Are cheap mechanical keyboards good for gaming?

Yes. The mechanical switches in budget keyboards actuate at the same speed as premium switches. What you sacrifice is build quality, switch smoothness, and software features — not gaming response time. The K552 and HyperX Origins Core have identical actuation speed to $150 keyboards.

What are hot-swappable switches?

Hot-swappable keyboards let you pull out switches and replace them without soldering. This means you can start with cheap stock switches and upgrade to premium ones (Gateron, Cherry, Kailh) as your budget allows — future-proofing your investment.

Best Gaming Keyboards Under $50 2026