Tired of MX Cherry Reds or browns? Are you seeing your friends with weird switches, like "Boba U4Ts" or "Black Inks", and are wondering what makes these switches special?

Today, we will write up a guide that explains what makes switches special, what to look out for when you are buying switches for your mechanical keyboard.

PLEASE NOTE: We try to cover the most important aspects of keyboard switches, based on our own experience. Why should you trust us? We run ELOQUENT CLICKS, a keyboard online store, so we have had the opportuntiy to try many different type of switches. Hopefully, with this guide, you will be able to find the switch that most suits your taste, and save money! 

Switch Basics

How it all started...

I used to be that people bought a brand new Mars Gaming, Corsair, or Razer keyboard, and that was about it. The keyboard, and the typing experience it offered remained unchanged since it was bought. Not anymore

Ever since custom mechanical keyboards became a hobby, the global keyboard community has spent time and effort to develop switches that will produce a different sounds and feels. Nowadays, the market is full of switches that seduce customers to try many different switches to find their preferred switch.

Switches main parts

First, we need to know some of the switch parts to understand what makes a switch special. These different components, or their combination, are the ones that make a switch feel or sound a particular way. Here is a summary:

These pieces can be made of Nylon, Polycarbonate, UHMWPE, POM, and other plastic mixes that are not disclosed.

Here is a list of your favorite switches and their plastick make-up

Each plastic has its own characterics and produces different levels of smoothness and sound. We highly encourage trying different switches.

What are the Best Switches?

NONE!

The only perfect switch is that one that suits your taste!

We will provide some suggestions to steer you along the way. These are some of our most popular switches. We will show give you some of our thoughts on each switch.

Linear

• Gateron Yellow – Community favorite. Cheap, but incredibly smooth.
• Gateron Pro Yellow – Improved version of the regular yellows. Polished rails, new molds, same price.
• Gateron Ink Black v2 – High End switch. Long time community favorite for its smoothness.
• Gateron CJ  – Smooth, and clacky linear. One of the newest Gateron releases.
• Gateron Oil King – Smooth, top heavy linear, with new facttury lube process.
• Kailh Pro Burgundy – Popular Cream stem alternative.
• Bobagum  – Linear switch that attempts to be completely silent
• Boba LT  – Long-pole linear with great stock performance, and poppy sound
• Durock POM – All POM linear, creating a buttery smooth sensation

Tactile

• Akko CS Jelly Blue – Budget tactile with a “double bump” spring
• Boba U4T – Large Tactile bump. One of the best tactiles in the market
• Boba U4 – Same as the U4T, but silent

Clicky

• Kailh Box Jade/Navy – Popular for its satisfactory click!
• Kailh Speed Bronze - Popular among gamers for their responsive click bar and fast response time

Switch/Mechanical Keyboard Communities + Resources

You can join our discord server and find other keyboard freaks!

r/Switchmodders  – Subreddit for switch enthusiasts and modders

r/MechanicalKeyboards – General mechanical keyboard subreddit.

Keebtalk – General mechanical keyboard website, where many switch topics are discussed.

Conclusion

Hope this helped you decide your way into your next switch. If you have any questions, do not hesitate in contacting us and our community within our discord server. you can always visit us on our discord server and chat with us on all things keyboards.

We are a keyboard vendor based in Spain, we love keyboards so much, we have dedicated our lives to all things keyboards!