Kinesis Mechanical Switches

This post will delve into keyboard switches with a emphasis on those mechanical switches used in Kinesis keyboards.

Membrane versus Mechanical

There are 2 main variations of switch types with very different functionality and pros and cons. Whenever evaluating a keyboard, its important to first identify which switch technology it uses so you can ask the appropriate questions.

Mechanical Switches: Mechanical switches are individual, spring load switches. When the switching slide is depressed and touches the cross point, an electronic contact is registered as a key press. All of the mechanical switches used in Kinesis keyboards utilize springs. What’s notable about this is that springs come in a wide variety of weights allowing manufacturers great latitude in varying key forces and typing experiences. These are considered the cream-of-the-crop for keyboards because of their durability, feel, and the wide-variety of styles to choose from, but they are more expensive.

 

Components of a mechanical switch
  1. Upper Housing: Guides the stem through its range of motion and supports the switching mechanism module.
  2. Switching Slide/Stem: Determines the switch “travel” distance and “feel” . The stem is the portion that protrudes through the upper housing that the keycap is positioned on. The color of the stem is the traditional way switches are identified.
  3. Cross Point Contact: A piece of metal or gold which electricity passes through. When the key is depressed to the actuation point an electrical contact is made and the key press is registered by the keyboard.
  4. Precision Coil Spring: The properties of the spring define the force you feel during typing.
  5. Housing Base: Snaps to the upper housing and mounts onto the circuit board or switch plate.

 

 

Components of a membrane keyboard

Membrane Switches: Based on their low manufacturing costs, the vast majority of computer keyboards are what are known as “membrane keyboards”. Membrane keyboards consist of several layers. The top layer is the upper case that contains the keys. The second layer is a rubber membrane that runs underneath the entire keyboard. Underneath each individual key cap is a protruding rubber “dome” that provides resistance each time a key is pressed. When the key is depressed the rubber dome is pushed downward compressing two conductive plastic membranes together, closing the circuit and registering a key action. Full travel switches have a slider integrated into the underside of the keycap while the short travel scissor has a plastic scissor mechanism attached to the underside of the keycap. There is no standard for membrane keyboards so there is wide variability across brands and manufacturers in terms of force, feel, travel etc.

 

How to compare mechanical switches?

Feel

  • Tactile: “Tactility” is a slightly elevated force around the midpoint of the stroke of the key which lets you know the switch is about to be activated. Tactility can train typists not to “bottom-out” the switch and eliminate those unnecessary impacts.
  • Linear: “Linear” is a consistent force throughout the full stroke of the key so there is no tactile feedback unless the switch bottoms out.

Profile/Height

  • Traditional Profile: Traditional Profile mechanical switches were pioneered by Cherry Corporation 30+ years ago and have been replicated by a wide variety of manufacturers in recent years. These switches have a total height of approximately 18.5mm BEFORE accounting for the keycap. A tell-tale sign of a mechanical keyboard is its thickness which is limited by the height of the mechanical switch themselves.
  • Low Profile: In recent years, leading manufacturers have introduced their own versions of low-profile switches which offer a similar feel and travel to Traditional Profile, but with a 30-40% shorter form-factor. Low Profile switches are typically paired with a lower profile keycap to further reduce the keyboard height. One of the main ergonomic benefits of a Low Profile switch is that manufactures can build a thinner keyboard which allows the typist to position their hands lower relative to the desktop surface. Low Profile switches are not offered in as many versions (different force characteristics) as Traditional Profile switches.

Comparison of Traditional Profile and Low Profile Switches

*Exact dimensions will depend on manufacturer and model.

