Key Takeaways
- Linear switches are smooth, frictionless, and quiet, making them ideal for typing and gaming.
- They offer analog control, allowing for more precise actions and macros, and are more durable than tactile or clicky switches.
- Red switches, in particular, are the best choice for most people due to their smooth, quiet operation and versatility.
Everyone knows mechanical keyboards are the way to go if you want the best experience, whether it’s for gaming or typing. And with tons of switch options to choose from, whether it’s brands like Cherry or Gateron or the different switch types like red, brown, or blue, there’s truly something for everyone in this market. That’s what makes it so fun for many people to try different boards and see what suits them best.
But as great as it is to have options, I’m putting my foot down: Linear switches are the best, and I won’t hear otherwise (that’s a lie, I’ll happily hear your comments below). I’ve had some experience with a few different switch types, and I’ve fallen in love with the linear style. If you’re looking to buy your first mechanical keyboard or just haven’t had the chance to try these switches before, take it from me, it’s the way to go.
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Linear switches are smooth and frictionless
Tactile bumps? No, thank you
There are three main types of switches you can get for a mechanical keyboard, so in addition to linear, you can go with tactile or clicky switches. Those last two switch types have a little bit of a click before the actuation point, which some people prefer since it helps them know when the key is being properly pressed. And I get it, but I don’t see the need.
With linear switches, keys move uniformly and smoothly all the way from their neutral position to the actuation point, and it feels so nice to have no resistance on the way down. It’s just smooth sailing and it doesn’t get fatiguing whatsoever. Once you’ve been typing for a while, you already know when the keys actuate anyway, so it’s not like the tactile bump has much of a practical use. If you ask me, it’s no more than a way to ease the transition from membrane boards, but it’s not needed whatsoever.
Linear switches can be analog
This one isn’t applicable to every linear switch, but one thing you can only get with linear switches is analog control, which can be a huge deal for gaming, and even productivity, to some extent. Analog switches go beyond the typical mechanical switches that simply detects an on or off position, and instead have the ability to measure the exact position of the switch. This means you can actually have switches that behave differently depending on how far down you press them.
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For instance, you can have a keyboard that replicates the behavior of a controller’s analog stick, so if you press a key down all the way, your character runs instead of walking. For productivity scenarios, some keybaords like the Keychron Q1 HE let you create macros based on a single key, so different actions are taken at different stages of pressing a key. And, most notably, analog switches can also make it easier to reset a key. In a typical keyboard, you ahve to raise the key above the actuation point before pressing it again, but an analog switch can reset by just gently lifting the key, so you can mash a button that much more quickly.
They’re more durable
Red switches can last longer
Another potential benefit of linear switches is their longevity compared to tactile or clicky switches. Again, things can vary a bit, but just looking at the current Cherry MX2A lineup, almost every tactile or clicky switch is rated for 50 million keystrokes. That’s a lot, to be fair.
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However, linear switches such as the MX Red or MX Black have a rated durability of over 100 million keystrokes, so they last twice as long. If you buy a keyboard with linear switches today, you can probably keep using those switches for many years to come. To be fair, that’s not always the case. Gateron’s latest G Pro 2.0 switches are almost all rated for 80 million licks, regardless of switch type. Still, Cherry MX switches are the most popular, so it’s worth keeping in mind if you’re buying a new keyboard.
They’re so quiet
No one wants a loud keyboard
Finally, the last and biggest reason why linear switches are the best, is just how silent they are compared to the competition. Because of that smooth movement all the way form the neutral position to the actuation point, linear switches are incredibly quiet, with the only noise really being up to the dampening on the board itself and how heavily you type.
Sure, if you’re alone in a room, you can get a kick out of the clickiness of a blue switch — I know, it can be really fun — but if you’re in an office or even share a home with someone who’s a little more sensitive to noise, blue switches will annoy the people around you very quickly. I felt that firsthand when I reviewed the 8BitDo Retro Keyboard a while back. Brown switches are definitely better, but still not perfect. Linear switches are the way to go.
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Red switches are the best for most people
While I’m more than happy to concede that people have different tastes, I can’t really side with the idea that tactile or clicky switches are better than linear. I’ve heard that many prefer the tactility for typing while gamers tend to prefer the linear style, but I’m not a PC gamer and I still find the linear switches to be way nicer. I just love how smooth and quiet they are, and when you pair them with a nice board, you get a stisfyingly quiet typing experience that’s just about perfect. I never want a different switch type again.