Switch: Gazzew Bobagum RGB

I had to save this one for last, because look at that switch name! If you thought Boba itself was a weird name for a mechanical switch, Bobagum manages to have the cake and eat it too. It's quite fitting a name too, since the Gazzew Bobagum looks like a piece of bubble gum ready to be enjoyed. These were released before the newer Boba LT and come in RGB and non-RGB versions, whereby the clear top is replaced by an opaque pink top to match the base in the case of the latter. The darker pink stem is common across both, and you may also notice some vendors referring to these as the Boba Pink switches accordingly.


If the Boba LT could be seen as a linear switch analog to the Boba U4T, the Bobagum would be the equivalent for the Boba U4. Fitting then that I have the RGB versions of both here! The Bobagum RGB comes with a relatively shorter stem, one that makes for shorter actuation and travel compared to most switches to where it seems to be a Gazzew trademark. The stems also have side dampers as on the Boba U4 switches, making these silent and linear. The springs on these switches did not come pre-dipped in lube, and as there are three options to choose from (52g, 62g, and 68g), you can have it be a silent speed switch too if you so desire. All 70 of the samples here used the heaviest spring making for a bottoming-out force of 68 gf, which is also a departure and a half from the Boba LT samples I could probably actuate by breathing on hard.


Here are the Bobagum RGB switches installed on the MARVODIY Re-defined 68, which makes for a striking appearance, too. The RGB versions with the clear top have the dark pink stems contrast more against the white plate, but I will again note that these are really pedantic discussions given the kit and keycaps used in this build article do not allow for the switches to be visible anyway. Typing on the Bobagum switches is heavily dependent on the chosen springs, so I will only mention that this too is a linear switch with a shorter actuation at ~1.4 mm and shorter total travel distance of ~3.5 mm compared to the typical linear switch. The newer Boba LT generally felt smoother and more consistent in typing feel than these.


Given I had already honed down on my preferred key mapping for this 65% keyboard, I retained the same keycap choices as before, but did go with the traditional Esc key. I also wanted to try out the replacement space bar keycap to see if more of the lighter green would better balance out the others, and think it did just that. So the keycaps used above are ultimately my go-to choices for this particular setup and keyboard build, and I used the MARVODIY software drivers to re-map the top-right key from Tilde to Delete to complete the process.


Here is what this specific combination sounds like, and these are indeed quieter than the Boba LT. Bottoming out was also a more deliberate action on these samples using the 68g springs, but all it really did was put them more in line with the Cherry MX Silent Red switch in terms of spring behavior, with the stem being the point of distinction owing to the shorter travel pathway. As such, I did find myself bottoming out again more often than not, and the dampers on the stem reduce downstroke noise. Metal contact noise seemed lower too, which is something you only really notice when other things are quieter anyway. Pinging off the plate ends up more relevant in this case, but not to where it impacts the overall sound signature much. For context, you can find sound clips from other keyboards here, including those with linear/silent switches.