Teardown - Wooting "Lekker" Hall effect switches

In today's episode we look at Wooting's new Lekker switches, a modern Hall effect-type keyboard switch. Hopefully I'll be able to cover the actual keyboard soon! :)
Intro and outro banner by Kyle Carter
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​

[@ButteredTimbers]

I think that this intro animation is by far the best of yours so far, sound is pretty constant in loudness which is nice.

[@Chyrosran22]

The original was a lot more intense xD . Same piece of music, but a more beat-y part of it. Here's a prototype: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iqvSpXeIlqqKqrs Kyle convinced me it was a bit "much" for an intro though, so I stuck with a quieter part of the song :) .

[@ButteredTimbers]

@@Chyrosran22 Its more chill than the others in my opinion, plus the clicks from the keypresses are less earsplitting (or well, more in line in terms of noise level with the rest of the sounds). I also like the red color as opposed to orange, but the color doesn't really matter nearly as much compared to the sound.

[@ThumberBulls6]

@@Chyrosran22 what's the music used in the intro?

[@Chyrosran22]

@@ThumberBulls6 Far the Days Come by Letter Box

[@ThumberBulls6]

@@Chyrosran22 Thanks

[@deldarel]

Linear: "Lekker" Tactile: "Gezellig" Clicky: "Wat leuk!"

[@SimGunther]

Yummy Cozy How nice! In that order ;)

[@theodakek9266]

Eet smakle

[@gyozakeynsianism]

On a serious note, I would like to see what a tactile Lekker feels like. I'd also like to see what a Lekker sounds like. :-D

[@theodakek9266]

@@gyozakeynsianism I‘am very embarresed, that all that Fortnite players just buyed the wooting keyboard but did never look for an other analog keyboard.There are so many other analog keyboards out there. What do you think?

[@nextlifeonearth]

@@SimGunther You can't really translate "gezellig" to English. Cozy is more like "knus".

[@43615]

i've managed to order one of the keyboards because someone cancelled their order. quite insane considering there are only 1000 units. can't wait for your review!

[@besser-nicht]

I am happy to got one aswell but i ordered at the time there was over 800 left and i was hoping they will find enough backers

[@CaptainShovelHead]

The lekker edition and the two HE both use these switches, the lekker editions are limited but the HE isn't. The lekker edition just has special keycaps, and nothing else that's significant.

[@besser-nicht]

@@CaptainShovelHead who cares asks the bag full of rice in China and fall over. We do know it. But the he edition exist only because of backers of the leeker. Dumb statement

[@43615]

@@CaptainShovelHead clearly just mad that you didn't get one

[@digastic6018]

@@CaptainShovelHead Also the lekker is blue while the HE is black. To me that was the main deciding factor.

[@RumenPBRUHMM]

I have already ordered the Two HE but still can't wait to see the review

[@andrewtrehan1243]

New intro looks amazing

[@mayeulpezet4479]

Your collection of keyboard is so unique that you should do a museum, with crowdfunding

[@mayeulpezet4479]

@Ed Crown you're kind of right but have you ever seen his apartment, it is full of keyboards and it takes place, and it would be a great project for the channel

[@animalblundetto5673]

Cool! Would love to have a Hall Effect keyboard. Any word on when InputClub’s Hall Effect/Beam Spring switches are supposed to come out?

[@tax274]

The Keystone? The board comes out first Soon(tm) with a choice of linear or tactile switches. The Beam spring clickies will come out some months after the board does.

[@johnsimon8457]

Wooting’s (with these switches) is in preorder for April.

[@animalblundetto5673]

@@tax274 The last update on the Kickstarter was almost 4 months ago, and the project was launched in like 2019. I’d really like to try the Keystone with the beam spring silo switches but I have no idea when the thing is actually going to be produced.

[@pancakehm5563]

oh boy hall effect my favourite bit of info that i will never use :D

[@chucksteak6619]

I am thinking of buying apt broad off of a mate, how do the switches compare in terms of switch feel to theses switches? And how do the the clicky switchs compare to knovel keys box pinks.

