As a noob when it comes to wanting to jump into custom mechanical keyboards, I found it very intimidating (felt like walking into an audiophile stereo store in the 1990s!). So I really appreciate your videos. You do a great job explaining things, and your enthusiasm is infectious. Talked me into trying a barebones to start (GMMK Pro)... Thanks! I can certainly see how "mid-range" prices can be left in the dust pretty quickly going down that enthusiast rabbit hole.
In my experience I couldn't imagine to spend more than $200 on a keyboard, so I bought a mid-range Keychron K6. Oh boy was I wrong about spending so much money. The deeper you go into the hobby the more you start to strive for a special typing experience and layout. That is where you start spending way more than the $200 and wish you hadn't bothered with the low or mid-range. The thing is, you don't know this until you start. For me this is has become a hobby very much suitable for times of lockdown and social distancing. You could even argue that you do this to increase your productivity when you have to type a lot for work. And you wouldn't be lying at all. I love typing now so much more!
Yeah its quite a good hobby compared to others price-wise (*cough*, cars, computers, and cameras) and teaches you life lessons like patience (oh gmk group buys) and perseverance (why my stabilizer sound like shit after I lubed it for 30 mins ... oh that's why andy spent 2 hours on stabilizers once...). Also now since you have a nice keyboard there's no excuse to type at 40 wpm anymore, love this hobby.
You know what? I think YOU should work on developing your own signature keyboard, maybe through one of the manufacturers that you love. Or maybe your own themed keycaps. Think about it. You have the absolute knowledge to design one that is above and beyond PERFECT.
True, she has the knowledge, but at that point she wouldn’t be unbiased when exploring other keyboards and making more content. Honestly, since she has an Amazon affiliate account, she probably makes more money THIS way, and is able to offer help to more people of varying needs and preferences. I’m sure they could make an excellent keeb though.
75% with gateron milky yellows had become my favorite. Only problem is the keycaps. Keycaps are sorely limited from where I live. But one thing alot of people should keep in mind: Doesn't matter if its a $1k+ keyboard or a -$100 one. Both will do keyboard things. You can literally go grab a membrane and it'll still function almost similarly as a hyper expensive one. Which is why the best keyboard out there isn't the top of the line stuff, its a mixture of what you prefer and what you can afford.
Hey there! It looks like you're interested in optimizing your desktop setup and notebook upgrades. Have you considered the HOTO Compressed Air Capsule? It's a compact and powerful tool that offers vacuuming and blowing capabilities, perfect for keeping your desk, spaces, and even car interiors spotless. It's highly efficient and reasonably priced compared to other brands. Check it out!
Hey there! Based on your comment, it seems like you're on the lookout for some tech recommendations. Well, have you considered trying out the HOTO Compressed Air Capsule? It's a compact device that offers powerful vacuuming and blowing capabilities, making it perfect for keeping your desk, car, and other spaces clean. It's got great features and I find the price reasonable compared to other brands. Definitely worth checking out! Let me know if you have any other questions. Happy tech-talking! 👍
Since I started watching this channel in early February ive: - desoldered and swapped out the switches and stabs for my Kinesis Freestyle Edge - built a high profile drop ctrl - bought and modded a keychron k8 - built a tofu65 - Started a GK64XS wood case build I can't tell if I'm grateful or angry for this channel being such a good an entry point for this hobby...
Haha I know the feeling I have bought so many switches. From linear to tactile to silent tactile and in the end out of the switches I've tried seems like lubed glorious pandas are the ones for me. Didn't stop me from jumping on the kiwi switches coz ... Colour. Quite intrigued by the u4t as well. Really like thockiness. The journey is never ending...
@Dank Engine clipped and lubed the stabs, replaced the stock switches with Box Navies (I wanted a clicky board and my partner likes clicks), replaced the stock keycaps with a set of PBT doubleshot keycaps + O rings, stuffed the bottom case with foam, and O-ring mod on the mounting posts as well. If you get or have a K8 and are thinking of opening it up, be careful closing it back up again. The toggles on the side are actually outer housings that have a slot for the 3 and 2 setting switcher on the PCB to fit into. I didn't realize this and accidentally snapped off the very very small plastic nub that goes into the toggle and had to desolder the switch from the PCB and replace it with a new one.
Oh also band-aid modded the stabs. But tbh I'd recommend just replacing them altogether because they're still not amazing. Instead of band-aid, I've been using these little silicon squares that you can cut in half and they just gently adhere to the PCB. super easy to work and the bottom out doesn't feel super mushy!
@@WTFA54 is suggest that instead of putting a bandaid into the pcb, put it onto the stab cutout on the plate because bandaid on pcb does next to nothing
I'm searching for a 65% keyboard but the one with regular size keycaps as I want to upgrade them to aura glorious keycaps, does a keyboard like that even exist?
Silent setup: I got a Keychron Q6 knob keyboard and replaced the red gateron switches with silent dolphin blues. I also replaced the original Keychron keycaps with cherry profile ones. This is for work and it is so silent and satisfying at the same time!!! (UA-cam videos like yours were very helpful to reach this point: Thank You!).
So many keyboards out there... and yet it's still hard to find one which checks all the boxes: - Commercially available; not just a group buy - 65% layout (or maaaaybe 75%) - Open-source firmware (ideally supported upstream, not a dead-end vendor fork) - Hotswap - RGB per key - Solid but not _heavy_ - Not super expensive - Reasonably quiet - Bonus if it can also do wireless, especially with a dongle instead of bluetooth, with replaceable li-ion battery - Bonus if pre-built with tactile switches and tasteful keycaps with extra keys for things like capslock ctrl and row 3 backspace - Bonus if split space bar - Bonus if split backspace (HHK, Truefox, etc) Looking forward to seeing how the QMK Keychron turns out. Would be cool to see RK68 move to open-source firmware. Was tempted by a Drop Alt, but there's some pretty bad blood there due to Massdrop's history of sketchy practices. Will probably end up using a Tofu65 dz68rgb.
As an CAD user, I can't live without dedicated functional and number keys. So if you work with some CAD software every day, that means full size keyboard only. Or at least tenkeyless + numpad.
