Teardown - Gateron optoelectric switches!
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- čas přidán 18. 09. 2023
- Today we look at one of the new contactless switches that have hit the market in the last few years; Gateron optoelectric! It's always a pleasure to look at innovative stuff like this! Hope you enjoy the video! :)
Intro by Kyle Carter
Outro by Facundo Cabanne
My keyboard reviews: bit.ly/1TbOtft
My switch teardowns: bit.ly/2C1QGHz
My TOP X videos: bit.ly/2FmpZfd
My XL typing demos: bit.ly/2OoAW3w
My tutorials and featurettes: bit.ly/2OrkLUh
My unboxing videos: bit.ly/2TSrr0m
I'm Thomas and I do videos and reviews on mechanical keyboards ranging from the most sickening modern RGB gaming keyboards to vintage hardware relics, or sometimes keycaps or keyswitches ranging from Cherry MX to Alps SKCM to IBM buckling springs and anything in between.
Follow me on Twitter for updates on my keyboard videos! / chyrosran22 - Věda a technologie
There’s something so depressing about them recreating the tactility of Cherry MX Browns in a contactless switch… The clicky one looks cool, though.
right haha
You forgot a few dozen quotation marks on “tactility”… lol
Seriously, if they're going to add another part just for the tactility then couldn't they make something in the style of tactile Alps at least?
It’s actually embarrassing that Zeal have proven that you can incorporate alps esc. tactile and clicky contact leaves into MX switch designs, and companies still recycle the worst aspect of Cherry’s designs.
The difference in tactility between blue and amber alps alone illustrates the versatility and configurability of the design; you can make switches with light tactility if you want, and they still feel better this way. It’s mad!
Yeah there's so much potential, maybe future versions will be more refined. My favorite MX-like tactile switch is Zealio V2 because the bump is at the very top and it's a nice, big and rounded bump unlike MX Browns which feel terrible imo. Would be neat if they went in that direction.
I feel like these tactile and clicky switches are missing a huge opportunity here. Without the normal contacts using up space, they could easily just put an Alps style tactile/click leaf in there instead and have an amazing feeling switch instead of something that just feels like another MX switch. As was mentioned, the click version even started down that road with a similar idea but why they didn't just finish it with a full sized leaf is bizarre. If they would have done that, it would have me running to figure out how to build a optoelectric board with these switches. Something other than Zeal to get alps tactility in an MX switch.
it’s definitely never happening tho😭
Fun fact: Kailh made an optical version of their Box Whites that are compatible with Gateron optical keyboards
Where would I find these?
Finally you teardown switches i own. BTW i love the linears, just the right ammount of actuation force and they are very smooth and have a good sound too.
Haha yes I tend to stick tp exotic ones because they are rhe most interesting!
I have a Gk61 optical with lubed Gateron optical blacks. Some of the smoothest switches ever made.
I have the same keyboard and switches, very smooth indeed. The keyboard itself could use some foam inside though, the case makes the whole thing very loud.
optoelectric switches are awesome
We've gotten to the point where there are certainly some decent clicky options in the MX-ish (can't say 'compatible' because these are optoelectric so they're certainly not, but they still have a very MX-esque housing and certainly are compatible with keycaps at least...) world, but there's still a total lack of innovation on the tactile side. It's kind of sad...
Tactile switches are the most difficult ones to design. Of course, there are plenty of designs in history to steal from now, though.
Well, he told us this video was coming.
Gateron has come out with a standard mechanical switch with the same click leaf design, it’s called the Melodic switch. Looks like MechKeys is selling it.
Can you ask 8bitdo to review their NES/Famicom styled keyboard please. The retro gaming channnels are covering it but it would be good to get a hardcore keyboard perspective. Thanks!
Thanks for the vid! Hard to find keyboards with those, though. Especially full size ones.
Would've loved to get a sound test in the end. Nice teardown still :)
yeah, that was rather anti-climactic
I never do sound tests in these teardowns as it is a very keyboard-bound property. They're always in my reviews though :) .
Very informative
Perhaps the unused cam is for actuating contacts on a yet to be released contact-based switch that uses the same sliders.
I'd argue that an opto switch can also repurpose the cherry-type spring into something more purpose-built for tactility.
Can't argue that anyone's really done this. Since I've touched those browns and oh dear are they ever browns...
I think they're mostly held back by convention. They're free to get a little weird with it now. (and by weird I mean ALPS, and it's not weird)
It even looks like an ALPS leaf spring at this point, the bends and force characteristics and sliders could be brought more in line with that for better tactiles IMO.
Thomas, can the click leaf be removed from the blues to make them linear?
I have been using for some time the optical asus RX switches (they are not bad i am ok with it) . is my 3th keyboard. still my cherry red silent speed and the Outemu red speed silent. (i call it the economical ones) there are ok. i think is time to get what i have learn with you and get real switches. First appear on 2020 when i get the test of the first run. still work unit today and still use it now. but my custom need love i think is time to step on the game on new switches.
OK. What does it feel like compared to Alps?
can you review the lekker L45 switches that wooting just released? i bought a wooting two HE and i'd like to know if the L45s are better than the L60 in terms of smoothness
it's just lighter springs right?
Does anybody know of a reasonably priced full size optical board?
A4Tech Bloody B760 if you can get it, the board I have. $50.
Do keep in mind it looks like shit out of the box, with very ugly keycaps.
No sound demo?
Those were the clicky switch sounds at the intro?
Nah those were IBM Beamsprings with a solenoid going off too.
i thought it was blue alps or some alps variation. Actually i described the sound for the board review video
@lignorof8475 the review intro uses SKCM blue switches, this one is beamsprings.
1:34
Optoelectric browns hurt my soul.
Make them actually tactile god damnit! The only worthwhile switches with any amount of tactility are the jades, navies, and the zeals. There are so many god damn switches out there and they are all the god damn same.
Do some original designs, or atleast make them good. Browns fking SUCK
I am a clicky enjoyer, so im fine with the nice sound the three switches above make, but if you arent? What choice to do you have? HONESTLY?
Either the horrid tactility of [everything else] or the loudness of the three good clicky switches.
This is dumb, and it makes me SAD.
I wonder what PCBs are supported and how you could use those switches for a custom build. @Chyrosran22 I hope you make a video about the keyboard you're using them with and how they feel and sound 🙂
Yes, they will feature in a review at some point:) .