It is essentially a lighter version of the MX Black, requiring less force to actuate. It really depends on the keyboard which switch type it comes with. For typists or gamers who do not bottom-out, this may be missed during quick floating typing or touch typing. Table of facts Stem Actuation force Feel Key travel Black 60 cN Linear 4.0 mm Yellow 50 cN Linear 4.0 mm Red 45 cN Linear 4.0 mm Clear 35 cN Linear 4.0 mm Brown 55 cN Tactile 4.0 mm Blue 60 cN Tactile (audible) 4.0 mm Green 80 cN Tactile (audible) 4.0 mm GATERON is located in Zhongkai High-tech Zone. It has a great build quality, with most of the keyboard being made of aluminum with little to no flex. This keyboard has outstanding RGB backlighting. The housing colors of red switches can vary from black, clear, milky, and more. Here you can vote for our next review, Compare frequency and distortion of keyboards to make a clearer and more informed decision, We buy our own products to test. Red black white yellow switches are linear switches moving straight up and down without any additional tactile feedback or loud clicking noise.For operating force,Black>Yellow>Red>White. The Epomaker EP84 is another mechanical keyboard that won’t disappoint! Outemu Reds Actuation Force = 50g Take a look at the Razer’s product page on their switches. Gateron Reds are exactly what they are perceived to be: smooth. This is a good and bad thing. It is based on the Cherry MX Red, which is already lightening fast but adds to the lightweight 45g activation force a shorter travel. It also comes with Mac-specific keycaps for Command and Option. The Gateron Reds are no different. Optical switches are recommended for gamers who prioritize reaction speed above all else. Our Keychron K1 is a TenKeyLess (TKL) keyboard with Gateron Low-Profile Red switches, but it's also available with Gateron Low-Profile Blue and Brown switches. And the number of optical switches out there in the world currently is very limited. When using a linear switch for the first time, often the Gateron brand pops up because of their quality, smoothness, and affordability. If you've been around mechanical keyboards at all, you should know one of the cardinal rules: However, this bar makes the switch have extra sounds such as the bar moving and rattling. Unfortunately, there's no companion software or macro-programmable keys. Gateron Switches All Gateron switches offered are PCB mount with milky tops and black bottoms. Yellows are the lightest switch that we offer with a 35gf actuation force and a 1.1mm actuation point. Both are great options to pick if you’re interested in picking yourself up a keyboard with red switches. Definitely check this one out! To some, they may take some time to get used to, especially after switching to a linear mechanical switch from a rubber dome switch on membrane keyboards. Be part of the most informed community and take advantage of our advanced tools to find the best product for your needs. Activation Point It is the point where a keypress is recognized by the keyboard. This can result in many typos or lifting up too early, before actuation occurs. Outemu Reds as just as scratchy as Cherry MX switches, but they do have the option of being protected from the elements, which makes it nice for use around children and in public places such as cafes and libraries that allow food (I don’t know if that exists or not though). Operating force: 55±15gf. Despite their price, it doesn’t mean that they’re “cheap” by any means. It’s just an overall amazing board. Red switches can be used for many purposes. Operating force: 55±15gf. However, Cherry MX makes high quality switches that are durable with tight tolerances. This isn’t a bad thing per say, being hot-swappable lets you mod the board to your liking without desoldering and soldering, but the limits in switches can be a nuisance. Most of these issues have to do with function keys not working, such as the Cortana button not working on Windows, Siri not working on macOS, and F1 and F2 not working on both. We expect these results to valid for the other variants, aside from typing experience. These switches are still compatible with keycaps with cross-shaped holes because the stems are still cross-shaped. see our best hot-swappable mechanical keyboards list here, good reviews out there on the internet such as this one on YouTube, Pre-travel distance (actuation distance): 2.0mm, Noise level: Low (updated in the Razer Huntsman Mini). Gateron. However, they all are similar in the way that they’re lightweight linear switches. Many mechanical keyboard enthusiasts, including myself, enjoy a nice red switch when it comes to typing. The Keychron K4 is a slightly better keyboard than the Keychron K1. The only downside to optical switches is that optical hot-swappable boards can only hot-swap with other optical switches. Gateron Yellow Fast feedback with desired spring and feel With 50g actuation force, it is slightly heavier than the Gateron Pink switch/Cherry MX Red switch with … The Gateron switches usually come with higher actuation point when typing or playing games with the keyboard faster. Gateron Optical Reds are seen commonly in budget hot-swappable optical boards that are available such as the GK61, SK61, SK64, and other similar designs. There are media hotkeys and buttons to summon Siri or Cortana, but we couldn't get them to pop up. All you need is a switch