I’ve watched all the Switch and Click videos and bought myself a keychron K8 and epomaker G96 for working from home. I have a gamakay 61 coming shortly. Im happy with both purchases based on all my research LOL esp. with watching your videos. Thanks for all your hard work on your channel! its really helping a lot of people!
The best answer I always say to my friends/family when it comes to tech stuff: "how much are you willing to spend?" Then they never ask me again bcoz they've seen the prices LMAO
I use 2 main keyboards at home .... the Wooting 65% and Corsair K75 RGB Strafe and for me the feel of Wooting is amazing! And despite the variety of switches etc, I can’t help but return to Cherry Red MX Silents! Music to my ears and my fingers.
Hey, {{3}}! As a fellow tech enthusiast, I highly recommend checking out the HOTO Compressed Air Capsule. It's a compact and powerful tool that'll keep your desktop, car, and more spotless. With features like high suction power, keyboard cleaning, and efficient storage, it's definitely worth considering. Plus, the price is reasonable compared to other brands. Hope this helps optimize your cleaning routine!
I just want the best I can buy, 75% one with Mac keys. I have the K2 with blue switches. It’s ok. Would pay 3x as my life is typing, so quality of life is important.
Good overview, although there is a factor that is not mention: for a beginner, that never typed on a mechanical keyboard; the difference in between a high end, a mid range and a cheap one is minimal. I could cite countless trial where people were told they were typing on MX (even "professionals" that could tell you everything about MX switch), while they were not; and same way around. So in the end, it is really depending from your typing style and from the type of keyboard that make you feel more productive and most of all comfortable. Your joints are stressed to the max when typing, so before you ruin your hands forever, get something that is comfortable, and not something that carry a famous name or a high price tag, thinking that it is worth it just for that. Those high price tags are not there to tell you how superior a product is, but to entice a specific category of people.
Mid range is actually good. Yeah not a high end Products. However I don't mind budget or high end. I am pretty glad by Redragon. I am modded K530 and I have no problem. It is necessary to know how to be satisfied without expecting anything from a low-budget product. There is no difference between a low or a high budget keyboard. There is a lot of difference between them. But I don't think it's worth exaggerating. There is no difference like mountains. I think a medium budget keyboard will also please you enough. Of course, the budget is important here. For example, since I live in Turkey, I cannot buying very high budget products here. I cannot Shipping to Turkey.
@@johnedwarddelacruz3624 no a good mid range is pretty high quality/high level, just because companies increased the gap of “quality” between those levels to find ways to make excessive amounts of money with only slightly more output costs and production, to provide very little extra benefits in terms of longevity and usability doesn’t mean too much
You've got such a lot of info on mechanical keyboards at hand that it blows my mind. Had my first switch-lubing tutorial from here and trust me, it worked perfect! Thank You so much!🌈🦋
A very in-depth article, clearly from a very knowledgeable person. I am certainly no expert, but for general use I find HP (Hewlett Packard) wireless keyboards to be long-lasting, silky-smooth, reliable and very reasonably priced for the quality. Importantly UK BUYERS SHOULD BEWARE, the vast majority of low-cost wireless keyboards on sale are of very poor quality, and have US rather UK layout, which means no £ key, along with other differences which can take a while to get used to, so whichever keyboard you choose, my advice for what it's worth, is check first that it has a £ key alongside the $ key on the top row.
I am a noob when it comes to mechanical keyboards. I am busy looking to buy my first one for my at home setup. I need some help in deciding what to get. From what I have read, I want the most silent switches, which appear to be linear ones. I have a few constraints: 1. Wireless - preferable with a usb dongle connection. 2. function key row separate from top number row 3.separate del,hom,pgup,pgdn keys 4.low profile switches 5. rgb lighting 6. quite switches - linear (correct me if I am wrong) 7. brushed aluminium finish 8.caps lock light 9. TKL - i dont need the numbpad but 60% does not have discrete key eg for del,hom etc 10. can take o ring dampeners or some other damperner i am not aware of. Bonus features, if the switches are hot swappable, then i can try out tactile or something at some point. Also if key caps can be bought for different customisation. On a side note are there any The Matrix inspired key cap sets? I can't seem to find any I had been looking at the cooler master sk631 but it is no longer for sale. Also possible was Keycrhon k1 V4 or K3 latest version. The logitech g915 light speed is too expensive. Are there any that fit this description?
This is such a comfy channel really, im glad i found it! Just purchased a Ducky One 2 RGB TKL with Kailh Box Red after all the good things i heard about it. But i think i will build a nice custom board in the near future. Looking forward to get all the information i need on this channel!
Its like gloves or pair of shoes, everyone got different taste of colour and fabric used, and everyone got different sized feet and hands...and so are input devices like mice and keyboards a matter of taste and the proportion of your hands.
Suggest a keyboard for programming please Some unwanted reviews others do which are irrelevant - Programmer will not be continuously carry the keyboard so weight does not matter - We won't shake or bend, it just sits on the table almost 24/7 so bending keyboard just to say it sturdy is useless, it just need stay and don't slip while typing - Should be feel comfortable for long periods of typing. - Lights is a bonus but should be adjusted. eye strain can be an issue for long usage - There are cases of programmers that uses a lot of ASCII so numpad version as well other than TKL or lower would be good. - For most of the time fingers stay on the keyboard so super sensitive are a no go, accuracy is futile so accidental stroke is no joke.
This was a really great video. I built an XD75 a few years back with modified cherry clears with 150 (maybe 110, I can't remember) because I basically wanted an ortholinear typewriter sort of feeling. Still not quite a typewriter, but more heavy than most keyboards
Wow, THANK YOU! I decided that I wanted to get my first mechanical keyboard in 2022 and...hoo boy...I did NOT expect such a steep learning curve! I haven't been this overwhelmed since I built my first custom PC! I've been flicking through a bunch of videos for beginners to collect info en masse that I'd need before making a single purchase and so far, this video has been my favorite! Very easy to understand, giving advice on specific keyboards in different price ranges, etc. I think I may join your discord? I'm gonna do a bit of solo exploration first, especially since I don't know how soon it'll be before I actually go off and buy something, but THANK YOU. This video is wonderful. I definitely plan to flick through some more of your videos before I purchase my first keyboard, but now I have a lovely list of notes I can work off of and I'm having a much easier time finding keyboards with the things I need, within my price range, and beginner friendly.
ive been happy with my WASD Code with Cherry Clears for many years. then i saw the razer huntsman mini at a shop and LOVED the feel. now i got the itch again. DAmmit!
