Best Mechanical Switches for Gaming. Where can i buy mechanical switches

It may take a while to get used to, as the sensation isn’t as smooth when it’s brand new. As it has a self-lubricating design, the sensation becomes smoother like butter over time.

Switch Types

After deciding to choose a mechanical keyboard, the next question very quickly arises: what type of switch do you want to use? Switches are perhaps one of the most important parts of a keyboard. Two keyboards from the same model, but with different types of switches, can be completely different.

So which switches are the best?
Unfortunately, overall there is no easy answer, it really depends on your preferences. But don’t worry, we’ll walk you through it. This article will tell you everything you need to know and help you make the right decision.

Mechanical Keyboard Switch Types

Based on their characteristics, there are basically three types of switches: line switches, tactile switches, and clickable switches.

Linear switches are the simplest. They feel the same from the moment you start hitting a key until you hit the bottom. There is no haptic feedback or noise when hitting the activation point (the point where a keystroke is registered – usually somewhere in the middle). So most of the time you will probably hit the lowest level with every key press.

Tactile switches provide tactile feedback upon hitting an activation point. As you press a key, you will notice a small lump that tells you that your keystroke has been successfully registered.

Clicky switches provide an additional click sound when hitting an actuation point. The main advantage of tactile and clickable switches is that you don’t have to press the key all the way. You can release the key immediately after receiving feedback.

The most popular manufacturer of mechanical keyboard switches is the German company Cherry. Cherry created the famous Cherry MX switch in the 1980s and patented it. The switch has basically become the standard for mechanical keyboards. Almost every mechanical keyboard has used Cherry MX switches. Today the patent has already expired and anyone can benefit from the Cherry MX switch concept. As mechanical keyboards have grown in popularity over the past few years, several manufacturers have introduced their own types of switches. Cherry MX switches are still very popular though.

The Razer Linear Optical Switches only have a very short actuation distance and require slightly less keystroke force than the Cherry MX Red. Due to the inherent characteristics of these switches, it is worth taking some time to get used to them.

Our Top Picks

Cherry MX Key Switch for Mechanical Gaming Keyboard

Razer Linear Optical Switch

Gateron KS-9 RGB Mechanical MX Type Clear |Top Key Switch

Best Mechanical Switches for Gaming: First Look

Cherry MX Key Switch for Mechanical Gaming Keyboard

Cherry is one of the most popular brand choices when it comes to mechanical keyboard switches, so don’t be surprised if you spot a few further down this list! Our top pick is the best of the group but has plenty of choice for players of all stages of the game.

Razer Linear Optical Switch

They may only be sold as part of some Razer keyboards, but these Razer Linear Optical Switches are too good not to mention the mechanical switches. They react stably, smoothly and super fast thanks to the light signals they use.

Gateron KS-9 RGB Mechanical MX Type Clear |Top Key Switch

The RGB compliant MX Gateron KS-9 mechanical switch is ideal for storing a few spare keys as it comes bundled with 65 items to hold. The quiet brown key switches are quiet to use and respond fairly well, which is great for gaming.

Cherry MX Red Key Switch MX1AL1NN

As with Cherry MX black, the Cherry MX Red key switches differ in the level of force required for activation, which is 45 cN. They can meet a wide range of needs as they are the perfect choice for replacing keys or even for a custom keyboard build.

Cherry MX Black Key Switch MX1AG1NN

Finally, we looked at the Cherry MX Black key switches, which require more 60 g of force to actuate and are therefore more resistant to pressing than the Cherry Red key switches. If you like a tactile keyboard, this is definitely worth considering.

As you’d expect from a bronze toggle switch, the relief to the touch is smooth. They feel solid, between a loud clicking switch and a smooth linear. If activated slowly, you will feel almost buckling as the switch reaches its touch point.

Our keyswitches

These are the switches we currently offer.

Cherry MX Brown

Our most popular switch. Cherry MX Brown switches are tactile and quiet. Perfect for office use. They are the preferred choice for programmers, writers, and anyone who spends many hours in front of the computer.

Actuating force 45 ± 20 gf Initial travel 2.0 ± 0.6 mm

Cherry MX Blue

Almost as popular as the Browns, the MX Blue are everyone’s favorite ‘click’ switch. Easily recognizable by the characteristic audible click sound. Perfect for people who work from home or have friends who appreciate old school mechanical keyboards.

Actuation force 50 ± 15 gf Initial travel 2.0 ± 0.6 mm

Cherry MX Clear

The slightly heavier sibling of the Brown Switch. The MX Clear has the same properties as the Brown with slightly more resistance, for those wanting more pronounced feedback.

