When it comes to mechanical keyboards, nothing beats the feeling of a buttery-smooth keystroke. Whether you're deep in a gaming session or typing for hours on end, smooth switches can elevate your entire experience.
In this blog, we’re spotlighting the smoothest mechanical keyboard switches you can get your hands on this year. Let’s dive into what makes them stand out.
Overview
| Gateron Green Apple |
| Gateron Mini I |
| MMD Princess V4 Tactile |
| Invokeys Hojicha Reserve |
| Akko V3 Lavender |
Gateron Green Apple
Product Details
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|
| Name | Gateron Green Apple |
| Type | Tactile |
| Top Housing Material | POM |
| Bottom Housing Material | POM |
| Stem Material | POM |
| Spring | 22mm double-staged spring |
| Operating Force | 63±15g |
| Pre Travel | 2.0±0.6mm |
| Total Travel | 3.4mm |
| Mount | 5 pin |
| Factory Lube | Light factory lube |
Switch Feel
The Gateron Green Apple is composed entirely of POM and its combination creates a creamy sounding switch. It has a solid bottom out sound that lies within the mid tones but sounds sharp due to its short travel distance and therefore harsher bottom out. The Gateron Green Apple would be a great choice for users who prefer a heavier tactile switch than the Gateron Mini I and enjoy a crisp and responsive tactility.
The Gateron Green Apple feels like an upgraded Gateron Baby Kangaroo. Both the Gateron Green Apple and the Gateron Baby Kangaroo have a crisp feeling tactility. However, the Gateron Green Apple stands out because it feels more controlled with little to no spring ping and leaf rattle.The Gateron Green Apple is ready to use right out of the box with its consistent factory lube.
Switch Sound
The Gateron Green Apple has an overall creamy sound profile in the mid to high tones. It has a solid bottom out sound that lies within the mid tones but sounds sharp due to its short travel distance and therefore harsher bottom out. It has a poppy and hard sounding top out with the help a long responsive double-staged spring. The Gateron Green Apple would be a great choice for users who are chasing the creamy or thocky sound profile. The Gateron Green Apple has the potential to utilize its sharp bottom out to create a mid to higher pitched sound profile, as well as the potential to lean towards a creamier sound profile by utilizing its heavy tactility.
Here is a sound test of the Gateron Green Apple:
Gateron Mini I
Product Details
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|
| Name | Gateron Mini I |
| Type | Tactile |
| Top Housing Material | Nylon |
| Bottom Housing Material | Nylon |
| Stem Material | POM |
| Spring | Stainless Steel |
| Operating Force | 50±10g |
| Pre Travel | 2.0±0.5mm |
| Total Travel | 3.4mm |
| Mount | 5 pin |
| Factory Lube | Light factory lube |
Switch Feel
The Gateron Mini I would be categorized as a light tactile switch with an actuation force of 50g. It has a comfortable typing experience with a crisp keystroke from its tactility and responsiveness from its 22mm spring length. The Gateron Mini I also has a short travel distance of 3.4mm which creates a more sudden bottom out post-actuation.
The Gateron Mini I is comparable to the WS Light Tactile in terms of feel. They are both light tactile switches however the Gateron Mini I feels slightly more responsive due to its longer double-staged spring, while the WS Light Tactile has a slightly more pronounced tactile feedback due to its sharper tacitle bump. They both achieve a similar tactile feel through different designs.
The Gateron Mini I would be a great choice for those looking for a light tactile switch that still has a characteristic tactile bump and feels incredibly responsive due to a short travel distance and a snappy return.
Switch Sound
The Gateron Mini I has a soft and poppy sounding bottom out and top out. The pitch of its overall sound signature leans towards the mid to lower ranges possibly due to its softer nylon housing, however the top out tends to be slightly higher pitched than the bottom out. The Gateron Mini I produces a distinct sound from its tactile bump. It would be a great choice for users who prefer an obviously audible tactile typing sound.
Here is a sound test of the Gateron Mini I:
MMD Princess V4 Tactile
Product Details
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|
| Name | MMD Princess V4 Tactile |
| Switch Type | Tactile |
| Top Housing Material | PC |
| Bottom Housing Material | PC |
| Stem Material | POM+PTFE |
| Actuation Force | 48g / 60g |
| Mount | 5 pin |
| Pre Travel | 2.0mm |
| Total Travel | 3.1mm |
| Factory Lubed | Yes |
Switch Feel
The MMD Princess V4 Tactile has a pronounced tactile bump with a slight linear post-travel. It feels clean and snappy to type on with no noticeable scratch or stem wobble. I would describe the MMD Princess V4 Tactile as having a large, rounded uppercase "P" shaped tactile bump. It creates a very responsive bottom out where you can feel the tactility almost throughout the entirety of the keypress. The short travel distance could play a role in how responsive and snappy the MMD Princess V4 Tactile feels. The MMD Princess V4 Tactile feels very similar in terms of feel to the Boba U4T. They have a similar feeling bump and a similar feeling snappiness to each bottom out and top out thanks to their crisp tactile bumps.
