Best New Mechanical Keyboard Switches to Try in 2025

June 9, 2025
6:43 pm

There are way too many switches to count these days. It can get overwhelming. Trust me, I build keyboards full-time and even I feel that sometimes. That’s exactly why I write these kinds of roundups. I want to highlight what’s new, what’s genuinely good, and what might be worth your time and money. This time, I’m not just covering linears. I’m also diving into a wider mix of switches I’ve been using and enjoying recently.

I’ve tested a ton of switches over the past few months, and I’m excited to share some of the standout picks I’ve come across. So let’s get into it.

Quick Context Before We Dive In

I’ve been building keyboards for nearly five years now, and my tastes have changed quite a bit during that time. I started out completely into tactiles. These days, I find myself reaching for linears more often. That said, I still love exploring all types of switches.

Like my last article, I want to set expectations. This list isn’t ranked. These are just the switches I’ve been reaching for the most lately. And as always, this is just my personal preference. A switch can feel or sound completely different depending on your keyboard, plate material, case, or even your desk.

Sound demo disclaimer: All recordings are done on a Mode Encore using GMK keycaps, an aluminum plate, and I’m only pressing the H, J, and spacebar keys. Everything is recorded with a Sennheiser MKH 416 mic and nothing is edited.

None of this is sponsored, but some affiliate links may be present. Those help support what I do, and I really appreciate it.

Sillyworks x Gateron Type R — The Tactile That Got Me Back Into Tactiles

Sillyworks x Gateron Type R Specs
Top Housing	PA66 Nylon
Bottom Housing	PA66 Nylon
Stem Material	POM
Spring	22mm KOS double-stage, 55cN actuation, 60cN bottom-out
Travel	Tactile, Pre-travel 2.2mm, Total Travel 3.0±0.2mm
Price	~CAD $7 per 10-pack

The Gateron Type R might be one of the best tactile switches I’ve tried in a long time. I don’t know if it’s a hidden gem at this point, but it deserves more attention. Sillyworks teamed up with Gateron and the result is a punchy tactile with a super full sound. The bump feels great, it’s satisfying to use, but the real kicker here is just how in your face these sound. It’s a perfect combo of feel and sound.

The stock lube is just okay. Like most Gateron switches, I recommend hand-lubing these to get the most out of them. Gateron’s factory lube can be hit or miss, and these benefit from a bit of extra care.

All that said, I absolutely loved these. They even brought back my interest in tactiles. If you’ve been looking for a tactile that feels assertive but smooth, this is a great option.

Pros:

Awesome type feel and sound, typically deeper
No films needed for modding!
Fun tactile bump

Cons:

Mediocre factory lube consistency across switches.

Get them here

Below is a sound demo using the Gateron Type R switches on the Mode Encore.

Gateron Type R

Keygeek Blue Cheese V2 — Cheesy Name, Deep Sound

Keygeek Blue Cheese V2 Specifications
Top Housing	PA66 Nylon
Bottom Housing	PA66 Nylon
Stem Material	Modified POM L4
Spring	22mm KOS, 42g or 52g options
Travel	Linear, Pre-travel 2.0mm, ~3.8mm total
Price	~USD $6.50 per 10-pack

Weird name, but this switch really delivers. The Blue Cheese V2 builds on the original Blue Cheese by leaning into a much deeper and more refined sound profile. The first version was a little poppy and bright. This one, though, feels way more full-bodied and smooth. The first time I typed on them, I was genuinely surprised by how deep they sounded. I also think they stand out nicely from other popular linears, especially with so many brands like HMX leaning into that lighter, clackier sound.

They come in two spring weights, 42g and 52g, and there’s been noticeable improvement in how smooth the travel feels. While it’s not the fastest or most aggressive linear out there, it’s one of the most character-rich switches I’ve used lately. I honestly loved my time with these and would say they’re probably my top recommendation at the moment. I loved how they sounded in the Solaris I did!

One small note: Keygeek’s factory lube can still be slightly inconsistent, but their newer batches have shown a lot of improvement.

Pros:

Super deep linear switch
No films needed for modding
Comes with a little block of blue cheese (toy)
Good total travel distance

Cons:

Mediocre factory lube consistency across switches.

Get them here

Below is a sound demo using the Blue Cheese V2 switches on the Mode Encore.

Blue Cheese V2

Sillyworks X HMX Sonja Linear — Scratchy and textured

Sillyworks x HMX Sonja Specifications
Top Housing	Textured PA66
Bottom Housing	PA66
Stem Material	POM
Spring	52±2g, 22mm KOS single-stage extended
Travel	2.0mm pre-travel, 3.9mm total
Price	~USD $6 per 10-pack

Another Sillyworks collab, and easily one of the more talked-about releases in the last few months.

The Sonja switch actually lives up to the hype. It uses HMX’s newer rail-style bottom-out design, which feels similar to what you’d get with Snowcrash switches. But what really makes Sonja interesting is the top housing. It has a purposely rough texture that creates this really unique scratchy sensation when typing. It’s not just a gimmick either. The surface almost feels sand-like, and if you’ve been chasing that “scratchy switch” feel in a good way, this hits the mark.

The stock spring weight feels great and honestly doesn’t need to be swapped unless you’re chasing something super specific. Sonja pairs especially well with builds where feel and sound are both key. I’ve been enjoying it a lot in boards like the Neo 75Cu and even Mode setups without foam. It’s a versatile switch with its own personality.

