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How to Buy a Mechanical Keyboard

How to · Tech

How to Buy a Mechanical Keyboard

Get a work keyboard that lasts for years without wrecking your monthly cash flow.

VoAtlas editorial Updated · 3 min read
Typical cost $200 before anything else
Across the 0% window $11.11/mo 18 months, no interest

How we got that: $200 spread evenly across the 18-month introductory window on the Citi Simplicity® Credit Card. Checked · at the bank Carry a balance past the window and the standard APR applies to what is left.

You spend most of your day typing, so a solid mechanical keyboard makes work a lot less annoying and should easily last you five to ten years if you pick the right one. Instead of buying a cheap plastic board now and replacing it next year, we are aiming for a buy-once setup that feels great all day long.

Watch the release cycles closely because brands drop new models right before the fall semester starts, which is when last year's proven flagship versions finally get marked down. You get the exact same premium switches and aluminum build for a fraction of the launch price.

Just remember that the intro window is a deadline, not free money, and if any balance is still there at the end, deferred interest or standard rates will kick in hard.

The steps

  1. 01

    Wait for back-to-school sales

    Retailers slash prices on desk gear and productivity tools right as the fall semester kicks off. Keep an eye out for about $200 on top-tier models that normally cost much more.

  2. 02

    Pick your switch type

    Linear switches are quiet and smooth for open offices, while tactile ones give you a nice little bump with every keystroke. Don't buy heavy clicky switches unless you want everyone in the office hating you.

  3. 03

    Map out the math

    If you want to break up the cost rather than paying all at once, you are looking at about $11.11 per month if $200 is spread across the 18-month window.

  4. 04

    Use the Citi Simplicity Card

    You can use the Citi Simplicity® Credit Card to get 0% for 18 months on purchases and balance transfers from date of account opening. This lets you stretch out payments without adding extra interest charges to the tab.

  5. 05

    Check the return policy

    Keycaps and switch weights feel totally different in person than they do in online reviews. Make sure you have at least thirty days to test the board at your actual desk before you commit.

  6. 06

    Check the card terms before you commit

    Every figure we publish for the Citi Simplicity® Credit Card carries the date a person verified it against Citi and a link to where they checked. Intro windows and APRs change without notice, so confirm the current terms before applying.

    See Citi Simplicity® Credit Card terms →

Common questions

Are mechanical keyboards actually better for typing all day?

Yes, because the individual switches reduce finger fatigue and let you type faster with less effort. Once you get used to a good board, typing on a flat laptop keyboard feels like tapping on a table.

Will a mechanical keyboard annoy coworkers in an open office?

It depends entirely on the switches you pick. Grab tactile or silent linear switches with dampening rings, and nobody will even hear you typing away.

Is back-to-school really the best time to buy office gear?

It is right up there with Black Friday for tech accessories and desk upgrades. Retailers compete hard for student and remote worker budgets during this stretch.

What happens if I don't pay off the keyboard in 18 months?

Whatever is left on the balance starts accruing standard interest charges. Set up autopay so you don't accidentally blow past the deadline.