IMO Keyboards aren't a good form factor for analog switches and sticks. I think controllers work well with them because you are gripping the controller securely which gives you much more precise control over the exact position of the analog switch. Plus the games that make good use of analog features like driving or flight sims already have specialized controllers built to the correct shape for the type of sim game, so making more expensive keyboards or mice with analog controls would be an extremely niche product when better form factors for those controllers already exist. Answer from Ferro_Giconi on reddit.com
Reddit
reddit.com › r/pcmasterrace › it's almost 2024. why aren't analog keyboard switches more popular?
r/pcmasterrace on Reddit: It's almost 2024. Why aren't analog keyboard switches more popular?
November 17, 2023 -
How is it that we have 540Hz, 4k, and OLED displays, mice with 20k DPI and sub 2ms latency times, graphics cards capable of 100 TFLOPS, console controller compatibility, VR, etc. etc... and we're still basically using the same binary, on/off keyboard input scheme?
The mechanical keyboard space has exploded recently. People over in r/MechanicalKeyboards are paying $300 for high-end keyboards that look amazing, sound cool, and feel great, but which have 2005 technological limitations such as one connection method. Full disclosure, I happen to own a couple of said keyboards and I love them, so not knocking it. Meanwhile, in the GAMERZ XXXXTREME segment of the market, Razer is busy innovating by cramming more LEDs and malware into their keebs, and little else.
Wooting, as far as I know, has been the only game in Analog Town for years now. Their selection is limited and they're struggling to keep up with orders. Why haven't bigger players gotten into this yet? Is it a lack of demand? Wooting's waitlist seems to dispute that.
The Lekker switches they use not only allow for variable input, but also allow adjustment of actuation points. So you can literally decide how sensitive each key will be to pressure without having to swap switches, which would seem solve not one but two shortcomings of traditional keyboards when gaming.
I realize that many gamers who'd want pressure-sensitive input are solving that problem with console controllers, but there are still many games which are commonly played with kb+m that would benefit, such as any RPG that allows you to operate a vehicle. Certain strategy games like Factorio that use WSAD to drive cars and tanks are especially annoying with only on/off key presses. It would also be great for menu navigation instead of the now-ubiquitous long-press.
I realize that we'd also need buy-in from game developers, but the PC gaming community has been able to effect changes with the right amount of interest.
So, in your opinion, is this a stupid concern? Are analog keyboard switches a niche novelty that wouldn't benefit your play style?
Top answer 1 of 11
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IMO Keyboards aren't a good form factor for analog switches and sticks. I think controllers work well with them because you are gripping the controller securely which gives you much more precise control over the exact position of the analog switch. Plus the games that make good use of analog features like driving or flight sims already have specialized controllers built to the correct shape for the type of sim game, so making more expensive keyboards or mice with analog controls would be an extremely niche product when better form factors for those controllers already exist.
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The biggest enemy of a better design is a good enough design.
Reddit
reddit.com › r/mechanicalkeyboards › analog mechanical keyboard - is this worth it?
r/MechanicalKeyboards on Reddit: analog mechanical keyboard - is this worth it?
January 1, 2016 - They don't remove me from the game with physical feedback that isn't related to the game itself and they don't hinder my ability to just jam a key down. Analog input just takes that and makes it better for gaming and if I games enough I would 100% own this. I can very easily see mass adoption in 3-4 years. ... I would say yes, if you like the other attributes of the keyboard.
Why aren't analog keyboards more popular?
They're pretty expensive and they suck for actually typing, real problems with repeating and overly sensitive keystrokes. They're interesting but I couldn't imagine using one as a daily driver and switching out my keyboard to game sounds terrible. I probably would have really appreciated it when I was playing MGS5 more though. More on reddit.com
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July 13, 2024It's almost 2024. Why aren't analog keyboard switches more popular?
IMO Keyboards aren't a good form factor for analog switches and sticks. I think controllers work well with them because you are gripping the controller securely which gives you much more precise control over the exact position of the analog switch. Plus the games that make good use of analog features like driving or flight sims already have specialized controllers built to the correct shape for the type of sim game, so making more expensive keyboards or mice with analog controls would be an extremely niche product when better form factors for those controllers already exist. More on reddit.com
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November 17, 2023analog mechanical keyboard - is this worth it?
If you want a linear switch, yes, go for it. Otherwise, I would recommend against it until there's more people using it. I would love to try it for things like racing games, but as it stands, I'll stick with my clicky blues and tactile browns and wait. More on reddit.com
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January 1, 2016How practical are analog keyboards for gaming?
in games like trackmania that support the feature it definitely works, im not sure how many games actually support it though. could be worth asking in the wooting subreddit or discord perhaps More on reddit.com
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September 4, 2023Videos
08:49
STOP Buying Mechanical Keyboards! - YouTube
01:23
What are Mechanical, Analog and Hall Effect keyboards??? 🤔💡 ...
