Blue switch

[ironer201]

I am using the Blue switch.
is the blue switch are the lowest quality switch of a mechanical  keyboard  ?
is Cherry viola switch better than blue switch
is cherry viola better than red switch ?
is Cherry brown switch the best of best switch ?

[aisle9]

The blue isn't a bad switch. It gets a bad rap because most of the trash Chinese mechanical keyboards use a knockoff clone blue switch, and most of those switches are scratchy and fail quickly. Why a knockoff blue in particular? No idea. There are plenty of Chinese trash boards out there with brown and red switches if you look, frequently for the same price as the blue trash boards. I used to see a lot of black switch boards too, but not so much in the last couple of years.

 

The blue switch is probably the least popular type of switch, certainly here and on Reddit. They're not great for gaming compared to the quick-twitch red switches, and they're loud af, which makes them unsuitable in an office environment or if anyone else within a one-mile radius is trying to read, sleep, watch TV or generally do anything in which a constant, loud clacking sound would be an issue. That said, I do have a blue switch board around here somewhere, and I do very much like it.

 

As for brown switches, while I personally would say that I consider them the switch I prefer, plenty of people will disagree and cast a vote for red. I prefer browns because there's a tactile bump when the keystroke is activated, but there's no loud clacking noise to go with it. It's kind of like a red switch with a slightly higher actuation force and an ever so slight bump on the way down. My daily driver board, used for both work and play, has Cherry browns in it, and it's held up extremely well over the last 4-ish years that I've had it. Of course, that higher activation force and tactile bump make a lot of gamers hate brown switches, so ymmv.

 

Haven't used the viola switch, so I can't comment on that one. The color of switch that you prefer is up to you. There's no wrong answer, because it's a matter of preference. I know one guy who swears by his board full of Cherry greens, and a green switch is one that I can't possibly see myself using. Like, ever. It's basically a blue switch with an even heavier actuation force and an even louder clack. I tried out his board for a few hours one day, and my fingers actually hurt after using it. Seriously, F green switches.

 

Now, if you're talking about manufacturer, there are definitely differences in quality. Most people who's used lots of keyboards will tell you that Gateron makes the best switches out there, and I agree. After that, you'll get some disagreement as to who's #2. Cherry typically comes up pretty high on people's lists, even if it's not necessarily considered the best of the best OEM for every switch type anymore. It's really all about deciding what's best for you. You may want to consider a switch tester. You can get them with Cherry switches for about $10-20 off of Amazon, and they're well worth the investment. Few things in computing are more annoying than realizing a month in that you really just don't like the board you just bought, and a switch tester can keep that from happening.

[Bombastinator]

There are classic colors originally introduced by cherry before their patent ran out which defined types of key switches. Not quality levels but how you liked your keyboard to behave. Loud or soft, clicky or non clicky, long throw or short throw, etc..  they weren’t quality levels they were behavior types.  When Cherry’s patent ran out a host of replacable key switch manufacturers exploded outward each also using colors to describe their products.  Eithe “the blue switch” is one such, or you are speaking about a cherry switch.  I’m not sure which. 

[ironer201]

6 hours ago, aisle9 said:

The blue isn't a bad switch. It gets a bad rap because most of the trash Chinese mechanical keyboards use a knockoff clone blue switch, and most of those switches are scratchy and fail quickly. Why a knockoff blue in particular? No idea. There are plenty of Chinese trash boards out there with brown and red switches if you look, frequently for the same price as the blue trash boards. I used to see a lot of black switch boards too, but not so much in the last couple of years.

 

The blue switch is probably the least popular type of switch, certainly here and on Reddit. They're not great for gaming compared to the quick-twitch red switches, and they're loud af, which makes them unsuitable in an office environment or if anyone else within a one-mile radius is trying to read, sleep, watch TV or generally do anything in which a constant, loud clacking sound would be an issue. That said, I do have a blue switch board around here somewhere, and I do very much like it.

 

As for brown switches, while I personally would say that I consider them the switch I prefer, plenty of people will disagree and cast a vote for red. I prefer browns because there's a tactile bump when the keystroke is activated, but there's no loud clacking noise to go with it. It's kind of like a red switch with a slightly higher actuation force and an ever so slight bump on the way down. My daily driver board, used for both work and play, has Cherry browns in it, and it's held up extremely well over the last 4-ish years that I've had it. Of course, that higher activation force and tactile bump make a lot of gamers hate brown switches, so ymmv.

 

Haven't used the viola switch, so I can't comment on that one. The color of switch that you prefer is up to you. There's no wrong answer, because it's a matter of preference. I know one guy who swears by his board full of Cherry greens, and a green switch is one that I can't possibly see myself using. Like, ever. It's basically a blue switch with an even heavier actuation force and an even louder clack. I tried out his board for a few hours one day, and my fingers actually hurt after using it. Seriously, F green switches.

 

Now, if you're talking about manufacturer, there are definitely differences in quality. Most people who's used lots of keyboards will tell you that Gateron makes the best switches out there, and I agree. After that, you'll get some disagreement as to who's #2. Cherry typically comes up pretty high on people's lists, even if it's not necessarily considered the best of the best OEM for every switch type anymore. It's really all about deciding what's best for you. You may want to consider a switch tester. You can get them with Cherry switches for about $10-20 off of Amazon, and they're well worth the investment. Few things in computing are more annoying than realizing a month in that you really just don't like the board you just bought, and a switch tester can keep that from happening.

I own a Rapoo V500 Pro Backlit Mechanical Keyboard

It has Blue switch 

Is rapoo a bad company ?

Edited January 9, 2022 by Md z

[IPD]

I'm unfamiliar with them.  When I was hunting, I went to sites that cater to the mechanical keyboard crowd--and that's how I found Ducky.

 

Just from what I'm reading on amazon, I wouldn't expect much of a $40 RGB "mechanical" keyboard.  I would probably put my old Rii RK900 membrane keyboard up against yours any day.  The description for the V500 reads like they don't want you to know what they are using, so there's only buzzwords like "mechanical".

 

If an MFG won't tell you what type/brand of switch they use--or what form factor keys are for it--they're 99% chance proprietary and you are SOL on modding.