Key switches are one of the most important aspects of a mechanical keyboard. Getting to know your options will help you get the most out of your keyboard.

What are mechanical keyswitches?

Each key on a mechanical keyboard hides an actual physical switch under it, unlike the squishy rubber membrane you'd find on most keyboards. Typing on these mechanical switches is a very different experience from typing on regular ones. The keys have more travel, and are much more tactile; you don't have to press the keys all the way down to get them to register, which makes typing easier on the fingers; and of course, mechanical keyboards have their own unique sound. They sound like a keyboard.

What are your options?

When buying one of our keyboards, you get to choose from many different keyswitch types. When choosing your switches, there are several things you should consider:

How much noise do you want your keyboard to make? Do you want a clicky switch or a non-clicky switch?

switch or a switch? Do you prefer a smoother typing experience, or do you want to feel a slight bump when the key is actuated? Do you want a linear ("no bump") or a tactile switch?

("no bump") or a switch? How much force do you want to use when typing on your keyboard? This is usually measured in grams of pressure.

If you can find some friends with mechanical keyboards, try out different keyswitches to see what feels best under your fingers.

Our keyswitches

Here are the keyswitches we currently offer.

Cherry MX Brown Our most popular switch. Cherry MX Brown switches are tactile and quiet. Excellent for office use. These are a preferred choice for developers, writers, and anyone who works long hours in front of the computer. Actuation force 45±20gf Pre-travel 2.0±0.6mm Cherry MX Blue Almost as popular as the Browns, MX Blue are everyone's favorite "clicky" switch. Easily recognizable by their signature audible clicking sound. Ideal for people who work from home, or have colleagues who appreciate old-school mechanical keyboards. Actuation force 50±15gf Pre-travel 2.0±0.6mm Cherry MX Clear A slightly heavier sibling to the Brown switch. The MX Clear has the same qualities of Brown with a bit more resistance, for those who want more pronounced tactile feedback. Actuation force 55±15gf Pre-travel 2.0±0.6mm Cherry MX Red Most popular among gamers for their relatively light weight, and lack of tactile feedback. A solid performer for high-speed keypresses. Actuation force 45±20gf Pre-travel 2.0±0.6mm Cherry MX Silent Red These really are silent. A very quiet keyswitch, it’s as close as you’re going to get to the acoustics of typing on a laptop. Ideal for typing during conference calls and next to coworkers. It’s so quiet, people around you might not even realize it’s a mechanical keyboard. Actuation force 45±15gf Pre-travel 2.0±0.6mm Cherry MX Black Think Cherry MX Red, but heavier. Linear, with no tactile or audible feedback. Actuation force 60±20gf Pre-travel 2.0±0.6mm Cherry MX White This is a heavier switch with a somewhat muted click. Not a crunchy click -- think about the sound the door of a luxury car makes when it closes. A thud which is backed by some real heft. For people who enjoy typing quite firmly. Actuation force 70±20gf Pre-travel 2.2±0.6mm Cherry MX Speed Silver [SpeedSwitch] The smoothest Cherry MX Switch there is. Like a Red but lighter and more responsive, springy enough to get that mechanical feedback that you know and love, light enough to type for hours. Actuation force 45±15gf Pre-travel 1.2±0.4mm Kailh Brown Oh so smooth. At 60gF, this rendition of the classic Brown switch takes a bit of pressing. Compared to Cherry MX Brown, its sound is pitched a little lower and more subdued, and its return action is less pronounced. Actuation force 60±10gf Pre-travel 2.0±0.6mm Kailh Thick Gold [SpeedSwitch] Popcorn in keyboard form. These are clicky in a way we’ve never experienced before: Clicks once on the downstroke, and clicks again on the upstroke. A high-pitched, crisp click. Light, precise, and utterly unique -- this keyswitch is addictive. These switches actuate before the audible click. This means you can tap them very lightly and still get a character on your screen. Actuation force 50±10gf Pre-travel 1.1±0.3mm Kailh Gold [SpeedSwitch] An extremely fun keyswitch - we would almost say it’s exciting to type on. Its click is crisp and precise, and its actuation is smooth. Just typing on this switch would make you feel productive. Like the Thick Gold switches, these actuate before the audible click. This means you can tap them very lightly and still get a character on your screen. Actuation force 60±10gf Pre-travel 1.4±0.3mm Kailh Silver [SpeedSwitch] This is an extremely smooth keyswitch. Light enough not to tire your fingers, and quiet, too. You can feel the linear resistance, but it’s not too much -- just springy enough so that you feel you’re actually pressing something. Ideal for soft typing in an office environment. Actuation force 40±10gf Pre-travel 1.1±0.3mm Kailh Copper [SpeedSwitch] Quite similar to the Kailh Silver, only these are tactile. So even though it’s specced the same in terms of actuation force, to our fingers these switches felt heavier than the Silver. Just as smooth as the Silver, but louder and a bit more muscular. Think “Brown lite”. These switches actuate before the tactile bump. This means you can tap them very lightly and still get a character on your screen. Actuation force 40±10gf Pre-travel 1.1±0.3mm Kailh Box Brown As we've come to expect from a switch labeled Brown, the tactile bump is gentle. These feel solid, right between a loud clicky switch and a smooth linear. Actuated slowly, you'd feel an almost buckling effect as the switch reaches its tactile point. Actuation force 50±15gf Pre-travel 1.8±0.3mm Kailh Box Red These are very civil switches. Typing on them is a pleasant, gentle experience. The linear action is easy on the fingers, and the sound is a little muted. Like other Kailh switches, actuation is beautifully smooth and fluid. Actuation force 45±15gf Pre-travel 1.8±0.3mm Kailh Box White Slightly lower in pitch than the Kailh Gold, these are clicky to the point of being crunchy. Actuation is a smidge lighter, and it feels as though the box design might result in a slightly more resonant click. Actuation force 45±10gf Pre-travel 1.8±0.3mm Kailh Box Black Oh, such springy smoothness. We often think of Black switches as somewhat firm due to the high actuation force, but the buttery smooth action of the Box Black makes them feel lighter somehow. These switches still push back, but they don't feel tiresome. Actuation force 60±15gf Pre-travel 1.8±0.3mm