Start with switch type, not switch brand
Mechanical switches fall into three broad families: linear, tactile, and clicky. Linear switches move straight down with no bump or click, which is why they're common in fast, repetitive inputs. Tactile switches add a bump partway through the keystroke that you can feel without bottoming out. Clicky switches add both a bump and an audible click. None of these is objectively better than the others; they change how much feedback you get before a keypress registers, and that's mostly a matter of preference and how quiet your environment needs to be.
Layout is a space and habit decision
Full-size boards keep the numpad and every function key in a fixed, familiar place, which matters if you regularly type long strings of numbers. Tenkeyless (TKL) boards drop the numpad, freeing up desk space for mouse movement without changing anything else about typing. Smaller layouts like 65% and 60% go further, folding arrow keys and function rows into secondary layers. They're compact but come with a learning curve if you rely on dedicated arrow keys or media controls.
Hot-swap sockets remove the soldering step
A hot-swappable keyboard lets you pull switches out and replace them without a soldering iron, using sockets built into the PCB. This matters if you expect to try different switch weights or feel over time, or if a single switch fails and you'd rather replace it than the whole board. Non-hot-swap boards work fine as-is, but changing switches later requires desoldering.
Mounting style changes the sound and feel
How the plate holding the switches is mounted to the case affects both sound and how much give the keyboard has when you press a key. Tray-mount designs screw the plate directly to the case bottom and tend to feel firmer. Gasket-mount designs sandwich the plate between soft material, giving a slightly bouncier, often quieter keystroke. Neither is right or wrong; it's a tuning choice that's easier to feel than to describe, which is why trying a board in person, if you can, is worth doing before buying based on specs alone.
