Mechanical keyboard switches offer different strokes for different folks

Summary

• Key switch types include linear, tactile, and clicky, each offering different properties for various preferences and needs.
• Mechanical switches can be swapped out or chosen during the purchase, offering customization options for users to personalize their experience.
• Choosing the right key switch is crucial for typing and gaming. Factors to consider include shelf life, keycap compatibility, spring force, and actuation distance.

Mechanical keyboards are all the rage. They come in many shapes and sizes, wired or wireless, and, of course, with and without fancy RGB lighting. These days, you can even get laptops that come with mechanical keyboards. But the most important factor to consider when buying a mechanical keyboard is the key switch. Choosing the right mechanical key switch can make a huge difference, for an improvement over a membrane-based keyboard. They are more reliable, and offer a more personalized experience by offering varied feedback and travel time depending on which one you choose. Mechanical keyboard switches also tend to have a much better shelf life, lasting millions of keystrokes.

What is a mechanical keyboard switch?

A switch within the context of a keyboard is the mechanism underneath the keys. On a mechanical keyboard, each key has its own complete switch mechanism, consisting of a housing, a spring, a stem, and some other parts like click bars. Variations can be made on several of these components, giving rise to a plethora of options on the actual switch, causing different properties such as the amount of pressure needed to actuate and to bottom out, the sound made, the travel distance, and more.

Practically all mechanical keyboards allow for the keycaps to be removed. Quite a lot of keyboards also allow for hot-swapping switches, meaning you can take the switches out of the keyboard and change them for different ones. If this swapping option is not available to the user, there's usually an option to choose the keyboard switch type at the time of purchase. This makes it quite imperative to know and understand the different types of mechanical switches, in order to make the correct choice that will suit your needs.

Types of key switches

Which switch is right for you?

Mechanical keyboard switches are broadly available in three categories. Depending on their characteristics, they are either linear, tactile, or clicky.

Linear switches usually feel smooth and offer a consistent actuation without any tactile feedback. The actuation or the registering of a keypress happens when it bottoms out, and since there are no bumps in between, linear switches glide down rather easily. Many gamers prefer investing in keyboards with linear switches, with the most common one being Cherry MX Red.

Tactile switches have a similar construction as linear, but include a bump halfway through the key’s downward travel. This bump signifies the actuation point, which means that a keypress is registered before it fully bottoms out. This enables a faster typing experience since the key doesn’t have to travel all the way down to actuate, thus becoming the preferred choice of typists. Cherry MX Brown switches are one of the most popular among the variety of tactile keyboard switches available in the market.

Clicky switches follow the same concept as tactile switches, which means they're bumpy, but at the same time, they are louder by design. These key switches offer a bump along with additional audio feedback, which is pretty satisfying, almost like an old typewriter. However, this can be annoying for people around you, especially in an office environment. If you like having a nice clicky keyboard, you could look at Cherry MX Blue switches.

Manufacturers of mechanical switches

Our fingers thank them

Alongside a myriad of mechanical switch types, there are also quite a few manufacturers who make them now as well. Originally, you had Cherry with their MX switches, then along came Kailh and Outemu. Now, everyone makes their own switches, from RK to Razer, and even AKKO, Gateron, and Topre. There are many more as well, probably too many to list. It seems every manufacturer these days wants to have their own mechanical switches.

One of the great things about having a plethora of manufacturers is that they all put their own spin on the switch. So, while all of them may offer a red switch, for instance, there will be a slight variation of the switch from one manufacturer to the next. Some manufacturers even come up with completely new switches like Razer did with their clicky green switches back in 2013. This has led to an absolute abundance of new switches.

Companies are always looking to outdo one another and, as such, new switches are released quite often. In fact, at this year's Computex, Cherry launched a few new switches, including a silent switch and their first analog switch.

Which key switch should you get?

The choice is yours

As mentioned, you'll find various 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 them by color. Primarily, you need to know that Red or Black switches are linear, Brown or Clear switches are tactile, while Blue or Green switches are clicky. Depending on the keyboard OEM, these can differ, but most of them are aligned with Cherry's color-coding. We will be discussing them in detail in a future post.

For gaming, most users recommend linear-type switches such as red, or one of my personal favorites, the MX speed silver, as they offer a consistent keystroke, adding precision to every key press. Typists usually prefer tactile or clicky switches, as these allow for a faster keystroke experience. To be clear, there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to key switches. Depending on your personal preference, you can choose between any of the three options. I’ve used linear type switches for a while now, and in my opinion, they work great for typing and gaming. Having said that, there are certain factors that you should consider while investing in a mechanical keyboard.

First and foremost, you need to make sure that the key switches last a long time. You don't want to spend a lot of money on a keyboard that doesn’t have a solid shelf life. Usually, mechanical switches have a lifespan ranging up to 50-80 million keystrokes, with Cherry MX switches offering a guarantee of 100 million keystrokes. While it is best to buy a more well-known brand, there are now plenty of cheaper brands that are still reputable.

Make sure you get the right switch with the right set of keycaps. Certain keyboard manufacturers offer low-profile keycaps to reduce the overall weight. These should work well for users who have smaller hands or don't type with heavy force. Speaking of which, ensure that you invest in a keyboard with switches that offer the right amount of spring force as well as travel distance. A strong spring force can tend to put a strain on your fingers. Similarly, opting for a keyboard that offers a short actuation distance means that you don't have to mash down every key.

If you are in the process of buying a new keyboard, once you can narrow the list down based on your switch preference, make sure you check out our list of the best mechanical keyboards to buy in 2024.