Adventures in Mechanical Keyboard Customization

REVIEW – I learned to touch type in the 1990s, and by the 2000s, my endless conversations over AOL Instant Messenger turned me into a very fast typist. When I really get going on something that’s on my mind, I can smash out about 120 words per minute, and the more adamant I am about my points, the harder I type. It’s loud. Surprisingly, the only keyboards I’ve wasted are those that took bad liquid damage. I’ve used a variety of keyboards over the years, and they’ve all held up to my loquaciousness and speed.

⬇︎ Jump to summary (pros/cons)
Price: $25.99 (Gateron 0° Silent Switch), $13.99 (Kailh Prestige Silent Switch)
Where to buy:
https://mechkeys.com/products/gateron-0-silent-5pin-switches
https://mechkeys.com/products/varmilo-kailh-prestige-series-switch

After perusing current offerings from Mech Keys, I was sent a couple of sample sets of mechanical key switches advertised as “silent.”

Mechkeys sent me two sample sets of switches:

• Gateron 0° Silent
• Varmilo & Kailh Prestigo Silent

Are these really silent? In short: kind of. If you’re a rapid typist and want a keyboard that doesn’t annoy others who might be sharing your space, I think it’s worth the upgrade to either of these options. This does, of course, require a keyboard that allows you to swap out the key switches.

What are key switches?

If you’re into fancy computer keyboards, you’re probably already familiar with mechanical key switches. These used to be standard in all computer keyboards, but they’re expensive, complicated, and heavy compared to more modern designs, which make use of a silicone membrane laid over a circuit board filled with buttons. In recent years, mechanical keyboards have become very popular with tech fans of all types, since they tend to be higher quality.

If you type a lot or you have accidents on your keyboard, it’s handy to be able to swap out individual malfunctioning key switches rather than having to replace an entire keyboard. Serious competitive gamers burn through the switches they hit most (WASD, number keys, etc.).

There are lots of key switch options for every type of gamer, typist, and user. Most companies offer sample sets of multiple switches, so you can get a feel for what each is like.

What’s included?

Both of these sets of key switches just include the switches themselves.

It turns out that, when it comes to mechanical key switches, packaging makes quite a difference in the overall consumer experience. Gateron’s switches arrived securely packaged in a molded plastic tray with a snap-on top. This ensured that none of the switch pins were damaged at all in transit. The Prestigo switches, on the other hand, were packaged in a simple plastic jar. While this type of container is more usable for something other than its original purpose, it turns out it also means you risk switch pin damage.

If you end up buying a set of switches that come loose in a jar or box, make sure to inspect the pins of each switch before installing. I didn’t, and definitely ended up with some bent pints.

Design & Features

Both of these products are designed for RGB-backlit keyboards, which generally place a small RGB LED above the key switch socket. Gateron has added some extra engineering to their switches with this in mind.

The Gaterons have a fancier plastic enclosure than the Prestigos – the portion of the switch designed to expose an LED underneath uses a sort of diffuser lens to spread the light a bit. The effect is subtle enough that it doesn’t really make a difference with normal solid keycaps. If you have transparent keycaps, however, the Gateron design will make your LEDs look a little brighter and fuller under each keycap. This is definitely an upgrade from earlier Gateron designs. I bought my RK keyboard in late 2022, and its Gateron Red switches do not have the LED diffuser design.

The Prestigios also use a translucent blue enclosure, which might clash with your keyboard finish, especially if you have transparent or translucent keycaps. The Gaterons use a more traditional transparent plastic enclosure, with a colored key switch to indicate the specific model (in this case, light gray).

The two sets of switches I was sent are almost identical in functionality and sound. The Prestigos are slightly quieter than the Gaterons. Both installed in my Royal Kludge with no issues at all, and held up nicely to repeated swaps. I didn’t end up with any broken clips on anything, and the hardware itself seems to be equal in build quality and components.

Swapping the hardware

I was hoping my fancy, high-end Corsair K70 TKL RGB keyboard would have socketed key switches. It turns out Corsair still uses soldered switches for many of its offerings. This is really frustrating. My particular model still retails for $150, and for something this expensive, it should be more customizable.

Fortunately, I also have a Royal Kludge RK87 keyboard with socketed Gateron Red key switches, so I went to town swapping everything out. Repeatedly. I did a lot of key switch swapping today. Before we get into the fun part, I can definitely recommend a couple of tools for those who are interested in the tedium of swapping out your keyboard’s entire key switch set.

This Sumgsn Keycaps Storage Box (classy name!) is a little pricey at $17, but it really is very useful for keeping your loose keycaps organized and in order. I used mine several times in the course of swapping between different switch sets, and was very glad to have it handy, instead of trying to keep an assortment of loose keys safe from my cats while working on this review.

You’re also definitely going to want a spring-loaded key switch puller because the little tweezer things that probably came with your keyboard will be pretty painful to use after only a few switches. I really like this one from AliExpress. I bought several different switch pullers on AliExpress, and this one is the sturdiest and most reliable. It uses a larger spring than other designs, which seems to help a lot with how well it works. The keycap puller end is also much better than the wire design found on the back of most keyswitch pullers. I was able to pull an entire set of keycaps very quickly and efficiently.

A note about sound, and why sound is annoying

Sound is a funny thing. Soundwaves can permeate through solid barriers, and depending on the environment and the sound, this effect can be surprisingly grating. Low frequencies – best transmitted through your home theater’s subwoofer – can thump through walls and floors, while high frequencies can come across as sharp and cutting, especially when altered by walls and furniture.

“Silent” mechanical key switches can’t possibly be completely silent since just the tappity-tap of your fingers on any solid, rigid surface is enough to generate sound. These switches aim to dampen the higher frequency clackity-clack of a mechanical keyboard, muting your keypresses to more of a soft thunk than a hard clack.

Hear them in action

So, what do these key switches sound like? For your enjoyment, I’ve assembled a video that compares both of these models to several other key switches.

The Logitech K300 is just as a baseline – this model uses a silicone membrane and low-profile scissor switches, which is common in many consumer keyboards. The Cherry MX Speed switches are (permanently) installed in my Corsair K70, and the Gateron Red switches were already installed in my Royal Kludge RK87.

Final thoughts

If you want quieter key switches and own a keyboard with socketed switches, I definitely recommend upgrading to the modern generation of silent mechanical switches. The Gateron option does cost a bit more than the Kailh model, but it’s a better product overall. That said, if you can’t afford the price difference, the Kailh switches are perfectly serviceable, and very quiet.

Gateron 0° Silent Key Switches

• Very muffled compared to standard switches
• Nice packaging
• Integrated LED diffuser lens

• None

Varmilo & Kailh Prestigio Silent Key Switches

• Very muffled compared to standard switches

• Loose packaging resulted in some bent pins

Price: $25.99 (Gateron 0° Silent Switch), $13.99 (Kailh Prestige Silent Switch)
Where to buy:
https://mechkeys.com/products/gateron-0-silent-5pin-switches
https://mechkeys.com/products/varmilo-kailh-prestige-series-switch
Source: The samples were provided for free by Mechkeys. Mechkeys did not have a final say on the review and did not preview the review before it was published.

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Logitech G413 SE Full-Size Mechanical Gaming Keyboard - Backlit Keyboard with Tactile Mechanical Switches, Anti-Ghosting, Compatible with Windows, macOS - Black Aluminum

32% Off $79.99 $54.23 (as of February 18, 2025 05:34 GMT -05:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)