Kailh white BOX switch review (click bar)
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 29 ก.ย. 2017
- Skip to 8:34 for a typing demonstration.
Follow me on Twitter for updates on my keyboard videos! / chyrosran22
My other keyboard reviews: • Thomas' Keyboard Reviews
I'm Thomas and I do keyboard videos and reviews. Today we look at the Kailh white BOX switch mounted in a Cherry G80-3000. It's part of Kaihua's new series of mechanical keyboard switches using a click bar and it's a pretty interesting design.
The practice sentence was: "Hello my name is Thomas and I'm typing on a Cherry with Kailh BOX switches right now. These are definitely an improvement over Cherry MX blue as far as I'm concerned." - วิทยาศาสตร์และเทคโนโลยี
I love how nearly every Cherry MX "clone" is better than the original. Makes you wonder why Cherry doesn't make a new and better switch.
Socky Noob Laziness they bank on ignorance
They've made new switches for corsair.
Brandon Key Those are just slightly modified Reds.
Cherry recently did retool to return to smoother sliders, to prevent in particular their linear switches from feeling scratchy. As far as why they haven’t actually innovated in any way, I would imagine it’s a product of the thinking that kept them going all these years when so many other keyboard and switch makers fell off. They survived long enough to dominate the mechanical keyboard resurgence through conservative business practices, focusing their products on reliable, high-margin markets. Companies like Gateron, Outemu and Kailh/Kaihua have succeeded in gaining momentum in the lower-end consumer markets recently, but beyond that, they’ve mostly gained traction among keyboard enthusiasts, which are a much smaller market than gamers are. Corsair and Cooler Master are incredibly valuable partners, and by all accounts, Cherry is doing a lot to keep them happy. That’s where their efforts are focused, because those are their actual customers. We’re rounding errors. The moment you see Corsair go the way of Logitech and Razer, making their own switches, or jump ship to Gateron or Kailh is when I’d expect to see Cherry really start innovating again.
Brandon Key i wouldnt call mushy reds a new switch lmao
Kinda funny. Everyone waited for the patent to run out. Now they're building their own mechanism anyway
BOX switches are still considered an MX-like design anyway, so I'm not sure whether or not they would still violate Cherry's patents.
My guess is that once they actually managed to copy Cherry's design, some managed to find out imperfections and problems with it, then go on to innovate upon it.
Are you sure? I'd have though they had more in common with Omron switches instead.
The old Omron Alps-like switches or Romer-G?
@@JackOfHarts96 Romer G also feels a lot like MX, only the shape and sound seem to be considerably different. I'd describe my Romer G "tactiles" as Cherry Speed Browns with o rings.
Cannot stress how informative and detailed your videos are. Honestly i could listen to you speak for hours about your knowledge of switches and keyboards. Especially your comments about how to improve the switches. love it!
Thank you :) .
Just ordered a board with these switches and I am so excited because it is my first mechanical keyboard too!
Thanks for all the vids Thomas, helped a newbie like me make a informed purchase instead of just getting Cherry Blues like I would have before discovering this channel.
I come back to these videos to hear
50% switches
50% voice
Thank you for this review. It was mind blowing to hear the difference in sound when using different keycaps (06:50). That was really informative - I'll have to try double-shot ABS keycaps in the near future. Awesome review as always.
This was amazingly detailed. You feel like a keyboard designer, and sound like a radio host. Got my sub as I try to find a new keyboard.
Wow, surprised you're back so fast after returning from holiday! Great in-depth look at these switches. I was going to wait for this video to pull the trigger on BOX Whites, but I ended up being too impatient and just decided to try them out blindly. And I'm really satisfied with them, the sound and feel is beyond any other MX switch I've tried before. I'd recommend these to anyone looking for the best clicky switch.
One thing I have to disagree on is the actuation. All of my BOX Whites consistently actuate slightly after the click. I believe it depends on the way you press the switch though, the rubber pusher isn't exactly consistent.
I've just built an Ergodox with BOX Pale Blues (heavier version of BOX Whites) and they're a fantastic swtich in my opinion!
on a slow press down will the whites actuate before click?
i like the switch in my switch tester, but an actuation before click would drive me insane :/
hey, I've heard they've fixed the actuation in newer versions. In BOX Jade for sure. Is this true for whites?
