Clicky VS Linear VS Tactile Key Switches 2022

The best thing about mechanical keyboards is that you can always choose or customize your switches and keycaps. Switches give you a different feeling of use, and keycaps give you a different vision. At present, there are many key switches on the market, including red switches, blue switches, black switches, yellow switches, etc., and the switches represented by these colors can be divided into three types of switches: linear switches, tactile switches and clicky switches. The main difference between these three switches is the sound and feel. Both tactile and clicky switches have tactile bumps, while linear switches are quick and smooth. Clicky switches are the loudest of the three switches.

If you want to learn more about each switch type and difference and choose your favorite switch type or color, you've come to the right place! WhatGeek will explain in detail the different types of mechanical switches for you.

Linear Switches

Linear is just straight down; a key goes straight down. You press a key, and you don’t feel the actual actuation point where the key registers. A lot of Gamers usually use this type of key switch because they want quick reaction time.

They want to press the button and see the immediate response. When you’re typing, you don’t want to, like I accidentally kind of brush on it or something and then get many mistakes.

So I got a linear key switch-type keyboard. I used it for gaming, and then I tried to do some typing, and I just had so many mistakes. So if you want to use your keyboard just for gaming, then go linear.

Linear switches are generally displayed in red and black colors.

Tactile Switches

If you wanted to do typing and gaming and get the best of both worlds, I would go with tactile. That’s what I got with the Gateron Yellow. Using tactile, you can feel a little bump before it actually registers on the computer. You can hear it too.

There’s like a little bump before it registers. This gives the confidence that you are pressing the right key that you want with no accidental key presses. with the benefit of not having a clicky sound like the clicky type

Tactile switches are usually displayed in the color of yellow switches, brown switches, clear switches/white switches.

Clicky Switches

The third type is clicky, which is pretty much like tactile, except there’s even more of a bump and there’s a clicky sound. Some people like that.

Some people will find that incredibly annoying for typing. Some people might find that satisfying. Some people might find that like nails on a chalkboard. It’s up to you.

I Personally like Cherry MX blue switches that are clicky. I like the feel of the pump and the clicky sound, even though I do many typing. I work from home.

I don’t mind the sound, but you might be annoying your coworkers if you are in an office. Some office spaces even ban the use of clicky switches altogether.

Clicky axes are usually displayed in blue/green switches.

Difference Between the Clicky, Linear, Tactile Switch Types

So the easiest way to understand the difference between key switches would be based on two factors: the feel of the click and travel distance. They most likely denote those to factors as Actuation force and in mg and travel distance in mm.

Other than that, you have to look at the names because Gateron has their own switches. Cherry MX has their own switches, Logitech has their own switches. Razer has their own switches. So look into the different names and then look to whether tactile linear clicky and then you can see the different types based on the Actuation force and travel distance and some other minor factors.