Mechanical keyboards feel like a recent hobbyist trend given how much attention they get on social media, but the technology is actually older than most PCs in use today. So when did mechanical keyboards come out, exactly? The real answer traces back to typewriters and early computer terminals decades before RGB lighting was even a concept.

Key Takeaways
  • Mechanical switch technology in computer keyboards traces back to the early 1970s with companies like Cherry.
  • Cherry introduced its now-famous MX switch line in the early 1980s, becoming an industry standard.
  • IBM’s Model M, released in 1985, used buckling spring switches and became one of the most iconic keyboards ever made.
  • Mechanical keyboards faded from mainstream use in the 1990s and 2000s before a hobbyist revival brought them back.

The Early Roots: 1970s Switch Technology

Before “mechanical keyboard” was a marketing term, it was simply how keyboards worked. Cherry Corporation, a German manufacturer, began developing keyboard switch technology in the early 1970s as computer terminals started replacing typewriters in offices.

  • Early computer keyboards relied on various mechanical switch designs before standardization
  • Cherry built a reputation for durable, reliable switches used in industrial and computer equipment
  • These early designs laid the groundwork for the modular switch systems still used today

Cherry MX Switches Arrive: Early 1980s

The switch format most people recognize today traces back to Cherry’s MX series, introduced in the early 1980s. The design used a stem-and-housing architecture that let manufacturers standardize keycap mounting across different switch types, a format that is still the industry norm decades later.

  • Cherry released the MX switch line around 1983 to 1984
  • The Cherry G80-0427 keyboard was among the first to feature Cherry MX Black switches
  • This modular design became the template that most modern switch manufacturers, including Gateron and Kailh, still follow

Cherry’s own account of this history is detailed on the Das Keyboard blog, which covers the company’s switch development timeline in depth. See Das Keyboard’s history of Cherry switches.

The IBM Model M: 1985

Around the same era, IBM took a different approach with its buckling spring mechanism. The IBM Model M, which began production in 1985, used a spring that would physically coil and then “buckle” under pressure, producing a sharp tactile snap and a loud, distinctive click.

  • The Model M became the standard keyboard bundled with IBM PCs and compatibles through the late 1980s and early 1990s
  • Tens of millions of units were manufactured over its production run
  • Its reputation for near-indestructible build quality still earns it a cult following, original units are still used and traded today

Wikipedia’s entry on the Model M keyboard covers its full production history and technical design for anyone who wants to dig deeper.

Fun Fact: Some original IBM Model M keyboards from the 1980s are still fully functional today, decades later, which says a lot about how overbuilt they were compared to modern budget keyboards.

The Quiet Decline: 1990s to 2000s

As PC manufacturing shifted toward cutting costs, membrane and scissor-switch keyboards took over the mainstream market. They were cheaper to mass produce, thinner, and quieter, all attractive qualities for office and consumer PCs being sold at scale.

  • Membrane keyboards became the default bundled option with most desktop PCs
  • Mechanical keyboards became a niche product, mostly kept alive by enthusiasts and specific professional use cases
  • Vintage Model M and Cherry-switch boards became collector items among typing enthusiasts

The Revival: 2010s to Today

The modern mechanical keyboard boom largely traces back to the rise of PC gaming culture and online enthusiast communities in the 2010s. Gaming brands began marketing mechanical switches as a performance advantage, and the custom keyboard hobby exploded from there.

  • Gaming peripheral brands popularized Cherry MX switches as a selling point starting in the early 2010s
  • Online communities and group buys grew the custom keyboard hobby into a genuine subculture
  • Today’s market includes everything from budget gaming boards to boutique artisan keyboards costing hundreds of dollars

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What was the first mechanical keyboard ever made?

There is no single “first” mechanical keyboard, switch technology evolved gradually through the 1970s, with Cherry’s MX line and IBM’s buckling spring design becoming the most influential systems by the mid 1980s.

2. Is the IBM Model M still available to buy today?

Original units are sold secondhand, and Unicomp, a company that acquired the manufacturing rights, still produces modern versions of the buckling spring design.

3. Why did mechanical keyboards disappear for a while?

Cost was the main driver. Membrane keyboards were far cheaper to mass produce, and as PC manufacturers prioritized lower prices, mechanical boards became a niche product through the 1990s and 2000s.

4. When did mechanical keyboards become popular again?

The revival gained real momentum in the early to mid 2010s, driven largely by PC gaming culture and growing online enthusiast communities.

This history is compiled from publicly available manufacturer and archival sources. Exact dates for early switch prototypes vary slightly across sources since documentation from the era is limited.