Coz I think I'll buy them, Zealios didnt really impress me
Based on your Kailh switch overview a while back, I bought 120 Gold Kailh switches on Massdrop. I'm very anxious to put them in an Ergodox Infinity that I also got on Massdrop. However, simply pressing these switches uninstalled, it's glaringly obvious that they are superior to Cherry, Gateron, and the other clones in every way possible. It seems like most of the new switches developed in the last decade or so were overwhelmingly crap, so kudos to Kailh for innovating and making great switches!
nice review，hope you feel better btw
@Barry Manilowa they have alwasy been tbf
Getting Anne pro 2 with box whites in a few
Can I marry your voice?
simp bass boosted his mic lol
@@Snusblues Do that and tell me if it sounds the same
@@Cobalt985 it does sound the same
Filthy weeb #SBG can I marry your voice too
@@Snusblues not only
It's amazing how the quality of keycaps changes the acoustics
*density
For whatever reason, one of the most attractive audio qualities of a keyboard (to me) are when the sound of both strokes are similar. I can't really say why, but the pin spring keyswitches are just fascinating - which is definitely something since I don't even like clicky switches at all. So yeah, with your example of these switches equipped with some thick, rounded keycaps made me want to sell all my belongings to be able to afford buying these and a set of appropriate keycaps haha. But I think overall that'd be an infatuation and I'd end up going back to the mesmerizing _thock_ of the RC-930 I recently purchased.
This is the first video I watched on your channel and I am just amazed by your voice
Been using box blacks, and they are so smooth. It's unreal.
I love this guy's videos but I also love his voice and his profanity mixed with his voice and accent and just they way he presents himself is just great good work man
people waiting for the box white sounds while im enjoying your voice OOOAAAAAA so soothing
I got these in a hotswap keyboard from Drop. I intended to swap them for BOX Jades or BOX Royals immediately, but the switches have been out of stock. And, I was blown away by how good these are. They are similar to MX Browns in tactility magnitude. They are also quieter than I expected. As in the video, they are very satisfying.
Your videos convinced me to build a keyboard with these switches. I'll never touch MX Blue ever again. Thanks, Chyro!
Really helpful comparo between Kailh White and Cherry MX blues!
Your reviews are great! Think you’ve just made my mind up for me when comparing Cherry MX Blues and the Kailh Box Whites. :)
Which did you go for?
@@fraxytes Box Jades actually
Wait how tf did that happen
@@fraxytes Got myself a switch tester and tried some others =)
Just bought a keyboard with kailh box white switches since my cherry mx blues died. Giving them a shot. Thanks for such a solid review!
Even without a typing test, this is still soothing
Based on this video, I would love to see you review their Box Jades. That seems to be a favorite within the community, over box whites, and I would love to see you compare the two. :)
It took nearly a year after you reviewed them, but I finally got my hands on these switches through the Motospeed CK89, one of the first and, to my knowledge, still very few pre-assembled Box White keyboards with a full-size layout. Notable for me is how Kaihua have by now lowered the actuation point below the tactile bump and click (or maybe moved the bump and click above the actuation?). But the somewhat large the distance between tactility and actuation now makes it so that it's possible for a very light tap to not register despite getting past the tactile bump and click. It's actually still a rather subtle issue, enough that most people will probably never encounter this, or at least only very infrequently, but I can imagine this could throw off some very light-fingered touch typists. As innovative as they are, and I appreciate it greatly, Kaihua probably still has a ways to go in their precision spec manufacturing and testing procedure.
Oh boy. I have to tell you about the MK Typist (over at mechanical keyboards dot com or amazon also seems to carry them)... Not only does it have box white switches, but it has doubleshot PBT caps, usb-c, programming dipswitches, and insane build quality. It LOOKS kinda plain in pics but in person you can see the quality. excellent board (dude I have TWO!). I THINK it's actually a ducky one with special switches, I'm not 100 on that though.
@@scottnesham8828 I was aware of the MK Typist as one of the few other pre-built boards with Box Whites. I actually really wanted one, but it's difficult to get for me where I live. My CK89 cost no shipping since I'm close to China, and it cost me just US$70. The build quality is decent, with a nicely anodized aluminum backplate, but not as heavy or solid as the MK Typist. I know because I also own a first generation Ducky One, the exact same chassis used on the MK Typist (yes, you're right that it was OEM'd by Ducky but with different switches. I recognized that it has the same body shell the moment I saw the pictures, and I looked it up to confirm). Duckies are some of the best built modern keyboards out there, so I'd have been happy to get my Box Whites on one. Unfortunately, it just isn't very accessible for me.
