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Electronics
Mechanical keyboards range from ₹2,500 to ₹25,000, (≈$30–$300) and the spec sheet reads like another language: linear vs tactile vs clicky switches, hot-swap sockets, gasket mounts, PBT keycaps, 2.4GHz vs Bluetooth. Once you know which few specs change the typing feel, the rest is taste and budget. This guide translates.
Quick answer
Pick the switch first: linear for gaming, tactile for typing, clicky only if you work alone.
Hot-swap sockets let you change switches later without soldering.
PBT keycaps stay matte; goes shiny within months.
Choose the size that keeps the keys you actually use.
A few questions about your situation, not about the product.
Add one short need not covered above.
Answer all 3 questions to see the spec sheet to shop with.
For electronics the expensive failures are the display, the board and the battery. Extended cover is worth it only when it names those parts and offers a repair path in your city.
Ask these five questions
Usually not covered
Rule of thumb: worth considering on a high-value device you carry around, rarely worth it on a low-cost one where a plan costs more than ~15% of the price.
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Linear (smooth press), tactile (bump you feel), clicky (bump plus loud click).
Why it matters
The switch defines the feel and the noise — nothing else comes close.
What to check
Clicky switches in a shared room or office will make you unpopular fast.
Switch sockets that let you pull and replace switches without soldering.
Why it matters
Your taste will change; hot-swap turns a ₹3,000 (≈$36) switch experiment into a 10-minute swap.
What to check
Check 3-pin vs 5-pin socket support before buying switches.
Full-size (with numpad), TKL (no numpad), 75%, 65%, 60% (shrinking key sets).
Why it matters
Smaller boards free desk space and bring the mouse closer, but drop keys you might need.
What to check
Spreadsheet users: keep the numpad. Check where arrows and Delete went on small boards.
(smooth, shines over time) vs PBT (textured, stays matte).
Why it matters
PBT caps keep their texture and legends for years; gets greasy-shiny in months.
What to check
Double-shot or dye-sub legends don't fade; laser-etched ones do.
Wired USB, 2.4GHz dongle, Bluetooth — often all three.
Why it matters
2.4GHz is near-wired latency for gaming; Bluetooth pairs with tablets and laptops cleanly.
What to check
Bluetooth-only boards add a hint of lag; battery life claims vary wildly.
How the plate and PCB sit in the case — tray, gasket, top mount — plus foam layers.
Why it matters
Gasket mounts and foam give the softer, deeper sound people call 'thock'.
What to check
Acoustic jargon is the hobby's rabbit hole — pleasant, but optional.
₹3,500–₹8,000 (≈$42–$96) buys a genuinely good hot-swap board. Beyond ₹12,000 (≈$140) you're paying for acoustics, materials and hobby-grade refinement.