For more detail on mechanical switch types and which ones are available in which types of keyboards, check out this guide from the fine folks at Das Keyboard, and this extremely helpful thread at When a keyboard costs upwards of $80, it's a good idea to do a little research. Plus, switch testers make great desk decorations and fidget toys. Just like fountain pens, paper, and gel pens, the world of mechanical keyboard switches is diverse and deep — and we haven't even gotten to the other cool stuff, like keycaps, cases, and LEDs! Maybe the profile of the keys is no longer comfortable. Or maybe the switch type has changed and it's time for a new set that is compatible with the new switches. 3. Giving Keyboard a fresh look. A new keycap set can also give your mechanical keyboard a fresh look, and there are many different designs to choose from. If you have a mechanical The main types of switches. The three most popular switches: Cherry MX Red, Brown, and Blue. Mechanical switches come in three main varieties: linear, tactile, and clicky. These three types are each best suited for different tasks but aren't exclusive to any. There are no hard rules when it comes to keyboard switches, but there are qualities 1. QWERTY Keyboards. A QWERTY keyboard is a type of computer keyboard that uses a standard arrangement of keys. It is named after the first six letters on the top row of alphabetic keys. The QWERTY layout is the most common keyboard layout used in the English-speaking world. QWERTY is the most widely used keyboard layout in the world. Learn about the three main types of mechanical keyboard switches — linear, tactile, and clicky — and discover the pros and cons of each! Clicky and tactile switch. Actuation force 0.55N. 1.8mm actuation distance. 4 mm travel distance. Tactile and audible feedback at two points. Black. Linear and optical switch. Actuation force of 0.60-0.80N. 1.5-3.6mm actuation distance. The biggest difference between a mechanical keyboard and its cheap, traditional counterparts is the mechanical switch on every key. But there are many types of switches, and you'll see a lot of terms thrown around to describe them. Actuation force: the amount of pressure needed to depress a key and register a keypress. yHsgn2.