The ultimate guide to mechanical keyboard switches for 2023

This year, Varmilo has released six new switches. When choosing your switches, you only want the best. The problem is that there are many kinds of switches on our website, and there’s no easy way to learn and compare them. Luckily, we’ve done the research and created this guide for you!

After you’ve spent time reading this, you’ll be able to choose the ones that are best for you.

Table of contents

• Introduction of the Newest 8 switches (Sort by time)
• Basic parameters(Sort by brands: Varmilo, Cherry, Gateron, Kailh, and TTC)
• Understanding the models of Varmilo – Find the right switch easily and quickly

Introduction of the Newest 8 switches

1. Varmilo EC V2 Iris

Iris sw is Varmilo’s first tactile switch. Its typing experience is very similar to the famous Holy Panda Switch. HP has a prolonged smooth bump, which is what it has been known for, so as Iris switch. Varmilo makes an entirely new EC tactile switch with the original typing experience of Holy Panda. As an EC switch, it avoids the physical damage risk of dust, liquid, and friction loss.

It’s a perfect choice for those who love HP and the unique typing experience.

Now you can get it from most of our MA series(87/108) theme keyboards.

Or you can get it through easy customization or premium customization – Available in 65/80/110 keys.

2. Varmilo first speed switch – Varmilo EC V2 Jasmine

Jasmine switch is Varmilo’s first speed switch, linear. Its actuation point is 1mm and its total travel is 3mm. 22mm prolonged spring anti-accidental actuation, strong rebound.

A lot of gamers love speed switches using gaming. It is also an ideal switch for high-speed input requirements.

Now you can get it from some of our MA series keyboards or through easy customization or premium customization.

3. TTC x Varmilo – TTC Speed Gold

VA108 Warrior – Soar

Varmilo and TTC co-developed switch, 39gf operation force linear switch, 1.2mm conduction travel, and 3.4mm terminal travel. It has a lighter typing experience compared with Cherry Silver. With TTC’s signature prolonged spring, it prevents miss-click efficiently. Its light and speed make it perfect for gaming and typing.

For now, you can get it with Varmilo’s Warrior – Soar keyboard only.

4. Kailh x Varmilo – Kailh Crane

The switch adopts Kailh’s high-end POM mold, which has excellent waterproof and dustproof effects. POM Pro material makes the switch core, seat, and upper cover. 37gf operation force linear switch, full POM material case, it gets smoother by using. BOX structure, stabilized pressing, water and dust proof. 20mm prolonged spring anti-accidental actuation, strong rebound.

Kaih Crane switch is designed for the theme keyboard – Crane of Lure.

Click to get it now: Varmilo VBS108V2 Crane of Lure Series Three Mode Mechanical Keyboard

5. Kailh x Varmilo – Kailh Prestige Red

45gf operation force linear switch, similar to Cherry Red. BOX structure, stabilized pressing, water and dust proof. 20mm prolonged spring anti-accidental actuation, strong rebound.

6. Kailh x Varmilo – Kailh Prestige Click

46gf operation force clicky tactile switch, strong and clean tactile feeling, and clicky sound, BOX structure, stabilized pressing, water and dust proof. 20mm prolonged spring anti-accidental actuation, strong rebound.

7. Kailh x Varmilo – Kailh Prestige Light

37g operation force light pressure linear switch, adopt POM to optimize typing sound. 20mm long spring provides strong

pretravel and rebound. Stock lubed minimized noise.

Varmilo selects the classic feel and typing experience widely recognized by players worldwide and deeply optimizes them in terms of feel, sound, and lifespan. Together with the well-known switch brand Kailh, they launch the Prestige series BOX switches.

Varmilo and Kailh cooperated Prestige Series switches using Kailh exclusive BOX structure, longer life span than MX switch, and have unique sound created by torsional spring, the famous NK, and other switches all using this structure.

How to choose?

Kailh Prestige Red: linear

Kailh Prestige Click: tactile and clicky

Kailh Prestige Light: linear and light

You can get them with Varmilo’s newest theme keyboard – Chang’ e.

8. Varmilo Tactile Switch- Varmilo EC V2 Violet

Get it with Varmilo Minilo Mendozae:

Comparison of Basic parameters

(Sort by brands: Varmilo, Cherry, Gateron, Kailh, and TTC)

Understanding the characteristics of a mechanical switch

Besides the keystroke feel, there are 4 technical characteristics of a switch. Depending on your typing technique and the general purpose of your keyboard, you would need specific values for each characteristic.

1. Operation Force

It’s how hard you have to press the key. Operating force is measured in centinewton (cN) or gram-force (gf). 1 gf is equal to 0.98 cN, so they are almost equivalent. You can say that a switch with 0.50 cN has 0.50 gf.

2. Activation Point

It is the point where a keypress is recognized by the keyboard. This is measured in millimeters. It is also known as Actuation Point or Operating Position.

3. Total Travel Distance

It’s the distance your keycap travels until it hits the upper housing of the switch. It’s basically the distance until you bottom out. This is also measured in millimeters.

4. Tactile Position

The tactile position is where you feel the bump on tactile and clicky switches. On linear switches, there’s no tactile position.

