Keyboards Worth The Hype?

See full bio

Huzaifa Haroon

Being a keyboard enthusiast, I specialize in reviewing, modding, and critiquing them for the people. If you’re a Razer fanboy, my only goal is to convert you to the dark side 😈.

See full bio

A keyboard might not be one of your priority upgrade choices for PC components, and I can understand why. But you can’t deny that you use a keyboard for multiple hours daily, either for gaming, productivity tasks, or simply for writing assignments. I’m the same, and when my typing requirements increased, I started stressing my wrists. That was also when I shifted to a new, smaller keyboard. Now, for someone who has experienced both ends of the spectrum, are low-profile mechanical keyboards worth the hype?

Improving Typing Posture

I have been typing on a computer for as long as I can remember. For a long time, it was on a membrane keyboard, but then I shifted to a Redragon mechanical keyboard, and my life felt complete. That was until I started working as a freelancer. My daily typing requirements increased exponentially, and even with a wrist rest, the strain on my hands was unbelievable.

I switched to a laptop to keep up with work, and the strain on my wrists vanished after a few days. After some contemplation, I realized the wrist angle difference between my keyboard and laptop made the difference. That’s when I decided to buy a low-profile mechanical keyboard, allowing me to work on my PC without the wrist strain.

It took me some time to get used to the new keyboard, but eventually, I got back to my original typing speed and have been loving the comfort it provides. If you shift to a low-profile mechanical keyboard, there’s not much to lose, especially if your primary use case is hacking away at the keys for countless hours daily.

Better Gaming Response

Besides typing endlessly daily, I have a fair history of playing games since childhood. Naturally, I was used to a membrane keyboard until I experienced gaming on my first Redragon Vara K551 mechanical keyboard. Most of my time would be spent playing League of Legends and World of Warcraft, where timing is vital. Of course, your mouse matters more for League of Legends, but if you mistime your abilities, your mouse play won’t matter at all.

However, playing games became problematic when I shifted to my laptop because of the keyboard. I couldn’t get the same button-pressing sensation and kept messing up. So, when I moved to my low-profile mechanical keyboard, the lower response time felt like a godsend. The clicky sensation isn’t the same as a standard mechanical keyboard, but you can find a few low-profile clickier ones, like the Logitech MX Wireless keyboard.

Not Everything Is Flowers And Roses

While I do love low-profile mechanical keyboards for their dexterity, less chunkiness, and better posture, they shouldn’t be placed on a gold plate. For example, I miss the deep keystrokes that a traditional mechanical keyboard switch provides. The shorter travel distance is great, but it doesn’t have the clicky feeling I love.

Moreover, low-profile switches often have unique stem designs that aren’t compatible with other keycaps available on the market. Therefore, it has been painful even to attempt customization with my keyboard. In easier words, low-profile keyboards are difficult to mod. So, if you’re part of the custom keyboard community, you may want to think about your purchase decision again.

Seriously, I’m Never Looking Back

So, are low-profile mechanical keyboards worth the hype? I agree that they have their downsides, but what product doesn’t? If you look past that, you’ll realize that low-profile mechanical keyboards are pretty decent. My wrist posture is the best it’s ever been. My gaming abilities are improving because of improved accuracy, and I can work longer than before.

It’s quite literally a win-win situation, with not much to lose. Sure, I can’t mod a low-profile keyboard as easily as I could a standard mechanical, but it’s good enough. If you want to customize your keyboard, buy the Wooting 80HE or the Wooting 60HE; both have impeccable modding possibilities, especially thanks to the Wootility software.

In any case, if you have ever used a laptop keyboard and want something similar but on a mechanical level, it’s about time you looked at low-profile keyboards. The Logitech G915, Logitech G515, and Corsair K100 Air are decent options to start browsing from.