I still prefer full size keyboards, as I deal with numbers often. For me, I rather remove the numbers row on top of the keyboard rather than the numpad.
I've been looking at so many of your videos and they helped out a lot. Now this latest was really well put together again, plus with the quality bump, I just had to subscribe. Awesome job as usual, tnx!
Just bought the APEX Pro and IQUinx Coral Sea to cover each of our home systems. Both arriving next week. Excited.Just getting started in the mechanical keyboard world. Glad I found your channel.
I bought my first mechanical keyboard about 3 years ago (Regradgon K551). I didn't know much about mechanical keyboards; also they are really pricey for me back then, so I went for a bit cheaper one (my only requirement back then is that it should have a numpad and rgb lights, lol). Thankfully it's still functioning very well to this day. Recently I found way cooler and better mechanical keyboards online and I want to try them (that's why I'm watching this video) but I thought to myself maybe I should just try to change the blue switches on my current keyboard, and also try to change the keycaps too. The only thing that "bothers" me (not so much, but still does) about my current keyboard is that it's wired. I want to try a wireless one too. Maybe I'll buy when I get to save extra money in a few months. Edit: I also got lucky with the keyboard I bought as it is hot swappable. I just learned that not all mechanical keyboards are like that.
I'm really enjoying your channel- I already purchased my mechanical keyboard but I can't help myself from watching your videos as they're informative and seem honest and both opinionated and factual. One thing I don't think you've touched on is the current situation I find myself in- I purchased a keyboard which was delivered as a US layout, and I was wondering if there's a quick and easy way for me to convert this over to a UK layout keyboard, as I much prefer the large 'return' and 'capslock' keys. Thanks for your videos :)
@@SwitchandClickOfficial Thanks for your reply, I really appreciate it. I thought that was the case- I'll just have to get used to it, I suppose! Have a good weekend :)
4:28 "High-end Keyboards" timestamp actually starts here, NOT at 3:35 edit: all timestamps seem to be off, since this is a guide people will keep coming to, the timestamps should be fixed
G.skill's km360 is only $50 and it has genuine cherry mx reds. It's really sturdy as it has an aluminum top plate and the detachable type-c cable is also a plus. The stabs aren't the best as expected and it only has white LEDs but they're really strong and not yellowish at all. Either way, I bought the board and I'm very happy with it, definitely worth more than its price in my opinion. The only well known video I've seen this board featured in was a linus tech tips video about red clones and I'm honestly really surprised the board's not getting more light on it. Oh, it's also tkl which is a preference of mine.
Been binging earlier this year lots of Hipyo build contents. But its refreshing to hear the basics again and look into it more confident. The only thing I'm scared of is buying keycaps that won't fit my layout xD
I spent $22 on a 60% keyboard on Amazon (hot swappable), bought 2 sets of holy panda switches ($28) and lubed them with Vaseline (I know what I’m doing when it comes to Vaseline, I researched a lot) and now it sounds like a creamy $200 keyboard 🤩
I have recently fallen down the rabbit hole of custom keyboards. I am going back and forth on whether I should buy a prebuilt or make my own but I don't trust myself enough to build one haha. Your videos help a lot. I think for my first custom keyboard, I will buy a prebuilt keyboard that is modifiable. maybe switch out the keycaps, lube, and other modifications. Thank you!
I feel like I was unlucky on this front. I've heard many people say their K552's lasted for a long time but some of the switches on mine started to fail after 1.5 years :( I unfortunately got the version that isn't hot-swappable so I had to replace the whole KB.
Here i am just trying to buy a decent keyboard but then watching your video made me shook. Didn't know there's another world out there when it comes to Keyboard. Like holy shit i feel like i still live in the 90s. Great Video ! Watching other video's made me confuse. Like what's 60%? 65% switching? lol thank God you explained it well. I learned a lot. Now you get a sub
I'm very new to this hobby, and I'm sort of this inbetween-type-of-guy where I want the best of both worlds: wanting a customizable keyboard but also want a great stock keyboards. I've seen some of your videos and thank god it all now has been narrowed down to either Keychron K6 (for its hotswappability, but not-so-great stock) and Leopold FC series (one of the best stocks in the market, but that's all). Do you have any suggestion regarding this issue that I'm having? Because I'll be buying one of those in the near future. Thanks beforehand, and great content as always! P.S. I really have this urge to mod my keybs, even to the switches. P.S.S. I do consider soldering, that's why now I seem to be inclined to the Leopold series more. Do you recommend this for a beginner?
I found Logitech G915 TKL to be way too expensive for what it offered. I did not see much difference in latency when compared to Keychron K7 ultra slim... and second, I did find key caps to be quite loose and very rattling when you shake the keyboard... granted you won't shake it around, but point is, key caps are loose! Another small issue that has a fix is - when waking up from sleep, keyboard runs through default color shifting fade-in/out before it goes to solid custom choice you setup... Another thing deal breaker for me was that it is not hot swappable, and good like finding low profile key caps to customize anything... I chose to dive into mechanical keyboards with Epomaker TH90 because I wanted knob for volume, so, that is where I will begin my journey :)
Did a NK65 w/ black inks lubed and filmed and GMK Godspeed keycaps for my first build. Learned a lot from it. I think I’m going to give it a few weeks to break in and re-lube the switches. Went a tad heavy as I was trying to keep it semi quiet for use in an office.
Just got my first mechanical keyboard and love it. PC Aanzee 65% with Gat Ink V2 Black switches and GMK Minimal caps. It's a nice upgrade from my Logitech G513.
I love ❤️ 💕 your channel. I find your voice very soothing and relaxing! Sounds like I’m attending a UA-cam day spa 🧖 and I feel very at peace listening to your voice and the keyboard process. 🥰🥰🥰❤️❤️👍😉
Thanks! very nice video! I dont really know much about keyboards, exept for the basics, about sizes and stuff like that, but this was a very good video, for people who know that keyboards exist but dont now much more.
