Teardown - Razer Light Strike Libra optoelectric switches

Coming in a review soon (but not this week :P ). Today we're looking at Razer's optoelectric switches, also marketed as Light Strike Libra or DMET MJ3.0. This comprises the (dampened) linear variety, as well as the clicky switches, which use an intriguing click bolt mechanism. Hope you enjoy the video! :)
My keyboard reviews: bit.ly/1TbOtft
My switch teardowns: bit.ly/2C1QGHz
My TOP X videos: bit.ly/2FmpZfd
My XL typing demos: bit.ly/2OoAW3w
My tutorials and featurettes: bit.ly/2OrkLUh
My unboxing videos: bit.ly/2TSrr0m
I'm Thomas and I do videos and reviews on mechanical keyboards ranging from the most sickening modern RGB gaming keyboards to vintage hardware relics, or sometimes keycaps or keyswitches ranging from Cherry MX to Alps SKCM to IBM buckling springs and anything in between.
Follow me on Twitter for updates on my keyboard videos! / chyrosran22

[@EyesackWorley]

So the clicker just works like a pen. Cool.

[@Chyrosran22]

Yes, it's very similar.

[@actualcringemeister]

or like a piezoelectric element in lighter

[@ve-uh7tq]

@@actualcringemeister a what?

[@CAMSLAYER13]

@@ve-uh7tq it's the the thing that makes a spark in an electric lighter.

[@ve-uh7tq]

@@CAMSLAYER13 I googled it, I used those things to make "tazers" as a kid lmao

[@sirmattias]

This is the best teardown! I've been trying to find out who clicky libra switches work for AGES! This was so useful

[@mikokb]

Wow. Really interesting switch. Good stuff as always, Chyrosran

[@thumbwarriordx]

Razer finally chipping away at my deep-seated grudges against their poor build quality in the past... Maybe I can spring for a new Razer Naga someday instead of just seething with spite as I repair mine annually to keep my money out of their filthy paws.

[@AIRDRAC]

We still have to see if they fix the abysmal logic boards from their MX and Kaihua boards, so they don't fail after 6-18 months and cause dead/stuck keys and/or unintended double-activation.

[@thumbwarriordx]

@@AIRDRAC There's no way for Razer to regain trust in less than 4 years, and they started what? Just over 1 year ago? Nah, it's not time yet.

[@CAMSLAYER13]

There must be someone else that makes a decent keyboard

[@thumbwarriordx]

@@CAMSLAYER13 There's no other version of this mouse as good. The logitech has rubber membranes, the Corsair has no mouse wheel tilt.

[@CAMSLAYER13]

@@thumbwarriordx nah you're right. Good mice are hard to find

[@Fate025]

Best teardown and explanation of the new light strike libra switches! Really explains why the switches are structured and look that way.

[@elyx8073]

I've been waiting for the clicky review for a long time Finally :))

[@ahvionshift]

Love the new intro mate!

[@jamiecullen9075]

Honestly the best intro of any channel I am subscribed to 😍

[@dhoffnun]

I still think these are a bit weird, but I love seeing them try new things, and I especially appreciate a clicky switch whose sound and tactility are inherently synced with actuation.

[@AerFixus]

Wow! Inherent tactility! The tactile event is inherently tied to actuation, not synchronized! There are only a few switch designs I know with that, and two are from IBM. Beamspring, Buckling Spring, and Magnetic Separation. I might need to try one of these boards. Looking forward to the review.

[@pancakehm5563]

Got this a few days ago. I love them

[@mygreatlord]

thanks for disassemble switches! its been hard to find info about construction of these switches

[@CaptainSaitama0108]

I love how I just watched a vid of the huntsman te tkl review and this vid come out

[@Clarin-3831]

Try the outemu snap spring switches these are interesting asf

[@menormal7349]

Did you see his i think it was the top 5 worst switches, the otemu and other cherry blue equivalent switches was top 1

[@iradrftr2126]

@@menormal7349 those are new snap spring low profile switches, not the regular click jacket/clickbar ones

[@Clarin-3831]

@@menormal7349 Yeah I did. But these switches dont even seem like blues. They use snap springs which is interesting. Thats why I want it. And yea I agree outemus arent the best

[@-eris_]

love the new intro thomas

[@lucidmoses]

Your new outro is great and it seems it would be even more appropriate for the switch videos.

[@Jayden-tq6to]

Appreciation comment: Fuck, I love you dude. Thanks for pumping out consistent content all the damn time. I know it takes a lot of time but you do it anyways. How the fuck do you NOT have at least 100k subs yet smh

[@babybloc]

Late to the party, but I was looking at those in a shop today, and wondering how they worked So glad to find this 🔧

[@user-yk1cw8im4h]

That bolt action a lot like the mechanism used in the ends of clicky ballpoint pens.

