If you’ve been using membrane keyboards all your life and you think it’s now time to switch to a mechanical keyboard, then tactile switches are going to be the perfect fit for you. Why? You might ask. Well, that’s exactly what we’re here to tell you.
The 10 Best Tactile Switches for a Mechanical Keyboard are:
- Outemu Brown Switches
- Cherry MX Brown Switches
- Gateron Brown Switches
- Kailh Brown Switches
- Kailh Speed Copper Switches
- Cherry MX Clear Switches
- Glorious Panda Switches
- Drop Halo Clear Switches
- Outemu Ice Light Purple Switches
- Kailh Box Crystal Royal Switches
In this article, we’re going to talk about tactile switches as well as how you can choose the right tactile switches for yourself. We’re also going to provide a list of the best tactile switches for mechanical keyboards that you can find in the market.
Table of Contents
What are Tactile Switches?
Tactile switches are a type of mechanical switch which provides the right amount of click sound, perfect tactile actuation bump and a great mechanical switch feel as you press them.
For beginners, tactile switches are incredibly suitable whether it’s for gaming or typing. The reason for this is tactile switches offer everything that a linear and a clicky switch offers, only a balanced amount of it.
That’s why you should get tactile switches for your mechanical keyboard experience in the start and then upgrade from there depending upon whatever you might feel like getting.
Things to look for in Tactile Switches
You might be wondering, what should I look for in a tactile switch? Well, there are many things to look for in an ideal switch. Let’s take a look at each of these features that you should seek in a tactile switch
Tactile Bump
When it comes to the tactile bump at the point of actuation, there is no switch better than the tactile switch. The tactile switch is designed for producing a decent amount of bump at actuation which ensures the user that the key they were pressing has been logged in
Low Click Sound
When comparing the acoustics of the switch press with clicky or linear switches, the tactile switches produce a dull clicking sound which is louder than linear switches but not as sound and distracting as the clicky switches, making it perfect for beginner users of mechanical keyboards.
Smooth Clicks
The ideal tactile switches are going to be easy to click, smooth, and will require not as much pressure as some of the heavier linear switches. That’s why you need to make sure you pick out the perfect tactile switch which provides smooth clicking and easy pressing.
Top 10 Best Tactile Switches
If you’re looking to shift from membrane keyboards to mechanical ones and you’re ready to get your ideal tactile switches, we’ve made things easy for you. Here is a list of the best tactile switches available in the market so you don’t have to look for hours on the internet.
1. Outemu Brown Switches
Outemu is one of the best mechanical keyboard switch manufacturers in the market that offers switches at a really affordable price. The Outemu Brown Switches are definitely up there at the top with many of the highest-rated tactile switches.
These switches offer a really quick high tactile event trigger and are really smooth when it comes to key press. In fact, they’re easy to press and provide an amazing feeling when it comes to tactile bump. If you’re interested, you can get a great keyboard with these switches from Amazon.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Actuation Force – The actuation force required to press these switches is only 40g. | Stability – The brown switches by Outemu are known to be a little unstable. |
| High Tactile trigger – The tactile bump trigger is activated at a height of 1.2mm. | |
| Price – The price of these switches is relatively inexpensive. |
2. Cherry MX Brown Switches
Built to last for long periods of gaming and professional typing, the Cherry MX brown switches are a great tactile mechanical keyboard switch option if you’re looking for one.
The best thing about the MX brown switches is the fact that it can last till 100 million keystrokes and provide a consistently incredibly smooth tactile bump experience. You can get your Cherry MX Brown switch experience with this keyboard on Amazon.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Durability – The Cherry MX brown switches are built for lasting long periods of gaming and typing. | Low Actuation – The actuation point of these switches is pretty low in comparison to some of the better switches. |
| Stable Clicks – The switches are housed with stability ensuring decent clicks every time. | |
| Decent Price – The price of the keyboards with Cherry MX brown switches start from an affordable cost. |
3. Gateron Brown Switches
When we talk about amazing prices and high-quality tactile switches, we think of Gateron. With their Brown switches, Gateron has entered the big leagues of tactile mechanical keyboards.
The brown switches are light, easy to press, and provide a decent tactile bump but one thing about them is that they also have a low actuation point. You can get Gateron Brown Switches from here on Amazon if you want to.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Price – The price of these switches is fairly decent in comparison to others. | Low Trigger – These switches offer a low actuation point which isn’t that great. |
| Easy actuation – The actuation of these switches require a small effort of only 40g. | Stability – The switches do not have walls around the tip of the switch which reduces stability which can be problematic. |
| Tactile Bump – These switches provide great tactile feedback after a key is pressed. |
4. Kailh Brown Switches
Kailh switches are known for their incredible stability and super-comfortable clicks. Their Brown Switches maintain the legacy and continue on the great qualities that Kailh switches hold.