Nice! I am going to try this on my next project keeb soon. Good review!
This analysis level is INSANE!
your new intro is amazing!
Just got a switch test kit and by far love this switch most of all!!
Kailh offered to send me some samples of these awhile ago but wanted me to pay for shipping which I refused to do for a review sample. I'm happy I got to see them in action on your channel and see what they are like in actual usage. After watching the video I think my thoughts would have lined up quite similarly to yours, they have some improvements over MX Blues but still need some work to truly be a step forward.
As always great video, and i had a nice little score today of a new with the plastic film still on HP keyboard for $1 US at a local church ran thrift store, and yes while not mechanical it's a cheap, but usable keyboard I can use at work, and not have to worry about someone trying to steal like one of my Cherry, G84 or Logitech wireless keyboards I would end up locking in my desk drawer at the end of the day lol!
I have an old Leopold FC200RT and planning to desolder the mx shits and put in either zeliostotles or Kailh's Box switches, which one is the cheaper option? also where can i find Thick Doubleshot keycaps? and which ones do people prefer?
These definitely sound better than blues. I have the Havit keyboard with Kailh's low profile clicky switches (blue instead of white for some reason). They do click before they actuate, and it bothers me. I'd rather have actuation slightly before because sometimes I hear the click thinking I've pressed the key and release it, but there's no output. It's weird that the full size version is the opposite and clicks after actuation (which I would prefer).
Makes me want to try more to know more what I am talking about. Only tried those out of testing boards. And the only three keyboards I have is a shitty ajaz keyboard with browns I hated so much it forced me to go deeper and ended here. The unicomp I got after and my Model F I got last week! But all the kailh box with clickbars were the big surprise I liked out of my testing boards
Best sounding switches I've heard so far. You mentioned that these are not very tactile yet still clicky, are there good clicky switches for gaming?
4 years later this is still the video I point people to when asked about my favourite switch
So you're the hero I have to thank for box jades and box royals!
very detail information , Subscribe really love those detail and explain ^^
Anyone knows if Kaihua(Kailh) has made the improvement of making the trigger bit later to be after the click sound? If so which model is that?
These sound amazing :O
I was looking for a switch review and I got mentally flashbanged with the deepest sultry smooth voice i've ever heard
Will you be reviewing the newer thick clicks by kailh? They are pretty much the same design, except with a thicker clickbar that some people are saying are some of the most tactile switches - comparing them to bke topre even
Have you tried the EC Ivy switch from Varmilo? If so - how does these two compare?
Wow. Have been scouring the internet for reviews on different clicky switches. This is the first videos that talks about the actuation before the click, which is insane because that sounds like a super important piece of information reviewers would mention.
I gonna recieve a keyboard a week from now, it has kailh box white switches. I'm going to try to make them actuate before clicking but I'm pretty sure it will be difficult just by looking at the force graph.
@@fireflameft2964 Nice! Let me know how it goes (if you can). I bought around 100 Kailh Pink switches for my upcoming board. Unfortunately, the board has been delayed and I haven't really been able to test the Pinks quite yet and still don't know whether I should perform a spring swap or not.
@@TeamOT If I don't forget I will inform you about how it went haha. I also ordered some Kailh Speed Bronzes wich are very similar and are known to actuate before the click, let's see how it goes. I've heard about the pinks but I don't know anything about them.
@@TeamOT so it arrived today, I can consistently actuate the bronzes before the click but in a real scenario it doesn't bother me at all because I mainly play games, but I understand why typists hate the switch.
About box whites they actuate exactly at the click, I managed to actuate some switches before the click but it's sooo hard to pull off like you have to apply the perfect amount of pressure when the stem meets the click bar without going through and this only happens in some switches because in others it's straight up impossible. So there is some very small deviation between switches I guess but that's to be expected IMO.
I also changed keycaps two times already and the ones I put on and had to remove because I didnt like them were REALLY tight so I had to apply some force so that might have messed up the switches.
But all in all I would say yes you can make them actuate before the click if you really reaaaally try in some switches but in real usage it's straight up impossible and I doubt someone notices the 0.1 mm deviation in some switches lol.
I also found a single switch that doesnt actuate after clicking so it might be a defective one. Overall I'm very please with these switches, they feel and sound nice and feel very stable compared to the gateron browns I was using until now on a CK550
@@fireflameft2964 thanks dude! That helps a lot. My board is still far from here (lol), but I'll try it on a macropad I just got.
