Gateron Tactile Switches Overview

Gateron has recently released some new switches, so today I thought we would look at all of the Gateron tactile switches Kinetic Labs sells and give a brief overview of them.

Gateron Mini i Tactile

The Gateron Mini i Tactile is one of Gateron’s newest switches to come out and features a light tactile bump with a lighter actuation force as well. Here are the specs:

• 5-Pin Factory Lubed Tactile Switch
• Top Housing: Nylon
• Stem: POM
• Bottom Housing: Nylon
• 40g Actuation Force
• 50g Bottom-out Force
• 22mm Double-Stage Long Spring
• 2.0mm Pre-Travel Distance
• 3.4mm Total Travel Distance

As I mentioned above, this is a light tactile switch so I would not recommend it to those who are heavy typers. Not only is it a lighter switch, but it also has a light tactile bump similar to a Cherry MX Brown, but a bit more noticeable of course. The factory lube job definitely helps this switch shine right out of the box and while sound mainly depends on what keyboard you put these switches into, they tend to lean towards the more muted and poppy side of things.

Gateron Quinn Tactile

This is another one of Gateron’s newest additions to their long line of switches and is practically the polar opposite of the Gateron i Mini Tactile regarding the feel side of things. Here are the specs:

• 5-Pin Factory Lubed Tactile Switch
• Top Housing: Nylon
• Stem: POM
• Bottom Housing: Nylon
• 60g Actuation Force
• 67g Bottom-out Force
• 22mm Double-Stage Long Spring
• 2.0mm Pre-Travel Distance
• 3.4mm Total Travel Distance

The Gateron Quinn is a sharp tactile that has a large bump located towards the top of the switch. This means that right when you press on the switch, you will feel that tactile bump. Think of it as being similar to the Baby Kangaroo switches. The factory lube job also does a good job, and they tend to lean more towards the clackier side of things when it comes to how they sound.

Gateron Beer Tactile

The Gateron Beer tactile switch is another light tactile switch that features a pretty unique colorway that resembles a beer bottle, hence the name. Here are the specs:

• 5-Pin Lightly Factory Lubed Tactile Switch
• Top Housing: Polycarbonate
• Stem: POM
• Bottom Housing: Polycarbonate
• 50g Actuation Force
• 40g Bottom-out Force
• 22mm Double-Stage Long Spring
• 2.5mm Pre-Travel Distance
• 3.4mm Total Travel Distance

These Beer tactile switches feature the same housing materials as the very popular Gateron Ink V2s and feature one of the lowest bottom-out forces for a Gateron switch to date at only 40g. This means that it is very easy to type on, but can be too easy for some people who are used to heavier switches. When typing fast this lighter force can lead to accidental keypresses if you aren’t careful. The coolest feature of these switches has to be the included light diffuser. This makes it so that your RGB will be more evenly distributed throughout your keyboard leading to an amazingly colorful experience.

Gateron Baby Kangaroo Tactile

The last Gateron tactile Kinetic Labs sells are the Baby Kangaroo switches. These feature a larger, but smooth tactile bump and have a bouncy feel to them as well. Here are their specs:

• 5-Pin Lightly Factory Lubed Tactile Switch
• Top Housing: Polycarbonate
• Stem: POM
• Bottom Housing: Nylon PA66
• 59g Bottom-out Force
• 22mm Double-Stage Extra Long Spring
• 2.0mm Pre-Travel Distance
• 3.4mm Total Travel Distance

As I mentioned before, these share many of the same characteristics when compared to the Gateron Quinn tactiles, especially regarding the specs. These feature a medium to strong tactile bump that starts at the beginning of the key press but are very smooth throughout as they have lubed applied to them from the factory. Regarding their sound signature, these tend to lean towards the clackier side of things as well.

Overall, Gateron has a tactile switch for everyone. Each one of the switches mentioned today feels great to type on, but some might be better for you than others. Consider what you look for in a tactile switch before deciding, and hopefully, you enjoy the experience. Happy typing!