Budget keyboards

Inanna · December 29, 2024

Am new to keyboards so i dont know alot. Im looking for a budget keyboard at around 40-80€ range. Would like a 75% and i dont care if its wired. I like switches that feel light to press. Also wondered how much a custom board would cost.

kitnoman · December 29, 2024

Just look for a 75% keyboard that you would like between the following rk royal, epomaker, aula, red dragon, womier, hk gaming, ducky, akko or keychron. For the price of 80€, you should be even be able to get a 3 connections(wired, bluetooth and 2.4ghz). As for lightest actuation force, I know kailh speed silver and keyfirst bling yellow or kahail box red pro. I'm pretty sure there are more, as every time I search for a new keyboard or parts, after a year or two, there are always new models and types. Like those optical ones, but I haven't own one yet.

As for the custom board, it could be as much as you want it to be, from around $100 to $500 or even $1000 or $1500. But the brand I mentioned above are mostly hot-swappable, so it could be a good base. They even sell barebone kit, so you can get the switches and caps you like.

GarlicDeliverySystem · December 29, 2024

2 hours ago, Inanna said:

Also wondered how much a custom board would cost.

It depends on the amount of customization and what type.

75% keyboards have become surprisingly affordable due to their popularity, so things like the Rainy75 or offerings from Womier, Skyloong are pretty good for the money (ca. 150$, depending on shipping, taxes etc.).

You can get cheaper with plastic, like the Monsgeek ICE75 for 69.99$ or starting with a MG75W kit (30$ plus switches and keycaps). If you go shopping on Aliexpress for things like a GMK67 (not related to keycaps GMK, there are so many GMK fakes and imposters out there) you can go even cheaper sometimes.

Heck, Keychron is now offering the V1 QMK for 70$, less for some versions out of stock. Some other older versions are also on sale for less than 100$, though keep in mind you might need switches/keycaps or only get soldered versions.

To get into custom keyboards, it usually starts at around 200$ or more. You can get something in between that is pre-built, but if you want to start with a kit it is usually around 100$ for a kit, then you need another 100$ for switches, stabs, and keycaps.

It can go much higher though, some idea for the costs we are talking here:

Keyboard case/pcb: 100$ to 600$, depending on options, GB, etc. But the sky is really the limit and a lot of the costs comes from shipping, taxes and import fees.
Switches: 25-100$. Depends on quantity a lot, but switches range from .10$ to over 1.00$ per switch, usually around 0.40$ to 0.60$ though.
Keycaps: 20-200$. You can get decent clones from AliExpress, but a set of original GMK with some options/novelties can set you back 150$ or more.
stabilizers: 10-30$

Sidenote on shipping/taxes:

Bbe aware of this, a 250$ kit can easily go to 400$ or beyond from just shipping, import fees and taxes, if you are unlucky (air freight in some cases, unless you go with regional vendors. In which case you can add another 3-6 months of waiting for the boat to arrive, final kitting and QC, handling and shipping again).

Always check what a vendor or manufacturer states on their website about who has to handle this, as well as with your local authorities on what gets taxed how. Mistakes on the carrier side happen, and 40$ fees or so just for handling are not unheard of.

Plus sometimes they (erroneously) factor shipping into the value of the shipment itself, so expedited shipping can cost you double, even though it is technically not correct. Ask me how I know...