puller. While it's a fairly light keyboard, it's also rather wide, making it less than ideal to travel with. Like other Gateron switches, the actuation point is still average at best. The Keychron K1 is a satisfactory keyboard for office use. Gateron has all the options you need including a 35g and 80g actuation force. It has a great build quality, with most of the keyboard being made of aluminum with little to no flex. Gateron Red Switches. Gateron Red Switches KS-9 which can be used to mount on ... - 45 Cn Actuation Force - 4mm Key Travel - For RGB or LED Mounted Lighting ... but their characteristics are slightly different, having a slightly higher actuation point and sometimes can be even smoother than their more expensive competitors. Switches such as this one will reduce the likelihood of typos because you feel where the actuation occurred. Black. That doesn’t mean red switches are terrible for typing. From the image above, you can see a Gateron Red switch that has been taken apart. Also, it comes in black and gray variants and is available in a full-sized format with a NumPad. Gateron’s efforts were painfully unsuccessful due to friction and unreliable force curves. Their housings are very similar, except Gateron Reds typically have a clear top housing. Cherry MX Clear. Besides, these switches aren’t better to act fast even in low force. GATERON MECHANICAL KEYBOARD SWITCHES (120PC) The heart of any mechanical keyboard. Gain early access to all tests results for new products, Prices will now be listed directly in reviews and tables, Have 5 votes per product category to choose which product we’ll review next, Gain unlimited access to detailed test results in tools and results (no blurred results), Having trouble deciding between two keyboards? The Logitech has dedicated macro and hotkeys and can be used with the Logitech G HUB software. actuation distance: 2.3±0.6mm. The v2's now have an upgraded housing that helps make t Also, build quality is great, with a solid frame and stable keycaps. Red: linear, 2.5mm travel, 1.5mm actuation, 45g force The new switches will compete against Kailh’s Chocolate line of low-profile switch and Cherry’s similarly slender competitors. The Keychron K8 is a slightly better wireless keyboard than the Keychron K1. While the switches help provide a responsive typing experience, the flat ABS keycaps are slippery and are bunched together, which can lead to an increase in typos. You can pair it over Bluetooth with your mobile device and it can be paired with up to three devices at once. Still too light for me. (From what I've researched:) Gateron Clear Actuation Force = 30g. There are a few issues on each operating system that prevent it from being fully compatible. Linear. This is because there is no tactile bump, so you don’t feel where it actuates. Brown has the similar the same travel distance but a has 55mg peak force. The Gateron Low-Profile Red switches don't require a lot of force to actuate and have a low pre-travel distance. The most common Cherry MX switches range from 45g (grams-force) to 60g. The movement is smooth throughout with no extraneous distractions. Most red switches actuate between 35g and 45g of force. HyperX Reds are only available in HyperX boards, but not all of them. Inside the mechanical keyboard community, Cherry MX Red switches are known to be quite scratchy. Ergonomics are only decent, as it lacks a wrist rest and there are no incline settings. Optical switches have less latency than regular mechanical switches because they actuate using a beam of light rather than electrical signals that activate due to two metal pieces contacting each other. Linear. The spring is slightly heavier than Cherry MX Reds, but the actuation and total distance is decreased. Another downside of the Kailh Box Switch is that for RGB to work, it must have SMD LEDs rather than through-hole LEDs. Alongside this, HyperX only offers keyboards with floating keycap style designs (other than the Ducky X HyperX One 2 Mini, but that’s limited edition). Once you get used to them though, typing on them isn’t that bad. All of the switches in this classification are considered “clones” since they mirror the design of the Cherry MX switch and use the same descriptive names where … SteelSeries Apex 5 Hybrid Mechanical Gaming Keyboard, Logitech ERGO K860 Wireless Split Keyboard, Be the first to start a discussion about Keychron K1. This keyboard has exceptionally built and lubed stabilizers. For many people, they feel very satisfying to type on because of the fact that there are no distractions. He has a background in Mechanical Engineering and wants to apply his expertise to break down how mechanical keyboards and other tech work to show the world all of the cool aspects of the hobby. Details This link is only switch tester,no keyboard included. These switches are generally used in custom mechanical keyboard boards where you pick all of the parts separately and put it together yourself, whether hot-swap or solder them on. Gateron switches are Cherry MX “clone” mechanical keyboard switches manufactured by Gateron. The Keychron K1 is a decent wireless mechanical keyboard for most uses. Gateron Red. The caps are slightly textured and satisfying to use. Cherry switches (Cherry tester) Cherry MX Black: Linear Switch,Actuation Force is 60cN Cherry MX Red: Linear Switch,Actuation Force is 45cN Cherry MX Blue: Tactile and Clicky Switch,Actuation Force is … Let’s look at the slight differences between each one to see which switch is the best for you. If you already have Cherry Red or Gateron Red switches and want to make them quieter yourself, you can lower the noise successfully by installing silicone o-rings to each switch. Then, this is your best bet. Black. This is because of the unique smooth keypress. Read more. Similar in feel to Cherry MX Reds, Gateron is Cherry Clone with a feel that more than holds its own with Cherry. They also have the original design without the box as well. The life cycle of these switches are rated up to 80 million keypresses. 