Choose yourself a Gateron.

July 2, 2025
Wybierz sobie Gaterona.
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The German company Cherry patented mechanical switches in 1984. The patent expired in 2004, giving rise to a series of clone switches from companies such as Outemu, Gateron and Kailh, based on the same technical solutions as Cherry but differing in actuation force and the subjective feel of their operation.

You can approach the subject in a similar way by looking at the history of motoring. In 1886 Carl Benz built the Patent-Motorwagen No. 1, the first car in human history. Over time, Mercedes-Benz cars became a symbol of prestige, and the brand has long been seen as a premium segment. Even so, looking at the Formula 1 constructors' standings, for example, Ferrari has the most titles (as many as 16), followed by Williams, McLaren, Lotus and... only since 2014 has Mercedes been on the podium. Whether the pioneer of motoring is the best car brand or not is hard to judge definitively. It's worth adding that the World Car of the Year award (a jury of 82 journalists from 24 countries) in the World Luxury Car category went in 2020 to... the Porsche Taycan. In 2019 it was the Audi A7, in 2018 the award went to the Audi A8, but in the past year, 2021, first place went to... the Mercedes S-Class.

As you can see, the pioneer of motoring can't boast the most awards or recommendations, yet it remains the object of many people's dreams and desires. It's the same with mechanical switches: those based on Cherry designs are by no means worse, yet (like Mercedes) Cherry still holds the psychological advantage of owning something "premium". That's how the legend of "good because it just is" arose, and it's still stuck in people's heads. Don't get me wrong: I'm not saying Cherry is bad. I'm saying clone switches aren't worse or better, just different. They're worth giving a chance, especially Gateron switches, which many consider better than Cherry.

Which switch should you choose?

Switches differ in their operating mode, character and actuation force.

 

Source: keychron.com

Gateron switches can be found in two Volcano keyboard models: the Lanparty 2 (Gateron blue and Gateron brown) and the Lanparty BT (Gateron yellow).

The way switches work and their actuation force make it possible to classify them by user needs. So: the blue switch is loud and has a distinctive "click". Pressing it clearly signals that the switch has actuated. Although they are officially regarded as switches for work and typing, there's nothing to stop you gaming on them occasionally. Especially if you're not "hardcore" and gaming is a form of relaxation rather than chasing scores. The sound of blue switches is clearly audible. It's worth bearing that in mind when someone nearby is resting, sleeping or working. Here's how blue switches sound: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-DgWIT5iVw#t=399s

 

Photo: manufacturer's materials, blue Gateron.

The brown switch is a so-called tactile switch. There's a noticeable resistance, but without the characteristic click of blue switches. That makes this keyboard great for typing, work and gaming alike. It's also much quieter than one with blue switches. You can see how they sound in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pjcgNDzYsk#t=288s

 

Photo: manufacturer's materials, brown Gateron

One of the more interesting switches is the yellow Gateron. These are linear switches ideal for gaming. Soft, downright smooth and velvety, they provide suitably quiet operation and a great "feel" for multimedia entertainment. These switches are found in the Volcano Lanparty RGB BT keyboard.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-ZPcmQ23Sw#t=248s

 

Photo: manufacturer's materials, yellow Gateron.

So the choice is wide and depends on your needs and tastes. And we don't need to convince you that Gateron is a great switch that stands shoulder to shoulder with Cherry.

 

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