One question about the bronzes: do you feel like the switch is 'floaty' between the click and the bottom out? Like when I'm playing first person shooters/MMOS with Cherry Blues for example, I sometimes don't fully release a key (from the wasd cluster) before actuating again. In MMOs, I do this to stutter step to find ressources. One thing I didn't like about the MX Blues was that the switch always felt much mushier between the click and the bottom out (as compared to the feeling before the click).
I've never owned any other clickys, so I don't know if this is normal or I'm just asking for sometime uber specific. That's just what I thought people meant when they said a key was mushy.
Also, for your non actuating switch, this happened to me once: I bent the pin so perfectly during insertion (kek) that it looked like I had snapped it. I replaced the switch and set the faulty one aside only to realize a couple of days later that the pin had bent on itself AND folded itself so perfectly that the pin looked like a single sheet of metal instead of a bent/snapped pin. Switch worked great on the next board. Hopefully this will save one switch for you hahaha.
8:56 The last space bar press was done with your thumb...
he's evolving
These switches are really awesome, honestly better than the clicky switches from cherry mx. Didn't try the navy blue's yet, would you take these over the blues or the other way around ?
i like the way he talks lol nice and crispy voice is calmign
Do newer generation box whites actuate after the click? I've tested a single jade and pale blue I have and for both of the them the actuation seemed perfectly timed with the click and I couldn't get either to go off without the other.
Hi @Chyrisran22 what mic do you use? and what amppliffier eventually?
Lol, I've re-watched your video about Kailh Box yesterday and today I see this
Digging the box format. It feels slightly less wobbly. That said, I went for a build with Outemu's, specifically the green (lime) ones. 80 grams of finger excersizing goodness. Nobody wants to even type on my keyboard, which suits me just fine :)
Thanks this really helped me out
should I get box whites or box jades, I heard box whites are kinda linear but more on clicky (i mean not so tactile) so I had my eyes on whites.
I'd be curious to hear your thoughts on the v2 version of these switches, I tried one of them from a sampler on a Keychron k10 pro and they sound lower pitched and they were the switches I ended up buying.
This is sort of the first time I got switch samplers since last time I bought a keyboard there weren't any hot swappable choices for my layout of choice (Italian ISO) and went with a cherry brown.
I dunno if it was my speakers or youtube but especially when I put the sample switches in the k10 pro (PBT keycaps) the difference between cherry clicky switches and the kailh ones was much more pronounced than I expected, the rattling of cherry blues and greens really doesn't come out in youtube videos so it was a bit of a shock hearing it IRL, I haven't bothered trying the gateron clickies (of which there were really few in the sampler, most were either linear or brown-style tactile) since they sounded distincly MX-like and could see the click-jacket under the transparent cases.
I really liked how clickbar switches sound, even the higher pitched ones like the box summer were really nicer than cherries.
I couldn't quite verify the issue with the actuation point in the v1 switch, I think I might have managed with that another one of the other switches in the sampler once but I was trying to do it on purpose and seemed always on the cusp of the tactile bump. Perhaps they corrected or compensated for the issue since then?
why is this guys voice so peaceful
I agree that the tactility could be better and that's why I went with Kailh Jades and Navy on modifiers and spacebar.
I bet you sound fucking awesome when you're sick.
Dude, i have a blackwidow ultimate with cherry mx blue and costar stabilizers, and a ikbc f-87 with cherry mx red switches & cherry stabilizers.
If i buy the kailh box or the kailh bronze can I put on one of these PCbs with Costar stabilizers?
I mean, the IKBC has a default cherry stabilizer PCB mount, it can handle a Costar stabilizer????
I honestly prefer the sound of the Kailh BOX Whites with Cherry's thin PBT keycaps against any of the other ones. It's honestly right where it needs to be for me, not too high-piched but not too thocky either
I really need assistance. I was thinking about buying the hexgears impulse with khail box white switches and I want to know if anyone thinks it's a good choice of keyboard
I have these on my anne pro keyboard and I'm kinda disappointed by the fact that sometimes I hear the click but the actuation did not happen. What clicky switch do you suggest instead ? Thanks
Holy shit I'm early, hope you feel better btw :)
What is the difference between the ABS Doubleshot letter keys and the compose thicker buttons? I'm not familiar with the term you used. Are those thicker bottom row keys only available on vintage boards or can I find those for a build? Also, what profile is this particular keyboard?