Very well explained vid I can just send this to a friend that is getting into mechanical keyboard and not say a word good job.Also my first build was with the gk61 with gat yellow and tx film it's a solid bare bones kit imo .Now waiting for ikki68 aurora :)
4:49 my keyboard is all aluminum. And I buy it at 118 dollars. Is a Hiperx Keyboard, with aqua switches. Is a tactile switch. 1,9mn and 3,8 mn is a gaining/typing keyboard. I don’t recommend clicky switches, because I hate them. And I have seen a lot of people that bought clicky switches and they regret and think that the sound was different in the videos. I recomend tactile switches, or linear. But I think the best switches if you are not sure is tactile switches.
Yeah it's a really difficult process, so after watching a video by Chyrosran22 I decided to buy a unicomp mini m with buckling springs. It's not a clone, it's a genuine reproduction, made by the same people, with the same tools that Lexmark did in 1993. The mini m is the tenkeyless version of the normal model m. Since there is really only that one option for a new keyboard with buckling springs, it made the choice much easier for me.
Hi there, Firstly, I want to say I Love the channel and the production and content has incredible value. I am new to the world of mechanical keyboards and I think I’m ready to make a purchase soon. I have a few questions tho if you don’t mind: 1. Do gold wires in stabilizers or springs make a difference? 2. Can you recommend any websites that currently sell authentic cherry stabilizers and/or Mx cherry red silent (RGB) switches? It seems a lot of items are in short supply, and many of the websites I’ve seen claim to be origional, but appear to be cheap knock-offs. As a newcomer, it’s hard for me to tell the difference. Thanks again for posting these videos. I’ve really learned a lot from them and I’m excited to have been introduced to this fun and interesting hobby.
Which keyboard would you recommend for a programmer? I would like it to be a Mid/High wireless keyboard for Mac OS with RGB backlight and regular-size keycaps. Also, I wouldn't want to have a number pad on it.
uh Logitech k380. 20 BUCKS OF AMAZING :D All they need is a carrying case and I'll literally marry this thing. I use this on my belly when I am laying down in bed (typing on it right now) Sits on a desk well, good for the lap, good for on the go. It feels not like any other keyboard I've used. It feels durable as heck and the battery life is.. 2 YEARS!!!! It is the most FLAWLESS bluetooth keyboard of all time! It balances well! I could literally buy 3 of these in the price range of a keyboard that is going to take longer to type on because of the actuation distance, and remarkably, this keyboard has outlasted even my expectations. I've slept on this thing more than 10 times... pairs with my desktop, my laptop, and my phone seamlessly (all at the same time) the switching is FLAWLESS, the wake up is flawless, turning it on, you can type right away and it basically saves what the hell you typed before it even pairs, and once it pairs, it literally puts what you typed in. It is amazing.
I wish this came out a few days earlier, literally just bought my first mechanical!! (still happy with the purchase FWIW, but this clarifies so many things I was hung up on)
Oh a new video! Yay 😆 I was searching for your other video about best keyboard 2020 or something like that but then I saw this. How timely. I love update videos!
Join discord discord.gg/9CuTjFtA expires in 7 days
c
Is this link still valid?
Just tried to join on Mar 1st 927pm PST, DC says the link is already invalid :(
@@stevensonholt234 she meant 7 hrs not days bro
hey, in case you didnt know there is an option to change the durability of the discord link, so it can be forever and not only some hours or days
As a noob when it comes to wanting to jump into custom mechanical keyboards, I found it very intimidating (felt like walking into an audiophile stereo store in the 1990s!). So I really appreciate your videos. You do a great job explaining things, and your enthusiasm is infectious. Talked me into trying a barebones to start (GMMK Pro)... Thanks! I can certainly see how "mid-range" prices can be left in the dust pretty quickly going down that enthusiast rabbit hole.
In my experience I couldn't imagine to spend more than $200 on a keyboard, so I bought a mid-range Keychron K6. Oh boy was I wrong about spending so much money. The deeper you go into the hobby the more you start to strive for a special typing experience and layout. That is where you start spending way more than the $200 and wish you hadn't bothered with the low or mid-range. The thing is, you don't know this until you start. For me this is has become a hobby very much suitable for times of lockdown and social distancing. You could even argue that you do this to increase your productivity when you have to type a lot for work. And you wouldn't be lying at all. I love typing now so much more!
The rabbit hole goes deep, I felt the same way as you when I started lol.
Yeah its quite a good hobby compared to others price-wise (*cough*, cars, computers, and cameras) and teaches you life lessons like patience (oh gmk group buys) and perseverance (why my stabilizer sound like shit after I lubed it for 30 mins ... oh that's why andy spent 2 hours on stabilizers once...). Also now since you have a nice keyboard there's no excuse to type at 40 wpm anymore, love this hobby.
I hate how extremely relatable this is. Bought a K2 and less than a month later im already looking at ID80 or Q1..
My experience as well ! I can relate.
I just got my keychron yesterday. And it is much better than I expected.
You know what? I think YOU should work on developing your own signature keyboard, maybe through one of the manufacturers that you love. Or maybe your own themed keycaps. Think about it. You have the absolute knowledge to design one that is above and beyond PERFECT.
True, she has the knowledge, but at that point she wouldn’t be unbiased when exploring other keyboards and making more content. Honestly, since she has an Amazon affiliate account, she probably makes more money THIS way, and is able to offer help to more people of varying needs and preferences. I’m sure they could make an excellent keeb though.
Also, I’d throw you a like, but it has a nice number of likes now 😅👍
I would buy that
75% with gateron milky yellows had become my favorite.
Only problem is the keycaps. Keycaps are sorely limited from where I live.
But one thing alot of people should keep in mind: Doesn't matter if its a $1k+ keyboard or a -$100 one. Both will do keyboard things. You can literally go grab a membrane and it'll still function almost similarly as a hyper expensive one. Which is why the best keyboard out there isn't the top of the line stuff, its a mixture of what you prefer and what you can afford.
so true
Hey there! It looks like you're interested in optimizing your desktop setup and notebook upgrades. Have you considered the HOTO Compressed Air Capsule? It's a compact and powerful tool that offers vacuuming and blowing capabilities, perfect for keeping your desk, spaces, and even car interiors spotless. It's highly efficient and reasonably priced compared to other brands. Check it out!
AYO THE QUALITY JUMP! Congrats guys!
