Best Switches for Gaming: Speed, Precision, and Comfort

Overview

For the mechanical keyboard gamers! Here is our list of the best switches for gaming:

Mechanical Gaming Switches

Product Details

Name	Akko V3 Silver Pro
Switch Type	Linear
Top Housing Material	PC
Bottom Housing Material	PA
Stem Material	POM
Actuation Force	40g
Bottom Out Force	45g
Mount	5 pin
Pre Travel	1.0±0.5mm
Total Travel	3.3mm
Factory Lubed	Yes

Switch Feel

As the Akko V3 Silver Pro comes with consistent factory lube, it provides a very smooth typing experience. The Akko V3 Silver Pro exhibits no scratch and negligible stem wobble. The Akko V3 Silver Pro provides a comfortable typing experience straight out of the box. 

Switch Sound

The Akko V3 Silver Pro leans toward the "clacky" high pitched and brighter sound profile mostly due to its long pole stem and housing materials. As a result of the even shorter travel distance, the Akko V3 Silver Pro sounds clean and crispy. The Akko V3 Silver Pro has a loud and solid bottom out due to the short travel distance and long pole stem and a softer top out due to the light spring weight. 

Here is a sound test of the Akko V3 Silver Pro:

Product Details

Name	Gateron Smoothie Silver
Switch Type	Linear
Top Housing Material	POM
Bottom Housing Material	POM
Stem Material	POM
Operating Force	45±15g
Pre Travel	1.2±0.3mm
Total Travel	3.4±0.4mm
Mount	5 pin
Factory Lubed	Yes

Switch Feel

The Gateron Smoothie Silver is made entirely of POM which helps to create a smooth typing experience. It has a lighter spring weight and a shorter pre-travel distance which makes feel more responsive than the average full travel switch. This makes the Gateron Smoothie Silver ideal for typists and gamers who seek faster typing speeds. 

Switch Sound

The Gateron Smoothie Silver has an overall crisp and creamy sound signature in the mid to high tones. Its design and consistent factory lube create a hard and creamy bottom out sound with a soft and slightly dampened top out sound within the mid tones.

Here is a sound test of the Gateron Smoothie Silver:

Product Details

Name	HMX Vintage Citrus
Switch Type	Linear
Top Housing Material	PA12
Bottom Housing Material	PA66
Stem Material	T3
Actuation Force	48±2g
Bottom Out Force	53±2g
Mount	5 pin
Pre Travel	1.0mm±0.2mm
Total Travel	3.0mm±0.2mm
Factory Lubed	Yes

Switch Feel

The HMX Vintage Citrus, like with other HMX switches, are smooth, have almost no stem wobble, and have a solid bottom out due to the short travel distance with a snappy top out due to the long spring. 

The HMX Vintage Citrus has a much shorter travel distance than other HMX switches, with a 1.0mm pre travel and a 3.0 full travel. Its shorter travel and faster actuation make the HMX Vintage Citrus a great choice for a gaming switch. The responsiveness of the HMX Vintage Citrus makes them comfortable to type on with little to no fatiguing for daily use and for gaming.  

Switch Sound

The HMX Vintage Citrus has a high-pitched clacky bottom out as well as a high-pitched poppy top out. In comparison to the HMX Cheese, it is slightly less clacky than the HMX Cheese (possibly due to the T3 stem material in the HMX Vintage Citrus) but it has a slightly louder volume (possibly due to the more sudden bottom out in the HMX Vintage Citrus). The HMX Vintage Citrus a clean and crispy sound that is satisfying to hear during typing and even more satisfying to hear during gaming.

Here is a sound test of the HMX Vintage Citrus:

Magnetic Gaming Switches

Product Details

Name	Gateron Magnetic Jade
Switch Type	Linear
Top Housing Material	PC
Bottom Housing Material	Nylon
Stem Material	POM
Operating Force	30g
Mount	Magnetic
Total Travel	3.5±0.2mm
Factory Lubed	Yes

Switch Feel

The Gateron Magnetic Jade feels cleaner to type on than any other current magnetic switches in the market. It has significantly less stem wobble than other magnetic switches and significantly tighter housings (possibly because its top housing has two more anchors that latch on to the bottom housing in addition to the typical four latches).

Gateron Magnetic Jade has a more solid feeling bottom out compared to magnetic switches that feature an open bottom housing design.