[@FatheredPuma81]

The large amount of lubricant might be because a lot of the old Flaretech switches bind pretty badly when pressed off axis especially so if you get tall caps. Also most of them are a bit scratchy too so it might just be to get that extra step up maybe on the competition?

[@SenorBighero]

Gateron actually have an official hall-effect switch already listed on their website, the KS-20 switch. I suspect that these lekker switches are simply a color variant of the KS-20 switch. Perhaps wooting commissioned Gateron to make a hall-effect switches, and Gateron said they would only do it if they subsequently owned the design... But now that Gateron makes an official hall-effect switch that anyone can buy, hopefully this will result in many more analog keyboards. Or maybe even a QMK-compatible integration for us enthusiasts!

[@bltzcstrnx]

Gateron probably acts as an ODM in this case. Steelseries or Wooting specify a switch design while Gateron design and manufacture it. Since they designed it they own the IP, but some of the R&D cost are covered by the brand owner. Hence they got timed exclusive deals.

[@arcadealchemist]

I got the wooting 1 I wanted this switch type. So gonna have to but a new keyboard, if only we could have force feedback on the switches with a magnetic polarity to push the magnet up with stronger repulse feedback

[@Hionimi]

I've always wondered with Hall Effect keyboards, are they sensitive to other magnetic sources, could the environment affect how they work?

[@Chyrosran22]

Theoretically yes, but these calibrate themselves from time ot time, so it should be minimal.

[@Jordan4Ibanez]

Chyrosran22 you always have the most professional videos, even in the videos that you're swearing in ways that I've never heard before. I thoroughly enjoy each video you make, as well as learn quite a lot. Thank you for making them. Please keep it up.

[@SteffenHirsch]

i got my Lekker edition today and i love it :D

[@artembogorodskii2047]

I'm also waiting for my Lekker Edition Wooting to arrive (since september 2019) :D

[@placeholder3863]

I think lube would still make contactless switches smoother since there are guide rails that lube would help

[@rafaeltavares6928]

What other keyboards have this technology? Like how this switches determine when I stopped pressing

[@skelebruh3075]

Yo as an Afrikaans oke, seeing a switch called lekker puts a smile on your face :)

[@wiebel7569]

I much appreciate the effort to go into the details of the hall effect but the infographic you are using (0:570 has it all wrong sorry to say so. The force introduces by the magnetic field, which in turn moves the electrons out of line, is perpendicular to both the current and the magnetic field. So in your case the magnetic field would have to be perpendicular to the viewing plane.

[@KingPinTheBowler]

So for the keyboard. Is it Hot-Swappable

[@riaanburger666]

Mine's on the way, baby. Wooting Two HE.. Gonna be highly explosive, baby!

[@bytezero3818]

Great video, i am looking forward to the review of that keyboard, especially since you liked the original wooting board

[@Waberner]

Hey Thomas - Model M question. I am not on any other social media so this is kinda the only place I can ask such a question. I got a Model M 1391412 and it came with the DIN / AT connnector. can I just buy the RJ 45 to PS/2 cable and it will work? My PC has a PS/2 port so I know I don't need an extra PS/2 -> USB converter. Many thanks in case you get to read this ;)

[@samuelschwager]

I'm not Thomas, but I think you have multiple options: - buy a SDL -> USB cable - buy a SDL -> PS/2 cable - buy a DIN -> PS/2 adapter (probably the cheapest option) The connector at the keyboard is not really RJ 45 unless you have a terminal Model M keyboard.

[@Waberner]

@@samuelschwager Thank you mate! I think I will go for an SDL to PS/2 cable; if I remember correctly I have seen some that are very long; which comes in handy for my standing desk. I'll look into that. Many thanks Samuel ;)

[@samuelschwager]

@@Waberner You're welcome.

[@Waberner]

@@samuelschwager Thank you for suggesting a SDL to PS/2 cable! I bought one and it works. Just had to edit the Windows Registry for it to enable PS/2.

[@samuelschwager]

@@Waberner Nice!

[@leocomerford]

So is it the case that these keyswitches are likely to activate if you put a magnet near them?

