Overview
These are some of the top underrated switches to make your custom mechanical keyboard sound creamy:
| Gateron Sea Salt Smoothie |
| Gateron Mars |
| Kailh Cocoa |
| Gateron Mini I |
| Gateron Weightlessness |
| Gateron Green Apple |
| HMX Jelly |
| MMD Matcha Ice Cream |
| Leobog Graywood V4 |
| KTT Peach |
Gateron Sea Salt Smoothie
Product Details
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| Name | Gateron Sea Salt Smoothie |
| Switch Type | Linear |
| Top Housing Material | POM |
| Bottom Housing Material | POM |
| Stem Material | POM |
| Operation Force | 48±10g |
| Spring | 22mm double stage gold-plated |
| Mount | 5 pin |
| Pre Travel | 2.0±0.6mm |
| Total Travel | 3.7±0.2mm |
| Factory Lubed | Light factory lube |
Switch Feel
The Gateron Sea Salt Smoothie, as well as the rest of the Gateron Smoothie series, is aptly named because they feel as smooth as a smoothie. Since the entire switch is made out of POM, it can be expected that the Gateron Sea Salt Smoothie feels incredibly smooth to type on. In addition, the light factory lube is also consistent and well applied so the Gateron Sea Salt Smoothie can be used even in its factory stock form.
The Gateron Sea Salt Smoothie has the modern long pole and short travel distance feel, so it would be a good fit for those who like the shorter travel distance.
Switch Sound
The Gateron Sea Salt Smoothie has a loud and creamy sounding bottom out and a soft and thocky sounding top out. POM is generally a slightly soft material, and in combination with a relatively lighter spring weight, the top out sound is on the softer side due to a less sudden spring de-actuation. The Gateron Sea Salt Smoothie would be perfect for those looking for a creamy sounding switch that is sharp on the bottom out and soft on the top out.
Here are some sound tests of the Gateron Sea Salt Smoothie:
Gateron Mars
Product Details
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| Name | Gateron Mars |
| Switch Type | Linear |
| Top Housing Material | Nylon |
| Bottom Housing Material | POM |
| Stem Material | POK |
| Operating Force | 45g |
| Mount | 5 pin |
| Pre Travel | 1.2mm |
| Total Travel | 3.6mm |
| Factory Lubed | Yes |
Switch Feel
The Gateron Mars feels comfortably light and smooth to actuate. The combination of its POK stem rails gliding along the POM bottom housing creates a glossy feeling keypress. The factory lube in the Gateron Mars is lightly applied but it feels consistent enough to use stock without having to open them up and apply lube by hand. The Gateron Mars has a short travel distance and coupled with the lighter spring weight it could feel comfortable for light typists or it could feel too sudden for heavy typists.
Switch Sound
To give perspective, the Gateron Mars has an overall sound profile reminiscent of Gateron Milky Yellows with the milky top and the black nylon bottom housing. The Gateron Mars provides a more refined sound profile of the Gateron Milky Yellow. It has a creamy sound signature with a sharp bottom out sound due to the long pole stem and short travel distance. Essentially the Gateron Mars has the creamy top out sound profile of a Gateron Milky Yellow, but with a classic long pole bottom out sound. The Gateron Mars would be a good switch to try for those who like the sound of a milky top housing.
Here are some sound tests of the Gateron Mars:
Kailh Cocoa
Product Details
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| Name | Kailh Cocoa |
| Switch Type | Linear |
| Top Housing Material | POM |
| Bottom Housing Material | Thickened Injection-Molded PA66 |
| Stem Material | DuPont POM |
| Operating Force | 45g±5g |
| Spring | Stainless Steel |
| Mount | 5 pin |
| Pre Travel | 2.0±0.4mm |
| Total Travel | 3.6±0.4mm |
| Factory Lubed | Yes |
Switch Feel
The Kailh Cocoa is competitive with HMX switches in terms of its smoothness. Although there is a slight auditory scratch when the switch is at ear level, the Kailh Cocoa has a smoothness that feels different than a smoothness achieved from just applying lubrication. The keypresses on the Kailh Cocoa feels like the stems are gliding on ice. The Kailh Cocoa would be a great fit for those looking for a light actuation with little to no resistance in each keypress.
