Switch: Gateron Silver

This next one was a doozy simply because I don't believe I have heard or seen this switch before. Epomaker calls it the Gateron Silver switch, which in itself is not a stranger to me as it is one of Gateron's newer optical switches looking to compete with the Cherry MX Speed (Silver) switch. It is one of their optical axis KS-15 switches. However, this one a mechanical switch alone and also has a different stem design.


The English Gateron website lists the KS-15 Silver switch without any mention of the optical actuation. I do not know whether this is a custom offering or just a translation error. It also mentions that the switch on that web page is "without column," so perhaps this is a customized version with the walled columns around the stem for added dust and fluid-spill resistance. Regardless, the updated design, switch name, and color tell us that this is a newer switch compared to the Gateron Green, and also linear if aiming to go up against the Cherry MX Speed (Silver). Externally, it has a lot in common with the Gateron Green, as it has a clear top and opaque housing and a cutout for backlighting support. It is also a two-prong switch, making it compatible with the Kailh hot-swap socket in the Epomaker GK68XS.


Disassembly is no different than before, and inside we see a simpler construction owing to the linear switch design. The stem is the most interesting part here, and it slides up and down on molded rails as it makes contact and disengages respectively with the metal leaf in the housing. In fact, the metal leaf and the entire bottom housing look identical compared to the Gateron Green switch, so the stem and spring are really the only effective differences with regards to switch actuation and feedback.


Installation of the Gateron Silver mechanical switch follows the same steps as before, although the walls around the stem allow for more surface area to hold on to in the center when aligning and pushing the switch into the PCB. Removing the switches still had the same caveat with the case, but this is otherwise an easier switch to use with such hot-swappable keyboard cases, at least compared to those with the more typical stem design. As for keycaps, I switched things around and used the pink/red alternative keycaps as much as possible.

In the absence of clarity on what this switch even is, there is no force-travel diagram to refer to. In my usage, they felt similar to what the Gateron Optical Silver switch is supposed to be, at least based on the rated specifications for the latter. This is a "faster" switch in that the actuation distance is lower at 1.0 +/-0.6 mm compared to the average 2.0 mm, and total travel is also reduced from the usual 4.0 mm to 3.2 mm. In practice, these switches seemed to actuate closer to 1.2 mm and at ~45 gf, which is still a rapid action switch for quick, multiple keystrokes in games, for example. I definitely liked these switches more than the Gateron Green; the average Gateron Silver switch in my possession is a lot smoother in travel and much more consistent. The trigger-happy actuation is a deal-breaker for my general typing needs, but does have a place no doubt given all the gaming keyboards that use similar switches today. I do wonder why there is this mechanical-only version instead of the optical switch variant that seems to be a more popular Gateron switch.


Here is what this specific combination sounds like, and while this is completely subjective, I am quite happy with the sound profile. I did bottom out given the shorter, linear travel and medium-force springs, so you can hear the ping from the case as well. For context, you can find sound clips from other keyboards here, including those with linear switches.