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Gamers keep talking about the best optical switches. Indeed, optical switches have been around for several years to beat traditional counterparts with a more premium gaming experience.
Many gamers and typists are eager to upgrade their keyboards with the best optical switches. If you are hunting the top-rated optical switches on the market, here are the 15 best choices for you.
| Name | Switch type | Sound level | Price |
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Gateron Brown KS-22 Optical switches
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Tactile | Medium | $0.18/switch |
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Linear | Low | $0.21/switch |
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Linear | Low | $0.3/switch |
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Linear | Low | $0.3/switch |
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Tactile | Medium | $0.30/switch |
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Tactile | Medium | Only sold with keyboard only |
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Linear | Low | $0.33/switch |
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Linear | Low | $0.33/switch |
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Gateron Yellow Optical switches
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Linear | Low | $0.34/switch |
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Clicky | Loud | $0.35/switch |
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Linear | Low | $0.5/switch |
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Clicky | Loud | $0.56/switch |
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Linear | Medium | $0.62/switch |
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Clicky | Loud | Sold with keyboard only |
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ROG RX Red optical mechanical switches
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Linear | Low | Sold with keyboard only |
Note: The mentioned price is current at the time of writing and is subject to change. Please make real-time pricing checks before making any purchase decisions.
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Shining the whole list of best optical switches today will be Gateron Optical Silver Switches with a sleek-looking housing.
Gateron optical silver switches have a solid actuation force. They feature a smooth and consistent press throughout the game, allowing for more accuracy in high-stakes games. However, in the comparison of Gateron vs Cherry, Cherry MX Silver switches have a shorter travel distance of 3.4mm, enabling quicker keypresses, ideal for users who prioritize speed and a lighter touch.
However, these switches aren't ideal for work or typing since their speed and lightness will almost certainly result in a lot of typos that you didn't mean to make with.
| Pros | Cons |
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Easy to make mistakes and hits |
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Like the above Silver friends, Gateron Optical Black switch has a switch type of linear, but features a 60 gf heavier feel.
This means there will be a bit more resistance once you press down. As a result, you cannot go wrong with Gateron Optical Black if you are a heavy typer with confidence in every bottomed-out keystroke.
Furthermore, these switches are fairly quiet, making them the best optical switches for typing for a long amount of time.
| Pros | Cons |
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Requires more force to trigger |
Let’s see why Gateron Optical Black is worth a buy for the office!
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The Gateron Brown KS-15 Optical switches are the best optical switches with a transparent design allowing light to stream through, making it ideal for RGB LED keyboards.
They are smoother, more robust, and have a faster response rate compared to standard mechanical switches. Each keystroke on these tactile switches produces a small discernible bump with a low noise level.
| Pros | Cons |
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Only fit some keyboards |
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The Razer Red Optical switch offers a more balanced keypress thanks to its innovative stem design and key stabilizer bar.
On either side of the switch comes a metal key stabilizer. There are fewer wobbles in each keypress, providing a consistent and smooth typing experience.
Being claimed as the speed of light, these switches enable actuation via light and have an ultra-low actuation point of 1.2 mm. Their measured length is 16.67% less than that of conventional linear mechanical switches.
| Pros | Cons |
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Besides the Optical Linear switches type, Razer also offers a Clicky variant.
The Razer Purple Optical switches pride themselves on being the only clicky switch with a super low 1.5 mm actuation point on the market. Their actuation point is 30% shorter than typical clicky switches. A light yet clicky feel is perfect for gamers who want tactile feedback to get a more realistic gaming experience.
Go for Razer Purple Optical switches if you love the "clicky-clicky" sound but need a responsive key.
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Razer Analogue switch to join the race of the best optical switches from the Razer brand.
And the best part? Analog Optical switches allow dual-step actuation. This basically means that users gain enhanced control in games that apply partial or full keypresses.
Gamers may also set up customized commands in the Razer Synapse software based on an actuation height ranging from 1.5 to 3.6 mm.
