What are your preferences? or What do you need?

• What noise do you like to hear when typing on your keys? And how tolerant is your environment to the click-clack of the switches?
• Do you like feeling a bump each time you press a key or do you prefer a smooth press?
• What’s your typing style? Are you a light typist or do you tend to bottom out?
• Will you be using them mainly for gaming or typing?

 

Linear Switches

Linear switches are smooth and consistent when pressed down. They usually make less noise in comparison to their tactile and clicky counterparts. The switch is fast, which makes it fantastic for gaming. 

Tactile Switches

Tactile switches consist of a bump in the middle, which often occurs in the middle of the press. This switch is a middle ground for typing and gaming. It gives enough feedback to “feel” when a key is pressed, but not requiring to go through a “click” such as a clicky switch. 

Clicky Switches

The clicky switch has a bump in the middle, but it is followed by a clicking noise. This clicking noise depends on a switch-by-switch basis. Due to the click, it is great for typing - giving clear feedback when the key is pressed. It can, however, be a bit harder to game on as it requires for you to go through this feedback, so quick presses might feel less responsive.

 

Find The Ideal Switches For Your Keyboard

If you ask anyone, different switches will have their preferences on what type of switch they prefer and why. This great thing is that between those switches there are many different variants and brands to choose from. At Epomaker, we sell a few types of switches: 

Mechanical Switches 

• Cherry MX Switches
• Gateron Mechaincal Switches
• OUTEMU Swicthes 

Optical Switches

• Gateron Optical Switches

Other Custom Switches

• Electro Capacitive Switches
• Brand Custom Switches (Ajazz FirstBlood Switches, AKKO switches, etc.)

Mechanical Switches

Mechanical switches use electrical components and pins. They actuate through electrical contact. Many people prefer the sound and feel of a mechanical switch, and often say that they are smoother than their optical counterparts. The technology of mechanical switches is much more mature - there are hundreds, if not thousands of variants of switches to choose from as there is a standard for them. While optical switches do not really have a standard currently. 

Optical Switches

Optical switches use light to actuate, and do not use pins like mechanical. There are quite a few benefits from removing electrical contact: The switches make the keyboard water-resistant, unlike mechanical switches. They actuate faster, therefore making them greater for gaming. The Gateron Optical Mechanical switches offer a 100 million keystroke lifespan, while Gateron Mechanical switches offer 50 million keystrokes. Our keyboards work with industry-leading Gateron Opticals, allowing for hotswappability with the Gateron Switch line.

 

4 Key factors to consider when choosing your mechanical switches

1. Environment
2. Tactile preference
3. Hand size, strength, and typing style
4. General purpose of your keyboard

1.- Your environment

Where will you be using your keyboard? Will you be in an office surrounded by other people? Will you be alone in your room?

The first thing you should consider is your environment. Why? Auditory feedback can be a deciding factor of your popularity in an office. And Clicky switches generate a high-pitched and loud “click” sound. People will either love you or hate you.

When gaming or typing fast, that sound can be deadly annoying for people. Trust me, I know.

On the other hand, there are people who like hearing the clicky sound when typing as it gives them a clear indication that a key has been pressed. Also, Clicky switches bring a bit of nostalgia because it resembles the old 80’s IBM computer keyboard.

Watch this video of clicky switches through the years.

So when you decide on your switch, look at your surroundings and consider the people around you, if there are any. Ask them if they would be all right hearing the click-clack of your new keyboard. If they’re cool with it, awesome. If not, then get new friends. But if you’re not in the business of burning bridges, then Tactile and Linear switches are just as cool.

If you want to get an idea of how different switches sound, here’s a playlist of each switch keypress.

Pro tip: Use clicky switches if you work alone to not annoy others or if you’re a place that tolerates some click-clack

2.- Your tactile preference

The second factor you should consider is the typing feeling. Do like feeling a slight bump in every keypress? Or would you prefer it smooth?