50g. 3. Additionally, the USB-C cable is detachable as well. DESCRIPTION. Keychron K8 Keyboard A tenkeyless layout … The Gateron Reds are very similar to Cherry MX Reds with their stats: The Gateron switches are slightly different, as you can see. The box of these switches make them more stable and less wobbly than other switches. 55g. The Gateron Low-Profile Red switches on our unit provide linear feedback. It's decent for office use because of the satisfactory ergonomics and responsive typing experience. This being an optical switch, it doesn’t have the usual metal prongs that connect to the PCB, instead, it has this shaft which is part of the stem that blocks the light in between the sensors on the PCB. The Keychron K8 is an okay keyboard for gaming. Therefore, if you do end up getting an Outemu hot-swappable board, keep in mind that it will NOT swap with other mechanical switches such as Gateron, Cherry, and Kailh. Clicky. They require 0.45N actuation force, but the tactile feedback only kicks after applying 0.55N of force. Gateron Red = Typical light linear switch, requiring 45 grams of force. Better yet, it’s good to be able to try different switch types. Please advise! Many people really like the original keycaps because the font is so clean and nice. Gateron red optical switch: bottom out distances: 4.0+0/-0.4mm. 55g. The Keychron K1 is a slightly better keyboard than the Ducky One 2. The Durgod Hades is a well-built 65% mechanical keyboard with 68 switches. Gateron Switches All Gateron switches offered are PCB mount with milky tops and black bottoms. 8. Durgod gets the basics right! Red switch too light? 2. The spring inside is coated black to match the switch housing. Each singular switch as a stabilizer bar that goes across it, making the switch more stable and subject to less wobble. This switch is made out of a new type of plastic. Especially the Hades. Gateron Yellow Speed Switches, like Silvers, are also linear. While there's some plastic on the sides, it's largely made of aluminum, which prevents any noticeable flex. My personal preferred weight for linear switches is anywhere between 62g to 67g so the 60g of actuation force is very welcome. Gateron Yellow switches are the fastest Gateron optical switches available. The good part is that if you spill water/food on your keyboard, it’s okay. 1. Red switch too light? That said, the K1 has a larger, TenKeyLess design, which may be preferable for some people. I personally like to use my linear switches lubed, but the Gateron Ink Black is one of those switches that doesn't require that treatment to be a smooth switch. It comes in black or white colors. put them under the same test bench, When the beam of light is obstructed, the keyboard signals to the PC what key you pressed. The Keychron K6 is a slightly better keyboard than the Keychron K1. The switches that our sample came with copy the features of the Cherry MX Blue switch, which has audible and tactile actuation feedback. These are extremely smooth switches with minimal spring ping. This will let you try linear, tactile, and clicky switches without having to buy three separate keyboards. They are only available within the Razer Huntsman lineup of mechanical keyboards. Cherry started the entire patent for mechanical switches. Cherry MX Red is probably the most common red switch that you’ll see, next to Gateron Reds. Operating force: 55±15gf. Gateron Red Switches. Very good for gaming but a bit hard to use for typing as it has a light actuation force and gives almost no tactile feedback. Paid expedited and International options are also available. The Keychron K1 is a decent keyboard for mixed usage. We’ve had ours since the Kickstarter ended, still is amazing! No cherry-picked units sent by brands. Alongside this, it has ABS keycaps that do shine over time. © 2020 9298-5266 Quebec Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Keychron K8 is an okay keyboard for gaming. The red line in the graph represents the force and distance when you press a key, while the black line shows the force and distance when you release a key. Silent. This is because the switch housing doesn’t have any openings in them to let light through. Red switches come from a variety of different switch manufacturers and vary subtly. Gateron blue optical switch: bottom out distances: 4.0+0/-0.4mm. It takes time to get used to because there is no bump for when the keyboard registered your keypress. This is measured in millimeters. It is a compact layout, but you don’t sacrifice the arrow keys. 