Teardown - New Kailh switches!

Today we look at Kaihua's new copper, bronze, gold, silver, and BOX switches! With click bars, interesting designs for sure. Hope you enjoy!
My keyboard reviews: • Thomas' Keyboard Reviews
Quick Keyboard Tips: • Quick Keyboard Tips
Follow me on Twitter for updates on my keyboard videos! / chyrosran22

[@GurtTarctor]

Huh, so much for Kailh being a 'cheap chinese cherry knockoff'.... Actual innovation, nice one!

[@macdee6040]

Never understand people nowadays when they say the word innovation when these chinese just copied the original. I never support any chinese commie companies. I'd rather pay premium and have a good reliable products. And support the original companies who pioneered them in the first place.

[@satish8299]

Are the white Kailh less clicky then the blue Kailh. I have a Sparkoon with Red switches, i like them but, maybe i need more clicky, the linear is not my preference. They say clicky will make your collegue crazy from the sound.

[@Ferrichrome]

These are just as reliable if not more reliable than Cherry switches.

[@satish8299]

@@Ferrichrome Is there a keyboard that uses Kailh white switches. I prefer low profile keyboard. I cannot find them.

[@Ferrichrome]

satish8299 The only ones I know of are The MK Typist and the Glorious GMMK. Also the Kailh Box White are very clicky and loud! If you like clicky switches they are one of the best imo.

[@ne0nFACTory]

Thomas Ran Fact #5: Thomas Ran's voice has so much bass it's been sampled for over 50 dubstep tracks since 2010.

[@TheBIOSStar]

Thomas Ran Fact #6: He deliberately mixes it this way. Yes, he has a bass-heavy voice, but he exaggerates it with mixing. Look at some older less-produced videos and you'll notice.

[@NoOne-ki3bm]

Just listening to that voice got me to sub

[@magusperde365]

@@TheBIOSStar it sounds obvious to me using good headphones that he is. Can't blame him though because it works well and he doesnt seem to cheat the same way for keyboard sound so that fine

[@qwertyCandy]

You have a very soothing voice, it's like watching an ASMR video, just with really interesting content too. Which makes a super enjoyable combination.

[@occultishnoir]

Thank you! I was actually looking at getting an ErgoDox keyboard, and was trying to decide between Kailh Copper and Gold. I think I'll go with the Gold now after watching this.

[@oliharding]

Great video, thanks, man! been very curious about these switches as of late.

[@ryand1952]

I have to say the bronze switches are my favourite switch I've tried, so light and nice to type on, I didn't know about the clicks spring thing, but it sounds so nice

[@CaveyMoth]

I just tried out speed bronze switches for the first time, and they are the most fun and satisfying switch I have ever used. Quick actuation, clicks on the up and down strokes, a light tactile bump, and a simple high pitched click sound make them very exciting indeed. In contrast, box jade and navy switches are deeper sounding and require more force to actuate; Making them more suited to business than leisure in my opinion. You can click all you want without bottoming out. It's great!

[@symplesy2056]

I have a board made of kailh pinks coming; they are identical to the bronze. I can't wait to try them out. I love the sound the whites make

[@silasmayes7954]

I haven't heard about the click bar switches and I'm surprised at how much I liked the sound!

[@ComandanteJ]

Those white box switches seem absolutely fantastic.

[@dukejukem4187]

Very happy that I found your videos. I love them and they're quite relaxing. I'm very picky when it comes to keyboards and mice for gaming. Kailh Speed Bronze seems to be the fastest clicky switch on the market? If you see this and know of any that match them or are faster and clicky I'd love to research them. I love Cherry Blues to the point where I've thought of trying Kailh Box White but I think it's time i went with a faster switch for gaming but I need my clicky feedback and sound :D.

[@ericleonhuertamanzanilla4262]

I agree with other commenters that your deep voice is quite easy to listen at. Your reviews are good too. So I just hope you continue working on your channel.

[@mil3880]

Your voice is literally the best

[@kimmccranie6623]

MIL Stop talking about the voice start talking about this content is good his voice literally does not matter

[@Doovlin]

You don't matter

[@kimmccranie6623]

Doovlin Doov you don’t matter to nothing matters everything to go away eventually ha ha being dark and edgy ha ha

[@deadwarrior3655]

Kim Mccranie ahah... yeh.........

