Mechanical keyboards are always an indispensable accessory for work and entertainment with high customization capabilities as well as the typing experience that mechanical keyboards bring is extremely wonderful. However, conventional mechanical keyboard models are quite bulky in size and have low mobility. Therefore, mechanical keyboard models with Low-profile structure were born, bringing extremely compact size, high mobility, suitable for Freelancers who often move and work outside.
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So what is Low-Profile structure on mechanical keyboard?
Low-profile mechanical keyboards are keyboards equipped with switches that are slim, have short key travel, and lower actuation points than the switches found on conventional mechanical keyboards.
With a switch structure that is significantly shorter than conventional switch models, low-profile mechanical keyboards are often extremely thin and light. It should be noted when using low-profile mechanical keyboards that low-profile keycaps and switches are not cross-compatible with other mechanical keyboards except keyboards with mechanical switches of the same line. This is a major drawback that makes many people hesitate to try or pursue this line of mechanical keyboards despite knowing its ergonomic advantages.
Some types of Low-profile Switches available on the market
Cherry MX low-profile Switch
Cherry MX Low-profile is a low-profile switch model researched and produced by Cherry. This is the first low-profile line from Cherry with a linear switch design, transparent shell, made for use with SMD LEDs. This type of switch requires 45cN actuation force, 1.2mm travel and 3.2mm total travel, 35% lower than traditional Cherry switches.
Logitech low-profile GL Switch
Logitech has also recently developed its own low-profile mechanical switches, called GL switches. These switches come in three variations: clicky, tactile, and linear.
GL Clicky has a clear click feel, makes a sound when pressing the keys and essentially creates a tactile feeling. GL tacticle gives a light bounce when typing and GL linear is a pure linear switch that does not make any sound. These GL switches are even thinner than Cherry MX low-profile with a total travel distance of only 2.7mm (compared to Cherry MX low profile is 3.2mm), a travel distance of 1.5mm and require a force of 50gf or more, a bit heavier than Cherry low profile. For MMO and action games, Linear is best. For FPS and fighting games, fast typing should use Tacticle or Clicky.
Keychron Low-profile switch
Keychron is a fairly new player in the mechanical keyboard market, but the company has also achieved certain successes with keyboard models that support Mac computers very well with easy-to-use layouts and are friendly with the macOS operating system. Recently, the company launched the Keychron K3 mechanical keyboard with a compact low-profile keyboard structure but still provides an extremely good typing experience.
Keychron Low-profile also comes in 3 variants: clicky, taciticle and linear and has a total key travel of 2.5mm (thinner than both Cherry low-profile switches and GL low-profile switches), a transmission distance of 1.1mm and requires a force of 30g or more.
In particular, the number of switch types equipped on the Keychron K3 is quite large with 6 switch options including: White switch, Red switch, Black switch, Brown switch, Blue switch and Orange switch. Each type of switch will bring different typing experiences, depending on typing preferences, users can choose the switch type that suits their needs.
Although Keychron Low-profile is a new switch model that Keychron only equipped on Keychron K3, what this keyboard brings is extremely good, thin and light in size, especially the world's first direct hot-swappable switch feature for low-profile mechanical keyboards.
The typing experience on the Keychron K3 is extremely enjoyable, the key travel is not too short, the keys are good and comfortable, the pressing force is not too strong, the feeling is just enough for a low-profile keyboard, depending on the switch model Red, Brown, Blue or Orange will bring different typing feelings.
Some images of Keychron K3 keyboard:
With the success of Keychron K3 in the past, Keychron will soon bring the successor version, Keychron K3v2, with many valuable improvements, especially the battery life will be better than the previous version. If you are interested in the Keychron K3v2 Pre-order program in the near future, please like the SiliconZ Fanapge to update the latest information from us.
