Gateron Switches

Color	Type	Operating Force	Activation Point	Noise Level
Clear	Linear	35cN	2mm	Low
Red	Linear	45cN	2mm	Low
Yellow	Linear	50cN	2mm	Low
Black	Linear	60cN	2mm	Low
Blue	Clicky	60cN	2.3mm	Loud
Green	Clicky	80cN	2.4mm	Loud
Brown	Tactile	55cN	2mm	Medium

The main Gateron switch lineup consists of the typical switches: Red, Blue, Brown, etc.

All of the switches in this classification are considered “clones” since they mirror the design of the Cherry MX switch and use the same descriptive names where the colors represent the actuation type and spring force.

The only switch that differs slightly is the Gateron Clear switch which is totally different from the Cherry MX Clear. Instead of being a heavy tactile, the Gateron Clear is a super-light linear switch.

While being Cherry MX clones, Gateron’s main switch lineup does differ slightly from Cherry MX. Gateron switches are typically smoother due to a slightly smaller stem which can make using a Gateron linear switch much more enjoyable than a Cherry MX one.

Gateron Silent Switches

Color	Type	Operating Force	Activation Point	Noise Level
Silent Clear	Linear	35cN	2mm	Silent
Silent Red	Linear	45cN	2mm	Silent
Silent Yellow	Linear	50cN	2mm	Silent
Silent Black	Linear	60cN	2mm	Silent
Silent Brown	Tactile	45cN	2mm	Silent

A silent switch is different from a normal switch because the stem has small rubber padding on the top and bottom, so the sound is dampened when striking and bouncing back.

Gateron Milk/Milky Switches

Color	Type	Operating Force	Activation Point	Noise Level
Milk Clear	Linear	35cN	2mm	Low
Milk Red	Linear	45cN	2mm	Low
Milk Yellow	Linear	50cN	2mm	Low
Milk Black	Linear	60cN	2mm	Low
Milk Blue	Clicky	60cN	2.3mm	Loud
Milk Green	Clicky	80cN	2.4mm	Loud
Milk Brown	Tactile	55cN	2mm	Medium

Gateron Milk switches are pretty interesting. They are very similar to normal Gateron switches except they come with a different housing design. Instead of the typical clear top housing and black bottom housing, the milk switches come with a “milky” tinted housing that help diffuse the RGB lights.

Gateron Ink Switches

Color	Type	Operating Force	Activation Point	Noise Level
Ink Red	Linear	45cN	2mm	Low
Ink Yellow	Linear	50cN	2mm	Low
Ink Black	Linear	60cN	2mm	Low
Ink Blue	Clicky	60cN	2.3mm	Loud
Silent Ink Black	Linear	60cN	2mm	Silent

Gateron Ink switches are a bit different from the normal Gateron switch, they are what we would consider Gateron’s “premium switch” due to the higher price point.

The hallmark differences of the Ink switches are the clear smoky housing, different plastic material, lower pitch sound, and smoother feel.

The smoky housing is what gives the Ink’s their name, both the lower and upper housing are the same colors depending on what type of switch you use.

Gateron Low-Profile Switches

Color	Type	Operating Force	Activation Point	Noise Level
Low-Profile Red	Linear	45cN	1.5mm	Low
Low-Profile Brown	Tactile	55cN	1.5mm	Medium
Low-Profile Blue	Clicky	50cN	1.5mm	Loud

Gateron low profile switches have a completely different design than a normal switch. Gateron low-profile switches have a different shaped stem and a much short actuation and travel distance.