Plus, the clicky switches with satisfyingly loud clicks are highly responsive and produce tactile feedback. Thus, you can be sure of each registered keystroke.
| Pros | Cons |
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Here is a short introduction video of Raze Optical Analog.
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Specially designed for gamers in mind, ROG has developed ROG RX Red offering consistent and wobble-free keystrokes with a lightning-fast 1ms response.
Featuring a hollow-square stem shape for reduced spring bouncing noises and increased stability, the ROG RX Red switches optical offer an exceptional typing or gaming experience. They also provide a smooth and instant response, delivering a satisfyingly seamless feel.
As the best for sound, these switches only produce a minor bottoming-out noise. You don't even need to lube the switches as the initial condition is ultra-clean and further enhanced by ASUS stabilizers.
| Pros | Cons |
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ROG RX Red switches are the best optical switches for its sound, but do they live up to the hype? Let the video below tell you!
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While Black versions demand the maximum trigger pressure, the Gateron Optical Yellow only needs slightly less pressure at 35g. This way, you may find yourself actuating keys just by resting your fingers on the switches.
When discussing Gateron Yellow vs Red, it's important to consider how keycap choices can impact your experience, especially in terms of feel and sound.
Additionally, a quick response and quiet switch without a tactile bump is perfect for gaming. However, these switches give off a sort of cheap vibe since you will notice how light the spring is.
| Pros | Cons |
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Low-quality spring |
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Kailh Linear Optical switches are notable for transparent switch covers, and light holes paired with a patch LED lamp to minimize the impact on the brightness of the light.
The Kaihua Optical switch is similar to the Kaihua BOX switch in terms of sound generation structure, but it does not require physical contact. As a result, users will experience fewer hand worries, driving better-registered keypresses.
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Keychron Optical Reds are one of the best optical switches at very affordable prices. These switches are a must-have for gamers or typists looking to reach super-fast typing speed since they feature a smooth linear feel to themselves.
However, they are not compatible with any MX-style mechanical switch. You can only find them on K8 keyboards or a few specific keyboards from Keychron.
| Pros | Cons |
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Limited compatibility |
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Outemu optical brown switches are available on the Redragon K580-Pro.
These switches offer a small bump in the keystroke, giving tactile feedback without the audible click, making them ideal for gaming and typing.
Moreover, the more rapid 0.2ms response time enables faster input, compared to the standard mechanical switches, which make every click almost immediate.
| Pros | Cons |
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Availability issues |
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The LK Red Optical switches (or Light Strike Red optical switches) are well-known for their seamless and uninterrupted keystrokes. They give a smooth typing experience and let you fly through your typing tasks with ease.
What sets these switches apart is their minimal noise. These switches produce almost no noise during operation. Besides, the removal of physical contacts eliminates the chance of key wobbling or ratting. Now you can say goodbye to annoying typing or gaming noises.
| Pros | Cons |
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Hard to find |
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You can find Flaretech optical switches on Wooting keyboards.
Their praiseworthy aspect is the debounce time of only 0.03ms, compared to a full 20ms in standard switches. This debounce time gives you an edge in-game and increased precision in motions.
What else? These switches are capable of analog sensing. They can identify how many keys are pressed, allowing for finer control in games that demand variable input, like racing or flight simulators.
| Pros | Cons |
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Limited availability |
Why is it unbelievably fast? The following video will clear your doubt!
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You’ve got the most pocket-friendly switches without losing any outstanding features, Gateron KS-22 Optical switch.
As an improved version of the KS-15, The Gateron KS-22 Optical switches feature a new transparent construction and a more steady, smooth hand feel.
The best part is these optical switches will provide a unique waterproof construction to protect their bodies from the water.
As an added benefit, the KS-22 version is gently pre-lubricated in the factory to provide a more smooth and tactile typing experience.
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To wrap up this list of best optical switches, consider Gateron Optical Red switches for their linear feel.
