Keyboard Switch Recommendations?

[James Jonathim]

I’m getting a Keychron K2 Pro Barebones (Aluminum) and need to pick out my switches. I want to go tactile but not overly so. I want a thocky or creamy sound out of the box and it needs to be fairly inexpensive.

 

Thoughts?

[Hinjima]

8 minutes ago, James Jonathim said:

I’m getting a Keychron K2 Pro Barebones (Aluminum) and need to pick out my switches. I want to go tactile but not overly so. I want a thocky or creamy sound out of the box and it needs to be fairly inexpensive.

 

Thoughts?

I will say that I really do like my Cherry MX-Red.  They are not overly loud but still give a decent feel when typing.

[James Jonathim]

Just now, Hinjima said:

I will say that I really do like my Cherry MX-Red.  They are not overly loud but still give a decent feel when typing.

Thoughts on the Boba U4T or the Gateron Milky Yellows?

[Hinjima]

1 minute ago, James Jonathim said:

Thoughts on the Boba U4T or the Gateron Milky Yellows?

No thoughts. Haven't tried them.

[flibberdipper]

I got Gateron G Yellow Pro 3.0's for my Keychron K8 Pro and overall I'm pretty happy with them. The actual switch doesn't really do much for sound since they're just quiet and inoffensive, in my limited experience with them it seems like the keycap makes more of a difference. I had some in a Logitech G Pro X with the stock keycaps + some foam moddage and the sound really isn't that far off from the K8 Pro with Glorious keycaps and the heaps of sound deadening that this thing comes with.

 

The Glorious keycaps are nothing special either, they're a comical amount lighter than the stock caps and I swear to god they're wearing faster than the caps from the GPX did.

[PowerPCFan]

42 minutes ago, James Jonathim said:

I’m getting a Keychron K2 Pro Barebones (Aluminum) and need to pick out my switches. I want to go tactile but not overly so. I want a thocky or creamy sound out of the box and it needs to be fairly inexpensive.

 

Thoughts?

I have Akko V3 Cream Blue Pro switches in my keyboard - they're great. Tactile, not too loud, and they sound nice for the VERY low price. I have a Yunzii YZ75 keyboard ($100)

 

Note that I had to buy 2 packs for my 75% keyboard. It was just barely enough. 

 

https://www.amazon.com/Keyboard-Switch-Dustproof-Mechanical-Tactile-Switches/dp/B0C3H7PR1Z/ref=sr_1_1?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.QT9KUNOIuyL3CPL-ekv7jWB5sFvOBLvL4nvO8pDiYKkWdU94ySgZa-ZkcajTbfXwMOiu_AfMgH3I_c6HYgbM7xNznQkrgM59igiuq5OEmOveHYb9awA8pT4G_4rXH1VFLcnbpl9OEfR2kegf1839SV3TQWc5-eqgimQxDS4kzWkHDfgteD3327S-Gj9j59G8j1Xy4ehT94Ew4xUyitW8PxnHRBDJ5SDox9sucWQGOz4.aIzn_feASCYtPrUkjTE55E3rIewufin-NGKIdgR138o&dib_tag=se&keywords=akko%2Bv3%2Bcream%2Bblue%2Bpro&qid=1710093477&sr=8-1&th=1

[GarlicDeliverySystem]

1 hour ago, James Jonathim said:

Thoughts on the Boba U4T or the Gateron Milky Yellows?

Gateron Milky yellows are linear switches, not tactile ones like the U4T. The latter are also pretty expensive, compared to the Milky Yellows.

 

Should you want to go with the slightly heavier linear switches like yellows (which you should, they are amazing imho), go for the Gateron G Pro 3.0 yellows. They are amazing for the price, plus usually available at Keychron and other shops.

Just make sure you get the correct version, some vendors haven't updated their websites to reflect which version they sell or just sell everything as "yellow pro". The difference to the 2.0 isn't really noticeable in anything but a direct comparison, however the improved pins do make a difference as they are stronger and bend less.

 

The Boba U4T are good switches, overpriced imho, but I am also not a fan of tactiles that much. They have a strong and very early tactile bump, making them feel quite distinct from your usual Cherry brown switches. A comparable one would be the Gateron Baby Kangaroo, which also recently got a V2 refresh.

 

Overall, I would recommend to get a switch tester first, unless you really need switches now. And be aware that apart from maybe some categorical differences like type of tactile switch or spring weight/length, most of the differences are barely noticeable in anything but a direct comparison.

 

Other switches I really like are:

• Gateron Oil Kings (also got a refresh, as a later batch came with the new pins)
• WS Morandi, currently typing on it
• Cherry MX2A Black (need to switch my work keyboard over to those)

 

 

 

[Motifator]

Aluminum is not necessary, in fact it feels cold on cold days.

Get a good plastic board. Yellows would work.

[darthyimmy]

On 3/10/2024 at 10:58 AM, PowerPCFan said:

I have Akko V3 Cream Blue Pro switches in my keyboard - they're great. Tactile, not too loud, and they sound nice for the VERY low price. I have a Yunzii YZ75 keyboard ($100)

 

Note that I had to buy 2 packs for my 75% keyboard. It was just barely enough. 

 

https://www.amazon.com/Keyboard-Switch-Dustproof-Mechanical-Tactile-Switches/dp/B0C3H7PR1Z/ref=sr_1_1?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.QT9KUNOIuyL3CPL-ekv7jWB5sFvOBLvL4nvO8pDiYKkWdU94ySgZa-ZkcajTbfXwMOiu_AfMgH3I_c6HYgbM7xNznQkrgM59igiuq5OEmOveHYb9awA8pT4G_4rXH1VFLcnbpl9OEfR2kegf1839SV3TQWc5-eqgimQxDS4kzWkHDfgteD3327S-Gj9j59G8j1Xy4ehT94Ew4xUyitW8PxnHRBDJ5SDox9sucWQGOz4.aIzn_feASCYtPrUkjTE55E3rIewufin-NGKIdgR138o&dib_tag=se&keywords=akko%2Bv3%2Bcream%2Bblue%2Bpro&qid=1710093477&sr=8-1&th=1

i 2nd the akko v3 cream blue's, very good switches at a good price.

alternatively i've heard the GOAT switches are the drop holy panda's but you can also get "off-brand" holy panda's that are 90% as good