Pounding the opponents in counter-strike or commanding your army, it needs smooth reflexes to ace the game. Mechanical keyboards have become essential for smooth gaming with its relentless movement controls along with the better response that creates the whole difference between a regular and a mechanical keyboard.
Keyboards are categorized in two, mechanical and rubber dome keyboards. Where the latter are common and cheaper than mechanical ones. Mechanical keyboards have individual key switches and metal springs. They offer unmistakable and stronger feedback along with precision as you press the key.
Choosing between the best mechanical it can be overwhelming to see millions of products out there in the market. No matter most of them are durable and offer ultimate performance, but still, it is necessary to hunt for the best out of them.
If you are planning to purchase mechanical switches, you have come to the right place as we have gathered what needs to be considered before making a purchase along with the best products in the market.
Editor's Pick | 5/5 | |
 | CHERRY MX Series Keyswitches ☞ Metal frame ☞ Faceplate mount ☞ Lifespan: 50 million keystrokes per key |
Table of Contents
Things to consider before buying
With every passing day, there is a new product with new innovation in the market which sometimes makes it harder to catch up with what to look for and what not while purchasing or upgrading to a new product.
Types of mechanical switches
There are three types of mechanical switches that perform different functions.
- Linear switches
- Tactile switches
- Clicky switches
Linear switches
They offer the simplest operation; moving straight up and down without any feedback or click noise. These key switches provide more rapid actuation, which makes them the best for gaming.
Tactile switches
These switches are designed to offer tactile feedback. There is a noticeable bump in the middle of the push to let you know that your key has been registered.
Tactile switches are best for gaming, especially typing as they give an idea that your key has been pressed.
Clicky switches
These switches work just like tactile switches, the difference is that clicky switches make a distinct noise that let you user know that the key has been registered.
Tactile preference
The feel of the press matters when it comes to gaming. Feeling a slight bump or not sound at all, smooth click is all about personal preference. Besides the sound and press, tactile and clicky switches offer more accuracy as compared to linear ones.
Environment
It is important to consider where you are going to use your keyboard. If it is the office or someplace with a lot of people or crowd, it is better to have mechanical switches that do not make any sound.
You hand size and typing style
Where it sounds abrupt, the size of your hand plays an important role in choosing the right switches. It tends to say the big hands, big fingers, more misclicks.
Well, if you have bigger hands it is ideal for you to use switches with;
- High activation points
- Medium to the heavy operating force
Keeping under consideration, choosing the best mechanical switches, always go in favor of your personal preference.
Our 5 Best mechanical key switches
| Image | Name | Features | Rating | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | CHERRY MX Series Keyswitches | ☞ Metal frame ☞ Faceplate mount ☞ Lifespan: 50 million keystrokes per key | 5/5 | Check Price |
 | Kailh Mechanical Keyboard Switches | ☞ ☞ ☞ | Check Price | |
 | Glorious MX Switches | ☞ It includes 6 Gateron switches ☞ There are 8 Kailh switches ☞ There are 5 Glorious o-rings | 4.5/5 | Check Price |
 | Gateron mechanical MX key switches | ☞ They are plate mounted. ☞ LED compatibility ☞ These switches are transparent. | 4/5 | Check Price |
 | Massdrop Halo Clear Keyboard Switches | ☞ These key switches are compatible ☞ You can customize the light ☞ They are medium | 4.4/5 | Check Price |
1. CHERRY MX Series Keyswitches
Features
- Metal frame
- Faceplate mount
- Lifespan: 50 million keystrokes per key
Cherry is one of the best names in making mechanical keyboard switches since a long time offer the most durable and promising functionality for a longer period of time. These key switches are categorized in different colors that define the different type of keys.
Best for: Gamers with fast action, minimal resistance, and accuracy.
Keys
Red keys
- Behavior: Liner
- Feel: Light
- Actuation force: 45g
- Actuation point: 2mm
- Long travel distance: 4mm
- Sound: Quiet
Black keys
- Behavior: Liner
- Feel: Heavy
- Actuation force: 60g
- Actuation point: 2mm
- Long travel distance: 4mm
- Sound: Quiet
Blue keys
- Behavior: Clicky
- Feel: Heavy
- Actuation force: 60g
- Actuation point: 2mm
- Long travel distance: 4mm
- Sound: Loud
Brown keys
- Behavior: Tactile
- Feel: Medium
- Actuation force: 45g
- Actuation point: 2mm
- Long travel distance: 4mm
- Sound: Quiet
Customer review
This product came just as described, in good quality and shape. It makes the best custom mechanical keyboard.
