Keyboard Backplate

Mechanical keyboards must have switches mounted to something, whether that's a PCB, metal plate, or plastic plate. Metal plate mounting is generally found in more expensive keyboards and provides a heavier and sturdier keyboard. PCB mounted switches are found in cheap keyboards and will have more flex and give to them, but they are lighter and cheaper. Plastic plate mounting provides a middle ground between PCB and metal plate mounting, but it’s not commonly used. 

Plastic plate mounting also has the unique advantage such as being able to better disperse backlighting compared to metal and PCB, depending on the plastic.

See Also

• Cherry MX Switches
• Romer G Switches
• Kailh Switches

Read More

• Keyboard Backplate Differences.

Related Products

• Original metal backplate: IBM Model M.
• Plastic backplate: Razer Blackwidow Chroma.
• Modern metal backplate: Corsair K70.

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