Travel, Pre-Travel, Buffer Zone and Activation Point

The “travel” represents the full range of motion from the top of the switch to the bottom. At some point in the travel is the “activation point”, which is the point where electrical contact is made (see above) and the keyboard sends the keystroke to the computer. Above the activation point is the “pre-travel zone” and below the activation is “buffer zone”. Pre-travel distance can affect a user’s perception of typing speed and accuracy. Buffer zone distance plays an important role in finger tip impacts. The longer the buffer zone, the easier it is to activate a switch without having to “bottom out”. Bottoming-out results in thousands of unnecessary micro-impacts on your fingertips each day and is very un-ergonomic.

  • Full Travel (3.0 mm or more): So called “Full Travel” switches have a total travel distance between 3.0 mm – 4.0 mm.   The massive benefit to a Full Travel switch is that they universally have their “activation point” towards the middle of the travel, meaning there is a substantial buffer zone and finger tip impacts are greatly reduced.
  • Short Travel Switches (1.0 mm – 2.5 mm): So called “Short Travel” switches, found on most “budget-friendly” keyboards and laptops, have a total travel distance between 1.0 mm – 2.5 mm. These switches are typically found on Scissor switches and the activation point may vary widely depending on manufacturer. While there still may be a small buffer zone, most users typically type by bottoming out each keystroke, which is far from ergonomic.

See a visual comparison of Short Travel versus Full Travel

Force

Perhaps the most critical property of any key switch is how much force is require to depress it far enough to register a key action. The higher the key force the greater the potential for finger strain and fatigue. 5-10 grams of difference may not seem like a lot, but due to the repetitive nature of typing, the difference is amplified.

  • High (above 55 grams): Switches such as this are utilized primarily in “point-and-click” industrial applications versus a conventional QWERTY keyboard. While some typists may enjoy the feel of a high force switch, Kinesis considers this to be unnecessary and un-ergonomic and the only switch we offer in this range is the Cherry Blue switch in the Freestyle Edge RGB which is coveted by a segment of gamers.
  • Low (45-55 grams): This is the sweet-spot for most Kinesis keyboards. There is enough weight to prevent accidental key presses and provide a smooth typing feel, but not so heavy as to result in excessive strain or fatigue.

*Important Note: Manufacturers use a variety of terms to describe the concept of force including “actuation force”, “activation force”, peak force” but the use of these terms is not consistent across brands. Without independent laboratory testing its difficult to directly compare manufacturer claims. The above information represents our best guess at reality. Many switches have a non-linear force curve which means the force changes as you move through the switches range of motion.

Operating Life

Operating life of the key switch is measured by number of key presses and can vary wildly based on the type of switch and manufacturer. When shopping for a keyboard, its critical to compare the both the Manufacturer’s Warranty and the Operating Life. A keyboard with a higher Operating Life may cost more upfront than one with a lower Operating Life, but you can amortize that purchase cost over a significantly longer period of time reducing the real cost of ownership.

  • Higher (50M or more): Thanks to new innovations, premium mechanical switches are now being rated for up to 100M key presses which can translate to many years of life. And since each mechanical switch is an individual component, one bad switch can be replaced.
  • Lower (20M – 50M): Most mechanical switches are rated in this range and provide a length life for their keyboards.

Sound

Keyboard sound is a very important feature to a great many users and its a function of both the switch type and the overall keyboard design and materials. Mechanical switches have a reputation of being “loud”, but new innovations are changing those perceptions.

  • Loud: The most famous loud switch is the original “clicky” Blue stem model from Cherry. So called “clicky” mechanical switches add an extra mechanism into the switch body that produces an audible click at the activation point regardless of how firmly the switch is pressed and regardless of whether it bottoms out. These switches are popular with gamers but are not suitable for a shared office environment.
  • Medium: Most mechanical and some membrane and scissor switch keyboards fall in to this category. First time mechanical keyboard users are often surprised at the additional sound these switches make when bottoming out. However, users can train themselves not to bottom out to greatly reduce the sound profile.
  • Quiet: Membrane switches have the reputation of being the quietest option, but new “Silent” mechanical switches* are giving them a run for their money. So called “Silent” switches are molded with rubber bumpers on the switch contact points. So when you bottom out on a Silent switch you are impacting rubber on rubber, or rubber on plastic, instead of the much noisier plastic on plastic. *Note: Many manufacturers brand their switches as “Silent”, but Kinesis prefers to label our keyboards built with “Silent” switches as “Quiet” to better reflect the user experience.

