For years, Cherry MX was the undisputed king of mechanical keyboard switches. Today, Gateron has completely taken over the custom keyboard hobby. By using softer housing plastics and superior factory lubrication, Gateron switches offer a significantly smoother typing and gaming experience right out of the box.
The best Gateron switch overall is the due to its incredibly smooth linear travel and premium acoustic profile. If you are building a custom keyboard on a strict budget, the is the undisputed king of entry-level switches.
If you just bought a hot-swappable keyboard and want to upgrade your stock switches, here are the top 5 premium Gateron switches available this year, along with a breakdown of their standard colored options.
Why Gateron is Better Than Cherry MX
If you buy a high-end gaming keyboard from Corsair or HyperX, it likely comes with Cherry MX switches. While Cherry switches are incredibly durable, they are notorious for feeling “scratchy.” This is because Cherry uses very hard plastics for their switch housings.
Gateron uses softer plastic blends (like Nylon and Polycarbonate) and applies a light layer of oil to the switch stems at the factory. This completely eliminates the scratchy feeling, resulting in a buttery-smooth keystroke that is perfect for fast-paced gaming. (Want to learn more about how different brands compare? Read our Ultimate Mechanical Keyboard Switches Guide).
The 5 Best Premium Gateron Switches
1. Best Overall: Gateron Ink V2 Black
The Gateron Ink V2 Black is widely considered the gold standard of linear switches. They feature a slightly heavier 60g actuation force, which is perfect for gamers who tend to rest their heavy hands on the WASD keys and want to avoid accidental presses.
Constructed with a proprietary smoky “Ink” housing material, they offer an incredibly smooth keystroke. When lubricated, they produce a deep, premium “thock” sound that puts standard gaming keyboards to shame. (This switch is our top overall pick in our guide to the 5 Best Linear Switches for Gaming).
2. Best Budget Switch: Gateron Milky Yellow Pro
You do not need to spend $0.80 per switch to get a premium typing experience. The Gateron Milky Yellow Pro is the undisputed king of budget switches, often costing less than $0.30 per switch.
They feature a 50g actuation force, which sits perfectly between the hyper-light feel of a Red switch and the heavy feel of a Black switch. The “Pro” version comes lightly factory-lubed, making them incredibly smooth for the price. The “Milky” nylon housing does an excellent job of dampening high-pitched sounds, resulting in a soft, creamy acoustic profile.
3. Best Sounding Switch: Gateron Oil King
If you are chasing the perfect acoustic profile, the
is the ultimate out-of-the-box solution. It achieves its signature deep sound by combining a Nylon top housing with Gateron’s proprietary “Ink” material for the bottom housing.More importantly, it features the heaviest, most consistent factory lubrication of any switch on the market. You do not need to open these switches; they are perfectly smooth and incredibly thocky the second you pull them out of the box. (Read more in our deep-dive into the Best Sounding Linear Switches).
4. Best Unique Linear: Gateron Hippo
For gamers seeking an ultra-smooth linear switch that feels completely different from standard plastics, the Gateron Hippo is an excellent enthusiast choice. It utilizes an ultra-lightweight UHMWPE (polymer) stem. This technology provides incredibly low friction, reducing pushback during intense gaming sessions and creating a very distinct, soft typing feel.
5. Best Magnetic Switch: Gateron Magnetic Jade
If you play competitive tactical shooters like Valorant or CS2, traditional mechanical switches are becoming obsolete. The
is a Hall Effect switch that uses magnets instead of metal contacts.This allows you to set a custom actuation point anywhere from 0.1mm to 4.0mm. More importantly, they support Rapid Trigger, meaning the switch resets the exact millisecond you lift your finger, allowing for instantaneous counter-strafing. (To see how these switches perform in-game, read our guide to the Best Keyboard for Valorant).
The Standard Gateron Colors Explained
If you are buying a pre-built keyboard (like a Keychron) that doesn’t offer premium options like Ink Blacks or Oil Kings, you will likely have to choose between Gateron’s standard colors. Here is a brief overview of what each color means:
- Gateron Clear: Linear, 35g actuation force. Extremely light and quiet. Recommended for users who suffer from finger fatigue, but too light for most gamers.
- Gateron Red: Linear, 45g actuation force. The standard gaming switch. Smooth, fast, and quiet.
- Gateron Yellow: Linear, 50g actuation force. The best middle-ground linear switch. Smooth and quiet with a 3.2mm travel distance.
- Gateron Black: Linear, 60g actuation force. Heavier than Red and Yellow, making it ideal for heavy-handed typists.
- Gateron Brown: Tactile, 45g actuation force. Provides a moderate tactile bump without the sharp audible sound of a Blue switch. Suitable for both typing and gaming environments.
- Gateron Blue: Clicky, 60g actuation force. Produces a loud, audible click upon actuation. Great for solo typists, but often too loud for shared office spaces or Discord calls.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Gateron Yellow and Gateron Milky Yellow?
Standard Gateron Yellows use a clear polycarbonate top housing and a black nylon bottom housing. Gateron Milky Yellows use a proprietary “milky” opaque plastic for both the top and bottom housings. The Milky version produces a significantly deeper, more muted “thock” sound, while the standard version sounds higher-pitched and “clacky.”
Are Gateron switches hot-swappable?
The switches themselves are compatible with almost any 5-pin hot-swappable keyboard on the market. However, you cannot put them into a keyboard with Outemu-specific sockets, as the metal pins on Gateron switches are too thick to fit into the narrow Outemu socket holes. (Learn more in our breakdown of The 5 Best Outemu Switches).
Do I need to lube Gateron switches?
If you buy the “Pro” versions (like the Milky Yellow Pro) or the Oil Kings, you do not need to lube them. They come pre-lubricated from the factory. If you buy standard Gateron Reds or Blacks, hand-lubricating them with Krytox 205g0 will drastically improve their smoothness and sound.
