9 Ridiculously Expensive Mechanical Keyboards

9. Optimus Maximus

The Optimus Maximus has been touted as the world’s most expensive mechanical keyboard, with a whopping price tag of over $2,000.

The keyboard boasts features like a solid aluminum chassis, Cherry MX Brown switches, and an RGB LED-backlit display. It was designed by Art Lebedev Studio, a design company in Russia.

The Optimus Maximus is made specifically for gamers and typists who are looking for an elegant, sleek and premium experience at home or on the go. 

Optimus Maximus

What Is A Mechanical Keyboard?

A mechanical keyboard is more like a musical instrument than a typical computer accessory. The keys are made of individual switches that produce a different sound and tactile feedback to the user, depending on which key is pressed. This makes them perfect for gaming and typing enthusiasts who crave a more responsive, tactile feel from their keyboards.

As such, not all mechanical keyboards are created equal, some are better than others when it comes to noise reduction and responsiveness. And while we’re talking about expensive things, you might as well spend an extra $100 or so for something comfortable to rest your wrists on.

But even with all of the benefits of using a mechanical keyboard, it can be hard to get your hands on one if you don’t want to spend the money.

What Makes Mechanical Keyboards Expensive?

Mechanical keyboards are known for their durability and reliability, which is why mechanical keyboards last longer. They’re also much more expensive than the typical rubber dome keyboard.

Rubber dome keyboards use a simple membrane to separate the key from its switch, while mechanical keyboards have individual switches under every key. These switches provide a better typing experience and last much longer than rubber domes.

Here, we’ll look at the common factors that contribute to the insanely high price of the most expensive mechanical keyboards above.

• Materials: The materials used in mechanical keyboards determine the level of quality. The more premium models are made with metals like aluminum or stainless steel, which have been anodized. Manufacturers will coat these metals with durable protective layers such as paint or powder to make them scratch resistant and more visually appealing.

• Switches: Different switches will determine how fast you type, how many keys can be pressed at once, and how well they respond to pressure applied on top of them. If the keyboard offers different varieties of switches (reds, blues, browns), then this is another contributing factor to its cost. 
• Customization: What really sets some keyboards apart is the customization options available. Some manufacturers allow customers to customize things like font colors, custom macros, sound effects, and backlight colors. Being able to design your own board could easily double or triple the original price tag, depending on what you decide. Other boards come pre-customized with gamer-style color schemes, including designs like white lettering over a black background or red backlighting over white lettering.
• Proprietary Designs: The more generic mechanical keyboards are a lot less expensive than these custom models. In fact, you can find them for $10-15 on Amazon. One of these boards even lets you program macros for free! The above designs will be hard to find cheaper alternatives for, and many of them are hand-made from quality materials by skilled artisans. Because there’s so little supply, they’re able to keep prices higher than most people would like to pay.
• Brand: The biggest determining factor when it comes to pricing is brand. There are only a few companies that manufacture mechanical keyboards, and they each have their own patented methods of building them. Even if two boards have similar features, the difference in price usually boils down to the company that manufactured them. Many brands work closely with professional gamers who test out new products before release. Because these gamers often earn thousands of dollars per year playing games, companies cater to their needs by providing superior equipment and luxurious design options that wouldn’t typically be offered on standard models.
• Manufacturing Costs: A final factor would be the country it’s being manufactured in. If it’s being manufactured by hand by only one person, then this would raise the cost considerably because there would need to be more labor involved compared to mass production. Many people think about what makes these mechanical keyboards so expensive when purchasing them but fail to realize all of the small factors that go into it all!

Frequently Asked Questions

Hopefully, you find our list of ridiculously expensive mechanical keyboards useful. Below we answer a few additional mechanical keyboard frequently asked questions.

Final Thoughts On Ridiculously Expensive Mechanical Keyboards

Mechanical keyboards are typically considered a high-end product due to their durability and higher level of customization. While they are often more expensive than membrane keyboards, they offer superior performance and reliability.

If you’re an avid gamer, you’ve most likely heard of these mechanical keyboards before — they are the preferred choice of gamers who demand speed and accuracy when playing their favorite video games.

But while mechanical keyboards used to be considered just a luxury item and cost around $200, today, they come with much higher price tags that will make your jaw drop. In this article, we have provided you with a list of the most expensive mechanical keyboard models in the world and hopefully convince you that they are worth every penny (or dime).