Factory lube is solid across the board. You can relube them if you’re picky, but they’re perfectly usable right out of the box.

One side note: I got to try the HC variant briefly, and I actually preferred it. It still had that nice scratch but felt a bit fuller and less thin. That’s my only real critique with the standard version. In some builds, the sound can come off a little too thin for my liking.

Pros:

Amazing scratchy sound / feel
Awesome feeling stock springs

Cons:

The standard variant is a bit plasticy sounding if you don’t re-mod them.

Get them here

Below is a sound demo using the Sonja switches in the Mode Encore.

Sonja

WS BigLucky — Something new from Wuque

These are the new BigLucky series switches from Meletrix / Wuque. While they are usually associated with budget builds and have had their fair share of ups and downs from some releases, I love a lot of the parts Wuque has to offer when it comes to switches. In fact, one of my favorite aftermarket springs is their 53g triple-stage spring.

These come in three ‘flavours’ tactile, clicky and linear. While I have only tried the linears at length, I dabbled with the tactiles and loved it. Honestly, I like the tactile variants more than the linears.

They managed to put together some solid pre-modified switches that feel very smooth and consistent right out of the box. And speaking of that, they come in the cutest containers I have ever seen. I don’t have too much technical info on these and will update this list when they get back to me, but they are saying these will offer very low stem wobble and very high consistency. In my testing they felt great, but leaned a bit too plasticy sounding with just the stock lubricant.

Get them here

Below is a sound demo using all three variants.

WS BigLucky Linear by alexotos

WS BigLucky Linear
WS BigLucky Tactile
WS BigLucky Clicky

SP-Star Ayara Linear — An Old Favourite Worth Rediscovering

SP-Star Ayara Linear Specifications
Top Housing	Nylon
Bottom Housing	Nylon
Stem Material	POM
Spring	Two-stage gold-plated, ~62g
Travel	4.0mm total
Price	USD $5.40–$5.80 per 10-pack

SP-Star, short for “SUPER-STAR Studios,” has actually been around for a while. They first popped up back in April 2020 and quickly made a name for themselves in the keyboard community. Their early switches were known for having a unique feel and a distinct sound profile that stood out from the crowd.

At some point though, I kind of stopped using them. Not because they got worse, but because there were just so many new switches dropping from other brands. They sort of slipped through the cracks.

A few weeks ago, I found an old batch at home and decided to throw them into a build. I immediately thought, why did I stop using these? I ended up ordering some newer sets, the Ayara, and honestly, I was really happy I did. They still have that bright, snappy clack, but without sounding overly plastic or hollow. Imagine something close to Cherry switches, but smoother and without the scratch.

The stock lube isn’t anything special, so I’d definitely recommend tuning them yourself. What’s also been fun is using these for franken-switching. They’ve mixed surprisingly well with parts from other modern switches, and I’ve been having a great time experimenting with different combinations.

Get them here

Below is a sound demo using the Ayara switches on the Mode Encore.

SP Star

Here are all the sound demos again to compare. Enjoy the subtle sound differences!

The audio gear used to record this was a Sennheiser MKH 416 into a Volt 176. There has been zero post processing done to the audio and it is recording from head height using a c-stand and shock mount. The typing is done on a desk mat in a room with minimal sound treatment (carpet and furniture).

Gat Type R On The Mode Encore by alexotos

Gat Type R On The Mode Encore
Sonja On The Mode Encore
Blue Cheese V2 On The Mode Encore
SP Star On The Mode Encore
WS BigLucky Linear On The Mode Envoy

Final recommendation:

Blueberry Milk Linear Switches – I love these! Dangkeebs always has cool switches, especially their own releases. They tend to favour tactiles there, but whenever they put out some Linears it’s always a good day. These were no exception, I modded these and tested them out and they are an excellent pick up if you want something full sounding but not too loud.

Things to look out for, a shameless self plug

Mike from NovelKeys and myself have been working closely with TypePlus as they are ramping up to release their switches. Without boring you with the details, we are getting close to releasing my collaboration with them that we are dubbing the Granite switches. They are going to be a fun milky top switch that has a slight bit of scratch with a completely new factory lubing process that we are pretty darn confident will be extremely consistent. We are aiming to make these super high quality, without an insane price tag. Keep an eye out for NovelKeys for these or join one of our discords if you are interested in when they are released or if you just want to know more info! Heck, even just stop by one of my streams and ask!

Wrapping Up

It’s been wild keeping up with all the new switches coming out lately, but it’s also been a lot of fun. This list isn’t meant to crown a “best switch” or tell you what to buy. It’s more of a snapshot of what’s been genuinely interesting and enjoyable for me to use across a bunch of different builds. From scratchy textures to rekindling my relationship with tactiles (crazy I know), these switches all bring something unique to the table.

As always, switch feel and sound are super subjective. What works for me might feel totally different in your setup, and we all have different biases and preferences. But I think that is kind of the beauty of this hobby. If any of these stood out to you, I recommend picking up a small pack and testing them out before committing to a full build.

Thanks for reading. And if you’re curious about the Granite switch I mentioned, stay tuned. I’ll be sharing more details soon.

Until then, happy building. 👋