Tired of MX Cherry Reds or Browns? Have you seen your friends use weird switches and wondered what makes them different?
Today, we're going to put together a guide explaining what makes a switch special and what to look out for when shopping for a switch for a mechanical keyboard.
Note: From our own experience, we try to cover the most important aspects of keyboard switches. Why should you trust us? We run ELOQUENT CLICKS, an online store for keyboards, so we have the opportunity to try many different types of switches. Hopefully, with this guide, you'll be able to find the switch that best suits your tastes and save money!
Switch Basics
How it all started...
I used to think people bought a brand new Mars Gaming, Corsair or Razer keyboard and that was it. The keyboard and the typing experience it offers have remained the same since purchase. no longer
Ever since customizing mechanical keyboards became a hobby, the global keyboard community has spent time and effort developing switches that produce different sounds and feel. The market is full of switches these days, tempting customers to try many different switches to find the one they like.
Main components of switch
Cherry MX Blue, MX Brown, MX Black
First, we need to understand some switch parts in order to understand what makes the switch special. These different components, or a combination of them, are the components that make the switch feel or sound a certain way. Here is a summary:
These parts can be made from nylon, polycarbonate, UHMWPE, POM and other undisclosed plastic blends.
Here's a list of your favorite switches and their plastic make-up
transform top housing bottom shell dry
Cherry MX Nylon Nylon "Custom Blend" (POM)
Kyle Cream POM POM POM
Tektronix Purple Panda PME PME POM
Duroc POM POM POM P3
Gatlon Oil King Nylon Based Ink POM
Each plastic has its own characteristics and produces varying degrees of smoothness and sound. We strongly encourage trying different switches.
What is the best switch?
not any!
The only perfect switch is the one that suits your taste!
We'll offer some advice to guide you along the way. These are some of our most popular switches. We'll show you some of our thoughts on each switch.
linear
Gateron Yellow - A community favorite. Inexpensive but very smooth.
Gateron Pro Yellow - An improved version of the regular yellow. Polished rails, new mold, same price.
Gateron Ink Black v2 - High-end switch. It has long been loved by the community for its fluidity.
Gateron CJ – Smooth, crunchy linearity. One of the latest Gateron releases.
Gateron Oil King - Smooth, top heavy duty linear with new factory oil process.
Kailh Pro Burgundy – A popular dry alternative to cream.
Bobagum - Linear switch that tries to be completely silent
Boba LT – Long stem linear with great stock performance and poppy sound
Durock POM – All POMs are linear for a buttery smooth feel
touch
Akko CS Jelly Blue – Budget Haptics with "Double-Bump" Springs
Boba U4T – Big touch bump. One of the best touches on the market
Boba U4 – same as U4T, but silent
click
Kailh Box Jade/Navy - Popular for its satisfying clicks!
Kailh Speed Bronze - Responsive click bar and fast response time popular among gamers
Switch/Mechanical Keyboard Community + Resources
You can join our discord server and find other keyboard geeks!
r/ Switchmodders - Subreddit for Switch fans and modders
r/MechanicalKeyboards - General mechanical keyboard subreddit.
Keebtalk - Generic mechanical keyboard site where many switch topics are discussed.
in conclusion
Hope this helps you decide which way to go to your next transition. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to us and our community in our discord server. You can always visit us on our discord server and chat with us on all keyboards.
We are a keyboard supplier based in Spain and we love keyboards so much we dedicate our lives to all of them!