Actuation force 65 ± 15 gf Initial travel 2.0 ± 0.6 mm

Cherry MX Red

Most popular among gamers due to its relatively light weight and the lack of response to touch. A robust tool for fast keystrokes.

Actuating force 45 ± 20 gf Initial travel 2.0 ± 0.6 mm

Cherry MX Silent Red

These are really silent. Very quiet key switch, it’s as close to the acoustics of laptop typing. Perfect for typing during conference calls and next to colleagues. It’s so quiet that people around you may not even realize it’s a mechanical keyboard.

Actuation force 45 ± 15 gf Initial travel 2.0 ± 0.6 mm

Cherry MX Black

Think Cherry MX Red, but heavier. Linear, no haptic or audible feedback.

Actuation force 60 ± 20 gf Initial travel 2.0 ± 0.6 mm

Cherry MX Speed Silver SpeedSwitch

The smoothest Cherry MX switch on the market. Like red, but lighter and more responsive, bouncy enough to get the mechanical feedback you know and love, light enough to write for hours.

Actuating force 45 ± 15 gf Initial travel 1.2 ± 0.4 mm

Kailh Brown

Oh so smooth. At 60 gF, this version of the classic Brown switch requires a little bit of pressure. Compared to the Cherry MX Brown, its sound is slightly lower and more muffled, and the return action is less pronounced.

Actuation force 60 ± 10 gf Initial travel 2.0 ± 0.6 mm

Kailh Thick Gold SpeedSwitch

Popcorn in the form of a keyboard. They are clickable in a way we have never experienced before: one click for the down movement and another click for the up movement. A high, clear click. Light, precise and totally unique – this key switch is addictive.

Likewise, the way the keyboard keys feel under your fingers as they fly from left to right, typing action commands or messages to friends (and enemies) playing online, although be sure to keep the atmosphere friendly as it’s just a game after all…

Types of Key Switches

Mechanical keypad switches are widely available in three categories. Depending on their characteristics, they are either linear, tactile or clickable.

Linear switches typically run smoothly and provide consistent actuation without any kind of tactile feedback. Triggering or registering a keystroke occurs when it hits the bottom, and since there’s no bump between them, the linear switches slide downward fairly easily. Many gamers prefer to invest in keyboards with linear switches, the most popular of which is Cherry MX Red.

The tactile switches are similar in design to the linear switches, but feature a protrusion halfway down the key’s downward movement. This lump is a trigger point, meaning the keystroke is recorded before it is fully bottomed. This enables faster typing as the key does not have to travel all the way down to actuate it, making it the preferred choice of typists. Cherry MX Brown switches are one of the most popular among the many tactile switches on the market.

The Clicky Switches follow the same concept as the Tactile Switches, meaning they are bumpy but at the same time louder by design. These key switches offer a punch along with some additional sonic feedback, which is quite satisfying, almost like an old typewriter. However, it can be annoying to the people around you, especially in an office environment. If you like having a nice clicky keyboard, you can take a look at the Cherry MX Blue switches.

Which Key Switch should I get?

Based on the above features, you will find different types of switches offered by several manufacturers. Cherry MX is the most popular and widely accepted key switch, and was also one of the first to classify it by color. First of all, you need to know that red or black switches are linear, brown or transparent switches are tactile, and blue or green switches are clickable. Depending on the keyboard manufacturer, these may vary, but most follow Cherry’s color coding. We will discuss them in detail in a future post.

Most users recommend gaming linear switches because they offer consistent keystrokes, increasing the precision of each keystroke. Drivers typically prefer tactile or clickable switches as they allow a key to be pressed faster. To be clear, there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to key switches. Depending on your personal preferences, you can choose from three options. Personally, I have been using linear switches for a while and in my opinion they are great for typing and gaming. That said, there are some factors you should consider when investing in a mechanical keyboard.

First of all, you need to make sure that the key switches last for a long time. You don’t want to spend a lot of money on a keyboard that doesn’t have a solid shelf life. Typically mechanical switches have a lifetime of up to 50-80 million keystrokes, and Cherry MX switches offer a 100 million keystroke guarantee. Avoid buying a keyboard with cheap or unfamiliar mechanical switches at all costs.

Make sure you have the correct switch with the correct keycap set. Some keyboard manufacturers offer low-profile keycaps to reduce overall weight. These should work well for users who have smaller hands or are not typing hard. Speaking of which, make sure you invest in a keyboard that provides the proper spring force as well as travel distance. The strong force of the spring can put the fingers under stress. Likewise, choosing a keyboard that provides short key travel means you don’t have to squeeze every key.

