Best mechanical keyboards under $150?

Hey there! I'm looking to pick up a new keyboard with a budget of around $160. It's going to be used strictly for data entry tasks. I'd love to get your take on lighting—do you think backlit keys or illuminated legends are better for this kind of work? Also, if anyone has any specific keyboard recommendations, please let me know!

It’s all super subjective, honestly. Everything you're looking for should fit your specific workflow and habits perfectly. Someone else's favorite setup might be a total nightmare for you. From what I gather, you're looking for a tool for work, not a toy, right? You need something comfortable for long sessions, not some flashy gadget meant to show off to the neighbors...

For example, my personal vibe would be a "clean" keyboard—nothing too extra, no unnecessary "gamer" buttons or crazy RGB rainbows everywhere. Something more minimalist. Like a Razer Naga (without the FX!), which technically counts as a gaming mouse, but actually hits exactly what you're describing. But hey, that's just me; you might find that look totally unappealing.

A few things to keep in mind:
- Are the special characters engraved and backlit, just engraved, or missing entirely? Basically, are we talking a standard US layout or something else?
- Is it an ANSI or ISO layout? That affects the Enter key shape and how all those symbols are positioned, which matters if you have specific muscle memory.
- What kind of switches are we talking about? Tactile, clicky, linear? Just a heads up—clicky switches can be loud enough to drive people crazy. If you're working from home, your family might actually kick you out of the house at night if they have to hear that clicking constantly...

Personally, I'd love a Razer Naga with blue backlighting, Brown switches (not too loud, but you still feel the bump when you press), and zero extra fluff or useless junk getting in the way of work...

Bottom line: you really need to see it in person and get some hands-on time with it!