Used mechanical and membrane keyboards in Pakistan

Buying keyboards second-hand

Every key needs testing, individually, because a single dead switch is invisible until you hit it and is the most common fault on a used board. There are web-based key testers that show each key registering as you press it, and a seller who will run through the whole board on camera is a seller worth buying from.

Beyond dead keys, look at wear and at what can be serviced. Shine on the keycaps tells you how heavily it was used, though caps are cheap to replace on most mechanical boards. A hot-swappable board lets you replace a bad switch yourself for very little; a soldered one means a dead switch is a soldering job. Check the cable and the port, which take more abuse than the board itself.

What to check before you pay

• Test every single key with an online key tester, including the function row and numpad.
• Establish whether the switches are hot-swappable or soldered.
• Check the USB port and cable — detachable cables are a plus, a frayed fixed one is a problem.
• Ask about the switch type and whether any have been replaced.

Read how to benchmark anything before you buy it →