Luxia Le

One of the primary questions people want to know when deciding on a mechanical keyboard is what kind of switches they should purchase. With how expensive a standard mechanical keyboard is, it makes sense to choose switches that suit your preferences. So, let’s talk about the three main types of switches on the market: Clicky, Tactile, and Linear.

Clicky Switches

Love or loathe them, clicky switches are typically what new people think of when they think of mechanical switches. The tactile feedback of the click sleeve inside the chamber makes them iconic and hard to forget. Here are the features of the clicky switch you should know:

• Haptic feedback: Clicky switches are a type of tactile switch, which means they provide physical feedback in the form of a slight resistance from the click sleeve and an audible “click!” noise when the key actuates.
• Higher resistance: The click sleeve inside the chamber provides additional resistance when depressing the key, requiring the user to press the switch with more force than would be required for a linear switch.

Enthusiasts consider clicky switches to be most ideal for typists and less ideal for gamers. Due to the higher resistance from the click sleeve, the actuation force of the switch is typically greater. Thus, gamers, who need to be able to lightly and quickly actuate the switches to respond to stimuli in-game, will have more difficulty when using clicky switches. However, some gamers enjoy the haptic feedback or higher resistance to prevent unintentional clicks.

Tactile Switches

If you’re not sure what kind of switch you’re looking for, consider a tactile switch, as these are a good middle ground between linear and clicky switches. Unlikes the clicky switches, tactile switches lack the click sleeve that produces the prominent “click” sound when the key is actuated. Instead, the haptic feedback from tactile switches comes from the bump in the switch chamber that prevents the stem from moving all the way down in one smooth motion. This bump causes the switch to make a soft, tactile “thock” sound, compared to the louder “click” of the click sleeve.

Tactile switches are associated with the following features:

• Tactile bump: The tactile bump in the switch chamber produces a physical feeling under the finger and a deep, bass-y “thock” sound.
• Higher resistance: The user must push the switch stem over the tactile bump in the chamber, producing a higher resistance switch compared to linear switches.

Fans of tactile switches enjoy the haptic feedback from the switches and the find the deeper, bassier sound to be more appealing than the sharper “click” produced by click sleeves. Like clicky switches, tactile switches are considered to be more ideal for typists and less ideal for gamers. However, there remain gamers who prefer tactile switches for the haptic feedback and feel.

Linear Switches

The holy grail of gaming is the linear switch. Linear switches have a straight, unimpeded chamber that allows the stem to travel smoothly and quickly from point A to point B and back. The smooth, straight chamber provides no innate haptic feedback. However, people who press their keys harder than average may still hear a thump when the keycap hits the keyboard’s backplate.

The sound produced by linear switches is minimal. They are typically marketed as “silent” or “quiet” switches due to the lack of audible feedback produced by the chamber. Linear switches are associated with the following features:

• Silent operation: Linear switches produce very little sound when actuated. Users may hear a slight scraping sound as the stem passes through the chamber or the sound of the switch bottoming out. However, these sounds can be further dampened using adequate lubricants and sound dampening foam.
• Ultra-light actuation force: Since linear switches have an unimpeded chamber, they are significantly easier to press than clicky or tactile switches. Actuation forces for linear switches may be 5–10 grams lower on average.

Linear switches are loved by gamers and typists everywhere. They’re especially good for typists who have problems with mobility in their hands and fingers, as they have ultra-light actuation forces, typically between 35 and 60 grams. This means that users with decreased strength or mobility in their hands can press the keys very lightly and the computer will still register the keypress.

Most enthusiasts don’t recommend starting out with linear switches as they are, on average, two to three times lighter than a standard membrane keyboard. This can make them unwieldy for new users who aren’t used to typing on a switch matrix keyboard.

How Do I Choose the Best Keyboard Switches for Me?

The truth is that you won’t know what type of keyboard switches you prefer until you start using them. Depressing a single switch isn’t an adequate measure of whether a switch is appropriate for your needs as it doesn’t simulate the flow of typing. You’ll need to actually type on the switches before you understand whether they’re good for your needs.

I prefer clicky switches in my personal life. My current keyboards are a Ducky One 3 Aura with Cherry MX Blue switches and a Hexgears GK735 with Kailh BOX Whites. However, when bringing a keyboard into group settings, I will typically opt for linear switches as they are the least likely to cause a disturbance to the people around me.