Keyboard switches are the smoothest when it comes to mechanical options – providing fluid key travel unhindered by tactile bumps. When it comes to mechanical keyboard switches, everyone wants to know – which ones have the smoothest linear key presses for fast and comfortable typing and gaming? While all linear switches provide smooth key travel without any tactile bump or click, some definitely live up to their “smoothest” description better than others. This article will look at the smoothest linear switch options like the buttery JWK Linears, worn-in vintage blacks, and custom built hipro linears to help you decide which one is ideal for your perfect smooth typing feel and rapid in-game actuations
If you’re searching for the absolute best in ‘smooth keyboard switches,’ your quest will reward you with top contenders like JWK Linears, vintage blacks, and others. These are renowned for their exceptional smoothness.
As mechanical keyboard enthusiasts know, factors like actuation force, materials, switch types, lifespan, and beginner-friendliness all impact the overall typing experience, as I’ve explored in previous guides on my site.
Key Takeaways:
- Light actuation force, spring weight, factory lubrication, and slick plastic materials enable extra smooth linear key presses
- Pre-lubed options like JWK Durock Linears offer affordable smoothness out of the box
- Heavily worn-in vintage Cherry blacks achieve impressive smoothness after years of use
- Custom builds with tight tolerance Hipro housings take frictionless smoothness to the next level
- Well-built keyboards with quality plates, stabilizers and stacking materials enhance any switch’s smoothness further
Table of Contents
What Factors Make a Linear Mechanical keyboard switches are the smoothest?
There are a few key factors that contribute to making a linear keyboard switch deliver an extremely smooth key press during actuation:
- Actuation Force – Low actuation force linear switches around 35-45g tend to feel more effortless to press down smoothly. Higher spring weights can create more friction.
- Spring Weight – The tension weight of the internal switch spring impacts smoothness. Lighter springs allow for easier, smoother key presses.
- Lubrication – Factory or custom lubricants greatly reduce friction on the plastic and metal switch parts for enhanced smoothness.
- Materials – Lower friction plastics like POM in stems and housings enable effortless key actuations.
Light actuation weights under 50g create less friction than heavier 80g springs, allowing for smooth linear presses, as I’ve covered in detail in my actuation force guide.
Broken-in vintage switches demonstrate how lifespan and wear smooths key feel over decades of use, as covered in my guide on keyboard lifespan and longevity.
Getting Switches Ultra smooth with Custom Lubricants
While factory lubrication improves smoothness considerably, fastidious enthusiasts use specialized custom greases like Krytox 205g0 applied precisely to the plastic slider rails inside each individual switch housing to take smoothness to another level entirely. Perfectly tuning the lubricant viscosity and application location for specific switch types borderlines on artistry, but pays off in the end with buttery, almost frictionless key presses.
Are linear switches good for typing? Linear switches are often favored by typists due to their smooth, consistent action. Without the tactile bump found in other switch types, linear switches allow for uninterrupted keystrokes which can translate to faster and more comfortable typing.
What is a linear keyboard? A linear keyboard uses switches that have a smooth, consistent key press without any tactile bump or clicking noise. This allows for uninterrupted typing and gaming. Popular linear switches include Cherry MX Reds, Gateron Yellows, and Novelkey Creams. Essentially, what is a linear keyboard is a keyboard that moves straight up and down without any tactile feedback when pressing the keys. This creates a smooth and consistent keystroke that many typists and gamers prefer.
The smoothest keyboard switches use custom lubricants to reduce friction to near zero. By carefully applying lubricant like Krytox 205g0, the plastic slider inside the switches glides effortlessly. This modification takes the smoothness of even the highest quality stock linear switches to another level for a premium typing experience. The ever-popular enthusiast switches Novelkey Creams and Gateron INK Blacks especially benefit from lubing. Properly executed, this keyboard modification borders on artistry but pays dividends in supremely smooth key presses
The Smoothest Factory-Lubed Linear Switches
If you want butterfly-smooth switches out of the box without custom mods, these pre-lubed linear options offer some of the smoothest key presses from major gaming brands:
JWK Durock Linears
JWK manufactures exceptionally smooth linear switches for brands like Durock and Alpaca. Their POM stems and factory lube result in a fast, smooth key press ideal for gaming and typing. They represent the pinnacle of readily available, affordable pre-lubed linear smoothness.
Broken-In “Vintage” Cherry MX Blacks
While ordinary Cherry MX black switches feel fairly smooth already, vintage 1980’s-1990’s blacks that have seen heavy use over decades achieve an incredibly smooth, broken-in feel desirable for custom builds demanding the smoothest possible switch. Their weaker spring weight after years of compression also contributes to effortless presses.
Pushing Custom Linear Smoothness to the Limits
While pre-lubed mechanical key switches provide an excellent user experience out of the box, custom built frankenswitches frequently utilize hand-picked parts and precision tuning to create what many consider the smoothest possible key press. Let’s look at some popular examples in the mechanical keyboard community.