[@Winner2004]

MIL are you wet

[@senchousno1slave853]

It's 2020. I'm planning to buy a GMMK. I've never tried Kailh switches before so I checked out the link on their page which led me to this video. Not only is this video informative, my goodness your voice sounds awesome! You should consider doing a video of you reading a bedtime story lmao! 10/10

[@0banon]

Do these new kailh box switches support the Input Club K-Types LEDs well? Or should I look elsewhere?

[@vincetang7548]

God, I've heard some typing tests with the box white and it sounds glorious

[@null5697]

everytime I hear the word glorious I get super hyped for the gmmk and model o-

[@hak9786]

@@null5697 does the GMMK come with a wristrest?

[@dhoffnun]

Oooh I like those new clickers.

[@blazrepas8709]

Very interesting! Where did you buy the switches? I would like to get some to try if I like them well enough to build a 60% with them to use alongside my matias clicky board.

[@Chyrosran22]

Kaihua sent them to me at my request; I just paid for the shipping.

[@travdump209]

You can get them at Novelkeys.xyz!

[@FloFoer94]

Mechbox.co.uk also has them for testing purposes (not in bulk)

[@kailh3863]

Mykeyboard.eu also have them

[@lewischapman9953]

is there anywhere i could buy these in a board as i am uncomfortable with replacing switches/soldering?

[@BarneyKB]

great, needed something just like this!

[@shogrran]

You explained how the cams work... which makes me think... is it possible to even "heighten" the actuation even further by modifying the cams (super glue? Sandpaper?)

[@cal7447]

Hey, loved this video and the deep, smooth voice over! But not gonna lie, the key-press demonstrations were very quiet, so I had to crank up the volume during those parts to hear the clicks clearly, but when the voice-over came in after that it shattered my hearing... I had to keep adjusting my volume up&down...

[@artman40]

So white box ones are something that's on its way to becoming both linear and clicky? I wonder if there are full linear and clicky switches out there.

[@null5697]

thanks, helped me pick white boxes over bronze.

[@MatthewHill]

Huh. I'd always thought they were called "box" because of the box around the mounting stem. I guess you learn something new every day!

[@HM024]

You should do the Chinese Style switches! The ancient greys are extremely intriguing and NO ONE has done a video on them..

[@runninggames771]

They probably suck

[@HM024]

They're actually really good - well lubed from factory and very heavy. Thanks though, ya fuckin Karen!

[@sarreqteryx]

I know it's not really the scope of this video, but are the low profile switches available individually anywhere, yet?

[@slighter]

So, are there any switch testing boards out there to test all of them?

[@greyareaRK1]

I'm not sure I'm keen on the double click, but definitely better than the usual Cherry. What is being said electronically on the end roll? Sounds like it's being played backwards.

[@TommyFenstermacher5150]

I also like how the Kailh bronze and BOX white switches are somewhat 2-way clicky.

[@DelixYT88]

yea. they click when pressed and they click when released

[@MALO-nn5iy]

The bronze sounds like a mouse click which also clicks on rebound.

[@kcookie5335]

The brown switch reminds me of the click pens

[@kenji06]

When are you going to do a keyboard review with the Kailh Copper switches?

[@alecfarrugiacachia]

Only problem with the bronze is that it actuates before the click, so you can't rest your fingers on the tactile bump. Heavier springs should remedy this however

[@Chyrosran22]

Actuation depth is not related to spring weight. You're right however; as the clicker and the actuator are different pieces, the two points are by definition not matched up.

[@alecfarrugiacachia]

But heavier springs would raise the actuation force and allow you to rest your fingers on the keyboard without actuating the switch

[@Chyrosran22]

Ah, you mean like that. Yes, that's true of course. For stiffer clicky switches, I'm not sure I'd recommend MX-style switches, though.

[@S0LA3]

@Chyrosran22 I just received my k type with kaihua silver switches. However the switches definitely do not feel like their actuation force is 50 g. I am used to using cherry red with 45 g and my friends use cherry blue with 50 g. Did you notice that the silver is much harder to press (compared to cherry) when you made this video?

[@Chyrosran22]

Cloud Kim you're probably bottoming out on the switches. Keep in mind that actuation weight is not the same thing.