Tactile and Clicky switches are the ones that have a bump mid travel. Linears, as its name suggests, provide a linear keypress.

When typing, the tactile feedback from Tactile and Clicky switches gives more accuracy. You’d know if a key press has been registered without needing to bottom out your keys. Once you feel the bump, you can quickly move on to the next key

Bottoming out is when you press a key all the way down until the keycap hits the upper housing of the switch.

When gaming, speed matters. Linear switches have a consistent keypress, thus are the preferred choice for gamers.

Pro tip: Usually, tactile switches are better for typing and linear switches are better for gaming.

3.- Your hand size, strength, and typing style

Yes, something as simple as your hand size fundamentally affects your switch selection. And you know what they say: big hands… big fingers.

People with big hands tend to have misclicks compared to people who have smaller hands. If this is your case, then it would be ideal for you to use switches with:

• High activation points - 2mm and higher
  • The farther the activation point, the farther distance is needed to activate a key.
• Medium to heavy operating force - 55cN and higher
  • The higher the operating force, the higher the pressure needed to activate the switch.

Combining these two properties would mean that it would take you slightly more effort to actually activate a key. And it would be enough to help avoid misclicks.

But what if you’re a gentle giant? You have big hands but you’re a light typist. You’re more advanced in typing and hardly ever misclick. In that case, go for switches with:

• Medium to high activation points - 1.4 higher
  • Since you don’t frequently misclick, you can go for a switch with a slightly shorter activation point.
• Medium operating force - 55-75cN
  • As a light typist, you can easily control the strength in your fingers. So a switch with medium pressure force would be the right amount.
• Tactile and/or clicky feedback
  • Being a light typist also means that you don’t bottom out your keys. Once you feel that bump mid travel, you can then move to the next key. So switches with tactile and/or clicky feedback would be your go to switch.

Now let’s move on to people who have small to medium sized hands who type lightly, but sometimes bottoms out. What you need are:

• Speed switches
  • With these switches, you have an edge at gaming speed. But they’re not only good for gamers.
  • These switches are also great for typing, just as long as you don’t smash the keys. Be gentle.
  • The shorter the activation point the faster the keypress is registered, making it beneficial for fast accurate typing.

And last we have those people who love pounding their keyboard. We all have that one friend who types as if it’s the worst day of his or her life and taking it out on the keyboard is the only release. Well, if you’re that person, not only do you need love and affection but also switches that have:

• Heavy to superheavy operating force - 75cN and higher or Speed switches
  • Even if they’re operating force is light, their short stem may still suit your typing style. They can give you a quicker rebound whenever you bottom out.
• O-rings
  • O-rings dampen the sound your keycaps make when it hits the upper housing of the switch. They also cushion the feeling of your keypress. And let’s face it, you need a little bit of softness in your life.

Bottoming out

When bottoming out your keys, even if it’s a Linear switch, it will always make a sound. But good news is that you can minimize this sound.

And if you’re the kind of person who is particular with noise, remember these other elements that can affect it:

• Keycap size and material
• Presence of a mat (or cushion) underneath the keyboard
• Material of your keyboard: plastic or metal
• O-rings
• How hard you hit your keyboard

If you want to hear how sound changes whenever keys are bottomed out, check out the playlist below.

4.- General purpose

The overall purpose of your keyboard will also help you decide the switches you need. Will it be for gaming? Typing? Or both?

If it’s solely for gaming, Linear switches are what you should get, specifically Speed switches. The smooth and consistent keypress helps with rapid movement.

If it’s for typing, then Tactile and Clicky switches are great because of the feedback they provide. But if you’re not a fan of the tactility and “click” sound, then Speed switches would be your best bet.

If it’s for both, then choose depending on your typing technique and environment. Buy a keyboard with hot-swappable switches so you can try multiple switches and see which one is the best.

But really, it’s all up to you. We are only here to give you recommendations but at the end of the day, you are the captain of your ship. So go on young skipper. You are now ready to dive into the world mechanical switches!