[@stankunloadeduniversity3726]

I like the new switch teardown intro

[@Chyrosran22]

It's been in use for ages to be honest xD . But I'm glad you like it, it's my favourite intro too :) .

[@SpltPersonaltyOF]

OKAAAYYY!! This intro is sick!!!

[@dalriada842]

When you do the keyboard review, can you wave a neodymium magnet around near the keyboard? I'm curious as to how well the sensing circuitry is able to reject external magnetic noise.

[@DesignfulDev]

NOICE Hope you get a chance to review the SILO switches and the Keystone by Input Club

[@Chyrosran22]

I hope so too! xD They are set to send me them when they get them, though.

[@takoyakeys]

Sooo interesting!! Can’t wait to see the keyboard review !

[@aygwm]

Fookin Magnets, how do they work?

[@ZILtoid1991]

❌F***ing magnets, how do they work? ✔Magnetic! Energetic! So beautiful!

[@WesHawkins0]

Damn scientists telling me lies

[@Boyetto-san]

The use of lube is really to say that the linear switch crowd isn't just after smoothness in terms of absolute frictionlessness. A lubed switch has that buttery feel that's the real reason why people still keep making custom linear boards instead of all jumping to contactless. For Gateron, as a company involved so heavily with custom builds, it's just probably conventional wisdom that making a switch as "smooth" as possible means putting some lube in for that buttery feel.

[@Chyrosran22]

It's put in mainly for the sound xD .

[@Boyetto-san]

@@Chyrosran22 That too XD

[@BobTh3Bully]

Do these have more or less stem wobble as the steelseries ones?

[@veranza]

man, spill your mic please, its so good

[@henson2k]

Preordered and they say May 2021

[@xDJKerox]

What’s the spring rated as in grams?

[@TheLikeButtonLMAO]

Are those solenoids I hear in the intro?

[@chunkymilk1288]

Should I buy a Cherry G80 1000 for $140?

[@Whitefang8128]

RIP Ace Pad Tech.

[@gyozakeynsianism]

Awesome breakdown.

[@gyozakeynsianism]

2:49 EEEW where did all those little hairs come from? And you just happened to be talking about lube at that point?

[@Sychius]

I actually want to put a few analogue keys in my custom keyboard but it's nigh on impossible to find any that can be used on a custom board lol.

[@bytezero3818]

These aren't the exception sadly. The part reading out the magnets will be on the board. Even more important, a custom board is unable to process an analog signal, unless you actually design it yourself, so for now, this dream will sadly have to stay just that

[@Sychius]

@@bytezero3818 Yup, exactly the issue I've been dealing with. My current plan is to actually make a custom PCB, then mount purchased Hall Effect sensors on there, and send the signal to a Rasperry pi of some description for processing, but I'm still not entirely convinced that's something I can do.

[@bytezero3818]

@@Sychius I am sure it can be, it will just be a whole lot of work. Actually, you might be better off getting yourself hall sensors and buy the lekker switches, that might work out for you

[@krpajda]

Are there even any commercialy available pcbs that could handle analog switches? Even if the switch was self contained, every board I ever saw for sale simply checks if a contact is closed or not.

[@Sychius]

@@krpajda There are a few premade keyboards that can handle analogue switches, e.g the Wooting keyboard and the new Razer Huntsman I think, but I'd be making my own anyway, using a custom PCB and custom layout.

[@BatuWienholts]

he bacc

[@BatuWienholts]

@Peter Mortensen he is back

[@Wolar94]

The opening changed? :O

[@martin1649]

I'm really interested if any hall effect switches are compatible with MX style hotswap keyboards, i'd be down to put some in my keyboard!

[@Chyrosran22]

That'd be very much impossible. Hall effect sensing is in no way compatible with contact sensing.

[@johnsimon8457]

Okay! Waiting on your review before I hand over my kopecks and drachmas. 😁

[@shi5369]

Sleek new intro!

[@computeraidedworld1148]

Sweet intro

[@greyareaRK1]

I suppose the switch couldn't be self-contained at that size? It would be nice to drop some onto a commonplace cherry board.