[@SOOH27]

kailh's switch design is so different from the stuff i'm used to, I was really confused when I first took apart the kailh box brown.

[@hak9786]

Did you like em?

[@Tim70theYawner]

any idea when a review on their burgundy switches might happen?

OMG, I've just listened typing test with box white switches. The click sound is very strong, I would really like to get a board with them. Maybe when I get tired of Matias Clicky switches I've got recently, but that's not going to be soon :)

[@QwertySpaceOfficial]

At 3:65, by lack of hysteresis, do you mean that the key actuates before the click?

[@ronnieb2517]

How are the Browns compared to Cherry, Razer. Etc

[@PhilipAlexanderHassialis]

Great teardown - suddenly I feel even worse for the MX Brown board I use right now! So, when are we to expect a full board to listen to? And, what form are you going to go for? 100% or something more exotic?

[@Chyrosran22]

Just a g80-3000. Should be out last week of September.

[@MRawash]

I just bought the Mitosis with the Kailh Box White switches, I really hope they are as good as most reviewers seem to be indicating, I've been burned by the MX shit-brown switches.

[@Max-do1ch]

How do you open a box white switch?

[@FindecanorNotGmail]

But how does the brown Box type achieve tactility? Does the brown slider have a bump that rubs against the green nub?

[@Chyrosran22]

Yes.

[@yubinator7455]

Is there any 3rd party keycaps for choc switches?

[@ethereal41]

That switch at 0:06 that i always see that looks like a usb type c port and is blue. What is it? I always see it in all of your videos where the intro is a box full of switches yet i dot know what it's called so i cannot watch a review on it... Please tell me the name? Edit: It's the last one that you can see flying, to the left of them all.

[@ryanm7449]

Are whites good for gaming? I love the sound, but my Mx blues were a little too much for me. Rattley and a little too loud, but clicks are nice. Thoughts on the whites? Thanks

[@atomic8681]

Hi. If you're still looking, the whites are superb for gaming. Many describe it as "linear-clicky". I can testify to this. When you're gaming you stop immediately after you feel that click, and there is very little resistance when you click. Definitely one of my favorite switches so far.

[@DeviantDeveloper]

Bronze is now pink, looks awesome

[@iChocoCookie]

Not very related to the video though but can you do a review on a keyboard with cherry mx white or if you chance upon one? I head they are quite inconsistent, some of them feels like clears, some feel like greens or even browns.

[@Chyrosran22]

It's kinda hard to happen upon MX white boards, so I'm not sure, but if I get one sometime I'll do one for sure. They've been a regular request basically as long as I've been doing videos. The inconsistency thing is something I've heard several times before.

[@pederhsx]

Typing this on my Kailh Speed Silvers. Resting fingers on keyboard is awkward because they actuate so easily, but gaming's nice.

[@andljoy]

That white box switch looks interesting.

[@krazybonnie5523]

Would u recommend these switches for typing

[@chiichab]

Just wondering how loud the kailh box whites sound compared to other clicky/tactile switches? Can anyone tell me? I'm thinking of making a custom keyboard with these switches and I want the know about how loud they sound ^^

[@TommyFenstermacher5150]

They're loud, but not in the same way as Cherry MX Blue or Green. As Tom said in the video, because the BOX Whites use a click bar, the click is much more defined and crisp, leading to a much less obnoxious sound. They aren't as loud as Omrons, beam springs or buckling spings, so loudness as a whole shouldn't be an issue.

[@uzmeyer1752]

"Water or Milk or Beer..." I have literally spilled all of those into my cherry red board... On the positive side, it gives you an opportunity to deep clean your board, wich you really should do once in a while.

[@zosterinski]

Would you recommend the box brown ones? thank you for the vid!

[@jaydcco1549]

i don't know much about the browns, but i love the kalih box jade. the box jade is the same as the white switch but with a reinforced click bar making it even more clicky. If you like clicky go with box jades.

[@noahcarver8248]

You’ll know once you spill a glass of water or milk or beer… Or when your cat pukes on your almost brand new Das Keyboard 4 Ultimate.

[@WyvernDotRed]

4:50 Oh I absolutely know, rescued my current keyboard from a spill twice, the ghosting was insane but thankfully it dried out well. Since re-arranged my setup multiple times, reducing the spill risk as much as I can. Which I hope I can keep up as my next board, a New Model M, really should not get wet.

