The 10 Best Tactile Switches for Your Keyboard (2023)

Want to make your keyboard louder? More clacky? More comfortable for typing?

A mechanical keyboard with GOOD tactile switches can (seriously) change your life!

Here are my top 5 best tactile switches:

• Glorious Panda (Best Overall)
• Boba U4T (Community Favorite)
• Tecsee Sapphire (Best softer/muted)
• Kailh Speed Copper (Best for Gaming)
• Akko Lavender Purple (Best Budget Tactile Switch)
• Kailh Polia (most comfortable for typing)

Let’s dive into THOSE—as well as some other ‘honorable mention’ options below.

How the switches are ranked:

I’ve typed on 30+ tactile switches at this point, and there are a few factors you need to look for when choosing a switch:

Cost

Obviously, you’ll want to stay within your budget. Most switches are between $0.30-$1.00 per switch, which can add up depending on the size of your keyboard!

Tactility

See below for definitions of what a tactile switch actually IS—but one of the factors we consider is “just how much can you feel the tactile bump?” Some are pronounced and obvious, others aren’t.

Design

Sure, the switches will mostly be under the keycaps and you won’t see them anyways, but there’s still something to be said for how cool the switches look!

Materials

Some switches are built better than others and will last longer. We’ll go into more detail about this in a bit.

Ease of lubing & filming

Tactile switches are more difficult to lube than linear switches since you don’t want to lube away the bump accidentally! Some switches are more difficult to disassemble and assemble than others. Click here for our switch lubing guide.

Sound and feel

The most important for a great mechanical keyboard experience! How do the switches sound and feel? Believe it or not, there’s a pretty wide range between tactile switches.

What are tactile switches?

All switches fall under 3 broad categories:

• Linear: The simplest type. Pressing them is a straight, smooth path from the top to the bottom. There’s no tactile or auditory feedback when you press them, and they require the least amount of force to actuate.
• Tactile: These switches provide a tiny “bump” when you press them (generally around the actuation point). This “tactile feedback” helps your fingers feel when the key has actually been registered.
• Clicky: These are a sub-type of tactile switches. There’s the tiny bump, but with a small audible “click.” These are generally louder.

Click here for our recommendations for the best clicky switches.

Click here for our best LINEAR switches.

The tactile bump can lead to less finger strain over long typing sessions (and MAYBE typing speed, but only a tiny difference), which makes them ideal for typing, work, etc.

(Although they’re perfectly fine for gaming, too!)

The Best Tactile Switches:

Now that you know how I test and rank these, let’s dive into my top-recommended tactile switches:

Glorious Panda Switches (Best Overall)

Cherry MX switches have been the gold standard for decades, and the Cherry MX browns are the most “normal” tactile switches you can find.

• Sounds like a medium, clacky tactile switch
• Feels tactile, with medium resistance
• Decent price point
• Good materials and quality control

Nothing fancy, but Cherry MX switches STILL hold up in 2023 and offer great typing experiences.

And if you want to save money, grab Cherry MX clones!

• Gateron Brown (or Gateron Clear)
• Outemu Browns (ultra-low-budget, but they’re scratchy and wobbly)
• etc

But since you can pick up some Akko or Kailh tactile switches for only a LITTLE more money—why not just go with them?

Still, you really can’t go wrong with Cherry Brown or Cherry Clears. They’re phenomenal switches.

Honorable Mention Tactile Switches

Although the switches above are my all-time favorites, others are worth mentioning here too!

Durock T1

When I think of the Durock brand, I think of quality. They make excellent mechanical keyboard accessories (switches, stabilizers, etc).

The Durock T1 tactile switches are going to be VERY heavy and tactile, but also scratchy and wobbly right out of the box. You’ll want to lube & film these!

Halo Clear

Most clear tactile switches are heavier (more resistance) than their brown counterparts, and Halo makes two tactile switches that follow this:

• Halo True = similar to brown switches
• Halo Clear = same switch but heavier (more resistant spring)

They’re both great switches, and the Halo Clear is also a community favorite for it’s clacky & thocky sound. They also have the tactile bump really early in the keypress (right at the top of the keystroke), which gives it a unique feel.

You can find the Drop Halos on Amazon (above), or grab off of Drop.

Zealios V2

The Zealious switches are another fan favorite that offers a number of options for the same switch (in terms of resistance).

You can grab Zealios with 62g bottom-outs, up to 78g SUPER HEAVY bottom-outs.

They also make the “Zilent” tactile switches, which are essentially the same switch, but in a silent version!

You can grab Zealios (and Zilent switches) on KPRepublic (and use code KEEBNEWS to get a few bucks off!)

All of the Zealios switches are best described as “smooth and crisp,” with slightly different levels of “tactility” depending on the weight you buy. They’re also pretty expensive at over $1 per switch!

Kailh Polia

This is Kailh’s answer to the Holy Pandas (and Glorious Panda) switches.

They’re really tactile, with a sharp & crisp bump and a long actuation force of 1.9mm (compared to the 1.1mm Kailh Speed Copper switches).

They’re bumpier than the Kailh speed tactiles, but I do like the louder clacky sound.

Conclusion: Which tactile switch should you buy?

Although this will always depend on your sound & feel preference, as well as how you use your keyboard, we can generally recommend a few tactile switches:

• Really pronounced and crisp tactility? Try Glorious Pandas (or Boba U4Ts)
• Softer and more muted? Try the Tecsee Sapphire (or Boba U4 or Zilent silent switches)
• Gamer looking for light and fast? Try the Kailh Speed Copper switches
• For a more traditional typing feel, go with Cherry MX Browns or Clears

Happy clacking, tactile switch fans!

Tactile Switch F.A.Q.s

Are tactile switches Thocky?

Although most tactile switches offer a slightly higher-pitched “clacky” sound, there are plenty of tactile switches available that offer a good “thock!” One tactile switch famous for a thocky sound is the Gazzew Boba U4T tactile switch, which offers a large tactile bump and a smooth, lower-pitched sound (especially on the spacebar and other stabilizer keys).

Are tactile switches better for typing?

Although you can absolutely type on linear switches, the “tactile bump” offered by tactile switches can lead to a more comfortable typing experience over long periods of time, and also reduce errors and increase typing speed (since your fingers can better feel when each key has been activated). That said, the difference will always be a small one, and you should stick to whatever type of switch feels more comfortable for you!

Are Holy Pandas the best tactile switches?

This will always be a matter of opinion! The Holy Pandas are a community favorite for good reason: they offer a pronounced and sharp tactile bump and have a pleasing clacky sound. However, there are loads of other great tactile switches out there (like the Boba U4Ts, Akko Lavender Purple, and even the Glorious Panda “clones,” which offer an experience similar to the Holy Pandas), so don’t be afraid to experiment!

Is tactile better than linear?

Not necessarily, no. This comes down to personal preference, and both switch types have their own unique benefits. That said, if you’re looking for a more traditional “keyboard feeling,” tactile switches will probably be a better fit for you. Tactile switches are also preferred by typists (and anybody who primarily uses their keyboard for work), due to the higher level of comfort & accuracy they offer.