Razer Ornata keyboard combines mechanical and membrane technologies to offer something new

For years, we’ve have a distinct line separating membrane keyboards from those that use mechanical switches. Now, the lunatics at Razer have said, “why not both?”

The Razer Ornata Chroma keyboard is a new $100 device that brings together elements of mechanical and membrane technologies. Razer calls it Mecha-Membrane, and the company claims it keeps only the best of both. That means you get the pleasant and smooth button-pressing action of most modern membrane keyboards as well as the feedback and reliability of the classic mechanical style.

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The Ornata is available now on Razer’s website for U.S. customers, and it will ship worldwide in October.

“The Razer Mecha-Membrane is the result of years of research and development that we’ve dedicated to build the best keyboards for gamers,” Razer cofounder and chief executive Min-Liang Tan said in a canned statement. “When we moved to our own Razer Mechanical Switches in our production lines, we were excited to learn from real-use scenarios and apply that knowledge to perfect other technologies. The Razer Ornata is a great example of how our engineers can use feedback to innovate something truly amazing for gamers — in this case, a solution that melds two seemingly disparate keyboard technologies for a phenomenal experience.”

Razer already makes some excellent mechanical keyboards. I love using the Blackwidow for its loud clicks and satisfying actuators, and I’ve never thought that it would feel better if it had mushy keys like a membrane keyboard. But, then again, that was never an option before, so maybe Razer is on to something with the Ornata.