Welp MagazineWhat is a membrane keyboard? Membrane keyboards are satisfying typing tools with a trademark “mushy” feel. The best membrane keyboard will have the edge over mechanical keyboards in a number of ways. Membrane models are more affordable, more quiet, and lack key rollover. So they say mechanical keyboards have smoother switch actuation, give better feedback, and have key rollover. Big deal. Nobody wants those noisy slabs of plastic hanging around – especially not you. You’re part of the membrane crowd, and that’s why you’re reading this article: to find out which mushy marvels we chose as our best membrane keyboards of all the membrane keyboards we’ve had the pleasure of typing on.
Product Comparison Table: Best Membrane Keyboards
| Title | Price | Rating (Amazon) | Best in class | Buy | |
 | Razer Ornata V3 X Gaming Keyboard | $$ | 4.5 stars | Most Comfortable | Amazon |
 | Arteck USB Wired Keyboard Universal Backlit 7-Colors & Adjustable Brightness Full Size Keyboard | $$ | 4.5 stars | Best Backlit | Amazon |
 | Redragon K512 Shiva RGB Backlit Membrane Gaming Keyboard | $$ | 4.5 stars | Best for Gaming | Amazon |
 | ROCCAT Magma Silent Membrane Switch PC Gaming Keyboard | $$$ | 4.6 stars | Best Silent | Amazon |
 | Razer Ornata V3 Gaming Keyboard | $$$ | 4.5 stars | Best Mecha-Membrane | Amazon |
Razer Ornata V3 X Gaming Keyboard
Do you get wrist or finger pain after typing or gaming for long periods of time? The Razer Ornata V3 X Gaming Keyboard was by far the best membrane keyboard we tried out in terms of comfort. The low-profile keys, featuring slimmer keycaps and shorter switches, keep your hand in a natural position that minimises strain on the tendons. The Ornata V3 X also comes with an aligned ergonomic wrist rest for extra support.
Of course, the membrane keys themselves are the star, and these are beautifully quiet and comfortable under the fingers. Squishy but sturdy, the Ornata V3 X is also spill resistant and pleasantly tanky. The experience of using this membrane keyboard is like typing on a radioactive green plush cloud.
Pros
- Comfy as heck
- Quiet and satisfying keystrokes
- Ergonomic wrist rest included
Cons
- No wireless connectivity
Verdict
The Razer Ornata V3 X Gaming Keyboard has a truly luxurious feel, and it looks as good as it feels under your fingers. The backlight is powered by Razer Chroma RGB: this gives you 16.8 million potential colour combinations and dynamic lighting effects for the over 150 Chroma-integrated games out there. The Ornata V3 X might not be wireless, but built-in grooves neatly de-clutter the cable.
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Arteck Universal Backlit 7-Colors & Adjustable Brightness Multi-Device Full Size Wireless Bluetooth Keyboard
Chroma-tech aside, the best membrane keyboard we found if you like a pretty backlight was still the Arteck Universal Backlit Keyboard. The 7 unique backlight colours are the star that shines out of this full-size keyboard unit, brighter than any of the other keyboards that we tried out in the process of making this list.
The Arteck’s keys, moreover, are soft scissor-kick beauties that operate soothingly whether they’re glowing deep blue, soft blue, bright green, soft green, red, purple, or cyan. The Arteck connects to multiple devices (even 3 at once) thanks to its Bluetooth technology, so you can have a mushy membrane typing session on just about any device at all: be it your PC, iPad or Samsung Smart Toilet.
Pros
- Bright and beautiful LED backlight
- Lightweight design
- Multi-device wireless connectivity
Cons
- Requires Bluetooth
Verdict
There’s nothing wrong in grading our best membrane keyboard in terms of how pretty the lights are, and the LEDs on the Arteck Universal Backlit 7-Colors & Adjustable Brightness Multi-Device Full Size Wireless Bluetooth Keyboard sure are sparkly. Combined with the pleasant keystroke sensation and six hour battery life, the Arteck is a winner.
