The Best Quiet Mechanical Keyboard Switches

That covers a full-size board. On actuation force it ties with the Gateron Cream Silent and the MX2A Silent Red at 45gf. It matches the KiiBOOM Mossy, the MX2A Silent Red and the Akko Fairy on rated lifespan (50 million keystrokes).

It also comes with a dampened silent design. Check that your keyboard has hot-swap sockets for MX-style switches before buying. Check the pack count against your keyboard's key count; a full-size board needs about 104. It was the highest-priced of the 6 picks at the time of writing, so the case for it rests on what it adds over the KiiBOOM Mossy and the rest.

It is rated for 60 million keystrokes. It matches the Silent K Pro Red and the MX2A Silent Red on actuation force (45gf). On rated lifespan it leads this guide at 60 million keystrokes, ahead of the Silent K Pro Red (50 million keystrokes).

Check that your keyboard has hot-swap sockets for MX-style switches before buying. Check the pack count against your keyboard's key count; a full-size board needs about 104. Before buying, weigh one limit: costs more than the Outemu Pomelo at the time of writing. When we checked, only the MX2A Silent Red and cheaper picks cost less, and the KiiBOOM Mossy cost more.

Its 37gf actuation force ranks second of 6 here, behind the Outemu Pomelo (35gf) and ahead of the Akko Fairy (50gf). On rated lifespan it ties with the Silent K Pro Red, the MX2A Silent Red and the Akko Fairy at 50 million keystrokes. You also get a light 37gf force.

Five-pin switches fit five-pin hot-swap boards; on a three-pin board, clip the two plastic side pins first. Check the pack count against your keyboard's key count; a full-size board needs about 104. When we checked, only the Gateron Cream Silent and cheaper picks cost less, and the Silent K Pro Red cost more.

It suits a small board or a test. It matches the Silent K Pro Red and the Gateron Cream Silent on actuation force (45gf). On rated lifespan it ties with the Silent K Pro Red, the KiiBOOM Mossy and the Akko Fairy at 50 million keystrokes.

Check that your keyboard has hot-swap sockets for MX-style switches before buying. Check the pack count against your keyboard's key count; a full-size board needs about 104. Before buying, weigh one limit: costs more than the Outemu Pomelo at the time of writing. It was priced above the Akko Fairy and below the Gateron Cream Silent at the time of writing.

It is slightly heavier than the Reds here. Its 50gf linear silent switches suit offices and libraries, and the MX stem fits most keycaps. An LED slot supports SMD lighting.

Its 50gf actuation force is the heaviest in this group; the Outemu Pomelo leads at 35gf. On rated lifespan it ties with the Silent K Pro Red, the KiiBOOM Mossy and the MX2A Silent Red at 50 million keystrokes. Check that your keyboard has hot-swap sockets for MX-style switches before buying.

Check the pack count against your keyboard's key count; a full-size board needs about 104. It was priced above the Outemu Pomelo and below the MX2A Silent Red at the time of writing.

It suits testing before a full set. Each switch actuates at a light 35gf, comes pre-lubed and has a dustproof housing. Its 35gf actuation force is the lightest here; the KiiBOOM Mossy comes next at 37gf.

Check that your keyboard has hot-swap sockets for MX-style switches before buying. Check the pack count against your keyboard's key count; a full-size board needs about 104. No other pick here cost less at our last price check, and the Akko Fairy was closest. If you want a confirmed rated lifespan, look to the Gateron Cream Silent instead: it offers 60 million keystrokes, while this one gives no figure.