[@kriskiireonsitakschill1732]

What would you reccomend for gaming except for reds

[@tearedcrystal2318]

Everything you choose won't make a big difference for gaming. Choose instead if you want a bump to know when the switch activated (tactile), if you want a smooth, bump-less switch (linear), and if you want a bump for when the switch activated with a "click", choose clicky. Good luck!

[@Grumskiz]

Are these switches fully compatible with the Cherry MX pinout, plate mount and keycaps? Might seem like a dumb question, but I just want to make sure I don't miss small differences :3

[@Chyrosran22]

They use the same pinout, plate mount, and keycaps, yes, but they lack fixing pins, and because they're made for LEDs they don't allow for jumpers to fix the switches to the board, so they work best when plate-mounted, really.

[@Grumskiz]

Can't wait to hear your opinion on these click bar things vs. clicky Matias ;)

[@Chyrosran22]

Yes, I will be comparing them to Matias. Review should be out late September :) .

[@Floki_Floxen]

Omg i never listen a so relaxed voice

[@pentiummmx2294]

i got a set of kailh box whites in my glorious modular mechanical keyboard

[@youngphoenix1915]

PentiumMMX I’m thinking about getting the same keyboard with Kailh speed bronzes

[@aelohinjuz]

very good video!🤣😮😮 thank you!!

[@Daniel-fc5ok]

What about speed pinks?

[@johnsaeger4416]

I was wondering if you might consider doing a review of a teletype keyboard someday? If luck were to prevail, you might still be able to find one at your university. I cranked in lots of code on those things back in the day. They were definitely tactile and clicky! I'd be particularly interested to know something about the actuation force and hysteresis. Thanks!

[@Chyrosran22]

Ah, good old Teletype keyboards. Damn, that's a tall order - sadly, I have none, and it's extremely hard to get hold of them. They're cool beans though, they used a huge variety of switches, but some of them are among the most bizarre switches ever made. My personal favourites are the magnetic separation switches and double-click capacitive magnetic rocker switches. Those more or less define the terms "whimsical" and "over-engineered".

[@johnsaeger4416]

I know it's a tall order. That's part of the fun, right? But they're probably less rare than some of the things you've reviewed. I don't think we're such a small population - a population who first connected to a computer at 110 baud. For me it was a PDP-10 computer. But man, banging on those things! The noise! If you think you know what the noisiest keyboard is, you haven't typed on a teletype. Just saying... And the part of the video you like to do at the end, where you do some typing - it would be priceless!

[@FunkyDeleriousPriest]

The box stitches are cool, but not for me - not yet, anyway. Cherry has their MX Silent linear switches. Gateron has their equivalent silent linear switches. Kaihua doesn't have any silent switches yet, but if they made some silent box switches, then I'd buy those! Silent linear are my favorite, especially lubed ones.

[@calvinyip364]

Which is better durability outemu, kailh or gateron brown switch? Which is the best pls help me I still can't decide.

[@TommyFenstermacher5150]

None of them should wear out in the time that you have the keyboard if they are soldered properly and not like on Razer keyboards--seriously, they have some piss-awful solder work.

[@CordionTutorial]

Can I remove "clicky" effect from the kailh white switch?

[@concert_band]

Yes.

[@CordionTutorial]

@@concert_band how?

[@SonicBoone56]

Could you put these switches on a MX board?

[@wooviee]

Socky Noob yes they are all compatible with standard Cherry mount both at the PCB level as well as the stem.

[@VladThanatos]

Do you prefer the white BOX or the Zealiostotles?

[@Chyrosran22]

I can really only tell when I've completed my keyboard with BOX switches; you can't accurately judge feel based on just loose switches.

[@IndraSatriani]

Exactly! Many people think they can feel the difference on a loose switches but typing on them on a fully built keyboard can really give different experience. Even different case and keycaps can also give different feel for a same switch.

[@rich1051414]

I thought I was going to hate zealios, being another brown switch, until I actually mounted it and through a cap on it, and now it's my favorite mx based switch. The click bar looks interesting. Can't wait till he reviews how they feel. I honestly don't give a crap about the shorter actuation, unless it negatively affects typing.

