Top 5 Linear Switches (2023)

A guide to great linear switches!

Thank you to misterfour for photos of his build featuring Luciola + KAT Cyberspace!

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Timestamps:
0:00 Intro
0:04 Most unique option
0:52 Best silent option
1:16 Best bassy option
1:41 Best clacky option
2:04 Best overall option
2:40 Conclusion

[acolossalsquid]

I love the sound of the aqua kings, I'm running some gateron milky yellows that I lubed and filmed presently. Thinking I'll try those out on my next build!

[albertko]

I just picked up a set of Moyu Studio Hoshizoras and the P3 stem just feels so slick that the extended 62g double stage spring almost feels light. It's like a smoother long pole Oil King.
I also put Akko Cream Yellow V3 into my travel board and it's amazing how nice they are for the price, especially properly hand lubed.
Next build is getting some KTT Darlings... some people rag on long poles but not me.
Really want to try the new Bsun X.

[giovsgeo]

i just found your account as well as your website -- this is such a great resource that'll for sure help me in my new keyboard journey (: looking forward to more content from milktooth !! <3

[illegalhedgehog]

i have the oil kings rn and just got a new board with the raccoons for a more marbly/higher pitch sound. i LOVE linears!

[Amazingcuhlips]

simple easy and a fast explanation nice job!! keep it up

[re-gaming]

For linears, my favourite switches at the moment are the Cow Uhmwpe switches. They have the deepest soundprofile out of all long pole switches I've tried so far and are fairly smooth as well.

[ddraganov]

About are awesome, super smooth and sound amazing. Also perfect if you are an RGB fan. Highly recommending them.
I prefer re-lubing them which makes them even better but this comes with a cost. At the end of the process there are always 6-8 switches that just cannot be made consistent with the rest. Also sometimes there is this production defect where if you press the key and move sideways, you can hear and feel a bad snapping. Also happens in 3-5% of the switches.
So just buy more and you will be happy!

[dswngz]

Somehow, NuPhy's Night Breeze switches became a great discovery for me. Smooth and light with more of asoft sound profile.

[Loren]

i haven't tried aqua kings, but i like the similar gateron north pole. but my favorites right now are two silents: haimu heartbeat, and the incredibly unique tecsee pudding medium linear.

[darklink]

My current favorite linear atm is the Cherry Nixies (white tops). You just can’t beat the Cherry sound profile.

[VitiateTheImmortal]

Aqua kings sound good! I’ve gone with the Gateron box ink pinks for my latest build and got some C3equalz Kiwi switches on order for a tactile build. That’s also really hyping me atm

[username-qlox]

How would you rate Gateron CJs? I hear they are the smoothest switches stock

[randylahey]

My favourites I've tested so far are the CJ's and Durock Poms

[louisanore]

Aqua King V3 vs North Pole V2. Which is the one for deeper and thockier sounding, and also for medium to heavy typing feel?

[lotr]

Thumbs up for Aqua King! ive tried oil king, tangerine, FFFF, prevail epsilon JWK, cherry mx hyperglide, ink black v2, lilac. tangerine is the smoothest but high pitch. ink black v2 is deepest in sound but more on the scratchy spectrum. While aqua king is basically oil king, but aqua king is slightly deeper in sound (or less noisy) and a little bit smoother. Aqua king will probably be the only switches that i'd buy a 2nd batch.
With that being said, I've heard North pole v1 is a competitor to the aqua king, but I couldn't find anywhere to buy. There's North pole v2, but they added a rubber stop to mute out the sound....

[Desmond]

I see many stores offer 3 spring rates for aqua kings, 55g, 62g and 67g. Does this affect much for the switch acoustics and which one was used in this video during the sound sample?

[calvinlooi]

any reason why you didn't choose SWK Neons?

[SpencyGG]

I have aqua kings in my zoo65 rn and I love them. My board is so thocky

[gamingsoups]

I think the best thing you could do is use a super basic, baseline keyboard like a bakeneko or a tofu to test all these switches ! I think that'd be great to actually hear the difference like you did for this video

[gearsgamer]

How about the hismu heartbeat linear switches. They are more slient and dont use rubber.