Introduction
I used to have a personal keyboard that I absolutely loved in college. It was a simple Logitech brand that sounded great and was easy to type and game on. It was a keyboard that was fairly worn out already ( I bought it used) so I knew it was nearing the end of its life cycle.
The term “hot swappable” is a term you see a lot when looking at gaming specs and customization. I found online that Cherry MX style keys can have switches and caps swapped for custom key placement if you’re one of the few people to have a solder on hand. I needed to learn more.
I did a ton of original research so you do have to on this subject! Use this quick read as a one-stop explanation for any and all questions you have about hot swappable keys (or if you’re a beginner gamer looking to get the best gear).
But are hot swappable keys worth it?
While any keyboard can have their caps changed, players use hot swappable keyboards to relocate the entire key and its function (delete, shift, tab) to a different place on the keyboard. They are equally affordable as regular keyboards but provide more functionality and customization.
In the next sections of this article, I’ll cover the following things:
- Hot Swappable Keys easily explained
- A decision tree to help you decide if you should get one
- Product examples of hot swappable keyboards
- Additional resources
I’ll also leave my contact info at the end of this article if you have any additional questions or comments.
Can any keyboard be hot swappable?
While any keyboard can have their caps switched, very few keyboards are Hot Swappable. You swap the top cap button on any keyboard, but the function of that buttons location will remain the same.
In other words: if you swap the the TAB button cap with the BACKSPACE button, pressing the TAB button at its swapped location will still function as the BACKSPACE key.
Changing the location of a keyboard button with its function requires a soldering tool. You would have to disassemble a significant amount of the keyboard’s membrane and then solder it in place. Most people don’t think this is worth the effort or even know how to do this successfully.
Should I get a hot swappable keyboard?
I made a really helpful decision tree to help you decide if you should get a hot swappable keyboard.
The best keyboards are the ones that have “predetermined feature switches” that let you pre-program keys as you want.
If you know you don’t want a gaming keyboard, then check out the perfect 10 steps to choosing a regular gaming keyboard for you. This is an article I wrote that helped me decide.
The Top Two Hot Swappable Keyboards
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Best Feel |
Most Customizable |
There weren’t that many products I came across when I was doing my research. I think this is mainly because manufacturers find it to be cheaper to release regular keyboard instead.
Most gamers are not interested in this feature, and it seems to be that people with serious customization needs will purchase a product like this. Luckily, Logitech has a noteworthy keyboard that has the best reviews and it is one of the most well-known gaming companies.
If you aren’t able to watch the video then here’s a quick recap:
- The Logitech Pro X is a hot swappable keyboard that allows you to swap the entire function of the button with the button itself. It’s also received several thousand positive reviews and is voted to be in Amazon’s Choice product.
- Logitech is well known in the gaming industry for having some of the best gaming gear that can provide the widest range of features for players of all abilities.
I would recommend this product for people that seriously want full customization of their keyboard. This is a product that is almost always sold out because of how popular this product is.
It comes with a switch changing kit that also includes magnets that help you detach the keys and it can also be fully RGV programmed. I highly recommend watching the video review this because it really shows you how awesome a keyboard like this can be. This is the one I have saved on my wishlist from Christmas.
If you’re interested in more gaming keyboard products I’ve personally researched, check out my article on 20 of the best gaming keyboards in the world.
Do hot swappable keyboards give me an advantage in competitive gaming?
Hot swappable keyboards don’t give players an advantage in competitive gaming. They simply allow you to put keys and their function where you want them.
“Majority of the time, players just change the software functioning of their keys and remember that they made the TAB button reload their characters weapon.” Nikhil Singh- Valued responder at PC Gaming Enthusiasts Group
Important note: You have to double check the product description when looking to buy one of these. There aren’t a lot of hot swappable keyboards on the market that give you the true customization they’re supposed to.
It’s also important to note hot swappable keys are best for left handed gamers who aren’t the best at typing on a standard QWERTY layout.
I asked some of my gamer friends on the Facebook Community I’m apart of and surveyed the reddit thread as well here’s one user Diyson_Ral said:
“I purchased a hot swappable keyboard awhile ago because I want to be able to transfer my keys to a new membrane keyboard once it wears out. Good for saving money this way.”
If you’ve decided that a hot swappable keyboard is worth it, check out the next section on the top two keyboards I researched. If you’re someone who wants to have a longer lasting keyboard that always allow you to have extensive customization, then be sure to check out the recommended products section.
Related Questions
What are Cherry MX stems? These are the little knobs that stick out of the bottom of a key. If you pull out the key you’ll see that there’s a rubber stem that inserts directly into the keyboard. This is standard across most gaming keyboards make make button pressing all the more satisfying.
How do I actually Switch a key in a hot swappable keyboard? Hot swappable keyboards come with a disassembly kit, that includes calibrated screws and magnets that, when applied to the bottom of the keyboard, disconnect the keys in that location so you can easily take them out.
Conclusion
Before I knew what hot swappable keys were, I was only planning on getting a standard gaming laptop that “looked cool.” I didn’t realize how much more functionality this type of keyboard brings to a gamer like me. I know for a fact going forward that I’ll be saving up for one of these in the future.
Thanks for reading! If you have any extra questions or comments, feel free to reach out at entertainmentden.ns@gmail.com and I’ll do my best to respond. I’m also taking article suggestions so feel free to send those over too if you have them.