Hipro Linears
Combining Hipro switch housings machined for tight tolerances with slippery POM plastic stems is a popular custom linear recipe for achieving outrageously smooth, steady keystrokes. Meticulous aftermarket lubrication enhances glide even further.
Creamsicles
Mashing up ultra-smooth pre-broken-in NovelKeys Cream brand stems into high-quality JWK bottom housings produces the celebrated Creamsicle linear switch, widely loved by enthusiasts seeking max smoothness through customization.
When unconstrained by commercial viability, keyboard hobbyists have pushed linear switch smoothness to unbelievable levels. Custom frankenswitches like these demonstrate just how slippery an actuating mechanical key press can feel.
Choosing Switches for Smoothest Gaming Inputs
Gamers demand swift, reliable key actuations to execute complex keyboard maneuvers. To optimize smoothness for gaming:
- Low reset points allow keys to spring back faster for quicker repeated presses
- Light actuation weights enable easy bottoming out for faster actuations
- High durability extends smooth functionality over tens of millions of clicks
Factory lubed options like Gateron Yellow or Kailh Speed Silver focus specifically on gaming demands for rapid, smooth key presses at a reasonable cost.
Building a Custom Keyboard for Maximum Smoothness
However, choosing individual switches is just one aspect of achieving a maximally smooth typing or gaming experience – the keyboard parts surrounding the switches greatly impact perceived smoothness and consistency as well. Custom building a keyboard allows choosing ideal components for optimizing smoothness. Here’s the basics:
Plate: Polycarbonate offers flex and a rounded noise profile promoting smooth acoustics. Brass plates also create a luxurious smooth sound.
Case: Solid case construction and ample foam padding absorbs unwanted resonance and enhances smoothness.
Stabilizers: High-quality stabilizers properly tuned with lubricant prevent sticky, scratchy movement on wider keys.
Keycaps: Quality thick shine-through keycaps allow more even RGB lighting across the keyboard.
Switches: As described throughout this guide, linear switches specifically designed and modded for maximum smoothness.
There’s an incredible satisfaction from assembling all the perfect premium components to enable buttery smooth key presses. The right case, plate, stabilizers and meticulously configured switches culminate in an unparalleled smooth typing or gaming experience.
Choosing the right case and plate materials also influences smoothness through their acoustic and flex properties, as discussed in my guide comparing keyboard housing materials.
Comparing Popular Linear Switches
Now let’s directly compare some top contenders for the smoothest linear switch to see how they stack up:
Cherry MX Red vs Gateron Yellow
Cherry switches feel fairly smooth out of the box. But newer Gateron optical yellow switches with transparent housings have taken budget linear smoothness to another level. Their lighter 35g spring and slick plastic housing with factory lube edges out Cherry Reds.
Durock POM Linears vs Gateron Inks
Gateron Ink switches come impressively smooth from the factory. But custom POM linear switches made by JWK for Durock go even further. The POM plastic used in the slider stem mimics the silky smooth texture of heavily worn-in vintage Cherry switches for maximum smoothness.
Tealios vs NovelKeys Creams
ZealPC’s Tealios switches have long represented premium factory linear switches. But the upstart NovelKeys Cream switch (and its offshoots) have become new hallmarks. Their molds create an incredibly tight stem/housing fit resulting in uniquely smooth travel.
When lubed and filmed, Creams reach new heights – their frictionless press focuses solely on spring compression without resistance or scratch. This makes them preferred bases for ultra-smooth custom frankenswitches.
Modding Stabilizers for Smoothness
Tuning stabilizers is crucial for smooth spacebar, enter, shift and other wide keys. Stock stabilizers tend to be rattly or scratchy when keys bottom out – negatively impacting smoothness. Properly lubing the wires and contact points with Tribosys 3203 or Super Lube grease paired with Band-Aid modding enhances smoothness considerably.
For the ultimate typing experience, consider combining your upgraded stabilizers with the smoothest linear switches on the market. These switches offer a buttery-smooth feel and minimal sound for an incredibly refined and satisfying typing experience.
Finalize The Talk
While preference for exactly how smooth a mechanical keyboard switch should press comes down to personal taste, understanding the key factors driving linear switch smoothness allows you to make an informed decision. Whether opting for an impressively slick pre-lubed factory switch from major gaming brands, pursuing the coveted broken-in glide of vintage blacks, or chasing enthusiast nirvana superbly crafting the ultimate custom linear frankenswitch build – identifying your target use case and smoothness priorities will guide your journey towards keyboard butteriness.
For those new to the hobby, my beginner’s guide to mechanical keyboard switches highlights quality budget linear options to start out with.
Let me know in the comments if you have any other questions! I’m happy to discuss more smooth mechanical keyboard options.
Author Bio
David Brown is an avid mechanical keyboard enthusiast with a passion for discovering the smoothest, most comfortable key switch and keyboard combinations ideal for gaming, typing and content creation. He loves modding keyboards and sharing impartial insights into the latest keyboard trends online.