Best mechanical switches for typing and for gaming

Updated October 2026. The switch descriptions come from the recordings in Kiiwi's library.

There is no best switch, only the best one for what you do all day and how much noise you can live with. What follows is how the three kinds feel, which ones people usually reach for when they type and when they game, and how to hear them before you spend money on a keyboard.

The three kinds in one minute

• Linear switches go straight down with nothing in the way. They feel smooth and quiet, and the sound is mostly the key hitting the bottom.
• Tactile switches have a small bump partway through the press, so you feel the key register. Many people who type a lot like that feedback.
• Clicky switches add a click, from a jacket, a bar, a leaf or a spring, that you can hear across a room.

Weight matters as much as type. A light switch, around 45 cN, is easy on the fingers over a long day. A heavier one, 55 cN or 67 g and up, resists more and gives a more deliberate press.

For typing

Most people who type for a living end up choosing between a smooth linear and a gentle tactile. Neither is right for everyone, so these are starting points rather than rankings.

• If you want feedback without noise: Gateron Brown is described in the library as a gentle tactile, lighter than Cherry's MX Brown. Holy Panda has a sharp, pronounced bump with a full, rounded bottom-out, and Topre is a rubber dome under a spring with soft, rounded tactility.
• If you want it smooth and soft: NovelKeys Cream is a linear made of POM, a self lubricating plastic, with a deep, full bodied sound. Turquoise Tealios is an exceptionally smooth linear with a bright tone.
• If you want it nearly silent: Minimal Tick is a quiet single tick, the least intrusive pack in the library.
• If you like a lot of sound: Kailh BOX White is a crisp click bar, lighter than the BOX Navy, which is very loud and deliberate.

For gaming

Gamers lean linear. A smooth switch with no bump lets you press the same key again and again without feeling a catch.

• Cherry MX Red is Cherry's light 45 cN linear, the classic smooth switch in gaming keyboards.
• Gateron Red is the common budget smooth switch, also 45 cN.
• SteelSeries Apex Pro uses a hall effect linear with adjustable actuation, so you choose how far a key travels before it counts.
• If you like a heavier press, the Gateron Black is dry and muted.

Clicky switches are loud over a headset, which matters if you game with voice chat on.

How to choose

1. Decide how much noise is fine. If other people hear your keyboard, start with a linear or a gentle tactile.
2. Decide how much you want to feel. If you like to know a key registered, try a tactile.
3. Pick a weight you can type on all day. Lighter is easier on the hands, heavier is easier to control.
4. Hear it before you buy. Switch recordings tell you more than a spec sheet. Every switch above has its own page where you can type on it in your browser.

Hearing them on your Mac

Wondering how loud each one is? See quiet vs loud switches. To hear a switch under real typing, take the 1 minute typing test on any of them, or check every key on your own keyboard with the keyboard test.

If you do not want to buy a keyboard to find out, Kiiwi plays the same recordings as you type on a Mac, in any app, from the menu bar. The homepage playground lets you try each one on your own keys first.

Questions

What is the best switch for typing?

It depends on what you like. Many people who type all day choose a gentle tactile or a smooth linear. A tactile gives you feedback when a key registers, and a linear is smooth and quiet.

What is the best switch for gaming?

Gamers usually pick a light linear, such as a Cherry MX Red or a Gateron Red, because there is no bump to catch on when you press a key repeatedly.

Are clicky switches bad for typing?

No, but they are loud. They suit someone who works alone and likes the sound. In a shared space, a linear or a gentle tactile is the more considerate choice.

Can I hear a switch before buying a keyboard?

Yes. Each switch in Kiiwi's library has a page where you can type in your browser and hear the real recording.

Topicsbest switches for typingbest switches for gaminglinear vs tactilemechanical keyboard switchesswitch sound test