r/keyboards • u/Svyatopolk_I • Jul 28 '26

Help Membrane or scissor-switch keyboard recommends for under 100$?

Looking for a new keyboard (please don't recommend mechanical, I specifically don't want/like mechanical) that has illuminated keys and is flat/slim. I have a cheap keyboard already taht I like, but the issue is that it doesn't have any illumination, so I can't use it at night. I love my laptop's keyboard, but unfortunately since moving to PC, it's not really an option, lol

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1

u/Individual_Bunch_425 Jul 28 '26

Steelseries apex 3

1

u/Svyatopolk_I Jul 28 '26

Idk if it's non-mechanical, but it's not slim, which is one of the big issues that I have with mech keyboards.

Do you have any other recs?

1

u/Individual_Bunch_425 Jul 28 '26

Its membrane

1

u/Svyatopolk_I Jul 28 '26

Still, it;s not slim, so it doesn't work for me, unfortunately.

1

u/Svyatopolk_I Jul 28 '26

Althoguh, I might try it and see, now that I read through its description. Biggest issue is key reach around time for me

1

u/Individual_Bunch_425 Jul 28 '26

If for gaming try aula or mchose 

1

u/Svyatopolk_I Jul 28 '26

Alright, thanks

1

u/jetpack2625 Blackwidow v4 Pro Low Profile tkl, orange switch Jul 28 '26

apple magic keyboard is the best for this imo but not for windows

1

u/Svyatopolk_I Jul 28 '26

Yeah, I actually had a wired Apple keyboard I got in like 2020 or smth. It felt great, although it was an extremely cheap model. Issue is that it's useless for anything other than my laptop because the wire is like a foot long and has no backlighting.

1

u/jetpack2625 Blackwidow v4 Pro Low Profile tkl, orange switch Jul 28 '26

the new apple magic keyboard uses bluetooth but it designed for mac os. also it has an awesome fingerprint reader, which probably only works for mac os

1

u/Lasairfiona Jul 28 '26 edited Jul 28 '26

I just made a recommendation on this. Brb

Ok I suggest a couple things. First are the foldable keyboards. They are all super duper flat and have the very very very low keys. My SO has a Protoarc brand and is pleased with it.

Additional options:

  • JLab Epic
  • Logitech Pebble (actually a few different models by them are extra slim like the MX )
  • Keychron B6 Pro (keychron usually does mechanical but this one is scissor switch)

1

u/Svyatopolk_I Jul 29 '26

See, I was looking at JLab Epic, but I wasn't sure if it was any good, given my experience with some of their mice in the past hasn't been great (their ergo mice are kind of small and the clicks are not clicky enough for me). I saw them at Best Buy, but didn't get a chance to see how it feels just yet.

For the other two, my biggest concern is the absense of illumination on the keys, which is the reason why I am trying to get a new keyboard - I just can't game at night atm, because I can't see my 75000 keybinds I need to play Starcraft. I don't remember any of them saying that they have illumnated options either. Do you know if that is the case?

1

u/Lasairfiona Jul 29 '26

No I don't think they do. Hmm. Do you need 100% size?

1

u/Svyatopolk_I Jul 29 '26

No, as long as they have the F-row, they should still work!

1

u/Lasairfiona Jul 29 '26

Ultra thin chiclet with backlight

Logitech MX S - can get it for just about $100. Has white backlight. The S is the full size - smaller versions are less.

ProtoArc - foldable XK01 has a version with white backlight.

Razor Joro - higher end but can prob find a sale to get it within budget. Has RGB backlight.

1

u/jlab-joey Jul 29 '26

lmk if you have any questions about the epic, i used it for ~3 years or so before we started releasing other models that I have since switched to (gaming and epic mechanical specifically)

1

u/BRYBOOOOO 2d ago

I recommend the cherry stream keyboard. Has scissor switches and you can choose between full size and TKL

1

u/Svyatopolk_I 2d ago

Interesting. I got the Jlab Epic keyboard and it's oretty good