If you’re in the process of purchasing a new keyboard, check out our list of the best mechanical keyboards to buy in 2021.

Oh, such springy smoothness. We often think that Black switches are a bit stiff due to the high actuation force, but the smooth operation of the Box Black makes them somehow lighter. These switches are still pushing off, but they’re not tiring.

Improving on the ALPS tradition.

We were HUGE fans of the original ALPS click switches. In fact, we’ve made every effort to keep them in production – at one point, committing ourselves to the purchase of a million switches!

But when it became clear that we were living off borrowed time, we knew we had to do something. It was the heart of our award-winning Tactile Pro. If this switch dies, our product dies with it.

Our factory suggested we use Cherry switches instead, but they seemed cheap to us and sounded like an old rubber dome that had lost all its flexibility. They were linear and thin-sounding. We liked touch and clicking.

So we chose the only course of action we had left. Try to authentically recreate our beloved ALPS switch. We weren’t sure if we would make it, but we had to try.

2 years and a million little details later, not only were we able to recreate the greatness of the original ALPS switch, we also improved it.

We eliminated the “chorus of springs”, a residual bell noise that some users found annoying. We improved the quality and thickness of the materials used to make the switches.

In short, we’ve created the best ALPS switch so far.

Built to last longer.

Traditional ALPS switches had a lifetime of 10 million cycles. Matias Click switches last 5 times longer – 50 million cycles.

Most keyboards don’t register more than a few keys at a time, so they may not be able to keep up with very fast typists. The result is called ghosting – no letters are left in what you actually typed, or extra letters you haven’t typed.

These problems can be completely eliminated on a mechanical keyboard by simply adding a LED to each switch. This is one of the main advantages of mechanical keyboards over cheaper technologies.

After deciding to choose a mechanical keyboard, the next question very quickly arises: what type of switch do you want to use? Switches are perhaps one of the most important parts of a keyboard. Two keyboards from the same model, but with different types of switches, can be completely different.

Other Mechanical Switches

Buckling Spring switches contain a spring that bends when a key is pressed. This mechanism controls a small hammer that strikes a membrane switch to signal that a key has been pressed.

Topre Switches

Topre switches are a newer solution that is almost a hybrid between a mechanical toggle keyboard and a rubber dome keyboard. Topre switches are capacitive switches that use a spring under a rubber dome. When you depress a key, it compresses a spring, causing the capacitive circuit underneath to sense that the key has been depressed.

Alps Switches

And at the same time they look very similar to the real thing. For this reason, determining what ALPS you have or whether it is a true ALPS requires opening a switch, which is a difficult task that requires a delicate hand as removing them alone can potentially damage the switches.

Mechanical Keyboard Maintenance and Cleaning

Keyboards get dirty from sweaty palms while typing, or crumbs falling off while eating lunch at the computer. After spending time researching mechanical keyboards and then purchasing one for its excellent performance and longevity, it’s time to consider cleaning and maintaining it. Whether you just want to clean the surface or pull out the keys and clean every inch of the keyboard, it’s important to know the best way. Here are some tips for keeping your keyboard clean as well as removing the keycaps for cleaning or replacement.

Simple mechanical maintenance cleaning of the keyboard

To maintain the mechanical keyboard and protect it from debris, turn the keyboard upside down and shake it to release any loose debris from inside. Take some air from the can and lightly spray the keyboard to remove anything that didn’t work out initially. It helps if you hold the keyboard upside down at an angle so that any crumbs and debris fall out. Also use quick, short blasts when spraying air into the can.

Thorough cleaning

And even harder to put it back in place. As shown in the photo below, the stabilizer connects to 2 small white pieces attached to the key. It is very easy to break these pieces and even lose one if it flies off the keycap after being removed. Unfortunately, there are no spare parts for them, so if they are damaged or lost, the wrenches they come with will no longer work properly. Since it is possible to clean very thoroughly without removing these keys, it is recommended that you leave them in their place. Unfortunately, there are no spare parts for them, so if they are damaged or lost, the wrenches they come with will no longer work properly. Since it is possible to clean very thoroughly without removing these keys, it is recommended that you leave them in their place. As shown in the photo below, the stabilizer connects to 2 small white pieces attached to the key. It is very easy to break these pieces and even lose one if it flies off the keycap after being removed. Unfortunately, there are no spare parts for them, so if they are damaged or lost, the wrenches they come with will no longer work properly. Since it is possible to clean very thoroughly without removing these keys, it is recommended that you leave them in their place. Unfortunately, there are no spare parts for them, so if they are damaged or lost, the wrenches they come with will no longer work properly. Since it is possible to clean very thoroughly without removing these keys, it is recommended that you leave them in their place. Since it is possible to clean very thoroughly without removing these keys, it is recommended that you leave them in their place. Unfortunately, there are no spare parts for them, so if they are damaged or lost, the wrenches they come with will no longer work properly. Since it is possible to clean very thoroughly without removing these keys, it is recommended that you leave them in their place. Since it is possible to clean very thoroughly without removing these keys, it is recommended that you leave them in their place. Unfortunately, there are no spare parts for them, so if they are damaged or lost, the wrenches they come with will no longer work properly. Since it is possible to clean very thoroughly without removing these keys, it is recommended that you leave them in their place.

