Gateron blue switches have a tactile and auditory click when you press them. These are the loudest switches that we have available. Gateron Blue switches have a 55 gf actuation force.

Gateron Brown switches have a tactile bump but don’t have the auditory click that Blues have. These have historically been the best selling switches for X-Bows. Gateron Browns have a 55gf actuation force.

Gateron Red switches are quiet with a linear feel. Gateron Reds have an 45gf actuation force. These are a great middle-of-the-road switch that is popular with a broad audience.

Gateron Black switches are linear, like reds, but have a heavier 60gf actuation force. Black switches are a good option for heavy typists who tend to bottom out their keystrokes often. 

Optical switches communicate keystrokes through an infrared signal, instead of through metallic contact the way that traditional switches mechanical do. Many of the internal parts are the same and the typing feel is very similar between optical and traditional mechanical switches. 

All Gateron optical switches are hot-swappable. This means that they can be removed and replaced, without any wiring or electrical work required. On an optical switch keyboard, optical switches simply connect to the PCB beneath them. This allows you to test out different optical switches to find which best suits you. Some users even choose to use different switches for different parts of the keyboard.

Can I use optical switches on my X-Bows keyboard?

Gateron optical switches are compatible with X-Bows keyboard version 2 sold before 2021.