Keyboard Builders' Digest
Save 5% at Loobed Switches! Code: KBDNEWS
Keyboard Builders' Digest / Switch trends

Best-selling keyboard switches of August, 2024

August part of this monthly overview of community favorite mechanical switches, based on real sales data provided by vendors and manufacturers.

KBD.news
Published September 6, 2024
Creators! Feel free to tip me off about your keyboard related projects to bring them to 140K readers.

Hey fellow switch enthusiasts! Let's continue our monthly series featuring the actual community favorite switches for mechanical keyboards – this time listing August's best-selling switch models.

The article is quite long, feel free to jump to the results if you can't wait.

PSA

  • If you missed it, here is the July switch compilation. It has been updated multiple times after publication (e.g. Candykeys, Gateron, Kailh and Mechboards where added much later), feel free to check it out if you browsed the write-up in the early days.
  • The collection of all the monthly switch compilations is available too.
  • Aggregated top list. Where is it?! 60% of the shops sent me detailed sales data, but believe me, it makes no sense to publish an aggregated best-seller list at this point. I may explain this in my next editorial.

Pic: White Fox – Chosfox's best-seller switch

White Fox – Chosfox's best-seller switch

Contributors

Many thanks to all the shops who contributed, in particular Unikeys and Chosfox who joined this initiation for the first time! On the other hand, half of the shops invited (10/20) failed to get back to me in time, partly because of the Labor Day long weekend I guess. I didn't want to wait any longer but may add them later.

The following vendors sent me detailed statistics with sales volumes (thanks for your confidence) so they deserve a little celebration. Clicking these links, in the order the data was received, takes you to their top list:

And the shops that sent ranking or comment only:

You can find the disclaimer at the bottom of the article, let's jump right in the lists and numbers!

Results

Mechboards [5% off with the KBDNEWS coupon code]

Last time you asked for UK vendors, so here you go! (I contacted more shops, but only Mechboards provided data in time, so thanks a lot!)

Pic: Sunsets at Mechboards

Sunsets at Mechboards

Gateron Oil Kings remain king for MX switches. We get a lot of people using our lube service on them as well, which is interesting. Seems like they’re the switch for people who want the best of the best. Gateron POM Smoothie as our 5th best selling switch is a nice surprise as we don’t hear much about them. Cherry MX Browns holding strong, at the dismay of Glarses. And Gateron Baby Kangaroo was a new line. We have not advertised it so it’s nice to see it breaking into the top 10 on its first month – Ben.

1lowprokb Choc (V1) Sunsettactile1 £0.85buy
2Gateron Oil Kinglinear2 £0.65buy
3Kailh Choc (V1) Whiteclicky2 £0.55buy
4lowprokb Choc (V1) Ambients Twilightsilent linear-3 £0.95buy
5Gateron Smoothielinearnew £0.30buy
6Gateron Ink Black V2linearnew £0.75buy
7lowprokb Choc (V1) Ambients Nocturnalsilent linear-4 £0.95buy
8Cherry MX1A Brown Hyperglidetactilenew £0.50buy
9Novelkeys Creamlinearnew £0.75buy
10Gateron Baby Kangaroo (V2)tactilenew £0.55buy

UniKeys [7% off with the KBDNEWS coupon code]

Thanks to UniKeys for joining this compilation for the first time and providing excellent insight!

Pic: Purple Dawns at UniKeys

Purple Dawns at UniKeys

From my perspective, Keygeek and new BSUN switches will be the new trend in the community. As seen in the list, some keygeek and bsun switches already surpassed HMX's sales number. We will be having a few new keygeek, bsun, and HMX switches designed by ourselves, and we expect to see good sales numbers on those too in the near future. All these new switches will be made with Keygeek, BSUN, and HMX's brand-new mold sets – Dashan.

1HMX Xinhai (light)linear$0.28buy
2KEYGEEK X MZ Y3linear$0.23buy
3KEYGEEK X UNIKEYS PURPLE DAWNlinear$0.25buy
4XY Studio BSUN Jade Rosalelinear$0.55buy
5HMX | Sillyworks Hyacinth V2Ulinear$0.26buy
6HMX Cloud (42g)linear$0.28buy
7Unikeys x HMX Purple Dawnlinear$0.28buy
8Keygeek x MZ Y1Xlinear$0.25buy
9HMX Macchiatolinear$0.28buy
10HMX Game 1989linear$0.35buy

BeaverKeys [5% off with the KBDNEWS coupon code]

Pic: Ice Kings at BeaverKeys

Ice Kings at BeaverKeys

I just restocked for Aflion Blue Sky which have been quite popular since they are very close to the Invokeys Matcha Green – Peter.

