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Linear switches and tactile switches are two of the most common types of mechanical keyboard switches. Both offer unique typing experiences and are favored by different groups of users. In this article, we will explore the difference between linear switches and tactile switches and help you determine which one is the best choice for your needs.

Linear switches

Linear switches are known for their smooth, consistent, and silent keystroke. They are popular among gamers who prefer a fast and uninterrupted typing experience. Linear switches lack the bump that tactile switches have, which provides feedback to the user about when a key has been activated. This makes them ideal for fast-paced gaming or tasks where accuracy is key.

many options to choose from

Since linear switches are so populair among gamers there are is a lot of choice here. There are people who want a switch to respond almost instantly, so called fast switches which have a short travel time like the Akko CS Silver. Others might be looking for a good budget switch like the Gateron Milky Yellow. Cherry MX reds are a classic ofcourse but there is something for everyone out there.

Tactile switches

Tactile switches, on the other hand, offer a bump or a tactile feedback when a key is activated. This bump provides an auditory and physical cue to the user that the key has been pressed, which can be helpful for touch typists who prefer to feel their way around the keyboard. Tactile switches are also preferred by writers and programmers who need to type quickly and accurately, but still want some feedback to help ensure they are pressing the correct keys.

Lubing

A big part of getting the best out of any switch is making sure it is lubed. Many switches come out scratchy sounding or don’t feel as smooth as they could be. You can read about lubing here. Don’t feel like doing this yourself? Luckily there are options out there like Akko Linear Black pre-lubed edition.

So which is best for you?

Both linear switches and tactile switches have their own pros and cons. Linear switches are faster and more consistent, but can sometimes be less comfortable to type on for extended periods of time. Tactile switches are slower but provide a more satisfying typing experience, and are often preferred by typists who need to type for long periods of time. In conclusion, the choice between linear switches and tactile switches comes down to personal preference and what you plan to use the keyboard for. Gamers who value speed and accuracy will likely prefer linear switches, while typists and writers may prefer tactile switches for their tactile feedback and comfort. Regardless of which type of switch you choose, both offer high-quality typing experiences that are sure to make your keyboard use more enjoyable. You can check out Akkogear.eu for more switches and for your first order use coupon HELLOAKKO to get 10% off.

Once again it is time to test a linear switch from Akko. This time Akko send over their new Haze pink switches.

Haze Pink is Akko’s first silent switch

Akko keeps pouring out switches like there is no tomorrow. Lineair, tactile, light, heavy, POM, Jelly, all sorts of switches. There is one thing they still didn’t have; a silent switch. Well boys and girls, the wait is over. While most people like there keyboards make clicky, clacky, poppy, dooby, daby sounds, not everybody can appreciate this. This is especially true for co-workers and spouses. While there are options like 0-rings available these don’t always provide the best result and can significantly alter the typing experience. So Akko decided it was time to put out a silent switch.

A closer look

Opening up the Haze pink switches we can see that the top and bottom are both made out of PC whilst the stem is made of POM material. The spring is roughly 15mm in length. So far nothing unlike we have seen before. When looking closer though, there are some very small silicon cushions on the sides of the stem. These are positioned on the top and bottom of the stem’s flanks.

Specifications

Switch name: Akko Haze Pink(Silent)
Type: Linear
Operating Force: 43 ± 5gf
Bottom-Out Force: 58 ± 5gf
Pre-Travel: 2.0 ± 0.3mm
Total Travel: 4.0 ± 0.3mm
Tactile Position: N/A
Housing bottom: PC
Housing top: PC
Stem: POM

Lubing the Haze pink switches

My first impression of the switch was that they felt pretty snappy straight out of the box but I wanted to give them the lube treatment anyway. So as per usual I lubed the housing and stem with Krytox G205g0. I didn’t lube the springs as I didn’t have a thin enough solution handy. Still the end result got me satisfied.
If you wan to know how to lube your switches or wonder what you need, I have made an article about the topic, which you can find here.

Typing experience and ofcourse soundtest

Typing on the Haze pink switches was a pleasant experience. They felt snappy, smooth and light, but not too light. I still love the heavy Jelly black switches (review) but these are special in their own right. The sound, or rather lack of sound is very nice. The only thing making any sound now is my spacebar. Ofcourse you can cut some packing foam to size to fill this up if you want total silence. Since I sometimes do my typing at night and my desk in in the same room as we sleep, these switches proved to be a nice addition. I used the switches in the Monsgeek M1 keyboard (review).

Final thoughts

The Akko Haze Pink switches are nice smooth switches which are incredibly silent. I hope Akko will continue to expend the silent treatment to other switches as well. I would love to see a nice tactile switch like the Jelly Purple without the sound for example. The Haze Pink switches are perfect for people who want to use a mechanical keyboard in an office or other environment where silence is preferred. You can order the switches directly from akkogear.eu. Akkogear.eu is the official European website for Akko products and ships worldwide. By using one of the links provided you help us getting review samples.

This is the third keyboard from Akko I will be covering. I started with the 3098B Black and Gold edition and later got my hands on the Alice Plus Black. This time I will be looking at a more compact keyboard in white; the Akko 3084S Shine Through.

