The mechanical keyboard is not always so mechanical anymore.
Over the past six years, keyboards with optical, Hall-effect, and other “touchless” switches have become increasingly common, often commanding higher prices than traditional mechanical keyboards, which already command a premium over basic membrane plates. In return, they promise some theoretical advantages, especially for players. However, in everyday use the differences can be quite subtle.
So what exactly are you paying for? In this guide, we break down how the newest switches work, why touchless designs are becoming more popular, and where their advantages (and disadvantages) really matter.
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How Standard Mechanical Switches Work
First, let’s recap what happens when you press a key with a traditional mechanical switch inside.
As you can see in the diagram of a Cherry MX Brown switch below, standard mechanical switches have two metal blades (in this case, the “crossover point”) that are shaped differently, with the top of the larger blade bent away from the smaller blade.
An enlarged view of an MX Brown switch.
An enlarged view of an MX Brown switch.
Credit: Das Keyboard
When you press a mechanical switch, its plastic stem moves downward toward the keyboard PCB, and a spring wrapped around the stem compresses. When you release the button, the spring expands, forcing the stem to return to its original position.
When a switch is at rest, a protruding piece of plastic stem prevents the two blades of the switch from making contact. As the stem descends, that piece moves with it, allowing the blades to touch and close a circuit on the keyboard’s PCB, which sends a signal to the keyboard’s microcontroller, telling the computer what input was made.
A transparent profile view of an MX Red switch at rest.
Cherry
A transparent profile view of an MX Red switch at rest.
Cherry
A transparent profile view of a pressed MX Red switch.
Cherry
A transparent profile view of a pressed MX Red switch.
Cherry
A transparent profile view of an MX Red switch at rest.
Cherry
A transparent profile view of a pressed MX Red switch.
Cherry
But because mechanical switches rely on physical contact of internal components, they can degrade over time.
Why new switches?
The switches in this guide differ from traditional mechanical switches because they do not register input through contact between two sheets of metal, hence the term “contactless.” Manufacturers often claim that contactless switches last longer than regular switches and are not susceptible to rust or corrosion, which can affect mechanical switches after prolonged use.