Woooo! Thanks man!
was gonna mention the quality, looks amazing now!
@@SwitchandClickOfficial I just saw this haven't been here in a while but damn this looks amazing
A very thorough, no-nonsense and unbiased (as much as possible) summary of the various options... Thank you very much!
You're welcome!
Hey there! Based on your comment, it seems like you're on the lookout for some tech recommendations. Well, have you considered trying out the HOTO Compressed Air Capsule? It's a compact device that offers powerful vacuuming and blowing capabilities, making it perfect for keeping your desk, car, and other spaces clean. It's got great features and I find the price reasonable compared to other brands. Definitely worth checking out! Let me know if you have any other questions. Happy tech-talking! 👍
Since I started watching this channel in early February ive:
- desoldered and swapped out the switches and stabs for my Kinesis Freestyle Edge
- built a high profile drop ctrl
- bought and modded a keychron k8
- built a tofu65
- Started a GK64XS wood case build
I can't tell if I'm grateful or angry for this channel being such a good an entry point for this hobby...
Wowwww all nice things
Haha I know the feeling I have bought so many switches. From linear to tactile to silent tactile and in the end out of the switches I've tried seems like lubed glorious pandas are the ones for me. Didn't stop me from jumping on the kiwi switches coz ... Colour. Quite intrigued by the u4t as well. Really like thockiness. The journey is never ending...
@Dank Engine clipped and lubed the stabs, replaced the stock switches with Box Navies (I wanted a clicky board and my partner likes clicks), replaced the stock keycaps with a set of PBT doubleshot keycaps + O rings, stuffed the bottom case with foam, and O-ring mod on the mounting posts as well. If you get or have a K8 and are thinking of opening it up, be careful closing it back up again. The toggles on the side are actually outer housings that have a slot for the 3 and 2 setting switcher on the PCB to fit into. I didn't realize this and accidentally snapped off the very very small plastic nub that goes into the toggle and had to desolder the switch from the PCB and replace it with a new one.
Oh also band-aid modded the stabs. But tbh I'd recommend just replacing them altogether because they're still not amazing. Instead of band-aid, I've been using these little silicon squares that you can cut in half and they just gently adhere to the PCB. super easy to work and the bottom out doesn't feel super mushy!
@@WTFA54 is suggest that instead of putting a bandaid into the pcb, put it onto the stab cutout on the plate because bandaid on pcb does next to nothing
Yoooo this woman’s quality went up soooo much?!!!
Thanks
Umm I get it but change a bit of grammar as for someone this might sound creepy
@@champftw9130 he is tryna be funny you dope :#
@@WaterGud I said as for SOME you don't and that's good
@@champftw9130 Then dont say it clearly no one is offended other than you
Help! I've fallen into a deep internet rabbithole of custom keyboards and I can't get out!
Don't get out
Welcome traveller. Rest here for a while. The journey is yet long, but you have come far.
me too unfortunetly, but i like it
I live in India, its really hard to get any Tech. The Import Duty is Way too High. Just here to Admire! :(
Sorry bout that, but thanks for sticking around!
hjkl
Same from Brazil.
Dude check rectangles.store if u want some stuff to mod your keyboards!
I'm from india as well I had to import
I'm searching for a 65% keyboard but the one with regular size keycaps as I want to upgrade them to aura glorious keycaps, does a keyboard like that even exist?
This has normal size keycaps.
the only one I know of is the Royal Kludge RK71 (hoping that is what you mean)
@@SwitchandClickOfficial which one?
Why pudding keycaps 🤮
@Roadman George pig did you just say 90 pound pound
Silent setup: I got a Keychron Q6 knob keyboard and replaced the red gateron switches with silent dolphin blues. I also replaced the original Keychron keycaps with cherry profile ones. This is for work and it is so silent and satisfying at the same time!!! (UA-cam videos like yours were very helpful to reach this point: Thank You!).
Omg I completely forgot I was originally gonna buy a 50 dollar keyboard, I just spent that on my keycaps 😂😭
samee
So many keyboards out there... and yet it's still hard to find one which checks all the boxes:
- Commercially available; not just a group buy
- 65% layout (or maaaaybe 75%)
- Open-source firmware (ideally supported upstream, not a dead-end vendor fork)
- Hotswap
- RGB per key
- Solid but not _heavy_
- Not super expensive
- Reasonably quiet
- Bonus if it can also do wireless, especially with a dongle instead of bluetooth, with replaceable li-ion battery
- Bonus if pre-built with tactile switches and tasteful keycaps with extra keys for things like capslock ctrl and row 3 backspace
- Bonus if split space bar
- Bonus if split backspace (HHK, Truefox, etc)
Looking forward to seeing how the QMK Keychron turns out. Would be cool to see RK68 move to open-source firmware. Was tempted by a Drop Alt, but there's some pretty bad blood there due to Massdrop's history of sketchy practices. Will probably end up using a Tofu65 dz68rgb.
As an CAD user, I can't live without dedicated functional and number keys. So if you work with some CAD software every day, that means full size keyboard only. Or at least tenkeyless + numpad.
You know what, this has convinced me to actually get a keyboard thanks 🫂(need to get a computer first tho...)
I’ve watched all the Switch and Click videos and bought myself a keychron K8 and epomaker G96 for working from home. I have a gamakay 61 coming shortly. Im happy with both purchases based on all my research LOL esp. with watching your videos. Thanks for all your hard work on your channel! its really helping a lot of people!
Great to hear!
The best answer I always say to my friends/family when it comes to tech stuff: "how much are you willing to spend?"
Then they never ask me again bcoz they've seen the prices LMAO
I use 2 main keyboards at home .... the Wooting 65% and Corsair K75 RGB Strafe and for me the feel of Wooting is amazing! And despite the variety of switches etc, I can’t help but return to Cherry Red MX Silents! Music to my ears and my fingers.
Hey, {{3}}! As a fellow tech enthusiast, I highly recommend checking out the HOTO Compressed Air Capsule. It's a compact and powerful tool that'll keep your desktop, car, and more spotless. With features like high suction power, keyboard cleaning, and efficient storage, it's definitely worth considering. Plus, the price is reasonable compared to other brands. Hope this helps optimize your cleaning routine!
I think so techno use corsair
Holy smokes the quality looks insane
Thanks so much!