Specifications

Keyboard

General

Accessories that come with the 3084S Shine Through

The keyboard comes in the familiar black Akko box with a wrapper around it showcasing the keyboard. Inside there is a user manual and another thing we have come to expect from Akko. This of course is the a box with extra keycaps. With these extra keycaps it is possible to use the keycaps in a full size keyboard for example. Extra’s like media keys and even keycaps for an ISO layout are included! No different colors this time though, they are all of the same white shine through sort. BUt you can check out other models with different kinds of keycaps here. Akko also included a keycap puller and switch puller. The latter being something Akko didn’t always provide in the past with other models.

A closer look

Taking a closer look at the keyboard itself we can see the board is quite simple in design. There are no logo’s to be found and the bezels are small. On the top left a USB-c connection can be found. The cable has a cover around its USB-c connector making it look like its part of the chassis when connected. Personally I like this approach, because it makes for a clean look. On the back a pair of rubberized feet can be found which have two stages of height adjustment. Apart from this a large sticker with the keyboards model number and other information like the serial number can be found. On the upper right side are some small LED status indicators.

Keycaps

The provided keycaps are made of a double shot PBT material. Unlike other keycaps from Akko which have a secondary solid color injected in the keycaps these caps can let light through. Unlike some cheap third party keycaps, here only the symbols and letters let light through so the rest of the caps keep their solid base color. The caps feel nice and sturdy, though they seem a bit less thick than my other ASA keycaps from Akko. The ASA profile is used in many of Akko’s keycaps. The have the spherical shape of SA keycaps and their height is similar to that of OEM keycaps. and their height is similar to the OEM profile. If you don’t want shine through keycaps, there are plenty of beautiful sets you can buy from Akko that can match the white frame of this board like the Los Angeles keycap set.

Stabilizers

The stabilizers are a nice upgrade from the ones found in the older 3084 models. These are the purple ones that are also present in my 3098B. These come pre-lubed and are very stable out of the box. Of course manual lubing and giving these a band-aid mod can improve them even more. The 3084S Shine Through does not support screw-in stabs.

Inside the 3084S Shine Through

Taking apart the keyboard is not something I would recommend with this model. The frame itself is not the easiest to open up. I was able to open it using my triangular prying tools, which came in my iFixit essentials kit. The frame is even thinner and feels more fragile than on the 3098B black and gold I reviewed though. After removing the frame and removing the keycaps I had to remove some screws from the top plate. This was easy enough as there are no cables inside the board due to the lack of software support and wireless connectivity. The boards sibling, the 3084B does have wireless capabilities if that is what you want. The 3084S Shine Through has sound dampening foam on the bottom of the housing with precisely made cutouts so it fits the back of the PCB perfectly. This helps to reduce any hollow sounds quite significantly.

Jelly Pink Switches

The switches I chose for the keyboard are the Jelly Pink switches. Just like the Jelly Purple and Jelly black I have these have a dust-proof stem made of POM material. The Dust proof stem design also helps against wobbling. Jelly Pink’s housing is made of a translucent polycarbonate with a pink dye. An extra long spring of 22 mm can be found inside. The Jelly Pink switches are a very smooth switch straight out of the box. I did lube them with Krytox G502g0 for even more smoothness. But like the rest of this board the straight out of the box experience is already very good. You can check out my article about lubing switches if you have no experience with it.

The true colors of the Akko 3084S Shine Through

Like most keyboards the Akko 3084S Shine through has RGB lightning. The keyboard doesn’t have any software, so you will need to use some key combinations to set it up. The effects themselves are very nice on this board. This is mainly thanks to the shine through keycaps but the white plate helps with this as well.

Conclusion

The 3084S Shine Through is a nice compact keyboard. It is a keyboard that is perfect for someone who wants their first mechanical keyboard with the option of using different switches. It provides a solid base with good quality keycaps, switches and stabilizers. If a person doesn’t feel comfortable with modding this can be a good board as well. There is sound dampening material included, the Jelly Pink switches are very good out of the box and the lubrication of the stabilizers is pretty decent as well. The board is sturdy and doesn’t squeak. If you prefer a tactile switch you can choose the Jelly Purple switch. I made a review of these as well.

An issue for some people can be the lack of wireless connectivity. If you want this board with bluetooth and 2,4Ghz support you will have to go for the regulair 3084B. This version doesn’t come with shine through keycaps but instead has normal ones. You can always buy a pack of shine through keycaps with it ofcourse. Another thing that people should be aware of is that this, however possible isn’t my recommendation for a user who wants to mod the keyboard in all possible manners. The frame is a bit hard to open and quite thin so could easily break when opening.

All in all this is another solid board from Akko. This can be a perfect starting point to the hobby of mechanical keyboards or just a solid hassle free small form factor board. The board is available in both black and white. I personally prefer the white version as it can be matches easily with almost any set of keycaps. A very nice match could be the new Provence set for example. of course matching the board with one of the beautiful limited edition world tour series keycaps is a great option as well!