Varmilo EC V2 Switches

Brand	Name	Image	Type	Operation Force/gf	Terminal Force/gf	Activation Point/mm	Total Travel/mm	Features
Varmilo	Daisy		Linear	35	45	2	4	extremely light
Varmilo	Orange		Linear	38	45	2	4	spacebar switch of Daisy keyboard
Varmilo	Jasmine		Linear	40	60	1	3	extremely fast 22mm spring
Varmilo	Sakura		Linear	45	55	2	4	Bestseller similar to Cherry Red
Varmilo	Moxa		Linear	45	55	2	4	smoothest 16mm spring Shurikey keyboard
Varmilo	Rose		Linear	55	65	2	4	Cherry Red<Rose<Cherry Black
Varmilo	Ivy		Clicky	50	65	2.3	4	clicky similar to Cherry Blue
Varmilo	Iris		Tactile	45	60	2	4	similar to Holy Panda
Varmilo	Violet		Tactile	45	58	2	4	similar to Cherry Brown

Varmilo EC switches are popular for their extreme typing experience. Smoothness is the most outstanding feature because of the no physical contact points. Varmilo EC switch keeps the original touch of the mechanical keyboard by using the EC trigger principle with the same inner structure as the traditional mechanical switch.

You can pick a themed keyboard designed by varmilo or custom your own keyboard on our website.

Varmilo Switch Keychain:

Cherry MX Traditional Mechanical Switches

Brand	Name	Image	Type	Operation Force/gf	Terminal Force/gf	Activation Point/mm	Total Travel/mm	Features
Cherry MX	Red		Linear	45	60	2	4	classic mechanical switch
Cherry MX	Silent Red		Linear	45	60	2	3.7	silent
Cherry MX	Silver		Linear	45	70	1.2	3.4	speed
Cherry MX	Black		Linear	60	85	2	4	heavy
Cherry MX	Blue		Clicky	50	60	2.2	4	clicky
Cherry MX	Brown		Tactile	50	60	2	4	tactile

Cherry’s MX switches are widely considered to be the gold standard of PC keyboard switches, and they come in several kinds (designated by “color”) with distinct pressure, texture, and audio-feedback characteristics.

The Varmilo VA/VD series mechanical keyboards install these switches.

Varmilo & Cherry MX switch Trial Kit:

Gateron G Pro 2.0 Switch

Brand	Name	Image	Type	Operation Force/gf	Terminal Force/gf	Activation Point/mm	Total Travel/mm	Features
Gateron	White		Linear	38	45	2	4	light
Gateron	Silver		Linear	43	50	1.2	3.4	speed
Gateron	Red		Linear	45	50	2	4	20.5mm prolonged spring
Gateron	Yellow		Linear	50	67	2	4	quiet; Cherry Red<Yellow<Cherry Black
Gateron	Brown		Tactile	50	60	2	4	similar to Cherry Brown

Gateron switches are common among keyboard enthusiasts, especially in Europe. Gateron switches are smoother, which makes them feel better than Cherry. G Pro 2.0 switches upgrade the mold on the basis of the G Pro Series and have an RGB SMD condenser, which is renowned for its excellent lighting effect and tactile typing experience.

Kailh X Varmilo Mechanical Switches

Brand	Name	Image	Type	Operation Force/gf	Terminal Force/gf	Activation Point/mm	Total Travel/mm	Features
Kailh	Crane		Linear	37	45	1.8	4	light BOX structure 20mm prolonged spring
Kailh	Prestige Red		Linear	45	55	1.8	3.6	similar to Cherry Red BOX structure 20mm prolonged spring
Kailh	Prestige Click		Tactile	46	60	1.8	3.6	clicky BOX structure 20mm prolonged spring
Kailh	Prestige Light		Linear	37	47	1.8	2.2	light 20mm prolonged spring

Kailh BOX switches are really cool. They have a different stem design, making them feel more stable and wobble a little bit less. The step is shaped, well, like a box. Kailh Box switches feature a boxed stem, designed to be dust and water-resistant.

Varmilo knows that Kailh’s quality control facilities were first-class and their standards didn’t tolerate anything less than perfect. How they operated was mind-blowingly impressive. True enough, their regard for high quality is very much reflected in their products.

TTC Mechanical Switches

Brand	Name	Image	Type	Operation Force/gf	Terminal Force/gf	Activation Point/mm	Total Travel/mm	Features
TTC	Gold Pink		Linear	37	45	2	4	light
TTC	Speed Gold		Linear	39	50	1.2	3.4	light & speed
TTC	Speed Silver		Linear	45	55	1.08	3.4	speed

Manufactured with clear casings, TTC Switches have quickly become one of the most popular switches in the keyboard community. TTC Switches uses gold contact leaves and soft plastic stems, making an unparalleled, smooth typing experience.

Understanding the models of Varmilo – Find the right switch easily and quickly

Model	Keys	Switch	Connection	Hot-Swap	Backlit	Premium Customization
MA	21	Varmilo	Wired		White	yes
	87	Varmilo	Wired		White	yes
	108	Varmilo	Wired		White	yes
VA	21	Cherry/Kailh	Wired			yes
	87	Cherry/Kailh/TTC	Wired		no/white
	108	Cherry/Kailh/TTC	Wired		no/white
	87-RGB	Cherry	Wired		RGB	yes
VB	21	Cherry	Bluetooth
VD	87	Cherry/Kailh/TTC	Dual-Mode
	108	Cherry/Kailh/TTC	Dual-Mode
Miya68-C	68	Varmilo	Wired		White	yes
Miya68-D	68	Cherry/Kailh/TTC	Dual-Mode			yes
Miya68-Pro	68	Cherry/Kailh/TTC	Wired		no/white/pink	yes
Miya68-Mac	68	Cherry/Kailh/TTC	Wired(Dual-OS)		no/white	yes
Miya68-RGB	68	Cherry/Kailh/TTC	Wired		RGB	yes
VXB67	67	Varmilo	Dual-Mode		White
VXH67	67	Cherry/Kailh/TTC	Wired	yes	White
VXT67	67	Cherry/Kailh/TTC/Gateron	Three-Mode	yes	RGB
VBM108	108	Varmilo	Wired		White
VBS108	108	Cherry/Kailh/TTC	Three-Mode
VA104C	104	Cherry	Wired			yes
MA104C	104	Varmilo	Wired		White	yes