2) After removing the keys, hold the keyboard upside down and shake it to let loose debris fall out of the keyboard. Then take a can of air and a brush to loosen and remove any remaining pieces.

3) If something has fallen into the keyboard, take a damp cotton cloth or microfiber cloth and wipe the area with it. If necessary, use a drop of isopropyl alcohol or diluted liquid soap (1 drop per gallon of water) to remove any sticky substances. Do not apply liquid directly to the keyboard, put it on a cloth. The switches in Das keyboards use gold contacts as gold prevents the contacts from rusting; However, if there is any liquid in the switch around the contact, it will keep the connection closed (as if a key is pressed) until the water evaporates. Always contact your keyboard manufacturer as some keyboards (except Das Keyboard) do not work well with alcohol and can be damaged by alcohol. If that’s not enough to clean up spilled drinks,check out our blog post on cleaning spilled drinks.

Like Thick Gold switches, these activate before an audible click. This means you can touch them very lightly and still have your character on the screen.

The Best Linear Switches

Here are some of the best line switches you can find on a mechanical keyboard:

Cherry MX Red

Cherry MX has always made some of the best switches. Cherry MX Reds are some of the most popular linear switches you can find. This is not least because manufacturers can flood the market with their switches. This is also because these switches provide good value for money.

They require 45 grams of force to run. Each switch has approximately 100 million presses before it is executed. The Cherry MX Red also has a Silent variant which is even quieter than the regular variant.

Cherry MX Red has several advantages including the fact that it comes at a modest price and high click quality.

Outemu Red

Outemu has made Outemu Red as a great alternative to Cherry MX Red. If you’re looking for a responsive keyboard, this is a great option. It is an inexpensive quality switch. They have a actuation force of 50g which is moderate for a linear switch. Plus, it has high-quality, inaudible clicks that are great for gaming.

Outemu’s red switches have a travel distance of 4 mm. This is where you would have to press a switch to register the instruction you plan to execute.

Its disadvantage is the low trigger level and the fact that it is less stable than many other line switches.

Kailh Red

This is a Chinese alternative to Cherry Red MX. There used to be rumors and reviews about the poor quality of these switches, but these have diminished and been almost suppressed. This is because they have vastly improved their switches since it was criticized.

Its activation force is 5ocN and records a distance of 2.00 mm before travel and 4.0 m after travel.

Kailh Black

Some negative reviews say that it can sometimes make you fatigued when used for too long. Black Kailh is also a linear switch which is great for typing and gaming. It has a trigger point of a force of 60 cN. Records 2.00mm before travel and 4.0mm after travel.

Gateron Red

They are also similar to Cherry MX Red switches. The significant differences are the performance up and down. Gateron Red has low friction points on its downstroke, and also has a very different performance on its upstroke. If you are a typist who is used to Cherry MX Red, the experience of typing on Gateron Red will be different.

Also, when you press the keys, it takes longer than usual to boot up. The advantage of Gateron Red is that there is almost no contact noise. This is one of the most silent line switches you can find.

Gateron Yellow

If you’re looking for an inexpensive but high-quality switch, Gateron Yellow should be one of your top choices. Thanks to the actuation force of 50 g, there is no need to apply that much pressure before it starts. Typing with it is smooth as it provides smooth, noiseless clicks. Its downside is that it has a low activation point.

If you’re new to linear switches, the yellow Gateron should be your best choice as it shows up with moderate resistance. It also has a smaller stem size which makes the writing quite smooth. The travel distance is 4mm; this is the standard linear travel distance of the switch.

Durock Linear Switches

Durock POM line switches have a fairly smooth, almost pre-lubricated quality. At the same time, it does not contain any pre-lubrication.

Final Thoughts

If you like smooth typing, linear switches are a good option. For the best experience, you should choose the best switches for you and your keyboard.

When choosing a linear switch, try testing it to see what you like. Note the minimal wobble which doesn’t make too much noise, and the manufacturers’ lubricant is enough to give you a smooth and smooth experience.