Choosing your keyswitches?

Keyswitches are one of the most important aspects of a mechanical keyboard. Getting to know your options will help you get the most out of your keyboard.

What are mechanical keyswitches?

Each key on a mechanical keyboard hides an actual physical switch under it. Typing on these mechanical switches is a very different experience from typing on regular ones. The keys have more travel and are much more tactile; you don’t have to press a key all the way down to get it to register, which makes typing easier on the fingers; and of course, mechanical keyboards have their own unique sound.

They sound like a keyboard.

What are your options?

Listen to the intro

When buying one of our keyboards, you get to choose from many keyswitch types.

When thinking about your switches, there are several things you should consider.

First, how much noise do you want your keyboard to make?

Do you want a clicky switch or a non-clicky switch?

Second, do you prefer a smoother typing experience, or do you want to feel a little bump when the key is actuated?

So, do you want a linear switch with no bump or a tactile switch with a bump?

And how much force do you want to use when typing on your keyboard?

This is measured in grams of pressure.

So do you want something really light, or do you want something that pushes back on your fingers a little?

If you can find some friends who have mechanical keyboards, try different switches to see what you like best: See what feels best under your fingers.

And remember, this decision isn't forever: you can swap out the keyswitches on your keyboard anytime, no soldering required.

Enjoyed that? Listen to Tisha talk some more about switches!

A summary

Switch

Force

Pre-travel

Feel

Our keyswitches

Filter

all

clicky

linear

tactile

Cherry MX brown

Actuation force

45±20gf

Pre-travel

2.0±0.6mm

Feel

tactile

Our most popular switch. Cherry MX Brown switches are tactile and quiet. Excellent for office use. These are a preferred choice for developers, writers, and anyone who works long hours in front of the computer.

Listen to Tisha talk about this switch in more detail.

Cherry MX blue

Actuation force

50±15gf

Pre-travel

2.0±0.6mm

Feel

clicky

Almost as popular as the Browns, MX Blue are everyone's favorite "clicky" switch. Easily recognizable by their signature audible clicking sound. Ideal for people who work from home, or have colleagues who appreciate old-school mechanical keyboards.

Listen to Tisha talk about this switch in more detail.

Kailh box red

Actuation force

45±15gf

Pre-travel

1.8±0.3mm

Feel

linear

These are very civil switches. Typing on them is a pleasant, gentle experience. The linear action is easy on the fingers, and the sound is a little muted. Like other Kailh switches, actuation is beautifully smooth and fluid.

Listen to Tisha talk about this switch in more detail.

Cherry MX red

Actuation force

45±20gf

Pre-travel

2.0±0.6mm

Feel

linear

Most popular among gamers for their relatively light weight, and lack of tactile feedback. A solid performer for high-speed keypresses.

Listen to Tisha talk about this switch in more detail.

Cherry MX silent red

Actuation force

45±15gf

Pre-travel

2.0±0.6mm

Feel

linear

A very quiet keyswitch, it’s as close as you’re going to get to the acoustics of typing on a laptop. Ideal for typing during conference calls and next to coworkers. It’s so quiet, people around you might not even realize it’s a mechanical keyboard.

Listen to Tisha talk about this switch in more detail.

Kailh bronze (Thick Gold) [SpeedSwitch]

Actuation force

50±10gf

Pre-travel

1.1±0.4mm

Feel

clicky

Popcorn in keyboard form. These are clicky in a way we’ve never experienced before: Clicks once on the downstroke, and clicks again on the upstroke. A high-pitched, crisp click. Light, precise, and utterly unique — this keyswitch is addictive. These switches actuate before the audible click. This means you can tap them very lightly and still get a character on your screen.

Listen to Tisha talk about this switch in more detail.

Kailh gold [SpeedSwitch]

Actuation force

60±10gf

Pre-travel

1.4±0.3mm

Feel

clicky

An extremely fun keyswitch — we would almost say it’s exciting to type on. Its click is crisp and precise, and its actuation is smooth. Just typing on this switch would make you feel productive. These switches actuate before the audible click. This means you can tap them very lightly and still get a character on your screen.

Listen to Tisha talk about this switch in more detail.

Kailh silver [SpeedSwitch]

Actuation force

40±10gf

Pre-travel

1.1±0.3mm

Feel

linear

This is an extremely smooth keyswitch. Light enough not to tire your fingers, and quiet, too. You can feel the linear resistance, but it’s not too much — just springy enough so that you feel you’re actually pressing something. Ideal for soft typing in an office environment. These switches have a high actuation point. This means you can tap them very lightly and still get a character on your screen.

Listen to Tisha talk about this switch in more detail.

Kailh copper [SpeedSwitch]

Actuation force

40±10gf

Pre-travel

1.1±0.3mm

Feel

tactile

Quite similar to the Kailh Silver, only these are tactile. So even though it’s specced the same in terms of actuation force, to our fingers these switches felt heavier than the Silver. Just as smooth as the Silver, but louder and a bit more muscular. Think “Brown lite”. These switches actuate before the tactile bump. This means you can tap them very lightly and still get a character on your screen.

Kailh box brown

Actuation force

50±15gf

Pre-travel

1.8±0.3mm

Feel

tactile

As we've come to expect from a switch labeled Brown, the tactile bump is gentle. These feel solid, right between a loud clicky switch and a smooth linear. Actuated slowly, you'd feel an almost buckling effect as the switch reaches its tactile point.

Listen to Tisha talk about this switch in more detail.

Kailh box white

Actuation force

45±10gf

Pre-travel

1.8±0.3mm

Feel

clicky

Slightly lower in pitch than the Kailh Gold, these are clicky to the point of being crunchy. Actuation is a smidge lighter, and it feels as though the box design might result in a slightly more resonant click.

Listen to Tisha talk about this switch in more detail.

Kailh box black

Actuation force

60±10gf

Pre-travel

1.8±0.3mm

Feel

linear

Oh, such springy smoothness. We often think of Black switches as somewhat firm due to the high actuation force, but the buttery smooth action of the Box Black makes them feel lighter somehow. These switches still push back, but they don't feel tiresome.

Listen to Tisha talk about this switch in more detail.