Is that a keyboard build coming up? I would love a comparison between Kailh Box White and Blue ALPS or Matias Clicky switches.

[@kauanzin2577]

Gateron is good?? Or kailh ia best??? (Brown)

[@snortgfuel]

The two brands have different swtiches, they are about as expensive but there are difference between the force and the activation point, you can watch randomkeyfrank's video aboit the 42 switches, he tested them all and wrote info about EACH switches

[@fatll282]

I like the brown switch more then the real me blue switch for some reason it's because the click is louder TO ME

[@stripedhyenuh]

Man, I thought there was gonna be a half minute switch clicking demonstration at the end. I'm sad now.

[@qrunchosu9547]

where can yoh get a keyboard with the golds?

[@Chyrosran22]

To my knowledge there are no commercial keyboards with ANY of these switches out yet. You'll have to DIY them.

[@NickAlexander_is_Awesome]

Hi Chyrosran!

[@harrytsang1501]

I am in some sort of mid-life crisis about keyboards. My Ducky One with Cherry Blues on thick steel plate has been serving me well for a while and I have been very satisfied with it. However, after I bought a Bluetooth board with blue low profile Kailh(clicky), I have been leaning toward it. I still love my Ducky board but I am doubting if this relationship is going to work now that I have moved to really like the type of clickiness a click bar offers. I understand switching to White Box is the clear choice but I am not mentally ready to spend more money on keyboards.

[@KingBarney]

Kailh also made more click bar switches: Jades are more tactile and have a louder click, Navys are more tactile than Jades but use the same click bar thickness as the Jades, and Pinks are in the middle. So in a way, it goes from White to Pink to Jades to Navys in terms of tactility and clickiness. But Navys are known to be too heavy for many people's liking, Jades and Pinks are a safer choice

[@waynelow4995]

I have been told that these new Kailh switches are by far the least wobbly switches in the market right now (means when you purposely moves your keycap left/right, the entire key wobbles), is that true?

[@narconyx]

Depends what you're comparing to, cherry wobbles like hell, personally I've had no issues with wobble on the box switches and my Speed Navies seem fine

[@adityasharma2870]

Please reply! Cherry MX blue Vs kailh box white. Is there a difference ?

[@TommyFenstermacher5150]

Kailh Box White sounds a lot sharper and is a bit smoother. MX Blue is slightly more tactile and has hysteresis, but most agree that it sounds like shit compared to Box Whites. Also, Box Whites are factory-lubed.

[@adityasharma2870]

@@TommyFenstermacher5150 I've heard people say that cherry MX are one of the best switches out there. But some people say that they are bad. What is the truth?

[@TommyFenstermacher5150]

@@adityasharma2870 People who say they are the best have never tried clean Alps (or any other switch for that matter). They are far from the best. Granted, they are also far from the worst. Out of all MX switches, Browns are the worst, while Blues are probably the best. Compared to other switches, the MX lineup falls somewhere around the middle, give or take. You can't know for sure until you try switches in a full board, though. My personal preference is Kailh Box Navy, which is extremely tactile (almost too tactile for some), and also VERY clicky. I had a board with MX Blues for a few years, and I am now trying to sell it (Corsair Strafe RGB). I also have Topre and it feels great (especially with BKE domes), but is way too expensive.

[@obeliskt1024]

I've been using the box white for typing and so far they're the best for me (I've tried a couple like kailh brown, outemu blue/red, black gateron)

[@traderjm9711]

obelisk619 I’m about to receive the AP2 in khail white soon. Is the switch super tactile?

[@obeliskt1024]

@@traderjm9711 nope, for me the browns are still the go to for tactility (or any other tactile focus switches). The box white is like a red with a noticeable "click", and it does is twice as well, once you press it and after the switch goes back up.

[@traderjm9711]

obelisk619 oh ok, it’s more on the linear side than tactile. Thanks for the reply!

[@obeliskt1024]

@@traderjm9711 yep, it is still tactile and personally I like it better than browns because the tactility of browns/blue confused me sometimes. So the "click" of the box white kind of became my signal that I've activated the key and it sounds way better as well

[@tri1777]

Do you know about the new kailh pro series?

[@Chyrosran22]

No.

[@delightfultech9070]

Don't forget Speed Pink!