14:40
The mechanical switch is dead. - YouTube
18:51
These New Keyboards Are Here To Replace Hall Effect - YouTube
08:31
Why everyone's switching to HE keyboards (and why you should too) ...
Do you know that a mechanical keyboard can be analog or digital? ⌨️ Let's go deeper into that, and how an analog keyboard can be used as a gaming keyboard🕹️ #dygma #analogkeyboard #mechanicalkeyboards #gamingkeyboard #gamingkeyboardreview #keyboardreview | TikTok
XDA Developers
xda-developers.com › home › how analog optical switches differ from mechanical switches
How analog optical switches differ from mechanical switches
February 5, 2024 - Optical analog switches generally come at a higher cost compared to mechanical switches. This price difference is mainly due to fabrication complexity and no budget options. On the other hand, mechanical switches have been around longer, with a wide range of budget-friendly options thanks to large-scale production and availability. Mechanical switches have been a mainstay in keyboard technology for decades, resulting in a vast array of options.
ProSettings.net
prosettings.net › home › blog › analog switches in keyboards explained
Analog Switches in Keyboards Explained - ProSettings.net
October 29, 2025 - The fact that analog switches can sense the position of a switch over the entire travel distance means that they can do things that are impossible for traditional mechanical switches. Bear in mind that not every keyboard will have the same implementation.
Tom's Hardware
tomshardware.com › peripherals › keyboards › gaming keyboards
Razer Huntsman V2 Analog Keyboard Review: Pressure-Sensitive Swank | Tom's Hardware
Razer Huntsman V2 Analog Keyboard Review: Pressure-Sensitive Swank
The Razer Huntsman V2 analog mechanical gaming keyboard is premium in its feature set, design and price. Like a controller, but customizable, RGB and expensive
RTINGS
rtings.com › home › keyboard
Razer Huntsman Elite vs Huntsman V2 Analog: Which Keyboard Is Better? - RTINGS.com
January 20, 2020 - The Razer Huntsman V2 Analog is essentially the Razer Huntsman Elite, but with Analog Optical switches as they're nearly identical in their exterior designs. The difference between the Analog Optical and the linear optical switch is that the Analog Optical has an adjustable pre-travel distance and lets you use the keyboard like an analog joystick.
Overclockers UK
overclockers.co.uk › home › blog › gaming › hall effect vs mechanical vs analog keyboard showdown
Hall Effect vs Mechanical vs Analog Keyboard Showdown | Overclockers UK
February 27, 2025 - The tactile feedback and audible click associated with mechanical keyboards comes from the physical movement of your switches. With different colours, such as Cherry Red Switches featuring distinct feelings and sounds. Different switches also feature a range of actuation pressures and travel before a keystroke is registered. ... Analog keyboards bridge the gap between a standard keyboard and a game controller.
Mechanical Keyboards
mechanicalkeyboards.com › collections › analog-keyboards
Analog Keyboards
While traditional mechanical switches operate like a light switch with 2 positions (on or off), analog switches detect movement along the whole switch, allowing for more input precision and special features like adjustable actuation point and ...
Hexgears
hexgears.com › home › blogs & articles › blogs & articles
Analog vs Magnetic: Which Keyboard Is Best for Gamers Analog Keyboard or K22？
April 22, 2025 - Analog vs Magnetic keyboards—what’s better for gaming? Learn how K22 delivers precision, speed, and value compared to analog keyboards in real gameplay.
VGN
vgnlab.com › home › analog switches vs mechanical switches and which is better for your play style
Analog Switches vs Mechanical Switches and Which Is Better for Your Pl – VGN
December 3, 2025 - This consistency is why they remain ... keypress feel. Analog switches represent a major advancement in keyboard technology, offering precision and control far beyond traditional mechanical switches....
HP
hp.com › us-en › shop › tech-takes › mechanical-vs-optical-gaming-keyboards
Mechanical Vs Optical a Pro Gamers Guide To Gaming Keyboards | HP® Tech Takes
January 24, 2025 - This happens in under a second, but professional gamers and streamers prefer small or no debounce time in a keyboard because even an extra millisecond can help them achieve victory. Mechanical keyboards typically have higher debounce times because they rely on physical contact between metal components to detect an input.