Hear the difference between a Medium and Quiet switch on the Freestyle Pro

 

Mechanical Key Switches Used in Kinesis Keyboards

Request a Kinesis Mechanical Switch Tester

Cherry brand switches: Made in Germany, these are the original switches Kinesis has been using since 1992.

  • Cherry MX Tactile Brown Stem (Standard & RGB)

    • Feel: Tactile
    • Sound: Medium
    • Force: Low (45 grams)
    • Travel: Full (4.1 mm)
    • Pre-Travel: 2.0 mm
    • Buffer Zone: 2.1 mm
    • Operating Life: High (50M) presses
    • Offered in: Advantage2, Freestyle Edge RGB, & Freestyle Pro
  • Cherry MX Silent Linear Red Stem (Standard)

    • Feel: Linear
    • Sound: Quiet
    • Force: Low (45 grams)
    • Travel: Full (3.7 mm)
    • Pre-Travel: 1.9 mm
    • Buffer Zone: 1.8 mm
    • Operating Life: High (50M)
    • Offered in: Advantage2 Quiet LF & Freestyle Pro Quiet
  • Cherry MX Linear Red Stem (RGB)

    • Feel: Linear
    • Sound: Medium
    • Force: Low (45 grams)
    • Travel: Full (4.0 mm)
    • Pre-Travel: 2.0 mm
    • Buffer Zone: 2.0 mm
    • Operating Life: High (50M)
    • Offered in: Freestyle Edge RGB
  • Cherry MX Tactile Blue Stem (RGB)

    • Feel: Tactile
    • Sound: Loud
    • Force: High (60 grams)
    • Travel: Full (4.0 mm)
    • Pre-Travel: 2.2 mm
    • Buffer Zone: 1.8 mm
    • Operating Life: High (50M)
    • Offered in: Freestyle Edge RGB
  • Cherry MX Speed Linear Silver Stem (RGB)

    • Feel: Linear
    • Sound: Medium
    • Force: Low (45 grams)
    • Travel: Full (3.4 mm)
    • Pre-Travel: 1.2 mm
    • Buffer Zone: 1.2 mm
    • Operating Life: High (50M)
    • Offered in: Freestyle Edge RGB

Gateron brand switches: Made in China, Gateron is believed by many to have surpassed the quality and performance of Cherry

  • Gateron KS33 Low profile Tactile Chocolate Stem

    • Feel: Tactile
    • Sound: Quiet
    • Force: Low (55 grams)
    • Travel: Full (3.2 mm)
    • Pre-Travel: 1.7 mm
    • Buffer Zone: 1.5 mm
    • Operating Life: High (60M)
    • Offered in: mWave (available in Summer 2025)
  • Gateron KS33 Low profile Linear Red Stem

    • Feel: Linear
    • Sound: Normal
    • Force: Low (50 grams)
    • Travel: Full (3.2 mm)
    • Pre-Travel: 1.7 mm
    • Buffer Zone: 1.5 mm
    • Operating Life: High (60M)
    • Offered in: Form

Kailh brand switches: Made in China, Kailh Box switches have a unique innovative stem which results in less wobble

 

  • Kailh Tactile Box White Stem

    • Feel: Tactile
    • Sound: Loud
    • Force: Low (45 grams)
    • Travel: Full (3.6 mm)
    • Pre-Travel: 1.8 mm
    • Buffer Zone: 1.8 mm
    • Operating Life: High (50M)
    • Offered in: Advantage360 Signature Series

Other Resources

Membrane, Scissor and Mechanical Key Switches Explained
High Key Force & Fingertip Impact

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