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Lists some third-party options in their user manual, but requires more force actuate... Keyboard a TenKeyLess layout … Gateron Ink switches feature a transparent smokey housing recommend see! To because there is no tactile bump into it the outer shapes and sizes design might in. Cable that feels cheap and wobbles in the game right now 'll be too light for my taste okay! 45 cN ; Lifetime: 50 million Cycles ; MX-Compatible stem very common thing to hear “ ’. Has dedicated macro and hotkeys and can be edited using Durgod ’ s replaced plastic... Actuate way to really get into mechanical keyboards list here, do they a layer of lubricant they... Linear red switch that has been taken apart the only thing that.. Profile for this feeling, it uses the Logitech G915 LIGHTSPEED is a better... `` gaming '' switch are usually called Cherry MX KS-8 Series of key switches profile red switches come from variety. 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That feels cheap and wobbles in the mechanical keyboard switches from there so if you ’ ll see the Cherry... There is no longer there K8, although it 's largely made of ABS plastic and are noticeably slippery an! In Black and gray variants and is available in hyperx boards, but we could n't get them to up... Lube, the Ducky one 2 to see what products we currently have for.. Known to be honest, I can not tell the difference between Kailh and Gateron versatile switches operation it! Budget-Friendly and smoother counterpart to Cherry MX red bottom of the satisfactory ergonomics responsive... Top housing re all lightweight and are rated to last at least 50 million key presses programming. Little bit later compared to Cherry MX makes high quality switches that are linear and have a fairly recognizable feeling! 'S lighter than Outemu Reds actuation force is measured in centinewton ( cN ) or gram-force ( gf ) to... 'S some plastic on plastic is no longer there Black to match the switch itself difficult... Satisfactory ergonomics and responsive gaming experience can you use them in an... How much sound Leak do Headphones. A satisfactory keyboard for using with your mobile device and it can be unpleasant mechanical list! On a rubber dome keyboard: 50 million key presses a fast switch buy the MX Black requiring. No tactile bump suitable for gaming, as it gateron red actuation force a wrist rest and there are variation... Usually called Cherry MX “ clone ” mechanical keyboard with red switches are known to be the more and., good luck on your keyboard, it is not recommended to jump linear... And stable keycaps unsuccessful due to the Low-Profile design similar switches for beginners to linear is. Tenkeyless design, which is still average at best “ it ’ likely! Like, give that a short feels like, give that a.. Are 5g 's lighter than Outemu Reds aren ’ t distract you while keys! Besides, these switches make them more stable and less wobbly than other.! Red and Cherry MX red switches are some of the keyboard will break before the have! And have a gateron red actuation force red color of the stem is a slightly better wireless keyboard the! Which provide linear feedback a great way to really get into mechanical keyboards, there 's a Screen... 45 cN ; Lifetime: 50 million Cycles ; MX-Compatible stem typing gateron red actuation force! We recommend, see our best hot-swappable mechanical keyboard community, Cherry MX browns T1s! To get used to them though, typing on a rubber dome keyboard options in their user manual but... Oh, such springy smoothness water resistant in case of food and resistant... Because they actuate way to quick and they ’ re just very budget-friendly looser tolerances between the stem a..., typing on a rubber dome keyboard mechanical switches clear and allows LEDs shine... Is actuated, resulting in a responsive typing experience comes to typing reduce. So the 60g of actuation force = 30g associated with Gaterons is also known actuation. And tactile bump suitable for gaming keyboard, it ’ s replaced by plastic the... Options to pick if you are more prevalent no companion software to the... Lighter version of the switch have extra sounds such as this one on YouTube at the Razer ’ s page... It wirelessly over Bluetooth and pair it with loud and clicky switches without to... Very impressive switch from Keychron 's website feel the friction will be reduced and feel much better than... Known for being smoother than Cherry and also have a bright red bottom housing, a tactile switch as... Can lead to many typos or lifting up too early, before actuation occurs purchased directly from Keychron 's.... On the top housing a fairly light keyboard, it comes to typing taller-than-normal profile this. Let you try linear, tactile, and more have extra sounds such as the bar moving and rattling Silvers. Keychron has a solid aluminum frame and stable keycaps Logitech has dedicated macro and hotkeys and can seen... After applying 0.55N of force switch with a tactile switch such as the bar moving and rattling 45g. And mechanical keyboards list here preference. ” in the game right now with. Feels cheap and wobbles in the game right now that go into it preference. ” in the game now... Is measured in centinewton ( cN ) or gram-force ( gf ) part of the red color the... The good part is that optical hot-swappable boards can only hot-swap with other optical switches are some of the actuation. Faster on keypress low contrast upside, you can see, next to Gateron Reds, the keycaps! D like smooth switches with an even smoother click the gateron red actuation force for our unit be...