[@liam3491]

I would even bet that's where the idea comes from.

[@catsspat]

I replaced my rare Model M SpaceSaver (tenkeyless) with Bloody B930 some months ago. Now I own three B930's. Fantastic work/typing keyboard once you get used to the light actuation force.

[@oOWaschBaerOo]

now, where did you get those spare linear opto switches ? i want to replace the purple ones in my huntsman with those red ones

[@georgen9838]

Meant to mention this when I first saw the vid 8mos ago, totally forgot and now it's probably irrelevant :) but there is a third variant of the switch; along with the red and purple, there is also a black switch: linear, with heavier springs than the red, as one would expect. It's not talked about or seen much because the only device (afaik) you can find them on is their "analog keypad," the Razer Tartarus Pro. I own both it and the Huntsman TE, and can vouch for the spring weight definitely being significantly heavier. It's a lovely variant, really. Absolutely BUTTER.

[@toastedphantom3007]

One important thing to mention is that due to those light-pipes you can't use thick keycaps with these switches. I have some 1.5 mm thick OEM caps that get absolutely stuck when pressing any key. You can shave some of the material off of the inside of the cap but that takes ages.

[@emp850]

Love that intro!

[@KazmaKit]

I bought a Pink Quartz Huntsman w/ purple ones and gotta say, I enjoy it alot. I wish their PBT key caps they sold separately were better tho, they let too much light bleed through the caps.

[@JamzyFn]

where can i buy replacement switches

[@williamle3678]

Huh. Quite surprised to see you can individually buy replacement opto-mechanical switches. But, where do you buy replacement switches like these?

[@Spectr3x]

New switch teardown intro

[@chuuni6924]

I was happy to see that the clicky switches actually actuate as part of the click. There are too many switch types that just have a click as part of the mechanism, separate from and unsynchronized with the actuation, and I can hardly think of anything more pointless and counterproductive.

[@jeffjohnson3099]

It's been 2.5 years since you made your Top 5 videos, any chance you might update them since some new switches (like these) have come out?

[@hughle9913]

where can I buy the individual switches?

[@BuzzLiteBeer]

I really wish these came in non-clicky tactiles. Aside from potential rattle from the stabs, I really like the smoothness of these switches on my huntsman te (the keyboard is otherwise not great for anything other than gaming and is loud af) and would like to try them on a custom.

[@jackkessler9876]

Coolest technical youtube channel in the universe.

[@malcolmsovani1275]

great video, My question is how can I replace my keyboard that is meeting it ends. like ALT keys might need to be replace. how can I fix my huntsman elite, while upgrading from purple keys to red keys in a mix

[@Pxi145]

@Chyrosran22 I would just like to know on which site you had the switches pls

[@minimal5369]

I like the new intro btw

[@Colee-zz9rb]

@Chyrosran22 where did you buy the switches i cant find anywhere to buy them

[@vSmxl]

is ti possible to take out the click of the purple clicky ones without breaking the switch?

[@philiphaney8858]

Could you review the Redragon Draconic?

[@HiCZoK]

I've got the mini linear and trying to understand how silicone dampeners actually work. If these are on the side of the switch, how does the switches feel so dampened/silent ? btw - I really like the feel of v2 opto linear switches because of that.

[@Liniont]

So say I wanted to remove the clicky sound from all the purple switches while they are still installed on the board? How could I do that since I can't just replace the switches.

[@anaveragedoge8500]

I'm not sure if you will see this or not, but I have a question. I was playing Minecraft and I use my control switch to sprint. I was spamming the switch and then all of sudden it got stuck. I took off the keycap and I am pretty sure the spring isn't working. Everytime I press down on it, I have to bring it up. I just got this keyboard for Christmas and I really don't wanna buy a new one. Is there a way I can take apart the switch and align the spring again or something?

[@CynicalDriver]

So... Where did you order the switches? I want to get linear ones for my Huntsman Elite! Google is less than helpful on this.

[@flowzi9421]

Where did you buy those razer switches becuse i want to change my clicky to linear pls reply

[@ocethunder507]

Hey since you made a vid about switches should i get gateron reds with clear top housing and milky bottoms

[@qwerty-lz6gc]

i own the Tournament Edition. I like how smooth the switch is compared to cherry mx switches

[@meowtabby5369]

well, you're not wrong

[@adambfdx]

if you think these are smooth you have t seen things like lubed tealios and lubed creams

[@umbra7335]

@@adambfdx As the other guy said, these opto electric switches are arguably smoother because of the zero contact.

