The Naevy switch project has been years of continual research and development into tactile switches. The tactile switch market was been stagant and without any innovation and required acquisition of multiple switches to be put together – increasing over cost, plastic waste and effort.
The aim of the Naevy switch is to create a new type of tactile – affordable and good as a stock switch. The stem is an original mold owned by AEBoards and it uses a panda derivative housing (most commonly used for tactile switch modding). All funding was paid for by AEBoards without any GB money involved – they shouldered the risk on the project because they believe in what they’re providing to the community.
For the Raeds, they’ve taken what they like about the Naevies and put that into a linear version. It includes the same materials, but with a custom stem mould that is longer and smoother than the average linear.
From TKC and C³Equalz come their third switch and the first in the Snack Time family line, the Banana Split switches! They are a linear switch and feature a custom polycarbonate and nylon housing with a POM stem, and 62g gold-plated springs. Comparably to the V2 Tangerines, these have a slightly lower pitch to their keypress, and have improved stem wobble as well. These switches in particular take to lube really well, and an even coating of Krytox 205g0 can make quite a noticeable difference in the acoustics. That being said, lubing and filming the Banana Splits are not necessary as they are quite smooth stock, though there are many that prefer to lube all of their switches for a variety of reasons. Like many other JWK and Durock switches, they will benefit from films once opened to reduce housing wobble.
These are some of the higher-rated linear switches for our staff, and are featured in Brownie’s Primus build! These are a fantastic switch for both beginners and long-time enthusiasts alike.
Typing Test
Stock
(more…)Gateron CJ switches, the newest switch from the manufacturer as of September 2021, are a great linear switch that have a smooth, satisying keypress and will certainly satisfy clacky linear lovers. While all-POM switches tend to run into issues of feeling leathery, Gateron’s proprietary Ink housing plastic is used effectively in the top housing to allow for a smooth actuation and to round out the clacky sound. With a 50g actuation and 60g bottom-out, you won’t need to worry about fatigue using these in a daily driver.
While Gateron CJ switches are just fine stock, they do benefit from being lubed, though any lube of choice is satisfactory. With most linear switches, we recommend Krytox 205g0 on the housing and stem, and GPL 105 or GPL 106 on the springs. Depending on the type of lube used, the acoustics will deepen slightly, so if you’re not a fan of the sound being quite as clacky, then going with a thicker lube may be the way to go!
Photos taken by the wonderful Captain.Sterling!
Typing Test
Gateron Black Ink V2 linear switches are one of the community’s most favoured switches to date, seeing use in an enormous number of builds from the average enthusiast up to professional streamers and e-sports competitors. They sport a proprietary plastic mix not seen before in Gateron’s switches, which has helped the switch become well-known for its stock smoothness and bassy accoustics. They also have matching black springs, which have little spring ping on stock Ink switches.
Lubed, Black Ink V2s are pretty hard to beat in terms of smoothness and sound; we would recommend Krytox 205g0 on the housing and stem, with GPL 105 or GPL 106 on the springs. The Ink housing is also incredibly tight, and have found that 0.125mm TX films are some of the few types of films that will fit.
Photos taken by the wonderful Sterling & Co. Photography!
Typing Test
PangHu’s Giant switch series has seen numerous material changes to its components, and now they’ve changed manufacutrer from Gateron to Tecsee! The Giant V5 linear switches continue the frosty aesthetic with a matching light blue UHMWPE stem and Nylon bottom housing, and milky UHMWPE top – boasting a super smooth linear keypress all the way through. The UHMWPE top gives the Giant V5s a satisfying, bassy upstroke so all of the thock enthusiasts will enjoy these switches!
Photos taken by the wonderful Captain.Sterling!
Typing Test
Adding to our TTC switch line are the TTC Ace linear switches! These linear switches boast an impressively smooth stock typing experience with factory lube on the legs and side parts of the stem, and this great switch feel is improved further by the 60g double-extension spring for a snappy return. With minimal stem wobble and no housing wobble, these switches are a real sleeper hit for the quality and price offered!
Photos taken by the wonderful Captain.Sterling!
Typing Test
Gateron Blue Bubblegum linear switches were designed by KeebHut, a small vendor based out of Southern California. These super smooth linear switches are built with Ink bottom housings, Nylon PA66 top housing and a POM stem. The POM stem and Ink bottom housings aim to retain smoothness and feel of the much-loved Black Inks while using a Nylon top to lower the pitch of the keypress, and a 65g gold-plated spring to allow for these switches to be a daily driver and avoid finger fatigue over a long work day. And believe it or not, but the switches are as smooth as they are completely unlubed!
Photos taken by the wonderful Karan Chauhan!
Typing Test
Behold, the long-awaited Nebula switches from Prevail Key Co! These beautiful switches are a collaborative project between Prevail and Cobertt from Control on Caps originally conceived in 2020, featuring a full nylon housing, LY material long-pole stem and 62g long progressive springs.
The star-spattered Nebula switch is genuinely the most aesthetically pleasing switch we’ve carried to date and boasts a super solid stock switch feel and great bassy acoustic. Due to the revised factory lubing job there isn’t much of a need to hand-lube them, but if you so desire, you’ll want to use an ultrasonic cleaner first, then apply your lube of choice. We would recommend 205g0 switch lubricant for the housing and stem, and GPL 106 switch oil for the springs.
Review
Shoobs
Karan
Emogogo Linear Switches are one half of JWK’s new switch line featuring proprietary switch moulds and plastic blends exclusive to Emogogo. They feature a smooth, snappy linear press thanks to their long-pole stem and 22mm, 62g progressive springs. The proprietary moulds and plastic blends used in the housing result in a need for minimal factory lube to produce a fantastic, smooth stock switch feel.
Photos taken by the amazingly talented Karan Chauhan!
Review
The Fruit switch line began with the Tangerine linear switch! Their UHMWPE housing and POM stem combination result in a super smooth keypress, thanks to both materials being low-friction. These switches are also factory lubed, though only lightly and can be lubed over without needing to remove what’s already there.
The switches work great with all types of switch lubricant we have available, with our personal favourite being 205g0. This can help to slightly deepen the clacky sound Tangerines produce and improve the smoothness even further.
Photos taken by the amazingly talented Karan Chauhan!
Typing Test
CIRCLE – TRIANGLE – SQUARE.
KNC Keys has released another Jacket-themed switch, this time the Green Jacket linear switches! These phenomenal switches feature HPE top housing, Nylon bottom housing, and an extra long 13.9mm POM stem for a super smooth stock feel and clean, clacky sound. The 63.5g double-stage spring will keep the switches feeling super snappy, especially on the upstroke, and no factory lube means that if you feel like you want to make the Green Jackets a little more to your liking you can do so with ease!
Also available are the tactile variant of the Green Jacket switches! They have little to no pre-travel and once over the bump you’ll nearly be bottoming-out. All of the specs are identical to the linear variant.
Attempting to match the colour of the switch housing to the show the switches are inspired from was quite a challenge but they came out just perfect. They’re incredibly vibrant and will look amazing in your board and in a container waiting for the right time to be used!
Review & Sound Test
Following the success of their Tungsten linear switches, Owlab has returned with their latest long-pole linear offering, Owlab Neon! Like the Tungstens, the Neons are a linear switch with a Nylon housing and POM stem, though the composition of the plastics have been altered to provide a more refined sound and reduced friction. Additionally, the Neons come with a light coating of lube that gives them a great feel straight out of the bag, and feature a 20mm dual-stage spring with a 62g bottom-out, as well as a new anti-wobble housing!
Typing Test
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