Switch Sound
The Kailh Cocoa sounds like an upgraded version of the Kailh NK Cream. It has a similar sound top out and bottom out, but with the shorter travel distance the Kailh Cocoa has a more distinct bottom out sound than the NK Cream. In comparison, the Kailh NK Cream sounds like a muted version of the Kailh Cocoa. The Kailh Cocoa has a pronounced bottom out that sounds creamy and a clear top out that sounds poppy.
Here is a sound test of the Kailh Cocoa:
Gateron Mini I
Product Details
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| Name | Gateron Mini I |
| Switch Type | Tactile |
| Top Housing Material | Nylon |
| Bottom Housing Material | Nylon |
| Stem Material | POM |
| Operating Force | 50±10g |
| Mount | 5 pin |
| Pre Travel | 2.0±0.5mm |
| Total Travel | 3.4mm |
| Factory Lubed | Light factory lubed |
Switch Feel
The Gateron Mini I feels smooth in general but due to the large tactile bump the smoothness may be unnoticed. The Gateron Mini I has a large tactile bump at the start of the actuation with a very short linear portion at the end of the bottom out.I would described the tactile bump of the Gateron Mini I as upper case "P" with a much rounder portion and a shorter tail end. With the lack of tactile switches currently in the market, the Gateron Mini I is one of the switches that helps to fill that void with a large crisp tactility. The Gateron Mini I would be a good fit for those looking for a tactile switch with a pronounced bump.
Switch Sound
With a combination of a thocky bottom out, created its tactility, and the poppy top out, the Gateron Mini I has the ability to be sound both creamy and thocky depending on your keyboard's configuration. The Gateron Mini I has a satisfyingly crisp sound for those looking for a pronounced auditory feedback for your custom mechanical keyboard.
Here is a sound test of the Gateron Mini I:
Gateron Weightlessness
Product Details
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| Name | Gateron Weightlessness |
| Switch Type | Tactile |
| Top Housing Material | Nylon |
| Bottom Housing Material | Nylon |
| Stem Material | POM |
| Operating Force | 50g |
| Mount | 5 pin |
| Pre Travel | 2.0mm |
| Total Travel | 3.4mm |
| Factory Lubed | Yes |
Switch Feel
The Gateron Weightlessness feels like a lighter tactile switch, although similar in spring weight to the Gateron Mini I, which could be due to its smaller tactile bump. The Gateron Weightlessness feels like its tactility is more of a lower case "p" which a similar bump at the top of the keypress and a short linear travel and the bottom out. Relative to the Gateron Mini I, the tactility of the Gateron Weightlessness doesn't feel as crisp. However the Gateron Weightlessness has a sharp tactile feel right at the top of the keypress. The Gateron Weightlessness would be a good option to try if you are coming from a linear switch since the tactile bump doesn't feel too large, but you would still be getting a distinct tactile feel unlike a generic brown tactile switch.
Switch Sound
The sharp tactility of the Gateron Weightlessness aids in creating a slightly higher pitched creamy sound profile. The Gateron Weightlessness leans more towards the higher end of the pitched spectrum, but due to the tactile bump breaking up the sound and a milky top, it creates a more well rounded sound profile that has notes of both clacky and thocky. The Gateron Weightlessness would be a good choice for those wanting a clear sounding typing experience that isn't dictated by foams.
Here is a sound test of the Gateron Weightlessness:
Gateron Green Apple
Product Details
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| Name | Gateron Green Apple |
| Switch Type | Tactile |
| Top Housing Material | POM |
| Bottom Housing Material | POM |
| Stem Material | POM |
| Operating Force | 63±15g |
| Mount | 5 pin |
| Pre Travel | 2.0±0.6mm |
| Total Travel | 3.4mm |
| Factory Lubed | Light factory lubed |
Switch Feel
In terms of feel, the Gateron Green Apple feels like the big brother of the Gateron Mini I. The Gateron Green Apple has a heavier spring and a larger tactile bump than the Gateron Mini I. The Gateron Green Apple is comparable to the feel of the WS Heavy Tactile but with a more contained tactile feel. The tactile bump of the Gateron Green Apple is large and satisfying for those that enjoy a distinct tactility. The Gateron Green Apple would be a good choice for those that enjoyed the pronounced tactile feel of other tactile switches like the Holy Pandas and the Boba U4T.
