10 best membrane keyboards

Membrane keyboards are the most popular. Hundreds of models are on sale for any need, starting with simple solutions for office work, uploading with gaming models. They are chosen for many reasons. For example, a quiet mechanical keyboard is the exception rather than the rule. Membranes do not make noise, therefore they do not interfere with others. And their price is traditionally lower. If you want to buy such a device for yourself, then for you we have selected the best membrane keyboards for 2020, considering the products of the most popular brands. Among them, you will definitely find a suitable solution in terms of cost and performance.

TOP 10 best membrane keyboards

Scissor keyboards are a special case of membrane models. Their difference from the classic version lies in a special plastic mechanism, which makes it possible to make the stroke shorter than the usual solutions. You can find scissor-type keys in almost any modern laptop. But as a separate periphery, they are also widely represented on the market. Such models are also discussed in our review of keyboards. Scissor solutions can be recommended to those users who often type text, but cannot buy good mechanics. Yes, they are noisier, but the stabilization and clarity of the movement of such buttons is much better.

1. SteelSeries Apex 3 RU Black USB

It is definitely impossible to call the membrane keyboard from SteelSeries an affordable solution. Considering the cost of Apex 3, the user can easily find mechanical counterparts, albeit from lesser known brands. But in terms of quality, they are unlikely to be compared with this model.

Apex 3 features a classic American layout (single-story Enter and Long Left Shift). The keys can be customized with beautiful RGB lighting divided into 10 zones. The manufacturer's declared resource is 20 million clicks, which is quite a lot.

The SteelSeries membrane gaming keyboard comes with a magnetic wrist rest. The device itself is made of high-quality soft-touch plastic, but a metal plate is used on top to enhance rigidity and reliability.

Advantages:

• modern design;
• rigid construction;
• excellent ergonomics;
• magnetic stand;
• cable laying system;
• liquid protection.

Disadvantages:

• the stand is very easily soiled.

2. Apple Magic Keyboard with Numeric Keypad (MRMH2RS / A) Space Gray Bluetooth

The Magic Keyboard replaced the Wired Keyboard a few years ago. To connect it to a computer, a Bluetooth module or a Lightning connector can be used. In the second case, the built-in battery will be charged at the same time, which, according to the manufacturer, is enough for a month of autonomous operation of the device.

The reviewed model is presented in several modifications. We reviewed the Space Gray version with ISO layout. You can buy a similar keyboard in Silver or also dark, but with ANSI layout.

A high-quality Apple keyboard weighs a modest 390 grams, and its height at its thickest point is only 11 mm. The body of the device is made of aircraft grade aluminum with excellent stiffness. Magic Keyboard keys are ideal for typing. But buyers unfamiliar with Apple peripherals will have to get used to them at first.

Advantages:

• exemplary quality;
• form style;
• Space Gray colors;
• pleasant tactile sensations;
• ease of printing;
• reliability;
• two types of connection.

Disadvantages:

• very high price.

3. Logitech G G213 Prodigy Black USB

Logitech is one of the most sought-after computer peripherals in the market.It does not matter what the buyer is interested in, whether it is a mechanical keyboard or a membrane keyboard, the Swiss brand has all products of the standard quality. And with the G213 aimed at gamers, this is immediately apparent.

The popular backlit keyboard has 104 standard keys, plus 8 additional keys (for media control and button glow). The Logitech G213 has a built-in wrist rest, making the device slightly larger than the competition. The keyboard is made of high-quality plastic that does not collect fingerprints.

Advantages:

• high response speed;
• customizable backlight;
• the presence of moisture protection;
• combination of price and opportunity;
• thoughtful stand;
• multimedia keys.

Disadvantages:

• the wrist rest cannot be removed;
• brightness is controlled only through software.

4. Razer Cynosa Chroma Black USB

On the list of the best PC keyboards of 2020, the Cynosa Chroma takes a special place. Like any Razer product, it is not cheap, but it justifies its price. For the production of the device, the company used high-quality polycarbonate. The structural elements, as befits a premium model, fit perfectly.

There are no additional buttons here, but a number of auxiliary functions are still provided. You can activate them by pressing the Fn button and the function row keys, which corresponds to the required task. On the bottom of the keyboard, in addition to the tenacious rubber legs, there are also two pairs of folding ones: they raise the device by 6 and 13 mm.

Advantages:

• well-developed software;
• tactile key feedback;
• support for macros;
• customization flexibility;
• strict appearance;
• perfect build quality.

Disadvantages:

• rather big cost.

5. Lenovo ThinkPad Compact USB Keyboard with TrackPoint Black USB

It would seem, how can you stand out in the ranking of the best membrane-type keyboards? But the Lenovo brand has managed to create a truly original device. ThinkPad Compact has been ripped out of an average Chinese laptop and then housed in a small case. A similar shape of the keys, a stripped-down block of arrows, a functional row reduced in height. There is no numeric block here, but it is hardly needed in a compact keyboard. But the strain gauge joystick and three buttons under the spacebar are an original solution. In confined spaces, where there is nowhere to place a full-fledged mouse, such elements will be very useful.