@@SwitchandClickOfficial looks like you upgrade your lighting too!
When you like a video, and the add is playing. That is love right there! :)
Hahaha ❤️
I just want the best I can buy, 75% one with Mac keys. I have the K2 with blue switches. It’s ok. Would pay 3x as my life is typing, so quality of life is important.
Good overview, although there is a factor that is not mention: for a beginner, that never typed on a mechanical keyboard; the difference in between a high end, a mid range and a cheap one is minimal.
I could cite countless trial where people were told they were typing on MX (even "professionals" that could tell you everything about MX switch), while they were not; and same way around. So in the end, it is really depending from your typing style and from the type of keyboard that make you feel more productive and most of all comfortable. Your joints are stressed to the max when typing, so before you ruin your hands forever, get something that is comfortable, and not something that carry a famous name or a high price tag, thinking that it is worth it just for that.
Those high price tags are not there to tell you how superior a product is, but to entice a specific category of people.
Mid range is actually high end. Don't be fooled.
Nah, mid range is still affordable and high end means it has flagship quality and more expensive.
@@johnedwarddelacruz3624 I wouldn’t call $400 cheap
@@da.milanii no one said that $400 is a cheap price.
Mid range is actually good. Yeah not a high end Products.
However I don't mind budget or high end.
I am pretty glad by Redragon.
I am modded K530 and I have no problem.
It is necessary to know how to be satisfied without expecting anything from a low-budget product.
There is no difference between a low or a high budget keyboard. There is a lot of difference between them. But I don't think it's worth exaggerating.
There is no difference like mountains.
I think a medium budget keyboard will also please you enough.
Of course, the budget is important here. For example, since I live in Turkey, I cannot buying very high budget products here.
I cannot Shipping to Turkey.
@@johnedwarddelacruz3624 no a good mid range is pretty high quality/high level, just because companies increased the gap of “quality” between those levels to find ways to make excessive amounts of money with only slightly more output costs and production, to provide very little extra benefits in terms of longevity and usability doesn’t mean too much
Just found both the channel and apparently an amazing community! Been wanting to get a mech keyboard for a while, this has been great!
Welcome aboard!
The sound of the keys is enchanting❤️
You've got such a lot of info on mechanical keyboards at hand that it blows my mind. Had my first switch-lubing tutorial from here and trust me, it worked perfect! Thank You so much!🌈🦋
Thank you for that!
A very in-depth article, clearly from a very knowledgeable person. I am certainly no expert, but for general use I find HP (Hewlett Packard) wireless keyboards to be long-lasting, silky-smooth, reliable and very reasonably priced for the quality. Importantly UK BUYERS SHOULD BEWARE, the vast majority of low-cost wireless keyboards on sale are of very poor quality, and have US rather UK layout, which means no £ key, along with other differences which can take a while to get used to, so whichever keyboard you choose, my advice for what it's worth, is check first that it has a £ key alongside the $ key on the top row.
I am a noob when it comes to mechanical keyboards. I am busy looking to buy my first one for my at home setup. I need some help in deciding what to get.
From what I have read, I want the most silent switches, which appear to be linear ones. I have a few constraints:
1. Wireless - preferable with a usb dongle connection.
2. function key row separate from top number row
3.separate del,hom,pgup,pgdn keys
4.low profile switches
5. rgb lighting
6. quite switches - linear (correct me if I am wrong)
7. brushed aluminium finish
8.caps lock light
9. TKL - i dont need the numbpad but 60% does not have discrete key eg for del,hom etc
10. can take o ring dampeners or some other damperner i am not aware of.
Bonus features, if the switches are hot swappable, then i can try out tactile or something at some point. Also if key caps can be bought for different customisation.
On a side note are there any The Matrix inspired key cap sets? I can't seem to find any
I had been looking at the cooler master sk631 but it is no longer for sale. Also possible was Keycrhon k1 V4 or K3 latest version. The logitech g915 light speed is too expensive.
Are there any that fit this description?
This is such a comfy channel really, im glad i found it!
Just purchased a Ducky One 2 RGB TKL with Kailh Box Red after all the good things i heard about it.
But i think i will build a nice custom board in the near future.
Looking forward to get all the information i need on this channel!
Love the new location and ambient light.
Thank you! I reorganized the room around
Its like gloves or pair of shoes, everyone got different taste of colour and fabric used, and everyone got different sized feet and hands...and so are input devices like mice and keyboards a matter of taste and the proportion of your hands.
So true
Woah that camera quality looks amazing!
thanks! Same camera, just different lighting setup
Suggest a keyboard for programming please
Some unwanted reviews others do which are irrelevant
- Programmer will not be continuously carry the keyboard so weight does not matter
- We won't shake or bend, it just sits on the table almost 24/7 so bending keyboard just to say it sturdy is useless, it just need stay and don't slip while typing
- Should be feel comfortable for long periods of typing.
- Lights is a bonus but should be adjusted. eye strain can be an issue for long usage
- There are cases of programmers that uses a lot of ASCII so numpad version as well other than TKL or lower would be good.
- For most of the time fingers stay on the keyboard so super sensitive are a no go, accuracy is futile so accidental stroke is no joke.
Needing ISO layout already filters my choices by 95%
This was a really great video. I built an XD75 a few years back with modified cherry clears with 150 (maybe 110, I can't remember) because I basically wanted an ortholinear typewriter sort of feeling. Still not quite a typewriter, but more heavy than most keyboards
Wow, THANK YOU! I decided that I wanted to get my first mechanical keyboard in 2022 and...hoo boy...I did NOT expect such a steep learning curve! I haven't been this overwhelmed since I built my first custom PC!
I've been flicking through a bunch of videos for beginners to collect info en masse that I'd need before making a single purchase and so far, this video has been my favorite! Very easy to understand, giving advice on specific keyboards in different price ranges, etc.
I think I may join your discord? I'm gonna do a bit of solo exploration first, especially since I don't know how soon it'll be before I actually go off and buy something, but THANK YOU. This video is wonderful. I definitely plan to flick through some more of your videos before I purchase my first keyboard, but now I have a lovely list of notes I can work off of and I'm having a much easier time finding keyboards with the things I need, within my price range, and beginner friendly.