Switch Sound
The MMD Princess V4 Tactile is also comparable to the Boba U4T in terms of sound. They have a similar sound profile, but the MMD Princess V4 Tactile has a slightly brighter and clackier bottom out and a bolder volume. The difference in materials used and the short travel distance could be a factor in why the MMD Princess V2 Tactile has a louder and higher pitched sound. The MMD Princess V4 Tactile has a very crisp tactile bump that creates an emphasized bottom out and a very poppy top out also due to the tactile bump on the upstroke.
Here is a sound test of the MMD Princess V4 Tactile:
Invokeys Hojicha Reserve
Product Details
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|
| Name | Invokeys Hojicha Reserve |
| Switch Type | Tactile |
| Top Housing Material | POM |
| Bottom Housing Material | POM |
| Stem Material | LY |
| Actuation Force | 46g |
| Bottom Out Force | 60g |
| Mount | 5 pin |
| Total Travel | 3.6mm |
| Factory Lubed | Yes |
Switch Feel
Similar to the Invokeys Matcha Reserve, the Invokeys Hojicha Reserve comes with consistently applied factory lube that creates a smooth feeling switch with no scratch or spring ping. The Invokeys Hojicha Reserve also has minimal stem wobble, with almost no wobble in the E/W direction and very little wobble in the N/S direction. For its tactility, you feel the tactile bump of the Invokeys Hojicha Reserve at the top of the keypress with a bit of post linear travel after the tactile bump. The tactile bump of the Invokeys Hojicha Reserve is more of a light to medium feeling bump in comparison to tactiles like the Boba U4T or the Gateron Baby Kangaroo. The Invokeys Hojicha Reserve would be a good choice for you if you want a distinct tactile feel that doesn't have too large of a bump.
Switch Sound
The Invokeys Hojicha Reserve has a snappy sounding bottom out in the mid tones, due to their snappy feeling tactile bump, with soft and muted top out in the low tones. Thanks to the consistent factory lube, the Invokeys Hojicha Reserve has no unnecessary sounds of scratch or ping. Depending on if you bottom out while typing or not, the Invokeys Hojicha Reserve could have varying typing sounds. If you are a light typist or do not bottom out as quickly or harshly, then the Invokeys Hojicha Reserve tends to have a thocky sound profile in the mid to low tones. If you are a heavy typist or bottom out quickly, the Invokeys Hojicha Reserve tends to have a sharper and clackier sound profile.
Here is a sound test of the Invokeys Hojicha Reserve:
Akko V3 Lavender
Product Details
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|
| Name | Akko V3 Lavender |
| Switch Type | Tactile |
| Top Housing Material | PC |
| Bottom Housing Material | PA |
| Stem Material | POM |
| Actuation Force | 40±5g |
| Bottom Out Force | 55±5g |
| Mount | 5 pin |
| Pre Travel | 1.9mm |
| Total Travel | 3.8mm |
| Factory Lubed | Yes |
Switch Feel
The typing feel of the Akko V3 Lavender feels as smooth as a polished surface. There is no noticeable scratch and it feels very light and comfortable to type on. I would describe the tactile bump of the Akko V3 Lavender as lowercased "p" shaped since the tactile bump is not as pronounced and there is a good amount of linear post-travel. These switches shine in its tight housing tolerances and its comfortability as a light tactile switch.
Switch Sound
The Akko V3 Lavender has a bright and clacky sound profile. It has a soft and creamy bottom out and a hard a clacky top out. Since most of the well known switches tend to be on the thockier side, the Akko V3 Lavender stands out as a bright sounding tactile. It would be a great option for enthusiasts who enjoy tactile switches but also enjoy a high pitched clacky sound profile.
Here is a sound test of the Akko V3 Lavender:
👉 You can buy these switches on our site:
Share your thoughts in the comments and let us know if you have any questions!
- Gateron Green Apple Product Page
- Gateron Mini I Product Page
- MMD Princess V4 Product Page
- Invokeys Hojicha Reserve Product Page
- Akko V3 Lavender Product Page
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