Gateron Magnetic Jade feels comfortable to type on without worrying about unnecessary fatigue, which is perfect for gamers and seasoned enthusiasts.

Switch Sound

The Gateron Jade has a full and poppy bottom out and a thin and sharp top out. It has a sound profile around the mid-range tones which makes it sound more creamy than clacky or thocky. 

Here is a sound test of the Gateron Magnetic Jade:

Product Details

Name	Wuque WS Dash HE
Switch Type	Linear
Top Housing Material	PC
Bottom Housing Material	PA
Stem Material	POM
Preload	30gf
Bottom Out Force	55±10gf
Mount	Magnetic
Total Travel	3.5±0.2mm
Factory Lubed	Yes

Switch Feel

The Wuque WS Dash HE feels cleaner to type on relative to any current magnetic switches that come stock with the HE gaming keyboards. They have significantly less stem wobble than other magnetic switches and significantly tighter housings (possibly because their top housing has two more anchors that latch on to the bottom housing in addition to the typical four latches). The Wuque WS Dash HE also has a more solid feeling bottom out, which might be because their bottom housings are fully enclosed whereas some magnetic switches have open bottoms. 

The Wuque WS Dash HE is very similar to the Gateron Magnetic Jade and also feels comfortable to type on without worrying about unnecessary fatigue, which is perfect for gamers and seasoned enthusiasts.

Switch Sound

The Wuque WS Dash HE has a sound profile characterized by a full and poppy mid-range bottom-out sound (possibly due to the nylon bottom housing) and a sharp yet thin top-out sound (possibly due to the harder PC top housing). 

Here is a sound test of the Wuque WS Dash HE:

Product Details

Name	Gateron Dual-Rail Magnetic Jade Mini E
Switch Type	Linear
Top Housing Material	PC
Bottom Housing Material	Nylon
Stem Material	POM
Initial Force	30±7gf
Bottom Out Force	50gf
Mount	Magnetic
Total Travel	3.5±0.2mm
Factory Lubed	Yes

Switch Feel

The Gateron Dual-Rail Magnetic Jade Mini E design takes elements from both the Gateron Magnetic Jade and the Gateron KS-37B Magnetic Fox. It has the closed bottom housing design similar to the Gateron Magnetic Jade. And it has a dual-rail stem with an arch which seems to help with stem alignment that is similar to the Gateron KS-37B Magnetic Fox.

Switch Sound

The Gateron Dual-Rail Magnetic Jade Mini E sounds very similar to the Gateron Magnetic Jade. It has a similar full and poppy bottom out and top out sounds. Relative to the Gateron Magnetic Jade, the Gateron Dual-Rail Magnetic Jade Mini E seems ever so slightly higher pitched. 

Here is a sound test of the Gateron Dual-Rail Magnetic Jade Mini E:

Product Details

Name	Gateron KS-37B Magnetic FOX
Switch Type	Linear
Top Housing Material	PC
Bottom Housing Material	PA66
Stem Material	POM
Initial Force	30±10gf
Operating Force	50gf
Mount	Magnetic
Total Travel	4.0±0.2mm
Factory Lubed	Yes

Switch Feel

Since the Gateron KS-37B Magnetic FOX has a full travel distance it feels soft when bottoming out. The open bottom housing in the Gateron KS-37B Magnetic FOX could also be a factor for why it feels comfortably soft. There is no additional reverberation since there is no contact between the bottom of the stem pole and the bottom housing. 

The Gateron KS-37B Magnetic FOX also has a relatively spring weight which could feel more comfortable to type on for enthusiasts, office workers, or gamers who prefer lighter spring weights. 

The Gateron KS-37B Magnetic FOX come slightly factory lubed. They are very smooth and refined with no scratchiness or leaf/spring ping.

In terms of wobble they both have acceptable amounts of wobble. The Gateron KS-37B Magnetic FOX feels slightly tighter in the N/S direction than the E/W direction, which is possibly due to the dual-rail design and the arch around the stem allowing for better alignment.

Switch Sound

The Gateron KS-37B Magnetic FOX sounds slightly muted and deep. The Gateron KS-37B Magnetic FOX sounds soft and thocky when bottoming out and sounds thin and slightly high pitched when topping out. 

Here is a sound test of the Gateron KS-37B Magnetic FOX:

Things to Note

Before installing magnetic hall effect switches on your keyboard, check and ensure they are compatible with your keyboard. Depending on the design of the board, incompatible magnetic switches may damage the HE PCB. 

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