1HMX Xinhai (heavy)linearnew 0.50CADbuy
2Durock Ice King Tactiletactilenew 0.75CADbuy
3KTT Kang White V3linear-1 0.39CADbuy
4Durock Sea Glasslinearnew 0.75CADbuy
5KTT Strawberry V2linearnew 0.70CADbuy
6Gateron Oil Kinglinear-3 0.87CADbuy
7HMX | Sillyworks Hyacinth V2Ulinear-3 0.45CADbuy
8BSUN | HC Studio Rosellelinearnew 0.75CADbuy
9KTT Roselinearnew 0.41CADbuy
10Tecsee Coraltactilenew 0.65CADbuy

AKKO [5/10% off (US/EU) with the KBDNEWS coupon code]

As always, AKKO EU is one of the most proactive contributors. Last time you pointed out the role of Aliexpress sellers and their lack in these articles, so Albert looked into Akko's Aliexpress sales too, which is their main platform.

Pic: Cream Blue and Yellow from Akko

Cream Blue and Yellow from Akko

Akko.eu/.de

1Akko Cream Yellow Pro V3linear- €0.24buy
2Akko Rosewoodlinear6 €0.37buy
3Akko Fairy (silent)linear1 €0.37buy
4Akko Lavender Purple Pro V3tactile1 €0.26buy
5Akko Penguin Silenttactile-2 €0.37buy
6Akko Cream Blue Pro V3tactile-4 €0.24buy
7Akko Piano Prolinear- €0.37buy
8Akko Creamy Purple Pro V3tactile-2 €0.26buy
9Akko Silver Pro V3linearnew €0.37buy
10Akko Cream Black Pro V3linearnew €0.32buy

Aliexpress

1Akko Cream Yellow Pro V3linear
2Akko Lavender Purple Pro V3tactile
3Akko Cream Blue Pro V3tactile
4Akko Cream Black Pro V3linear
5Akko Penguin Silenttactile
6Akko Rosewoodlinear
7Akko Matcha Greenlinear
8Akko Fairy (silent)linear
9Akko Silver Pro V3]linear

Coffeekeys [10% off with the KBDNEWS coupon code]

There's a lot going on at Coffeekeys these days, so many thanks to Matteo for taking the time and sending me detailed data of his sales.

Pic: Morandis from Coffeekeys

Morandis from Coffeekeys

1Wuque Studio WS Morandilinear- €0.39buy
2Wuque Studio switchesvariesnew variesbuy
3Gateron Quinntactile- €0.57buy
4Wuque Studio WS Jadelinearnew €0.42buy
5Wuque Studio WS DashHall-effect2 €0.78buy
6Gateron Oil Kinglinear-4 €0.69buy

Chosfox [5% off with the KBDNEWS coupon code]

Welcome Chosfox on board as a first-time contributor to this series.

Pic: Poison Gas from Chosfox

Poison Gas from Chosfox

Our Poison Gas Tactile Switch V2 is currently the best-selling product among our newly released switches, showing a very positive sales trend – Robin.

1Chosfox White Foxlinear$0.30buy
2Chosfox x JWK DD / Jinglelinear$0.30buy
3Chosfox Hanami Dango - Pinklinear$0.50buy
4Chosfox Poison Gastactile$0.30buy
5Chosfox x Kailh Arctic Foxclicky$0.60buy
6Chosfox Summer Lime Silentlinear$0.45buy
7Chosfox Voyager V2tactile$0.55buy
8Wuque Studio WS Morandilinear$0.39buy
9TTC Frozen V2 Silent (TTC Silent Glacier)linear$0.69buy
10TTC Flaming Purple V2linear$0.42buy

Keygem [5% off with the KBDNEWS coupon code]

Pic: Gateron Root Beer Float at Keygem

Gateron Root Beer Float at Keygem

Oil Kings were already low in stock that is why they are not in the top10 this time – Elli.

1GAZZEW Boba U4Ttactile
2GAZZEW Boba U4tactile
3Wuque Studio WS Morandilinear
4GAZZEW U4 RGBtactile
5Gateron Smoothielinear
6Gateron Milky Yellow Prolinear
7Cherry Nixielinear
8Gateron Root Beer Floattactile
9Gateron Melodicclicky
10GAZZEW U4Ttactile

Mechanicalkeyboards.com [5% off with the KBDNEWSMK(!) coupon code]

Pic: Gateron Jupiter Banana at Mechanicalkeyboards.com

Gateron Jupiter Banana at Mechanicalkeyboards.com

1Gateron Jupiter Bananatactile$0.28buy
2TTC Bluish White (V2) Silenttactile$0.60buy
3Cherry MX2A Silent Red (PCB-mount RGB)linear$0.40buy
4Cherry MX2A Browntactile$0.40buy
5Gateron Oil Kinglinear$0.65buy
6Cherry Nixielinear$0.42buy
7Cherry MX2A Blueclicky$0.40buy
8Cherry MX2A Silent Red (plate-mount RGB)linear$0.50buy
9Gateron Baby Kangaroo (V2)tactile$0.60buy
10Kailh BOX V2 White (PCB mount)clicky$0.35buy

CandyKeys

Pic: HMX Game 1989 from CandyKeys

HMX Game 1989 from CandyKeys

Funny, who thought the demand for old Cherry would be so high? Next time we should buy a few more switches and sit on them for a few years… Seems to be that the HMX hype has slowed down and that now the taste of switches is from all over the block. Looking forward to picking out the new coming switches of the community! – David.

