5 Bizarre Keyboard Fads to Shun in 2024: Let’s Revolutionize Typing

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Why Some Gaming Keyboard Trends Need to Disappear in 2025

As I write this, I’m worried I might offend some of my favorite keyboard makers, but someone’s gotta speak up. Not all innovations are good innovations. And, quite frankly, I think some current gaming keyboard trends need to bite the dust come 2025. Here are five trends I think are utterly useless and here’s why:

1. LCD Screens: The Bane of Customization

I think it’s high time we retired the LCD screen on keyboards. Logitech did it back in 2005, and that’s all we needed. A mini keyboard with a screen doesn’t add functionality, it’s just a marketing gimmick that makes the board more expensive. Wireless keyboard batteries draining? You guessed it – it’s there. Device pairing information? Who doesn’t already have that app? It’s all just flashy and unnecessary. If I want to know how my keyboard is doing, I’ll check Task Manager or my wireless keyboard app, thank you very much!

2. Clear Keycaps: The Killer of Aesthetics

Take an otherwise gorgeous build and ruin it with transparent keycaps, and what do you get? An eyesore. While some people may think RGB lighting is tacky (I personally enjoy it in moderation), it’s a much better look than transparent keycaps on a plate-mounted keyboard. Keycaps, no matter their design, have the power to either elevate or detract from the overall build’s appearance. Make the choice that benefits both aesthetics and practicality.

3. Horizontal Volume Wheels: A Step Back in Time

Volume control shouldn’t be that complicated. Remember vertical rotary knobs, the good old days of controlling audio without fumbling? The horizontal volume wheel is just an inferior design for its purpose, and who doesn’t need dedicated volume control in the heat of gaming action? It’s about time manufacturers turned back to those trusty, tactile vertical knobs.

4. Plate-Mounted Stabilizers: A Weak Link

Don’t get me wrong, stabby stabilizers can be beneficial. But screw-in stabilizers have proven their mettle – sturdy, structurally sound, and quiet in operation. Those mounted on a plate, no matter the materials, tend to wobble, creak, or rattle when pressed, an annoyance even to the most devoted keyboard enthusiast.

5. The 40% Form Factor: Why the Hype?

If portability is what you want, a compact 65% keyboard or TKL layout might suit you just fine. Yes, they’ll be larger, but they’re a better overall experience. Don’t sacrifice necessary functions like numbers, media, or volume control just to have something tiny to cram onto your desk. Compact, functional designs trump novelty ones like the 40% layout, which trade-off too much.

There you have it, my take on these gaming keyboard trends that are holding us back. Let’s innovate, folks!