[@ibraaulia9908]

@@adambfdx oh look another elitist thinking their lubed "premium" switches are smoother than a contactless switch

[@framedthunder6436]

You can make a video about the tartarus pro optical switch?

[@smakfu1375]

I was trying to figure out why I found the purple switches in my Huntsman V2 so weirdly similar to my old model M keyboard, when they’re also very different (keypress force, slider feel, travel, pitch, sound are nothing alike). IMHO, it’s that perceptible feel of the tactile event and the actuation event being one and the same, rather than synchronized (as is also the case with the buckling-spring membrane rocker switch in the Model M). Razer’s switches are quite interesting indeed.

[@bra1ncrack3r34]

Im thinking about replacing the springs in my Razer Huntsman Tournament (Red Switch), any chance you know A, can it be done? and B, what the original spring specs are, i just find accidental keypresses wayy to easy on it, but love how fast the opto switches register! Thanks mate

[@emo_gurl_42]

how do you remove the click sound in the purple switch

[@doseofadrenaline4583]

Is it possible to swap out the switches on razed keyboards (any one of the new models) and put these in? I really wanna buy the red switches to replace the green ones on the razer turret

[@flowzi9421]

Where did you buy only the razer seitches pls reply

[@cthulpiss]

are these available in tactile non-clicky version, preferably dampened ?

[@jacobohenao3384]

Interesant question: How did you open the switch im trying since i bought my keyboard and i realy cant. Thanks!

[@yekkow1]

It sucks I got a Huntsman for my birthday and some of the light sensors are already failing or "sticking"

[@neriflst]

offtop. What do you think about Outemu Purple switches?

[@shybry3371]

If only the whole keyboard was just as well built as the key switches. I’ll be looking forward on your thoughts on the new Huntsman Mini btw. Although educational content like this is very preferable as well!

[@midorinchan]

I'd talk about how sad I am that I still need to wait for you Huntsman Mini review, but they're currently out of stock everywhere but amazon XD

[@TechExploresNYC]

That clicker works like those clicky pens.

[@DeViLEyE890]

Do you just pull this out or push some tabs to remove it from the board?

[@balobreached]

Quite intuitive for Razer, I can't help but wonder what their OTT marketing strategies are for these.

[@lauhaunting]

How are the linears compared to Gateron Optical Reds?

[@forgetdk4942]

I have the linear on one of my keyboards they're ok

[@timf2533]

Can you disassemble the switches without destroying them?

[@karanoojha4620]

Do you know where I could get these?

[@jamesm5192]

We need some switches like Razer and Wooting but that are easy to use in custom projects... Or to replace cherry switches with.

[@kaisarantonn7225]

How do you take it out? Please show it

[@nordic24]

You deserve more SUBS and LIKES.

[@vsqueezii]

Where can you buy those switches?

[@AaAAa-um9ex]

where did u get the switches

[@cucho0186]

At the end of the day, which ones are better?

[@RadicDotkey]

Extremely difficcult to take apart. That I know, but how exactly do you take them apart without destroying the switch?

[@Guilhermeserra_]

send us the link to buy these switches please

[@gyozakeynsianism]

1:25 OMG shadow puppet show!

[@asherfilms923]

oooo new intro

[@TarekAlShawwa]

I don’t seem to understand how one switch is analog and the other is digital?

[@diegobahena1274]

Wish my Huntsman TE came with sound dampeners because damn, that kb is loud while typing. Luckily I have a Blackwidow Lite willing to be a guinea pig for a switch swap; gonna take away its orange switches and replace them with lubed roselios.

[@carlosq.p.9283]

Good video

[@NullGamurai]

What’s the life span of a Photoresistor (LDR)

[@maidpretty]

Oh, I tried these Dongguan Mingjian Electronic Technology MJ/LK gen 3 optical switches with stabilizers. They are smooth. No debounce needed. What I liked about clicky ones - the actuation and the tactile event are simultaneous. If it clicked - you know it should register a keypress. Just like on Model F or beamsprings. What I didn't like - they rattle, the tactile bump is unimpressive, resistance before actuation is too low, I would like stronger both main and click bolt springs. By the way Bloody/A4 optical keyboards used these MJ/LK switches since gen 1 up to gen 3 in their 900-series keyboards.

[@Boyetto-san]

Glad to see more people talk about Mingjian. They're so low profile but are arguably responsible for the wave of contactless innovations coming into the market. I very much agree that the clickies still sound rattly, even if much less so than the unmitigated awefulness of click jacket rattle. It's probably because it's still plastic-on-plastic impact. Given how the click bolt mechanism works, the small captive spring probably needs to be a stiffer than the main spring in order to improve the tactility.