Switch Sound
The Gateron Green Apple has crisp and sharp bottom out that lies in the mid tones and a very poppy top out. The Gateron Green Apple has one of the most cleanest sounding actuations for a tactile switch. The Gateron Green Apple transitions from the sound of the tactile actuation to the bottom out seamlessly, producing a satisfying creamy and thocky sound profile. The Gateron Green Apple would be a good switch to try if you are looking for a switch that is comparable to other tactile switches that were popular for their "thockiness."
Here is a sound test of the Gateron Green Apple:
HMX Jelly
Product Details
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| Name | HMX Jelly |
| Switch Type | Linear |
| Top Housing Material | PA12 |
| Bottom Housing Material | P4 |
| Stem Material | T2 |
| Actuation Force | 42±5g |
| Bottom Force | 48±5g |
| Mount | 5 pin |
| Pre Travel | 2.0±0.5mm |
| Total Travel | 3.8±0.3mm |
| Factory Lubed | Light factory lubed |
Switch Feel
HMX Jelly feels incredibly smooth in stock form. Just like other HMX switches, the HMX Jelly comes with excellent factory lube. It also has minimal stem wobble in comparison to other switches which allows for a smoother typing experience. It creates an even typing feel regardless of where the keycap is pressed. The tight tolerances for HMX Jelly also translates to a clean and clear sound. Even though the HMX Jelly has a total travel distance of 3.8mm, it feels closer to a full travel switch than many other popular HMX switches like the HMX Cheese. The HMX Jelly feels similar to a full travel switch while still producing the solid bottom out feel of a long pole stem.
Switch Sound
The HMX Jelly still retains the essence of a HMX switch with an overall clacky plastic-y sound signature. However, unlike some of the more popular HMX switches known for their high pitched clack, the HMX Jelly provides a more mellow sound profile. The HMX Jelly still has the usual long pole bottom out sound signature, but the overall sound of the HMX Jelly is more poppy and creamy than just the usual HMX clack. The bottom out of the HMX Jelly sounds more softer and less harsh than sound of the louder HMX switches. This helps to round out the sounds and create a switch that is more well rounded and achieves sounds ranging from the mid tones to the high tones without sounding too sharp. The HMX Jelly would be a good option to try if you are looking for a poppy and creamy sound profile or if you are interested in trying an HMX switch that has a more individualistic sound.
Here is a sound test of the HMX Jelly:
MMD Matcha Ice Cream V3
Product Details
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| Name | MMD Matcha Ice Cream V3 |
| Switch Type | Linear |
| Top Housing Material | POM |
| Bottom Housing Material | POM |
| Stem Material | POM |
| Actuation Force | 45g |
| Bottom Force | 55g |
| Mount | 5pin |
| Pre Travel | 1.8mm |
| Total Travel | 3.8mm |
| Factory Lubed | Yes |
Switch Feel
The MMD Matcha Ice Cream V3 feels glossy to type on. It has a smoothness similar to gliding on glass in contrast to a smoothness that traditional lubed switches have. Although on off center keypresses there are subtle notes of scratchiness. This could be due to their stem rail design that has the middle of the rail welled out so that only the edges of the stem rail made contact with the rails of the bottom housing. Less surface area in contact with each other would reduce the amount of friction and resistance. The scratchiness is noticeably reduced when hand lubed, offering a smoother and more enjoyable typing experience. The MMD Matcha Ice Cream V3 also has a short travel distance and a dual-staged spring like the MMD Princess V2 Linear, creating a similar responsive actuation and snappy upstroke.
