Switch: Kailh BOX Black

Next up in the Kailh BOX Black. As with the BOX Red, it gets an opaque stem, but in black. This is also a 3-pin mechanical switch as there are two metal prongs for the actuation mechanism and the central plastic pin for in-socket switch stability. The switch is also compatible with 2-pin, 4-pin, and SMD RGB LEDs, and we see a large cutout in the housing and top for light to pass through, with diffuser action in the top to spread the light more uniformly.


Disassembly is no different from before, and inside, we see a similar construction due to the linear switch design. The stem is identically shaped to the one in the BOX Red, but in a different color, of course. The difference really comes with the spring, which is heavier than the one in the BOX Red switch. Here too do we see the use of the lubed green active block element for actuation.


Installation of the Kailh BOX Black mechanical switch follows the same steps as before, and both inserting and removing the switches had the same caveat with the case and flex of the plate. As for the keycaps, I switched things around and used the orange keycaps as highlights, in addition to the carbon black and off-white. It's certainly more of an acquired taste, but you at least get the option to try it out with the keycap set rather than merely wondering about how it would look.


This is the force-travel curve for the Kailh BOX Black switches courtesy Kailh. These are heavier-force linear switches with a total travel of 3.6 mm compared to the usual 4.0 mm and a rated actuation distance of 1.8 +/-0.3 mm as opposed to the average switch at 2.0 mm. Rated actuation force is 60 +/-20 gf, which is worse than the average +/-15 gf error bar. Peak force is rated at a tiring 80 gf, which you will hit when bottoming out and letting go. As far as the rated specifications go, this switch is quite similar to the Cherry MX Black with shorter travel overall, but also a slightly lower peak force in practice since the MX Black can exceed 80 gf. A random set of twenty switches tested well within rated specifications, with measured actuation at ~1.9 mm. Key travel is again smooth with only plastic on lubed plastic contact, and bottoming out can be avoided more easily owing to the heavier spring. If you do bottom out, the total time between keystrokes is also shorter owing to the appreciably shorter travel distance. Those who like deliberate typing or prefer a heavier switch in general will like these, but these are probably my least favorite of the five tested BOX switches owing to the heavy spring.


Here is what this specific combination sounds like, and while completely subjective, I prefer this sound profile more than that of the BOX Red. The heavier springs minimize the impact of bottoming out on the plate, but the switch itself is even lower-pitched throughout. For context, you can find sound clips from other keyboards here, including those with linear switches.