Advantages:

• compact size;
• the presence of a trackpoint;
• pleasant key travel;
• high-quality assembly;
• clear response of buttons.

Disadvantages:

• the price is a little overpriced.

6. Redragon Asura Black USB

The gaming peripheral market is incredibly diverse. But usually the cost of devices in this category is quite high, and sometimes unjustifiably. Therefore, buyers are eager to purchase Redragon products. It offers inexpensive gaming keyboards that are of good quality and functionality.

Redragon Asura is made primarily of black plastic. The assembly of the device is good, no squeaks or backlashes were found. Both Latin and Cyrillic are perfectly readable, and the keys most used by gamers are underlined. On both sides there are buttons for recording macros. Multimedia functions are also available via Fn.

Advantages:

• seven-color backlight;
• excellent build;
• interesting design;
• the ability to record macros is supported;
• low cost;
• great quality;
• additional buttons;
• aggressive design.

Disadvantages:

• glossy surfaces get dirty.

7. Microsoft Wired Keyboard 600 Black USB

The next step is perhaps the best membrane keyboard for office use - the Wired Keyboard 600 from Microsoft. The layout of this model is classic, and the profile is concave. The last feature will not please everyone, especially without the extended legs. With them, the height of the keyboard is much better suited for touch typing (45 mm versus 25).

The function buttons in the Wired Keyboard 600 are very small, which is also a controversial decision.There are several multimedia keys above them.

Assembled a budget keyboard from Microsoft quite well. Cyrillic and Latin are very clear, and for convenience they are painted in different colors (blue and white, respectively). Due to the almost absent distance between the buttons, errors can sometimes occur during typing. But it mostly depends on the user's habituation.

Advantages:

• soft and quiet running;
• classic layout;
• multimedia buttons;
• ease of typing;
• attractive price tag.

Disadvantages:

• function buttons;
• uncomfortable without raised legs.

8. Logitech Corded Keyboard K280e Black USB

Another good Logitech-branded keyboard. The K280e is a low-profile model made of matte, rough plastic. The prints on the case are completely invisible, and dirt can be noticed only after prolonged use. But it takes a minimum of time to clean the keyboard, after which it takes on its original appearance.

Corded Keyboard K280e has a built-in wrist rest with the manufacturer's logo on it. The set of buttons is standard - 104 pieces. But if you need function keys, here they are, and to use them you just need to hold down the Fn button. It, like the available options, is colored blue for clarity.

Advantages:

• multimedia capabilities;
• very pleasant button travel;
• almost silent when printing;
• reliability in work;
• the price for its capabilities;
• reference build quality.

Disadvantages:

• unusual angle of inclination;
• takes up a lot of space.

9. Defender Legion GK-010DL RU Black USB

The Legion GK-010DL keyboard is a very good option for a price-performance purchase. The device is made of plastic, the build quality does not cause any complaints. The layout of the monitored periphery combines the features of ISO and ANSI: Enter is two-story, and the left Shift is long. The number of keys is standard (104), but near the left Ctrl and Alt there are buttons to turn on / off the backlight and Fn. As you can tell from the reviews, the keyboard is quite quiet, so it is suitable for gaming and fast typing even at night. The device cable is protected by a strong blue braid. It has a ferrite filter to protect it from interference, and the keyboard connector is gold-plated.

Advantages:

• additional buttons (via Fn);
• pleasant multi-colored illumination;
• quality of materials and workmanship;
• reasoned cost;
• buttons can be programmed;
• high-quality fabric braid.

Disadvantages:

• few backlight modes.

10. SVEN KB-C7100EL Black USB

And the TOP is completed by a reliable keyboard from the budget segment from SVEN. This brand is known, perhaps, to every user. Its peripherals are very popular among buyers on a small budget and are regularly used in offices. KB-C7100EL is a simple but well-built solution. Multi-colored illumination with colors tied to specific zones is available here. If you turn it off, the device does not visually differ from other office models. As for the cons, in the reviews the keyboard is criticized only for cheap plastic. However, for the best is not to be expected.

Advantages:

• very quiet buttons;
• pleasant lighting;
• high-quality assembly;
• low cost.

Disadvantages:

• you cannot change the backlight color;
• device material.

Which membrane keyboard is better to buy

We understand that different buyers have different requirements and budget. Therefore, the ranking contains the best membrane keyboards from different price categories. For users with modest financial resources, I can recommend SVEN and Defender devices. For a small amount, you can take some models from popular brands such as Microsoft and Logitech. If your budget is larger, then you should take a closer look at SteelSeries, Razer and Apple products (for Mac OS).