Switches
I'm going to do short write ups of all the switches I have, excluding the few clicky ones, I don't like them :P
A lot of these switches I only have 1-5 of, so I can't do actual typing tests.
I will try to also include official manufacturer data where I can.
Linear Switches
Cherry MX Speed Silver
Very commmon switches, can serve as somewhat as a baseline for comparing linear switches, though they have shorter travel than usual (thus "Speed" Silver).
Pretty light, but very scratchy, rattling, and loud. Every part of the movement is noisy, you can hear plastic on plastic, the spring is audible if you listen closely and in general it sounds very bright and plasticky.
Perfectly adequate, but nothing special.
Tech specs
According to the manufacturer's website
| Measurement | gf/mm |
|---|---|
| Initial Force | 30 |
| Final Force | 100 |
| Actuation Force | 45 |
| Initial Travel | 1.2 |
| Total Travel | 3.4 |
Kailh Deep Sea Silent Pro Box Linear Islet
What a name. I'll Just call it "Deep Sea Linear".
These are as far from clicky as you can get.
They are very smooth and sooooo quiet. You have to put your ear right next to them to hear the actual motion. They do make a tiny bit of sound bottoming out and coming back up. When pressed with force they make a satisfying thock.
All in all a drastic difference from the Cherry Silvers in sound and feel, and probably a little lighter. They have the same actuation force according to the spec sheet, but the graphs make these look they have a lot flatter force curve line.
Perfect for people who want light, linear, and quiet. I like them a lot, though I don't know if I'd like typing on them.
Tech specs
According to the manufacturer's website
| Measurement | gf/mm |
|---|---|
| Actuation Force | 45 |
| Initial Travel | 1.8 |
| Total Travel | 3.6 |
Gateron Oil King
Shorter but worse name.
Veeery smooth, smoother even than the Deep Sea Linear. A bit louder and brighter-sounding than the Deep Sea Linear, not as thocky, but still very pleasant compared to the Cherry Silvers. Takes notably more force to press, too.
If you hate scratchy switches, and want something a little heavier.
Tech specs
According to the manufacturer's website
| Measurement | gf/mm |
|---|---|
| Actuation Force | 55 |
| Initial Travel | 2.0 |
| Total Travel | 4.0 |
| Spring Size | 20 |
Gateron Smoothie
As the name suggests, very smooth! Maybe even smoother than the Oil King? Or maybe that's just the lighter spring.
It's a bit louder and brighter-sounding than the Oil King, but still pleasant, especially compared to the Cherry Silvers. Notably lighter than either one.
It is quite a bit louder than the Deep Sea Linear, with more of a bright clack compared to the Deep Sea's thock. It is a little lighter to press.
For those who want the smoothest, light operation.
Tech specs
According to the manufacturer's website
| Measurement | gf/mm |
|---|---|
| Actuation Force | 40 |
| Initial Travel | 2.0 |
| Total Travel | 3.6 |
| Spring | 22 |
Gateron G Pro 1.0 White
Very light, semi-scratchy, as loud as the Cherry Silvers but less rattly. Lighter to press than the Gateron Smoothie, but nowhere near as smooth, and with more of a click sound than a clack sound.
Apparently these are not factory-lubed, which even the Cherry Silvers claim to be.
Tech specs are the same as the 3.0 below.
Gateron G Pro 3.0 White
Very similar to the 1.0 above but quite a bit smoother, and a little quiter, and less bright-sounding. A small but significant improvement.
Get these if you need the lightest possible switch, otherwise I don't see any reason to take these over the Smoothies.
Tech specs
According to the manufacturer's website
| Measurement | gf/mm |
|---|---|
| Actuation Force | 38 |
| Initial Travel | 2.0 |
| Total Travel | 4.0 |
Gateron G Pro 3.0 Yellow
Like the 3.0 in White but heavier. The sound is a little deeper, but it's no thock.
Tech specs
According to the manufacturer's website
| Measurement | gf/mm |
|---|---|
| Actuation Force | 50 |
| Initial Travel | 2.0 |
| Total Travel | 4.0 |
Gateron G Pro 3.0 Silver
Like the Whites, but a little heavier, and notably shorter travel.
Significantly improved over the Cherry Silver they are modeled after.
Tech specs
According to the manufacturer's website
| Measurement | gf/mm |
|---|---|
| Actuation Force | 45 |
| Initial Travel | 1.2 |
| Total Travel | 3.4 |
Tactile Switches
Cherry MX Brown
Wow, these are SO SCRATCHY. Much worse than even the Silvers! They're quite loud, but they are a little less bright and rattly than the Silvers to my ears.
Tech specs
According to the manufacturer's website
| Measurement | gf/mm |
|---|---|
| Initial Force | 30 |
| Final Force | 80 |
| Actuation Force | 55 |
| Initial Travel | 2.0 |
| Total Travel | 4.0 |
| Spring |
Gazzew Boba U4T
I have both 62g and 68g versions of these (which unfortunately look identical), which as far as I can tell refers to the force of the spring?
The manufacturer's English website, or a website claiming to be that, has no data on these. Like none at all. Nor of any other key switches. For all I know that website is for a differen Gazzew.
Anyway, 62g seems to be more than I like on a spring, which is sad because these are pretty nice.
They are pretty smooth. The tactile bump is encountered early in the travel and feels wonderful! They are relatively loud and make a decisive deep clack sound, almost a thock sound.
Tech specs
According to the manufacturer's rtings's review of the 62g switch
| Measurement | gf/mm |
|---|---|
| Operating Force | 59 |
| Actuation Force | 42 |
| Initial Travel | 2.3 |
| Total Travel | 3.1 |
Durock T1
This one also only gives a spring strength (67g) and no English-language website that I could find.
They are quite smooth, and easier to press than the Gazzew U4T 62g, which might be because the tactile bump is encountered later and the force isn't all at the very start of the press.
They are moderately loud and thocky. Quiter than the U4T and not as decisive sounding, but less also clacky.
Tech specs
According to the manufacturer's rtings's review
| Measurement | gf/mm |
|---|---|
| Operating Force | 67 |
| Actuation Force | 46 |
| Initial Travel | 2.4 |
| Total Travel | 3.9 |
Durock T1 Silent Shrimp
Apparently the "silent" version of the above T1.
Definitely significantly quieter, but far from silent. No more clack, just a soft thock.
It feels a bit stiffer and maybe a tad less smooth. Too much force required for my taste.
According to various websites selling Switchesswitches these might or might not have the same specs as the regular T1. I can't find anything authoritative.
Durock Koala
62g version of the T1, definitely easier to press, brighter and clackier sounding and maybe a tiny bit scratchier.
Louder than the T1 Shrimp, but way less stiff.
Easier to press than the U4T 62g, even though both have 62g spring. Doesn't sound as clacky, either.
I like these!
Durock White Lotus
Several shops claim this one has 56g spring. It feels like a significantly easier to press version of the Koala, but sounds more like a brighter version of the T1.
I like this one, too!
All of the Durock switches are very similar, but I prefer the lighter versions that are easier to press. I have however not enough of them to submit them to a proper typing test, so maybe I will change my mind later.