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Redragon K512 Shiva RGB Backlit Membrane Gaming Keyboard
If you’re a hardcore gamer, you’ll know all about macros. The Redragon K512 Shiva RGB Backlit Membrane Gaming Keyboard is our best membrane keyboard for gamers in part because of its 6 onboard macro keys. These macro keys (G1-G6) are easily programmable and require no additional software to work.
Although the Redragon’s silky-soft keys are a little linear-esque, they’re also notable because they include 26 anti-ghosting keys (with an underscore) that allow for simultaneous pressing when things get frantic. Dedicated media control keys pause, play and skip any cutscene. RGB-wise, the Redragon offers full dynamic lighting, with customisable modes and presets, and additional optional software that lets you set immersive backlight effects for your favourite games.
Pros
- Macro and anti-ghosting keys
- Magnetic detachable wrist wrest
- RGBs and swish white colourway
Cons
- Keystrokes could use more mush
- Requires additional software for max functionality
Verdict
The Redragon K512 Shiva RGB Backlit Membrane Gaming Keyboard lives up to its badass name: it looks, feels and functions great, and the macros are a godsend. What it lacks in ultra-mushiness on the keystroke, it makes up for in durability. The double-shot injection moulded keycaps can withstand 10 million angry gamer keystrokes without even starting to fade.
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ROCCAT Magma Silent Membrane Switch PC Gaming Keyboard
Hey. Shh. Can you hear that? We can’t. We can’t hear a single keystroke from the ROCCAT Magma Silent Membrane Switch PC Gaming Keyboard, and that’s why it’s our best membrane if you like peace and quiet. It’s silent as the grave (of the player you just 360-no-scoped). Quietness is one of the things that makes membrane keyboards the favourite choice of those who love them, and this model came up quieter than quiet in our tests.
The whisper-quiet ROCCAT Magma Silent Membrane Switch PC Gaming Keyboard boasts advanced anti-ghosting, ROCCAT Easy-Shift Plus, and the Aimo proprietary lighting eco-system for vivid lighting scenarios… all in total silence. Allegedly, this is not down to the super-low profile of the switches and keycaps, but to the high quality rubber domes.
Pros
- Silent operation
- RGB lighting eco-system
- Advanced anti-ghosting
Cons
- No wireless capability
- May require adapter outside the US
Verdict
There’s nothing more peaceful than a quiet keyboard, and ROCCAT knew that when they created the Magma Silent Membrane Switch PC Gaming Keyboard – our best membrane keyboard for silence-lovers. ROCCAT also offers a Mini model of their Magma keyboard, which is perfect for small work or gaming spaces, or those who type on the go.
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Razer Ornata V3 Gaming Keyboard
The Razer Ornata V3 Gaming Keyboard is not the same beast as the Razer Ornata V3 X we covered earlier. The Ornata V3 is the best membrane keyboard if you want to experience the best of both worlds: mechanical comes together with membrane.The Ornata V3 mimics the V3 X’s hand-friendly low-profile keys, but infuses them with the more snappy and clicky feedback of a conventional mechanical switch. The result is a keystroke that feels so precise – its ‘Razer-sharp’.
In line with the tankier mechanical vibe, this membrane keyboard is durable and hard-wearing with UV-coated keycaps that beat out regular keycaps for fade-resistance. From beneath these innovative little cubes shines signature 10-Zone Razer Chroma RGB Lighting, with its customary 16.8 million colours, effects suite and dynamic lighting effects with Chroma-integrated games.
Pros
- Unique mecha-membrane feel
- 10-Zone Razer Chroma RGB
- Ergonomic wrist rest included
Cons
- Not for the membrane purist
Verdict
Mecha-membrane switches were an innovation that needed to happen, and Razer made them happen in the Razer Ornata V3 Gaming Keyboard. You could say it’s easy to be the best membrane keyboard in the mecha-membrane category when you’re practically the only entrant, but nobody put down Apollo 11 for being the only men on the moon.