[@Boyetto-san]

@@Snanc Haven't seen any, and I doubt anyone sells em that way. Buying from the factory more than likely means having to buy in bulk orders. Otherwise, I doubt any retailers would be selling these because its corresponding PCB technology is proprietary.

[@dchousoseiso]

NEW INTRO NEW INTRO

[@thomasowens3135]

Fancy new into

[@larsgottlieb]

Damn. I was really hoping the clicky ones would be easily modified to linears, as Razer only puts the linear switches in US layout keyboards, and that is useless to me.

[@thatsitforacher8831]

How much do the dampeners mushify the feel?

[@Chyrosran22]

You'll see in the review!

[@myersIQuit]

Please tell me: can i change my purple switch into Linear switches? If i modify the engine?

[@wavv4365]

No, they are both engineered in a different way, with different components, but, you can swap the switches, which is a different thing.

[@myersIQuit]

@@wavv4365 rip😟

[@hexzies4265]

I doubt anybody is going to respond to this comment but I really need to know how to clean the switch because I was spray lubing "yes this is why I need to clean the one switch that messed up" but I need to know how I can clean this.

[@silentlol000]

JEEZ NICEEEE VOICE BROO

[@mahoolum]

intro song???

[@milkyman5192]

Where did you get them? I broke one and for the hell I can't find one on the internet

[@Chyrosran22]

Ask Razer, they might be able to set you up with some replacements.

[@thumbwarriordx]

I've never had a bit of luck with replacement parts from them. Would be interested to know if they've changed their tune.

[@babyyou548]

@@thumbwarriordx nope they arent... Rma system is hella confusing...

[@Chyrosran22]

@@n.8224 They can be removed without soldering, yes, if that's what you mean :) .

[@kreativkurve8748]

Why am I watching every video from you since one year and didn't and subscribed?

[@customswitchblade6924]

I AM SO HAPPY YOU SHOWED US THAT I WAS TRYING TO FIGAR IT OUT FOR 5 DAYS

[@PunkieDudie]

I heard from RandomFrankP that Razer lubbed the new Red Switch. Both him and on this teardown there is no lube to be found.

[@wkg19591]

Hmmmmm interesting. I always sneer at razer keyboards at the store; maybe it's time I reconsidered ..... as always, many thanks Tom :-)

[@roundduckkira]

Yeah I gueas being the butt of jokes since at latest 2014 has finally got them to fix their shit

[@Boyetto-san]

I've had some idea of how the click bolt works from Bloody's marketing materials, but this is the first time I've seen how exactly it works. It really is quite noteworthy given that it's so different from the other alternative click mechanisms like Kailh click bars and Outemu snap springs. Because it's still plastic impacting plastic, I tend to find that it doesn't sound as nice as Kailh and Outemu's more metallic clickers, and the plasticky-ness tended to still sound somewhat like rattling, even if not as unmitigatedly aweful as a typical click jacket.

[@jabbinnn]

:o you posted this on my birthday

[@arif0o0]

FeelsBirthdayMan

[@nord9702]

Хотелось бы увидеть как их правильно смазывать, чтобы звук срабатывания был мягче.

[@jasonreviews]

nice

[@zorbaza]

Me: watches a video on switches in a $100+ keyboard Also me: uses a membrane keyboard because mechanical is expensive

[@PogGamerMan]

Maybe it’s time for you to explore the scary world of Chinese clones 😈

[@PogGamerMan]

Nice build btw

[@zorbaza]

Rom Dagama thanks and I was considering it but my parents said that they’ll get me a mechanical for Christmas so I’m just going to wait

[@PogGamerMan]

zorba the gamer thats cool to hear man

[@01_zenyobi]

Make sure your parents buy an actual Cherry MX stem mechanical (either Cherry MX, or Gateron/Outemu/kailh/else. Usually cherry MX is the best since there's no pinging+Outemu/Gateron blue is way too loud, but Gateron red is the smoothest and the lightest).. Or maybe Optical like the Razer in this video (or maybe bloody optical, they're quite smooth even though the gimmick is too much). And make Sure didn't buy an gAmInG Semi-mecha (example : Razer penata/cynosa, Logitech G213, or Chinese Semi Mecha etc.), Since they're usually horrible compared to normal Mecha, even though they're slightly better than Membrane Keyboard. Of course, if your parents were educated and have decent knowledge, you might not have too worried about that (even though there's 12%-25% chance they might get semi mechanical for "cost-saving")..

[@DurzoBlunts]

I can see getting a bag of these for a diy keyboard. Still protest Razer

[@Dat_1_Guy_Ethan]

Where’s the Apple M0116 redux!?

[@Chyrosran22]

It's coming this week! 8)