Just checked and I would say our hype-switches of last month were still HMX Retro Series, KBDFans Rollers and Akko Rosewood each with a spike in August – Fabian.

1HMX Game 1989linear- €0.43buy
2Cherry MX Ergo Cleartactilenew €0.38buy
3Gateron Smoothie Silverlinearnew €0.37buy
4Gateron Milky Yellow Prolinear- €0.34buy
5Cherry MX Orangelinear- €0.62buy
6Cherry MX Brown (non-Hyperglide OG)tactilenew €0.44buy
7HMX Cloud (42g)linear- €0.42buy
8Cherry Nixielinear- €0.44buy

Ashkeebs Design [5% off with the KBDNEWS coupon code]

Pic: Tecsee Zaku from Ashkeebs

Tecsee Zaku from Ashkeebs

1HMX Xinhai (heavy)linear- $0.35buy
2Tecsee Zakulinear1 $0.55buy
3Tecsee Amethysttactile1 $0.55buy
4Gateron Milky Yellow Prolinear1 $0.25buy
5Geonworks HG Clear 3.5mmlinear2 $0.33buy
6AEBoards Naevy R1.5tactile2 $0.58buy
7Gateron CJlinear2 $0.60buy
8Emogogo Linearlinear2 $0.65buy

Milktooth

Not much of a change. Xinhais are #7, everything else is unchanged – Kevin.

1TTC Venuslinear- $0.51buy
2Wuque Studio WS Morandilinear- $0.39buy
3TTC Frozen V2 Silent (TTC Silent Glacier)linear- $0.53buy
4TTC Bluish White (V2) Silenttactile- $0.46buy
5Everglide Aqua King (V3) 62glinear- $0.54buy
6Cherry Nixielinear- $0.42buy
7HMX Xinhai (light)linearnew $0.30buy
8KTT Matchatactile-1 $0.49buy
9Gateron Baby Kangaroo (V2)tactile-1 $0.55buy
10Gateron Quinntactile-1 $0.55buy

Dangkeebs [5% off with the KBDNEWS coupon code]

Pic: Dangkeebs Creamery – Red Velvet

Dangkeebs Creamery – Red Velvet

1HMX Game 1989linear$0.34buy
2DK Creamery - Red Velvettactile$0.50buy
3Keebz N Cables x BSUN Taro N Sweet Potatolinear$0.50buy
4DK Roastery - Iced Lattelinear$0.65buy
5HMX Retro KD200linear$0.29buy

PKKeyboards [5% off with the KBDNEWS coupon code]

Top switches for Aug (in no particular order): gateron oil kings, pkkeys misu, hmx sunset gleam, gateron quinns. we just replenished restocked all HMX switches – Kevin.

Disclaimer & Method

Keep in mind that most of the time I'm not in a position to verify the validity and accuracy of the data provided by shop runners. Some of these lists come automatically from their databases, however, some were put together manually. I asked for the numbers of the previous month.

That said, take everything with a grain of salt, but I hope this compilation will still hold some value, highlighting trends, giving you some tips, and as a snapshot of the zeitgeist it will be also interesting to look back at on the long run.

Final thoughts

Hey, I hope this write-up made at least some sense. I not only discovered some switch models I wasn't aware of, but I also learned a lot about some vendors.

And because you made it this far into the article, here's a little surprise:

  • There's a new WIP switch database I'm working on and soft-launching now, with all the models mentioned in the top lists above: data sheets, offers of various vendors, converting and tracking prices (well, semi-automatically for now), in-stock info, etc.

Lots of half-baked features, lots of bugs to track down, more offers have to be added too, but maybe some of you will find it useful in this early stage.

(Please don't report issues other than mismatched switches/offers and factual errors, I'm aware of displaying and formatting problems, just like essential features missing.)

Anyway, let me know how you'd improve this series, the format, what vendors would you like to see here next time, etc.

See you next month!

Do you like this post? Share, donate, subscribe, tip me off!

Published on Fri 6th Sep 2024. Featured in KBD #174.


Related

SP Star Sacramento switch

ThereminGoat reviews the SP Star Sacramento switches.

Momoka FROG linears review

Momoka FROG Linear switch review by Reimu64 (video).

Keychron camo switches

Honestly, where is this hobby heading? Dye-sub camo switches by Keychron.

Open source force curve meter

Open source force curve meter for MX-style switches by GreenPylons (repo, curves).

Assembling 100.000 switches per day

u/Muilkinginuk posted a video of the assembly line at TTC(?) manufacturing 100 thousand switches per day.

Top switches of October, 2023

Milktooth's Kevin helps us to capture the zeitgeist and identify October's most popular switches for mechanical keyboards.

×
top