GlacierPCGaming
glacierpcgaming.com › home › blogs › blogs/updates › analog vs digital input in keyboards: explained with magnetic switches
Analog vs Digital Input in Keyboards: Explained with Magnetic Switches – GlacierPCGaming.com
June 24, 2025 - Thanks to magnetic switches, keyboards are no longer limited to just on or off—they can respond to how you press, not just if you press. Whether you’re a competitive gamer or a creator looking for more control, analog input brings the fluid precision of a joystick to your fingertips—without giving up the feel and layout of a mechanical keyboard.
GravaStar
gravastar.com › home › learn › learn
Analog Switches Keyboard | Benefits of Analog Keyboards
October 5, 2025 - A well-built analog keyboard gives users precision with every movement. Whether in PC gaming, flight sims, or creative workflows, this design gives you exact control over how inputs are delivered. It’s a completely different feel from a mechanical keyboard with fixed actuation points.
Quora
quora.com › What-is-an-analog-keyboard
What is an analog keyboard? - Quora
Answer (1 of 2): All Keyboards of today that are connected wirelessly, OR are wired, by a Serial plug, or via USB, have a matrix of electronic circuits that distinguish one key from another, and in turn, provide a digital signal to the computer. If by calling a keyboard ANALOG you might mean one...
Geeky Gadgets
geeky-gadgets.com › home › gaming news › are analog keyboards the future? why mechanical keyboards may be obsolete
Analog Keyboards vs Mechanical: Which One Should You Choose? - Geeky Gadgets
June 20, 2025 - Whether you’re a competitive gamer seeking an edge or a tech enthusiast curious about the future of input devices, this exploration will reveal why the mechanical switch, once untouchable, is now on borrowed time. Change is inevitable—are you ready to embrace it? ... Analog keyboards, powered by advanced magnetic switch technologies like Hall effect and TMR sensors, are replacing traditional mechanical keyboards due to their superior responsiveness, precision, and customization options.
MakeUseOf
makeuseof.com › home › technology explained › optical vs. mechanical switches: what’s best for gaming?
Optical vs. Mechanical Switches: What’s Best for Gaming?
July 20, 2023 - Don't forget hot-swappable keyboards allow you to swap out the keyboard switches, so in the event you wear a switch out, you can just pop a new one in. The speed of switches depends on a couple of things, including the amount of force required and the distance the key has to travel to actuate. Mechanical switches have around a five-millisecond debounce delay.
Reddit
reddit.com › r/buildapc › why aren't analog keyboards more popular?
r/buildapc on Reddit: Why aren't analog keyboards more popular?
July 13, 2024 -
For those that don't know, analog keyboards allow "pressure sensitive" keystrokes where it can emulate a control stick. Racing games can allow you to feather the throttle, or games like MGS V or GTA 5 can allow you to adjust walk/run speed depending on how soft or hard you press on the key. I'm in the market for a new keyboard and there are only a handful that I know of. Anyone have experience with these? Any recommendations?
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They're pretty expensive and they suck for actually typing, real problems with repeating and overly sensitive keystrokes. They're interesting but I couldn't imagine using one as a daily driver and switching out my keyboard to game sounds terrible. I probably would have really appreciated it when I was playing MGS5 more though.
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They are extremely popular amongst competitive fps players, especially when rapid trigger is gives an advantage. The only reason you may not see as many at tournaments is because of sponsorships. The reason many people don’t use them like you suggest because many games don’t allow you to. The keyboard would be “detected” and act like a controller stick but many games don’t allow you to seamlessly use a controller and mouse at the same time. The keyboards are used, however, because that same analog feature allows for incredibly quick activation and reactivation points. The Wooting is a very popular keyboard. But most gamers aren’t competitive and will never buy a $150 keyboard when a $30 one will do.
Coffeekeys
coffeekeys.eu › en-us › blogs › notizie › hall-effect-keyboards-vs-mechanical-keyboards
Hall Effect Keyboards vs Mechanical Keyboards – Coffeekeys
May 31, 2025 - Traditional mechanical keyboards, on the other hand, have a simpler circuit based on purely passive switches. To sum up, on a technological level the key difference is that Hall Effect keyboards use magnetic sensors to continuously detect the position of the key (analog input), while custom transports use physical on/off switches (digital input).
AZIO Corporation
aziocorp.com › blog › mechanical, optical & membrane keyboards — which one is right for you?
Mechanical, Optical & Membrane Keyboards — Which One Is Right For You? - AZIO Corporation
November 17, 2021 - This style of keyboard has a separate mechanical switch beneath each key, so when the key is pressed, each keystroke can be clearly felt, and heard, by the user. As a result, many fans of mechanical keyboards say that they can type faster, and with far greater precision,on a mechanical keyboard than they're able to on an optical or membrane-style keyboard.