The pre-travel distance is the more important of the two, as this number tells you how far down, in millimeters (mm), you have to press a key before the input registers. We use the measurement that each brand advertises, but the two units are identical.Įach switch type has its unique feeling and sound profile, but they also have their own pre-travel distance and total travel distance. We measure the operating force in gram force (gf), while some companies advertise it in centinewton (cN). While that may sound like a lot, it puts these keyboards in a "light" range, meaning that it doesn't require much force from your fingers to press down a key, as you'll see in the tables below, some "heavy" switches can double that number, meaning they require double the effort to get a keystroke in. Continuing with the example of a laptop keyboard, most of them require around 43 grams of force to actuate. It also lets you know how much resistance you'll feel when you press down a key. This is the force required to press a key down and register an input. These two switch types have this pronounced bump, with the main difference being that clicky switches produce a loud "click" noise when you've pressed a key.Īnother good point of reference is the Operating Force. If you enjoy that feeling, you'll want to look for a tactile or a clicky switch. This same "tactile bump" is the feeling you'll find in both tactile and clicky switches. It's this "tactile" feedback that lets you know you've successfully pressed a key. When typing on a laptop keyboard, notice there's a slight "bump" or increase in resistance when you push down the key. ![]() Most laptop keyboards use membrane or scissor switches rather than mechanical, but they provide an excellent starting place for determining what kind of switch you like. The best example is a laptop keyboard, as many people are familiar with typing on them. Since it's hard to imagine what a switch will feel like without ever interacting with it, it's good to start with a point of reference. So, a Cherry MX Red switch will offer a similar feeling to a Kailh or Gateron Red switch, though there may be some slight differences, which we'll explore later. What's important is that, usually, a specific color switch will behave similarly across brands. But the colors, switch types, and offerings vary from company to company, with some brands, like Razer, using their own switches with a different color labeling scheme. Most companies will label these switches in terms of color, with Red being linear, Brown being tactile, and Blue being clicky. If you're interested in a technical, in-depth article on the testing process, you can check it out here.īroadly speaking, there are three main types of switches: linear, tactile, and clicky. We'll get into these details and what they mean a little later in this article. We test for a key's pre-travel, total travel distance, operating force, and actuation force, which are all impacted by the switch type. ![]() With the help of the spring, the key then comes back upwards to rest in its natural position.Īlthough there are a great many out there to choose from, switches are fairly straightforward. When you press down on the key, it activates a physical switch in the housing, which then sends a signal to the keyboard to say a specific key was pressed. ![]() Each mechanical switch has a plastic housing, a stem that holds the keycaps, and a spring, which is one of the more important parts because it gives the key a certain feel. To give a bit of history, mechanical switches are an evolution from the buckling spring mechanism used in the IBM Model M in the 1980s and 1990s. Are you looking for the classic "click" that comes from a clicky switch or a feeling that's similar to popping bubble wrap, which you get from a tactile switch? Or do you prefer a silent and smooth keypress that a linear switch offers? You might not know the answer yet, which is why we've created this guide. At the end of the day, it all boils down to personal preference. It's overwhelming, especially if you're just getting started in the world of mechanical keyboards. There are many different switch types available, all with a different feel and sound, so it can be hard to narrow down which is the best for you. ![]() Both the feeling and sound of a mechanical keyboard are largely dependent on the type of switches it has. The most important aspect of a mechanical keyboard is the typing experience: how it feels under your fingertips and how it sounds when you use it.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |