Switches
Discover the perfect mechanical keyboard switch for your typing style. From smooth linear switches to tactile bumps and satisfying clicks, find detailed reviews and comparisons.
Switches are the single biggest factor in how a keyboard feels and sounds. Change nothing else about a board and swap the switches, and it becomes a different keyboard. That is why this is the part worth getting right first, and why it is also where most of the jargon lives.
Every mechanical switch falls into one of four families. Linear switches press straight down with no interruption, which suits gaming and fast typing. Tactile switches add a small bump at the point the key registers, which most typists prefer. Clicky switches add an audible click to that bump. Silent switches use dampening pads to cut the noise of the press. If you are choosing your first set, our tactile vs linear guide is the fastest way to narrow it down.
From there, the picks: best linear switches for smooth and quiet, best tactile switches for feedback while you type, and best silent switches for shared rooms and late nights. If you already own switches and want them to feel better, lubing them costs a few pounds and makes more difference than most upgrades.
One practical thing to check before you order anything: whether your keyboard takes 3-pin or 5-pin switches. Our 3-pin vs 5-pin guide explains how to tell in about ten seconds, and what to do if you buy the wrong ones.