[@Maaruks]

awesome

[@dead_warrior_wae]

There are people complaining that there are too many comments about his voice but I don't get why. It's not hurting the content.

[@sujitsuram5075]

asmr Kreygasm

[@ClaymorePvP]

monkaW

[@cidjonas]

Are there any boards available with these new switches?

[@Chyrosran22]

Not to my knowledge, no.

[@travdump209]

Not yet - but people have built some.

[@mika4759]

there are some for example Motospeed CK98 on banggood and probably more on taobao Nothing on aliexpress yet

[@fishdishh4306]

how does one remove keys switches from their keyboard

[@fishdishh4306]

and then how do i put in new keyswitches? soldering them in?

[@dfsstuff6572]

There are also hotswap keyboards. You can remove a switch easily if you have one.

[@Kn270]

You should do a video on an Alps SKFL low profile switch

[@zvbrfecit]

Henry Cavill is that you?

[@carlosmcnulty]

is the architect from matrix

[@ApexierGS]

Aaah my ears, the intro and outro was loud and tearing at my ears, compared to your soothing voice, I had to go from 70 volume to 40 volume as I surfing from on video to the next on your channel; other than that, great concise video on Kailh switches!

[@nohomo4168]

You should read creepypastas bro your voice is 🔥

[@m4tyas844]

Are Kailh reds good? If I compare it to cherry reds?

[@Chyrosran22]

I think they're not worse if that's what you're asking.

[@m4tyas844]

Chyrosran22 thank you. And could I ask you what do you think about Patriot Viper v770? I bought it, there are almost no reviews and its my first mechanical keyboard so I can't compare it to other keyboards and switches (on Viper there are Keilh reds).

[@Chyrosran22]

Haven't a clue, never even heard of it. Are you going to use it primarily for typing, gaming, or both?

[@m4tyas844]

Chyrosran22 both. Probably more for gaming but I type in games a lot anyways.

[@Chyrosran22]

It probably doesn't matter all that much, in that case. It's hard to notice actuation thresholds and tactile sharpness and that jazz while playing games anyway.

[@williamyoung2955]

Whhhyyy do you not have more subs???

[@SudosFTW]

am I possibly the only one that misses the old keyboard review intro a bit after watching the teardown intro for the first time in a bit? and yeah, I think after watching this through I share your like of the white BOX switches. will be interesting to see how it holds up in a real-world test board against a couple of other boards in the future of things.

[@rahul_bali]

intro and outro sound are different from your voice

[@abdomination]

I think Kaihua has really stepped their game up.

[@9393andersson]

ASMR

[@Jasonblanny]

your voice is so soothing mmmmm

[@phunkmeister]

Who spills milk on their keyboard?

[@MybeautifulandamazingPrincess]

phunkmeister Minecraft and Roblox players

[@rich1051414]

The way switches are going these days, I am expecting keyboard soon equipped with omron microswitches for that extra short travel :/

[@rich1051414]

I'm aware, it is just sometimes these manufacturers obsess over things that serve a niche purpose at best. At what point does the actuation height continue to improve gaming performance? We already know it quickly negatively affects typing, unless using a heavy switch. All that work into making the actuation height shorter than anyone asked for, yet they used browns as their template for the tactile stems, arguable one of the worst tactile switches. Seems like they are going for gimmick over usability, I hate that.

[@MybeautifulandamazingPrincess]

Richard Smith What's your problem with that? The more options for consumers the better, that's the beauty of freemarket and competition. Why would anyone complain about having more options and innovation being introduced on the market? Like if you don't like what companies are doing, why don't you create your own product then according to your vision for mechanical switches..... Companies coming up with faster switches with shorter actuation point and more responsiveness is perfectly a logical response to the growth of gaming market! Esports is huge in Asia, they have gaming Cafe's everywhere in Taiwan, China... The market adapts to consumer demand and needs You sound like a grumpy grandpa.......!

[@Crazyollie123]

Those cherry mx speed witches are truly awful. I am pretty sure that if my hands were just a tad heavier, I would not even be able to rest my fingers on them without them actuating.

[@matthewweng8723]

i got copper

[@slaageri1038]

How it feels? Its kinda close cherry Mx Brown ?

[@jegerald09]

box switches are great, smooth and steady. If you prefer heavier switches you can get them from novelkeys.xyz .