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Mechanical keyboard switches explained

Red, brown, blue — what the colours actually mean.

Short version: Switch colour describes the feel: linear (smooth), tactile (a bump), or clicky (a bump + click sound). There is no "best" — only what you like under your fingers.

The three families

Linear (e.g. Red) — smooth top to bottom, no bump. Quiet and fast; popular for gaming.
Tactile (e.g. Brown) — a noticeable bump when the key actuates. A good all-rounder for typing + gaming.
Clicky (e.g. Blue) — tactile bump plus an audible click. Satisfying to type on, loud for an office or a mic.

How to choose

Gaming and shared spaces: linear or tactile (quieter). Lots of typing and you love feedback: tactile or clicky. If you can, try a switch tester — feel is personal. Hot-swappable boards let you change switches later without soldering.

Compare mechanical keyboards →

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