With a decent price tag and an easy pressure-free clicking availability, the brown switches are just simply what you definitely need in your life. Whether you’re a gamer or a typing expert, beginning on mechanical keyboards with Kailh Brown switches, available on Amazon, is going to be amazing.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Decent Price – The price of these brown switches is pretty great if you want to use them for your custom MX keyboard. | Low Trigger Point – Quick and efficient clicking isn’t quite workable with these switches. |
| Stability – These switches are known for their no-wobble stable clicks and presses. | |
| Comfortable Clicks – For smooth and easy presses, the force required is only 45g. |
5. Kailh Speed Copper Switches
Arguably one of the best tactile switches in this list is the Kailh speed copper switch. With these switches, you can do extreme typing and gaming without breaking a sweat.
These switches are fairly easy to press, but that’s not it. They’re also equipped with a high actuation point which makes efficient and quick typing with great tactile feedback a really easy thing to do. If you want to get Kailh Speed Copper switches, you can get them from here on Amazon.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Durability – With a lifespan of 70 million keystrokes, these switches are incredible. | Expensive – It is one of the more expensive tactile switches. |
| High Actuation Point – The actuation point is only 1.2mm deep which is great for quick presses. | Sound – The clicking sound is louder than most of the tactile switches in this list. |
| Easy press – The force required is only 50g which is easy and comfortable for users. |
6. Cherry MX Clear Switches
The MX Clear switches are a heavier version of the brown tactile switches. They’re really great in terms of quality and tactile feedback but they do require significant pressure to press the switch.
The actuation point of the clear switches is low but they can prove a great asset for typing experts in order to avoid pressing the wrong keys due to the heaviness of the switch itself. If you’re looking for a great tactile switch for typing, then this one is the one for you. They are available on Amazon.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Great for Typing – Due to the excessive 65g force requirement, the typing errors can be reduced significantly with this switch. | Not good for gaming – Quick-paced actions might be difficult if you aren’t able to press the right key hard enough. |
| Durable – The switches are sturdy, strong, and can last a long while. | Expensive – The pack of these switches is pretty expensive actually. |
| Nice feedback – The tactile feedback is amazing in comparison to others. |
7. Glorious Panda Switches
Aptly named the Glorious Panda Switches are truly glorious when it comes to tactility and quality. For professionals whether gamers or office workers, there aren’t any better switches in the market.
The tactile feedback along with the high actuation as well as the smooth press, the Glorious panda switches are incredible. You can get your own from Amazon or their official website.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| High Actuation Point – In order to allow users to do efficient clicking, the actuation point is high in these switches. | Very Expensive – Being the cream of the crop switches has one disadvantage, expensive price tags. |
| Smooth clicks – The clicks are smooth and comfortable, apt for professionals who use keyboards a lot. | |
| Amazing Tactility – The feedback on this switch is designed to feel amazing. |
8. Drop Halo Clear Switches
The Drop Halo Clear switch pack is also one of the best tactile switches on this list. Why? Well, the housing is incredibly high-quality, the stability is great and the tactile feedback is impressive as well.
The actuation point is high which is great for efficient typing and clicking and the smoothness of the clicks is significant. That’s why you should definitely get your hands on Halo Clear Switches if you want a great tactile switch. Check the price on Amazon.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Stability – These switches are really high-quality and they’re built to last long periods of gaming and typing. | Expensive – In comparison to some of the budget switches in this list, Halo Clear switches are slightly more expensive. |
| High Trigger Level – The actuation point of these switches is high which makes efficiency easy. | |
| No excessive pressure – With an actuation force of 54g, you can easily press these switches. |
9. Outemu Ice Light Purple Switches
When it comes to light and easy to click tactile switches with impressive feedback, these switches are incredible. If you’re looking for these switches, you can check if they are available on Amazon.
These switches offer ease of pressing with a low-pressure requirement along with a high-actuation point. So they’re going to be great not only for high-intensity gaming but also for incredibly speedy typing. You should definitely keep these switches on your priority list if you’re looking for great tactile switches.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| High Actuation Point – The actuation point on these switches is located fairly high for efficient typing. | Expensive – In comparison to some of the other tactile switches on this list, these are actually quite expensive. |
| Smooth Clicks – The clicks are easy and smooth due to only the 55g force requirement for pressing these switches. | |
| Durability – These Light Purple switches are built to last long periods of work and pressing. |
10. Kailh Box Crystal Royal Switches
Kailh’s Box Crystal switches are also pretty great for typing purposes. If you’re not looking to game with these tactile switches, you’re going to have a great mechanical keyboard experience.
The Box Crystal Royal Switches by Kailh have a high tactile trigger and they are incredibly high-quality but the actuation force can be a concern for gaming purposes. You can get your own Kailh Box Crystal Switches from Amazon.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| High Trigger Point – The trigger point for these switches is high which is great for efficient and quick clicking. | Less durable – With a lifespan of only around 50 million keystrokes, these switches are less durable than other switches in this list. |
| Great for typing – The high actuation point can be great for typing. | Expensive – They’re also more expensive than other Kailh tactile switches that we’ve featured in this list. |
| Great feedback – The tactile feedback of these switches is great. |
Conclusion
Tactile switches are incredible. Whether you’re looking to game or type professionally, with the right tactile switch mechanical keyboard, you’re going to be able to flow through it easily. We assure you that if you choose one of these switches that we’ve recommended you, you’re going to have a great time with your amazing mechanical keyboard.