2. Kailh Mechanical Keyboard Switches
Keys
Red keys
- Behavior: Linear
- Feel: Light
- Actuation force: 50g
- Actuation point: 2mm
- Long travel distance: 4mm
- Sound: Quiet
Black keys
- Behavior: Linear
- Feel: Light
- Actuation force: 60g
- Actuation point: 2mm
- Long travel distance: 4mm
- Sound: Quiet
Brown keys
- Behavior: tactile
- Feel: Medium
- Actuation force: 50g
- Actuation point: 2mm
- Long travel distance: 4mm
- Sound: Quiet
Blue keys
- Behavior: Clicky
- Feel: Heavy
- Actuation force: 60g
- Actuation point: 2mm
- Long travel distance: 4mm
- Sound: Loud
Khail manufactures the best key switches that offer ultimate performance along with durability and quality. These switches are easy to install and comes in all the different types that are categorized as per the colors.
These key switches can be used on every keyboard. They offer compatibility with SMD, LEDs, and you can also illuminate them through transparent housing.
Customer review
These keys can easily be installed and are better than I have expected when it comes to quality and durability.
3. Glorious MX Switches
Features
- It includes 6 Gateron switches; brown, blue, black, clear, red, and green.
- There are 8 Kailh switches; box black, box red, box white, box brown, speed bronze, speed silver, speed copper, and pro purple.
- There are 5 Glorious o-rings each; 40A thin, 40A thick.
- They are compatible with GMMK modular mechanical keyboard.
This pack of switches is perfect for the ones who are overwhelmed with a verity of switches that are available in the market from Cherry to Kailh, Gateron, and many more. This set covers the best switches that make a perfect gaming keyboard with exceptional key switches for gaming.
Customer review
This came as the best sample pack that helped my getting to understand which key switches I needed for my keyboard.
4. Gateron mechanical MX key switches
Features
- They are plate mounted.
- LED compatibility makes them the most fun and convenient for gaming.
- These switches are transparent.
- They offer a life span of 50 million key presses.
- Gateron switches are smoother than other alternatives that are available in the market.
Gateron is one of the well-known key switches brands that manufactures the most durable and most promising key switches. This product contains 7 colors of key switches comprising of all the types not to left out anyone for convenience.
Customer review
These key switches are the lightest. I have been using it for my travelling keyboard and I don’t even feel like I am pressing any keys.
5. Massdrop Halo Clear Keyboard Switches
Features
- These key switches are compatible with all Cherry clones including Gateron and Kaihua.
- You can customize the light in these switches.
- They are medium to heavy tactile switches.
- These switches come pre-loaded.
- They are compatible with plate-mounted CHerry-style PCBs and offers perfect hot-swap compatible barebone kits.
If you are looking for a tactile keyboard that combines the best of quiet and clicky key switches like never before. Massdrop key switches offer smoothness and consistency for every type of gamer. These switches come pre-loaded and offer pop during activation. These key switches give a longer life span than any other alternative that is available in the market.
Customer review
Starting with a typical keyboard, I have been using a lot of keyboard for gaming, ending with mechanical keyboards. These key switches have subtle tactile feedback and do not have annoying clicky noise.
FAQs
1. Which key switches offer the best gaming experience?
The best way to go is to find something that is a good blend of typing and gaming. Cherry MX Brown key switches are considered to be the best key switches. They are tactile bump, silent, and offers medium actuation force, which makes them the best out of all the others.
2. How key switches are different from one another?
These switches differ in their feedback. Some are linear, where some are tactile and others are clicky. They vary in their sound, actuation force and actuation point, along with feel and behavior. You can always go for the one that offers the most suitable use.
3. What are the quietest key switches?
Amongst all the variables available, QS1 switches are the quietest. They acquire 45g of actuation force.
4. Why do we use rubbers/O-rings?
O-rings are used to prevent the passing of air or the fluid in the keys, which is important to keep the functioning of the keys uninterrupted.