There's a reason you don't see many top-notch budget gaming keyboards: In order to check the right boxes and hit the necessary price point, manufacturers must either sacrifice features for the typing experience or the typing experience for features. To get both, you typically have had to go with something high-end (and much more expensive), like our Editors' Choice, the Corsair K95 RGB ( at Amazon) . But thanks to an innovative new switch, Razer gives you the best (or at least most of the best) of both the gaming and typing worlds in the Ornata Chroma, which costs just $99.99. It's our Editors' Choice for low-cost gaming keyboards. Features and Design What's Razer's secret with the Ornata Chroma? Switches that combine the, uh, key features of the predominant typing technologies in the consumer keyboard market. Razer calls the technology "Mecha-Membrane," and it's just what it sounds like: part its own proprietary mechanical switch, part silicone dome. When you hit a key, the mech...

With a unique new switch design and a compellingly low price, the Razer Ornata Chroma is both an outstanding gaming keyboard and a terrific value.

Attractively priced; Fine typing experience for any application

Limited features; Some adjustment may be required

The Ornata Chroma is posited a keyboard that merges the mechanical and membrane typing experience. Hybrid keyboards of this ilk are nothing new, and the so-called 'mecha-membrane' switches Razer uses here are reminiscent of Cooler Master's 'mem-chanical' switches seen in its keyboard, though the two...

I have to admit being a little hesitant about buying another Razer product after a mouse of theirs lasted less than a week. That said this keyboard was something I liked the look of and after destroying my old MadKatz with a glass of wine I took the plunge.

best mechanical keyboard ive ever owned (hybrid)

clicky keys; quick response; short travel keys; bright vivid colors

wrist bad doesn't attach to keyboard so i can slide around a bit; need preloaded keybindings in razer synapse software

This is an interesting one. Mecha-membrane promises to reduce fatigue and help you actuate faster. A lot faster, thanks to the mid-height keycaps. You can read the brochure of the tech here.

The Ornata Chroma keyboard implementation is unique: a combination between membrane rubber domes and the regular mechanical switches in order to have best of both worlds. These are integrated along with a medium-height keycap design for an even faster access to the keys.

Love the keyboard. The illumination is very strong and the keys feel ultra good. The wrist rest is amazing and very very comfortable but its magnetic and not screwed to the keyboard.

Razer's rubber-dome/mechanical hybrid switch is more psychological trickery than an actual revolution, but it's trickery that somehow works.

Little mechanical "click" disguises the rubber-dome underpinnings; Stylish and high-end compared to most rubber-dome keyboards; Generously padded...

As expensive as an actual mechanical keyboard; Still a rubber-dome keyboard at its core; with all the rubber-dome problems; Uneven lighting

Sure, you'd still encounter them out in the wild, used by people who either didn't care or didn't know about mechanical keyboards. For enthusiasts, though, it's been all mechanical for years now.

While the Razer Cynosa Keyboard came in a bundle that I reviewed a while back, the latest Ornata device did not. However the awesome guys a Razer sent me both an Ornata keyboard, and a DeathAdder Elite mouse to play around with.