The battle between mechanical keyboards and their traditional membrane counterparts has long been something of a one-sided affair, at least in the premium space. The sharp response and solid resistance of mechanical switches simply offer a superior typing experience, whether it be during high-stakes gaming sessions or day-to-day office work.
Nevertheless, the soft rubber domes used in membrane switches do have their advantages. They're far easier to depress, reducing the strain on your fingers during extended periods of fast and furious typing. Membrane keyboards also tend to support a wider range of customisation options, with more options for programmable lighting and custom macros.
This trade-off has meant buying a premium keyboard always involved sacrificing some measure of comfort or control, even if those sacrifices have become less significant in recent years. But what if you want the best of both worlds without any sacrifice at all? Well, Razer might just have the answer for you. The PC peripheral manufacturer has devised a new technology it's calling Mecha-Membrane, a hybrid switch construction that combines the soft feel of a membrane key with the firm activation of a mechanical one. The first keyboard to take advantage of this technology is the Razer Ornata Chroma, and if it's anything to go by, Mecha-Membrane could well mark a turning point for premium keyboards going forward.
At $169.95, the Ornata Chroma isn't exactly the cheapest of keyboards around. Still, you definitely get what you pay for, with every element of the Ornata's construction as premium as its price tag.
You can purchase the Razer Ornata Chroma from Razer directly for an RRP of $169.95 as well as from online retailers like Kogan, Scorptec and mwave.
The Ornata Chroma gaming keyboard features Razer's new Mecha-Membrane switch technology, combining the soft actuation of membrane keys with the firm feedback of a mechanical trigger.