With an actuation force of 45 gf, you can expect ultra-responsive keystrokes and smooth travel between pushes with no bumps or clicks.
Gateron Red switches are among the best optical switches that are well-liked by a wide range of users. Whether you need a quiet workspace for concentration or are an avid typist, these switches are a go-to for an exceptional typing experience.
| Pros | Cons |
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Lack of tactile feedback |
Here is a comparison between Gareon Optical Red and its standard mechanical version.
While switches can improve your degraded keyboard, you may want to look for a brand-new keyboard to save a ton of time. If so, don’t miss our The Best Optical Keyboards - Top Picks for 2024.
While optical switch manufacturers are relatively few, there is a wide range of options out there that might confuse you.
So, when deciding on the best optical switches for you, keep the following factors in mind.
To be honest, the feel of the best optical switches is entirely up to you. Like standard switches, optical switches come in three different key feels including Linear, Tactile and Clicky.
For gaming, the benefits of a linear optical switch don't need an introduction. It delivers consistent, smooth, and precise actuation to give a better experience for gaming. Indeed, misfires and discrepancies would be disastrous during the big battle!
For those interested in tactile feedback, Halo Clear switches pair well with OEM keycaps, offering a satisfying typing experience.
For typing, you'll need keypress assurance, which the tactile switch provides with its mild resistance and sound.
Go for the best optical switches with linear feel if you value a quiet space for your high focus. Whereas, if you enjoy fun clicky noise, give clicky optical switches a try. They offer a similar feel to tactile switches, but they have that unique loud and clicky sound.
If you're looking for something more specialized, exploring the best low profile switches can also help you find the right keycaps for your needs.
As you may know, what makes optical switches superior to mechanical switches is their lightning-fast response time. They will give users an edge in every gameplay, even in fiery battles.
For example, Razer clicky optical switches produce the fastest response time in gaming at 0.2 milliseconds — 10 times quicker than regular mechanical switches.
This is because an LED light is preventing an optical sensor from being touched. When pressing the key, you remove the blockage from the sensor, allowing light to reach it. Finally, the needed time for the light to correctly hit the sensor is just approximately 0.2 ms.
Most optical switches have a longer lifespan than conventional mechanical switches. For example, Gateron optical switches all boast a lifetime of up to 100 million keystrokes.
In addition, some other optical switches can only survive after 80 million keystrokes. Even so, this number is also the desire of most traditional mechanical counterparts.
If you are interested in learning about mechanical switches, we’ve revealed all of their secrets in this post.
Wondering how optical switches differ from mechanical ones, watch the review video below. You will get to know why the best optical switches can beat mechanical ones.
No wonder! You can go confidently into every battle with the best optical switches. While they are still a new player in “the switches game”, the best optical switches will become the winner soon.
Flaretech Optical switches are ranked the fastest optical switch with a debounce time of 0.03 ms, 600 times faster than traditional switches.
Gateron Optical Yellows switches are the quietest optical switches. They provide a very smooth, noise-free, vertical experience with little to no clicky feel.
Optical switches are typically good for gaming, but if you strive to find the best one, look no further than Razer and Gateron optical switches. Yet, the choice ultimately comes down to your taste and preferences.
Gateron Black and Gateron Ks-15 Brown optical switches. These are good for typing that ensures smooth keystrokes without any mistypes thanks to heavier operating force.
It depends on your purposes and typing styles. Consider Gateron Optical Silver for gaming and Gateron Optical Black for typing in a silence-needed environment.
You can look for the best optical switches on e-commerce platforms such as Amazon and Aliexpress. Nevertheless, due to their limited availability, purchasing optical switches remains a big challenge.
Gamers keep talking about the best optical switches. Indeed, optical switches have been around for several years to beat traditional counterparts with a more premium gaming experience. Many gamers and typists are eager to upgrade their keyboards with the best optical switches. If you are hunting the top-rated optical switches on the market, here are […]