Your'e welcome! :)
Way more information than i came looking for. But now that i have watched it I am quite happy to have heard all of it.
ive been happy with my WASD Code with Cherry Clears for many years. then i saw the razer huntsman mini at a shop and LOVED the feel. now i got the itch again. DAmmit!
A great keyboard in Amazon that is about $40.00 is Motospeed CK62.
Keyboard queen back at it again with a banger! Keep it up bro
Thanks man!
Fantastic guide - approachable, informative, and pleasant to watch. If anyone asks me for a great primer to the hobby, I'll point them to this.
Being a physician working with sticky budget putrid keyboards everyday at my health center, even budget boards feel like heaven :') so I got an Ajazz
I still prefer full size keyboards, as I deal with numbers often. For me, I rather remove the numbers row on top of the keyboard rather than the numpad.
I've been looking at so many of your videos and they helped out a lot. Now this latest was really well put together again, plus with the quality bump, I just had to subscribe. Awesome job as usual, tnx!
Glad to hear it!
Thank you for being the voice of reason in the keyboard world
the quality is amazing..... you went from a couple thousand sub UA-camr, to a couple hundred thousand UA-camr...
Thank you so much! I appreciate that. Someday someday
just found out about this mechanical keyboard universe... Now i wanna watch your whole channel, real nice content!
Just bought the APEX Pro and IQUinx Coral Sea to cover each of our home systems. Both arriving next week. Excited.Just getting started in the mechanical keyboard world. Glad I found your channel.
Hope you enjoy it!
@@SwitchandClickOfficial thank you. Enjoying your content.
just ordered my first 60% mechanical keyboard after this!!! Thanks so much, keep up the grind
Awesome! Thank you!
Hi great video! Just wanted to point out that the timestamps aren't right
I bought my first mechanical keyboard about 3 years ago (Regradgon K551). I didn't know much about mechanical keyboards; also they are really pricey for me back then, so I went for a bit cheaper one (my only requirement back then is that it should have a numpad and rgb lights, lol). Thankfully it's still functioning very well to this day. Recently I found way cooler and better mechanical keyboards online and I want to try them (that's why I'm watching this video) but I thought to myself maybe I should just try to change the blue switches on my current keyboard, and also try to change the keycaps too. The only thing that "bothers" me (not so much, but still does) about my current keyboard is that it's wired. I want to try a wireless one too. Maybe I'll buy when I get to save extra money in a few months.
Edit: I also got lucky with the keyboard I bought as it is hot swappable. I just learned that not all mechanical keyboards are like that.
I'm really enjoying your channel- I already purchased my mechanical keyboard but I can't help myself from watching your videos as they're informative and seem honest and both opinionated and factual.
One thing I don't think you've touched on is the current situation I find myself in- I purchased a keyboard which was delivered as a US layout, and I was wondering if there's a quick and easy way for me to convert this over to a UK layout keyboard, as I much prefer the large 'return' and 'capslock' keys.
Thanks for your videos :)
No, because the PCB and plate probably only support the ansi layout.
@@SwitchandClickOfficial Thanks for your reply, I really appreciate it.
I thought that was the case- I'll just have to get used to it, I suppose! Have a good weekend :)
Love the vids. I just ordered my first mechanical keyboard, excited noob right here.
Hope you enjoy it!
This is a masterclass in introductory videos. Amazing! Thanks 👍
The layout and quality of this video is amazing, great job! it's convinced me to look into it all a lot more
Keep up the good work guys, video quality and background 'looookin gooood'!
The video I've been waiting for.
And you've got it
4:28 "High-end Keyboards" timestamp actually starts here, NOT at 3:35
edit: all timestamps seem to be off, since this is a guide people will keep coming to, the timestamps should be fixed
G.skill's km360 is only $50 and it has genuine cherry mx reds. It's really sturdy as it has an aluminum top plate and the detachable type-c cable is also a plus. The stabs aren't the best as expected and it only has white LEDs but they're really strong and not yellowish at all. Either way, I bought the board and I'm very happy with it, definitely worth more than its price in my opinion. The only well known video I've seen this board featured in was a linus tech tips video about red clones and I'm honestly really surprised the board's not getting more light on it. Oh, it's also tkl which is a preference of mine.
Been binging earlier this year lots of Hipyo build contents. But its refreshing to hear the basics again and look into it more confident. The only thing I'm scared of is buying keycaps that won't fit my layout xD
U are my favorite UA-camr right now
Keep up the good work
Great video. Love the shallow depth
I spent $22 on a 60% keyboard on Amazon (hot swappable), bought 2 sets of holy panda switches ($28) and lubed them with Vaseline (I know what I’m doing when it comes to Vaseline, I researched a lot) and now it sounds like a creamy $200 keyboard 🤩
I have recently fallen down the rabbit hole of custom keyboards. I am going back and forth on whether I should buy a prebuilt or make my own but I don't trust myself enough to build one haha. Your videos help a lot. I think for my first custom keyboard, I will buy a prebuilt keyboard that is modifiable. maybe switch out the keycaps, lube, and other modifications.
Thank you!
Good choice!
@@SwitchandClickOfficial 😌🙏🏼
The red dragon k552 is great for the price. I've had it for 2 years now and it still works great
I feel like I was unlucky on this front. I've heard many people say their K552's lasted for a long time but some of the switches on mine started to fail after 1.5 years :(
I unfortunately got the version that isn't hot-swappable so I had to replace the whole KB.
Production quality level up 😁👍
👍👍👍👍
Warning! Mid-range is a gateway drug into the rabbit hole. At least for me it was.
It sorta is
Just when I needed this video
I think you could mention split keyboards. There are quite a few designs, QMK customizations with layers and such things like tilt kits.
Here i am just trying to buy a decent keyboard but then watching your video made me shook. Didn't know there's another world out there when it comes to Keyboard. Like holy shit i feel like i still live in the 90s. Great Video ! Watching other video's made me confuse. Like what's 60%? 65% switching? lol thank God you explained it well. I learned a lot. Now you get a sub
Your video was so illuminating for me, help me a lot what kind an how can start for own a mech keyboard , Thank you!
