Mechanical switches: linear, tactile, clicky

The switch under each key decides how a mechanical keyboard feels and sounds. There are only three main types to learn.

Here is each one, what the colors usually mean, and the switch options on our keyboards. Specs are from each maker’s official page, as of November 2026.

The three switch types

Short answer: linear switches go straight down. Tactile switches have a small bump at the point the key registers. Clicky switches have that bump plus a click you can hear.

• Linear: smooth from top to bottom, with no bump and no click. Keychron says gamers often favor them.
• Tactile: a bump tells your finger the key has registered. Cherry describes its MX Brown as tactile, with a detectable actuation point but no classic click.
• Clicky: a bump and a sound. Keychron names Cherry MX Blue as an example, and calls clicky the loudest of the three.

Pick by your room first, then your fingers. Clicky can annoy roommates long before it annoys you.

What the colors usually mean

Short answer: colors are a loose code. Keychron’s color guide says Red is usually linear, Brown usually tactile and Blue usually clicky. Brands also make their own colors, so read the description, not just the name.

Feel also depends on actuation force, the push needed to register a press. That varies by switch, so check the maker’s number when you compare two of the same type.

The switches on our keyboards

Short answer: the HyperX offers one linear and one tactile switch. The two Keychrons offer Red, Brown or Banana, and both list hot-swap, so you can change switches later.

HyperX labels its types directly. For the Keychrons, Red and Brown follow the usual color code. Check Keychron’s product page for how Banana feels before you order it.

New to keyboards? See best mechanical keyboards for beginners. Then read what is a hot-swappable keyboard and what polling rate do you need.

The picks, side by side

Specs from each maker's official page, checked Nov 8, 2026. Spec score formula: methodology.