Switch Sound
The MMD Matcha Ice Cream V3 has as a crisp bottom out that produces a creamy clack. The bottom out is sharp and crisp while the top out is soft. While it feels glossy smooth to type on, there is some scratchiness in the sound in its stock form, however it is not noticeable during normal typing. The scratchiness is noticeably reduced when hand lubed, offering a smoother and more enjoyable typing experience. The MMD Matcha Ice Cream V3 has a sound profile that isn't necessarily a high pitched clack, but harmony of something that falls between the mid tones and the high tones that creates a sharp creamy sound signature.
Here is a sound test of the MMD Matcha Ice Cream V3:
Leobog Graywood V4
Product Details
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| Name | Leobog Graywood V4 |
| Switch Type | Linear |
| Top Housing Material | PC |
| Bottom Housing Material | Nylon |
| Stem Material | POM |
| Actuation Force | 40±3gf |
| Bottom Force | 50±3gf |
| Mount | 5pin |
| Total Travel | 3.6±0.3mm |
| Factory Lubed | Yes |
Switch Feel
The Leobog Graywood V4 feels similar to the MMD Matcha Ice Cream V3. The Leobog Graywood V4 has the similar glossy feeling keypresses that has notes of scratch on off centered keypresses. It is reminiscent of gliding on ice on a pair of ice skates where if you skate just right then it feels like you're gliding on ice but if your skates are at a bad angle, it creates some resistance in the ice. Similarly, the typing experience with the Leobog Graywood V4 feels like you're gliding along each key, but occasionally there are bits of scratchiness depending on the angle of the keypress.
Switch Sound
The Leobog Graywood V4 aims to have a clean deep sound with its refined stem design. Like the feel on the Leobog Graywood V4, it has a little bit of texture in its sound signature as well. The scratchiness isn't overwhelming though so the Leobog Graywood V4 would be a good fit for those who enjoy Cherry-like switches as they provide a similar textured sound signature. The bottom out of the Leobog Graywood V4 is sharp, consistent of long pole switches, but the overall sound profile is lies in the mid to high tone with a solid creamy bottom out sound and a clear poppy top out sound. The Leobog Graywood V4 would be a great fit for both casual typers and gamers with its smooth actuations and larger LED cutouts.
Here is a sound test of the Leobog Graywood V4:
KTT Peach
Product Details
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| Name | KTT Peach |
| Switch Type | Linear |
| Top Housing Material | PC |
| Bottom Housing Material | Nylon |
| Stem Material | POM |
| Actuation Force | 45g |
| Bottom Out Force | 53g |
| Mount | 3 pin |
| Pre Travel | 2.0mm |
| Total Travel | 4.0mm |
| Factory Lubed | No |
Switch Feel
The KTT Peach is the only switch in this list that does not come with factory lube and has a full travel distance. For comparison, the KTT Peach feels similar to the KTT Rose. They are both full travel and they both have a similar scratch on each keypress. The KTT Peach is on this list because it comes from the factory completely unlubed, but even in its stock form the typing feel rivals the light factory lubed KTT Rose. The KTT Peach has tight tolerances and feels comfortable to type on. With some application of lube, the KTT Peach has potential to be another high tiered budget switch, just like the KTT Rose. The KTT Peach would be a good switch to try if you are familiar with KTT switches, or if you are looking for a switch that will punch above its price point with a little application of lubrication.
Switch Sound
The sound of the KTT Peach also rivals the KTT Rose. The KTT Rose has a clear bottom out but it is slightly muted compared to the KTT Peach. In its stock form, the KTT Peach has apparent scratch per keypress. Despite the scratch, the KTT Peach has a clear and creamy bottom out sound in the mid tones and a soft top out in the high tones. The KTT Peach would shine as a top budget switch with some application of lubrication, much like how the KTT Rose was a budget switch that punched above its price point. The KTT Peach would be a good choice if you are looking for a full travel switch that will sound creamy after lubing by hand.
Here is a sound test of the KTT Peach:
Other Reading
How to Mod Your Mechanical Keyboard for Better Sound and Feel
How to Build Your First Mechanical Keyboards: A Step-by-Step Guide
Ultimate HMX Switch Showdown: Sound Test & Switch Review
Top Mechanical Keyboard Layouts: Which One is Right for You?
HMX Cheese Linear Switch Review
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