I'm very new to this hobby, and I'm sort of this inbetween-type-of-guy where I want the best of both worlds: wanting a customizable keyboard but also want a great stock keyboards. I've seen some of your videos and thank god it all now has been narrowed down to either Keychron K6 (for its hotswappability, but not-so-great stock) and Leopold FC series (one of the best stocks in the market, but that's all). Do you have any suggestion regarding this issue that I'm having? Because I'll be buying one of those in the near future. Thanks beforehand, and great content as always!
P.S. I really have this urge to mod my keybs, even to the switches.
P.S.S. I do consider soldering, that's why now I seem to be inclined to the Leopold series more. Do you recommend this for a beginner?
I found Logitech G915 TKL to be way too expensive for what it offered. I did not see much difference in latency when compared to Keychron K7 ultra slim... and second, I did find key caps to be quite loose and very rattling when you shake the keyboard... granted you won't shake it around, but point is, key caps are loose!
Another small issue that has a fix is - when waking up from sleep, keyboard runs through default color shifting fade-in/out before it goes to solid custom choice you setup...
Another thing deal breaker for me was that it is not hot swappable, and good like finding low profile key caps to customize anything...
I chose to dive into mechanical keyboards with Epomaker TH90 because I wanted knob for volume, so, that is where I will begin my journey :)
Did a NK65 w/ black inks lubed and filmed and GMK Godspeed keycaps for my first build. Learned a lot from it. I think I’m going to give it a few weeks to break in and re-lube the switches. Went a tad heavy as I was trying to keep it semi quiet for use in an office.
Ooooh nice!
Just got my first mechanical keyboard and love it. PC Aanzee 65% with Gat Ink V2 Black switches and GMK Minimal caps. It's a nice upgrade from my Logitech G513.
this is my new favorite unintended ASMR channel
I love ❤️ 💕 your channel. I find your voice very soothing and relaxing! Sounds like I’m attending a UA-cam day spa 🧖 and I feel very at peace listening to your voice and the keyboard process. 🥰🥰🥰❤️❤️👍😉
😁
I am new to this rabbit hole subject of mechanical keyboards. Nice overview. Thanks very much.
Thanks! very nice video! I dont really know much about keyboards, exept for the basics, about sizes and stuff like that, but this was a very good video, for people who know that keyboards exist but dont now much more.
Glad it was helpful!
Very well explained vid I can just send this to a friend that is getting into mechanical keyboard and not say a word good job.Also my first build was with the gk61 with gat yellow and tx film it's a solid bare bones kit imo .Now waiting for ikki68 aurora :)
Woahhh the quality is insane!!
4:49 my keyboard is all aluminum. And I buy it at 118 dollars. Is a Hiperx Keyboard, with aqua switches. Is a tactile switch. 1,9mn and 3,8 mn is a gaining/typing keyboard.
I don’t recommend clicky switches, because I hate them. And I have seen a lot of people that bought clicky switches and they regret and think that the sound was different in the videos. I recomend tactile switches, or linear. But I think the best switches if you are not sure is tactile switches.
You should have at least 200k - 1mil.
Thanks for the video. You earned my sub!
Wow, thanks!
Your welcome! :)
What a brilliant summary! Thank you S&C
Glad you enjoyed it!
What best for budget full mechanical keyboard?
Yeah it's a really difficult process, so after watching a video by Chyrosran22 I decided to buy a unicomp mini m with buckling springs. It's not a clone, it's a genuine reproduction, made by the same people, with the same tools that Lexmark did in 1993. The mini m is the tenkeyless version of the normal model m. Since there is really only that one option for a new keyboard with buckling springs, it made the choice much easier for me.
I love my anne pro 2! I've just put tealios v2s in it and it's so nice :) I'll be uploading it on my channel soon
Nice!
Hi there,
Firstly, I want to say I Love the channel and the production and content has incredible value.
I am new to the world of mechanical keyboards and I think I’m ready to make a purchase soon. I have a few questions tho if you don’t mind:
1. Do gold wires in stabilizers or springs make a difference?
2. Can you recommend any websites that currently sell authentic cherry stabilizers and/or Mx cherry red silent (RGB) switches?
It seems a lot of items are in short supply, and many of the websites I’ve seen claim to be origional, but appear to be cheap knock-offs. As a newcomer, it’s hard for me to tell the difference.
Thanks again for posting these videos. I’ve really learned a lot from them and I’m excited to have been introduced to this fun and interesting hobby.
Which keyboard would you recommend for a programmer? I would like it to be a Mid/High wireless keyboard for Mac OS with RGB backlight and regular-size keycaps. Also, I wouldn't want to have a number pad on it.
uh Logitech k380. 20 BUCKS OF AMAZING :D All they need is a carrying case and I'll literally marry this thing. I use this on my belly when I am laying down in bed (typing on it right now) Sits on a desk well, good for the lap, good for on the go. It feels not like any other keyboard I've used. It feels durable as heck and the battery life is.. 2 YEARS!!!! It is the most FLAWLESS bluetooth keyboard of all time! It balances well! I could literally buy 3 of these in the price range of a keyboard that is going to take longer to type on because of the actuation distance, and remarkably, this keyboard has outlasted even my expectations. I've slept on this thing more than 10 times... pairs with my desktop, my laptop, and my phone seamlessly (all at the same time) the switching is FLAWLESS, the wake up is flawless, turning it on, you can type right away and it basically saves what the hell you typed before it even pairs, and once it pairs, it literally puts what you typed in. It is amazing.
I wish this came out a few days earlier, literally just bought my first mechanical!!
(still happy with the purchase FWIW, but this clarifies so many things I was hung up on)
Yay, glad it hit the spot though, even too late.
How do you build a wireless custom keyboard? What part enables Bluetooth/wireless connectivity? PCB?
Actually got the Ducky x Varmilo MIYA Pro Panda after extensive research and your channel and review was the one that convinced me to go for it.
Great video for newcomers and nice quality bump!
I'm glad I found your channel :) Very helpful informations!
Underrated video great job 👌🏼
Can you tell me what keycaps those are in the thumbnail, I didn’t catch it but I loved the video ❤️
Excellent info! I think I'm going to buy a Keychron K2v2 with Gateron Brown switches.
Oh a new video! Yay 😆
I was searching for your other video about best keyboard 2020 or something like that but then I saw this. How timely. I love update videos!
Nice! Glad you could find this video :)