[@tax274]

No it can't, hall effect sensors require 4 pins (3 if you pull some funny business but no less) and furthermore they draw more power than conventional switches so most PCBs (and indeed many USB buses) can't power a full board without some funny business with the wiring which will cost you N key roll over.

[@besser-nicht]

@@tax274 this keyboard has n key roll over.

[@tax274]

@@besser-nicht Yes, it was designed to handle the greater power consumption of that layout and then some but a random MX or Alps pcb would not.

[@besser-nicht]

@@tax274 right

[@akimbo_spy3244]

woah cool intro

[@100_JAB]

I see lekker I click

[@frankenstein_colt_98]

LEKKER BEZIG GOZER :D

[@placeholder3863]

the stem looks like one from a gateron cap switch

[@woehr6]

2 year late reply I know but the switches are made by gateron

[@placeholder3863]

@@woehr6 yeah

[@Marc_Wolfe]

Now if somebody made a sensor that was easy to attach to standard MX solder points and just did the standard on off without analog, could retrofit them to whatever the fucc board I want... and seal that up to be extremely water resistant.

[@tax274]

Alas Hall effect switches require more than 2 pins.

[@MacaqueStinx]

Wooo new vid

[@geoffreyyu5163]

Oh my god hypeeeee!!!!!!

[@sn_ale]

new intro. scary

[@Turbo_TechnoLogic]

Super geil!

[@ShadowLancer128]

so long story short you can stuff these switches with krytox and still get the accuracy and the low latency out of them no problem.

[@protocetid]

what does a Lekker switch without lube feel like?

[@TribitFanOpex]

Lekker = POGGERS Dude 🥈

[@lamy1057]

whats the switch in intro

[@Chyrosran22]

IBM beamsprings

[@lamy1057]

@@Chyrosran22 thank you

[@aleksandrh.4251]

Wait a little... So should I stop dreaming about buying Steelseries Apex PRO (the one I cannot afford) and start dreaming about some unknown Wooting (the one I will not be able to afford even more)? :)

[@piorun7903]

Yes

[@besser-nicht]

Steel series died because they never done it Analog

[@piorun7903]

@@besser-nicht and also Because it's an overpriced garbage in my country

[@besser-nicht]

@@piorun7903 that is sad

[@piorun7903]

@@besser-nicht I would've at least tolerated this brand, but: A. The fans of Steelseries in Poland are just idiots in my Experience B. The prices of their peripherals are seriously fucked Up (100$ for Apex 3, 150$ for Apex 5) C. There are better priced alternatives

[@rasambowl]

yoooooooo magnets

[@zenyl2514]

Interesting

[@DepressedMusicEnjoyer]

Lekker Pog

[@robr640]

Well this explains where the Gateron Cap line came from after seeing the internals.

[@RubyRoks]

With a switch this simple, i'm sure most of the cost of hall effect keyboards is from the sensing element and, more importantly, profit margin

[@besser-nicht]

200 € keyboard + really great mcu unit

[@Mysterio2243]

The lekker Edition is not making a lot of margin thats for Sure. The HE Will make up for that tho.

[@Vorrimade]

Hello!

[@Vorrimade]

first lel

[@josh-ig3dp]

josh

[@ozmobozo]

doktor

[@besser-nicht]

Wtf i am still waiting for my leeker board

[@protocetid]

is it made out of leeks?

[@PicaPollo]

2:49 Disgusting

[@govgamers2821]

This is the switch that need stabilizer tbh.

[@_lunared]

You knowwww that u could give me a spare keyboard any time ;)

[@joran4612]

lekker means tasty

[@aydenvis]

Lekker literally translates as "good", doesn't it?

[@mataznuiz]

Yea, more or less

[@dragonbouma]

Translates to "Tasty" in dutch atleast.

[@shadowmanwkp]

No, that would be "goed". Lekker usually means tasty, but can also be used to mean nice.

[@100_JAB]

the dutch started it to mean good tasting the afrikaans use it for anything good