Overview
The factory lubrication in stock mechanical switches have made impressive improvements over the years. Creating switches that feel and sound almost perfect right out of the box and hassle free without necessarily needing to be hand lubed. Whether you're building your first custom mechanical keyboard or you're looking to upgrade your current setup, we'll help you find the best factory-lubed switches for your build.
| Neo x Keygeek Oat |
| MMD Vivian V2 |
| Gateron Smoothie |
| Invokeys Matcha Reserve |
| Invokeys Hojicha Reserve |
| HMX Yogurt |
Neo x Keygeek Oat
Product Details
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|
| Name | Neo x Keygeek Oat |
| Switch Type | Linear |
| Top Housing Material | PA6 |
| Bottom Housing Material | PA6 |
| Stem Material | L4 |
| Spring | 22mm |
| Actuation Force | 36±2g |
| Bottom Out Force | 45±2g |
| Mount | 5 pin |
| Pre Travel | 2.0mm |
| Total Travel | 3.6±0.2mm |
| Factory Lubed | Yes |
Switch Feel
The Neo x Keygeek Oat feel surprisingly smooth with no scratchiness during normal typing. The Keygeek Oat comes very lightly factory lubed, with the majority of the lube on the stem feet and a light layer of thin oil-like lubricant on the top housing. Its combination of materials creates a very glossy typing experiences that feels like your fingers are gliding down each keypress. Despite its 3.6mm total travel distance, the Keygeek Oat feels similar to a full travel 4.0mm switch. The Keygeek Oat has a solid and full feeling bottom out that provides a very premium feeling typing experience. There is almost no stem wobble in the E/W direction and very little stem wobble in the N/S, creating a tight and isolated typing feel.
Switch Sound
The Neo x Keygeek Oat have a full sounding bottom out in the mid to lower tones. The top out of the Keygeek Oat is also full and in the mid tones but has a poppy sound rather than a bass-y sound. Keygeek Oat produces a clean sound, isolating the typing experience from any unwanted sounds. In contrast to the sharp and clacky Neo x HMX Azure, the Keygeek Oat creates full and creamy typing sound.
Here is a sound test of the Neo x Keygeek Oat:
MMD Vivian V2
Product Details
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|
| Name | MMD Vivian |
| Switch Type | Linear |
| Top Housing Material | PA12 |
| Bottom Housing Material | Modified PUM |
| Stem Material | Modified UPE |
| Actuation Force | 43g / 53g |
| Bottom Force | 48g / 60g |
| Mount | 5 pin |
| Pre Travel | 2.0mm |
| Total Travel | 3.6mm |
| Factory Lubed | Yes |
Switch Feel
The MMD Vivian feels as thocky as it sounds. The MMD Vivian is a great option for those who enjoy the feeling of thoroughly lubed switches. Its creamy typing feel could be due to the modified UPE stem material because of its softness. The modified UPE stem material provides a thocky and soft feeling typing experience.
Switch Sound
The MMD Vivian stands out as a thocky switch. It has a hard and creamy bottom out and a soft and dampened top out. The PUM bottom housing material helps create a deep tone but also a hard plastic-y sound profile. Overall, the combination of the PUM bottom housing and the soft modified UPE stem material produces a soft and thocky sound signature.
Here is a sound test of the MMD Vivian:
Gateron Smoothie
Product Details
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|
| Name | Gateron Smoothie |
| Switch Type | Linear |
| Top Housing Material | Modified POM |
| Bottom Housing Material | Modified POM |
| Stem Material | Modified POM |
| Operating Force | 40±10gf |
| Mount | 5 pin |
| Total Travel | 3.6mm |
| Factory Lubed | Yes |
Switch Feel
The Gateron 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 Smoothie feels incredibly smooth to type on with an experience that feels like the keypresses are gliding up and down. In addition, the light factory lube is also consistent and well applied so the Gateron Smoothie can be used even in its factory stock form.
The Gateron 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 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 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 is a sound test of the Gateron Smoothie:
Invokeys Matcha Reserve
Product Details
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|
| Name | Invokeys Matcha Reserve |
| Switch Type | Linear |
| Top Housing Material | POM |
| Bottom Housing Material | POM |
| Stem Material | LY |
| Actuation Force | 53g |
| Bottom Out Force | 60g |
| Mount | 5 pin |
| Total Travel | 3.3mm |
| Factory Lubed | Yes |
Switch Feel
The Invokeys Matcha Reserve feel impressively smooth and responsive to type on. The Invokeys Matcha Reserve is consistently lubed from the factory on all sides of the stem, preventing any unnecessary plastic contacts. The Invokeys Matcha Reserve has a comfortable 60g bottom out with a responsive feeling return due to the long spring length. There is basically no stem wobble in the E/W direction with only a slight amount of wobble in the N/S direction. The consistent factory lube allows for a typing experience without any scratch or spring ping. The Invokeys Matcha Reserve would be a great choice if you are looking for a clean linear switch with a responsive key return.
Switch Sound
The overall sound profile of the Invokeys Matcha Reserve lies in the mid tones. The bottom out of the Invokeys Matcha Reserve is sharp due to the long stem pole, but has a creamy and marbly sound. The top out of the Invokeys Matcha Reserve is soft and dampened with a lower tone. The contrast in the bottom out and top out of the Invokeys Matcha Reserve creates a unique characteristic for the Invokeys Matcha Reserve.
Here is a sound test of the Invokeys Matcha Reserve:
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:
HMX Yogurt
Product Details
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|
| Name | HMX Yogurt |
| Type | Linear |
| Top Housing Material | PC |
| Bottom Housing Material | P5 |
| Stem Material | POM |
| Actuation Force | 45±2g or 53±2g |
| Bottom Out Force | 52±2g or 62g±2g |
| Pre Travel | 2.0mm |
| Total Travel | 3.4mm |
| Mount | 5 pin |
| Factory Lubed | Yes |
Switch Feel
The HMX Yogurt is as smooth as it gets even with HMX switches. It is thoroughly and yet lightly lubed to create a balanced typing experience of smoothness without feeling sluggish. It has absolutely no stem wobble in the E/W and barely any in the N/S direction. It has the incredibly tight tolerances which help to emphasize a clean and refined typing. It has a hard and solid bottom out feel with a snappy and responsive top out feel. The HMX Yogurt is a great choice if you are looking for a switch that isolates its typing feel with just the right about of factory lube to complement its design.
Switch Sound
HMX switches have built a strong reputation for their distinctively clacky sound signature, and among the many releases in their lineup, the HMX Yogurt stands out as perhaps the most refined representation of that sound. It represents the peak of what HMX has aimed to achieve with its bright, crisp acoustics, delivering the highest pitch and most clacky sound of any HMX switch so far. The bottom-out is especially sharp and clean, imitating sound of switches that use metal insert. The HMX Yogurt also features a poppy, energetic top-out that adds liveliness to every keystroke, resulting in a uniquely dynamic sound profile that feels full. If you're someone who already enjoys the classic HMX clack and have been wanting more of their clacky sound, the HMX Yogurt is a must try, it might just become your new favorite.
Here is a sound test of the HMX Yogurt:
👉 You can buy these switches on our site:
Share your thoughts in the comments and let us know if you have any questions!
- Neo x Keygeek Oat
- MMD Vivian V2
- Gateron Smoothie
- Invokeys Matcha Reserve
- Invokeys Hojicha Reserve
- HMX Yogurt
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