Very enjoyable review. Hope you're feeling better (Vitamin D). Wouldn't tactility be improved if the strike occurred against the stem instead of the housing? How much of the sound had to do with thickness vs type of plastic? Is ABS softer and therefore lower in pitch?
interesting, in the click-ml the switch actuates clearly after the click, so that sometimes, if you go 'light', only the click is produced with no actuation (this with an havit 390-something, sorry don't rememeber exactly the name of the keyboard)
Chyros, have you had the opportunity to try the heavier Box Pale Blues? I'm wondering how the weighting on them compares to Membrane Buckling Spring.
I have tried both. They are heavier, but not anywhere near BS. I would say they are closer to MX browns.
buckling springs should still be a bit heavier with a 70-75g actuation compared to box pale blues 60g.
although buckling springs will have a lighter bottom out with less cushion
The plot has apparently thicked with the box navies, which are designed with a significantly higher tension clickbar.
would you say it makes the key more sturdy like an alps feel over mx? sturdy as in, no wobble, you can press down on the edges of the key without it binding...is it closer to alps than mx in that regard?
I think you're confusing several terms here at the moment. They don't bind though; you can press edges down and it works fine.
Nice-looking keycaps.
If you but silencers on the click bar, would it be tactile?
What are those keycaps? Please tell me I love them and the CHERRY G80-3000 so much. The retro look really is so nice. reminds me of my model m. I need those keycaps for my board.
Hi Mr.22, i am so happy that you had achieved 10k followers.
I just wonder, can i spread this video to other social medias?
Thank you for the insight
hey, thomas, do there is now v2 version of the kailh box whites. Wanna cover this one?
I do like that keycap set very nice
The man voice is soothing af.
forget about the switches, you voice sounds amazing !! :)
Subscribed! U deserve more subscribers, maaaan!
Wow, it sounds MUCH better than MX blue.
Got these on massdrop, can’t wait to give them a try.
I bought a Anne Pro 2, and the Box whites sound amazing!
Good for gaming?
Sounds real good!
In terms of sound "alone", is it better than Matias click switches?
I don't think so. Matias Clicky switches have more deeper sound to them and much better tactility it seems.
I hope these box switches do well, my hopes are up for them.
Might try these out on next board I get. Sound nice with sa caps.
Would it be possible to remove the lid of the switch while the switch is in the keyboard, I'm receiving a keypad with these switches and I want the switches to be linear.
you can actually
Love BOX switches. I have a board with BOX blacks and one with whites and I'm building another one with the BOX whites right now. Only thing I've noticed is that the whites seem to have some minor inconsistencies in the click bar in that the click is muffled or doesn't double click sometimes. I'd say order a few extra to cover for bad switches and you should be good though
Please do a key wobble shootout of your switches - and also include cherry mx -
I haven't found a single key wobble review anywhere
Between box white and box brown which one is more tactile?
I would be great is you could review new Kailh BOX Heavy switches.
can i use box switches on my gk61?
It's been bugging who your voice reminds me of and I realise it's Casey Kasem (RIP) keep up the good work ;)
i wonder how long the spring plastick retainer lasts,,,
"... that alone is enough for me to switch" - I see what you did there! 😂
nice sound
Hey Thomas, how do you feel about how these stack up against Matias switches in terms of key feel and sound? Basically I'd love to hear your thoughts on the best widely available modern clicky tactile switch.
SinisterPrince Matiases sound better. I might be revisiting this topic soon, actually.
The thick tall double shot abs caps sound just like click modded black alps
I love that we're getting these with thicker clickbars now. The future is beautiful.
It does seem like it could be a better design.
does the kailh box switches still have the same key cap stem cracking issue????
No, not anymore. I have these switches the notch is gone.
I wonder why they didn't position the click-bar stop on the stem/plunger assembly instead of the switch body. I believe that would improve the tactility of the switch. Maintain the stop on the body to act as a maximum positive-y travel stop for click bar.
This guy sounds so chill, but he has a humor... I can hear it...
I’d honestly give my right arm for those classic Win key caps. For some reason they are difficult to find, reproductions often don’t emulate the colour scheme or the orientation quite correctly and period correct ones are just impossible to find! Them paired up with some tai-Halo cubic for the rest of the keys would be lovely!
i hadto chose between kailh box borwn or mx brown in my ducky one 2 pro mini and im so happy i went for kailh they feel amazing sound amazing to