![]() ![]() Hot-swap has historically been available only on expensive, high-end mechanical keyboards but has finally trickled down to more affordable models in the past year or so. But on a hot-swappable board, you can simply pull the switches out and snap new ones into place. Swapping out switches on traditional mechanical keyboards without hot-swap requires the equipment, expertise, and time to desolder the existing switches and solder in new ones. If you’re curious to try out different switches, you have two main options: a switch tester or a hot-swappable keyboard. The Keychron Q3’s switches are easy to pull out and replace. And in the past few years, the category has seen an absolute explosion of switch varieties-including more clones, new variants, Frankenswitches, and recolors-from different makers, many of which feel unique and no longer follow the traditional Cherry MX naming conventions. When Cherry’s switch patents expired in 2014, numerous clones of varying quality that mimic Cherry MX switches in their feeling and their color-based naming scheme popped up from companies such as Gateron, Kailh, and Outemu. Clicky switches, such as Blues, can feel fun and provide more typewriter-esque feedback, but we don’t recommend them if you work or game in a shared space because they’re very noisy and likely to annoy your co-workers or housemates. For gaming, many people like light linear switches-such as Reds or Cherry MX Speed Silvers-because their relatively light actuation force and continuous travel make them easier (and theoretically faster) to activate, though they can be difficult to type on for the same reasons. Within these three main switch types are many variations, defined by their actuation force (how much effort you need to make to activate each key) and by their actuation point (how far down you have to press to activate each key).įor people who don’t already have a switch preference, we recommend Brown switches made by Gateron, Kailh, or Cherry because they’re popular, readily available tactile switches that are good for most tasks and quiet enough for most offices.
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