Thinking about buying your first mechanical keyboard? There are plenty of models across an impressive price range, and the web is packed with technical information from manufacturers and enthusiasts. But before you spend money on lighting or form factors, there's one fundamental thing to understand: the switches. Which types matter most, and what should you look for?
Some sellers are just as unscrupulous when labeling their products as they are elsewhere. They push RGB lighting and detachable cables, yet they often fall back on terms like “semi-mechanical” or “mechanical-like” before admitting the keyboard is actually rubber dome.
Keyboard switches
Those claims don't hold water. All you need to do is pop off a keycap and inspect the switches. But the world of mechanical keyboards is much bigger than it appears, and there are enough exotic, unusual designs to confuse even seasoned enthusiasts. If you're curious about mechanical keyboard switches, stick around.
IBM buckling spring
At this point, the IBM Model M needs no introduction. The official term for its switch is “buckling spring.” When you press a key, the spring at the bottom bends, moving a plastic hammer that makes contact. IBM's original patent dates back to 1971. More than forty years later, many still consider it the best on the market.
With Model F keyboards (found in terminals and XT systems, although AT variants compatible with modern computers exist), the buckling spring causes a change in capacitance (and, by extension, key registration), while in the Model M, the switch works over a membrane. This technology wasn't exclusive to IBM, but the surest way to find it is to try to get a keyboard from the blue giant.
Cherry MX
Despite the fame of the buckling spring, it's not the most popular switch around. That privilege belongs to the Cherry MX, made by the German company Cherry since 1983. A quick search reveals more than two dozen versions of this switch, but when identifying the most common ones, five stand out: Blue, Black, Brown, Red, and Clear.
The main differences are whether they're clicky (Blue), linear (Black and Red), and tactile (Blue, Brown, and Clear), plus the amount of force needed for actuation. Of the five I've mentioned, Brown and Red are the “softest,” while Black requires the most force.
Cherry MX Red switches are particularly popular in mechanical keyboards aimed at gamers. Their linear action and light touch give them a reputation of “speed” and “low latency” compared with other switches.
Clones of the Cherry MX
In recent years, many Cherry MX clones have appeared, with varying levels of quality. Razer is one of the companies that has promoted its variants the most, releasing keyboards with Green (clicky, a clone of the MX Blue), Orange (tactile, a clone of the MX Brown), and Yellow (linear, between MX Red and MX Speed Silver) switches.
But here's a noteworthy detail: Razer doesn't make them directly. One of the confirmed companies is Kaihua Electronics, whose switches are better known under the Kailh brand, and the other is Huizhou Greetech Electronics, which makes Greetech switches. These names also join another high-profile Chinese company, Huizhou Gateron Electronic Technology Co., famous for its Gateron and Zealio switches.
Alps switches
If the Cherry MX family and its clones confuse you, then Alps switches will be a real headache. Production began in 1984, led by the Japanese company Alps Electric, better known for its touchpads in specific notebook models and for some Apple keyboards.
It's difficult to identify Alps switches correctly because of the huge number of clones, but this family splits into two essential parts: “complicated” and “simple.” The “complicated” nickname comes from the sheer number of parts each switch can have, between ten and eleven depending on other conditions (such as being clicky, for example).
Alps switches also come in colors; White, Black, Blue, and Cream are the most common. Two keyboards that mostly tend to use Alps switches are the Dell AT101 (and later models) and the Chicony KB-5161, a true tank at 25 years old with the option to switch between XT and AT modes. To identify an Alps, look at the side latches: the originals use two, while clones have four.
Topre
There's one more switch to cover: Topre. The situation with the Topre switch is rather curious: the enthusiast community hasn't yet agreed on how to define it. Its operation depends on both a rubber dome and a spring, making it a mix of two categories. At the same time, the most popular variant is capacitive, but there's a certain “bump” at the start of the press, turning it into a tactile switch.
Topre is Japanese, produced by the company of the same name, and its first patent for this technology is forty years old. Topre switches usually appear in keyboards with a higher price tag than usual. Realforce keyboards, brought to market by Topre itself, rarely dip below $170, while the Happy Hacking series easily surpasses the $250–$300 range. Design variations focus on actuation force and key travel.
In summary: Switch world is a universe apart
I know these aren't all the keyboard switches out there. Futaba, KPT, NMB (also known as “Space Invaders”)... the list goes on, and I've barely scratched the surface of Cherry and Alps. If you've made it this far and want more information, then welcome—the mechanical keyboard and switch bug has bitten you.
Basically, your first stops should be the Deskthority wiki and forums, and the Geekhack.org forums (links below). On the Deskthority wiki you'll find precise technical details about each switch (and mechanical keyboards, of course), while both forum communities are always happy to share information and answer questions. Happy hunting!
Deskthority: Click here
Geekhack: Click here
