Gamakay Crystal VS. Bumblebee VS. Phoenix Mechanical Switches Shootout: Clean Criminals!

Gamakay, well-known for generating budget-friendly mechanical keyboards, has entered the mechanical transfer marketplace with their lineup of linear switches, specifically the Phoenix, Crystal and Bumbleblee. To be had as transfer choices for his or her newest LK67 keyboards or as a standalone acquire, they retail for US$16.99 for a field of 35. 

Gamakay Linear Switches

Gamakay used to be sort sufficient to ship us a couple of containers of pattern switches for assessment. All 3 Gamakay switches are linear, with the Phoenix being the silent sort. All of them function a 3-pin design and are factory-lubricated. Listed below are the specs of every transfer lineup: 

Gamakay Phoenix Silent Linear Transfer Specs

Gamakay Crystal Linear Transfer Specs

Gamakay Bumblebee Linear Transfer Specs

Typing Traits: Gamakay Phoenix

The Gamakay Phoenix transfer has the lightest actuation and finish power some of the 3. It includes a yellow field sort stem sandwiched between a transparent best and a brilliant crimson backside housing. Stem wobble used to be minimum and the lowest of the stem used to be dampened to cancel out the bottom-out noise. 

Advertised as a silent linear transfer, the Gamakay Phoenix is best for place of job use and I controlled to day-to-day pressure this with out tense my colleagues at paintings, particularly after tormenting them with my outdated Cherry MX Blue transfer keyboard for months. 

As the lowest of the stem is dampened, bottoming out feels slightly squishy and “thock-less”. In reality the dampening is so neatly accomplished, you’ll want to listen the audible scratchiness of the transfer as an alternative. The lubricant carried out used to be too gentle to my liking, and I might counsel relubing the Phoenix switches your self if you can’t stand scratchy switches. 

Typing Traits: Gamakay Crystal

Because the identify suggests, the Gamakay Crystal is totally clear, secure for the spring and pins. It jogs my memory of the Everglide Aqua King V3 switches however with a box-shaped stem. I like the transparent design particularly on an RGB keyboard as gentle refracts off every transfer, illuminating all of the board. There may be fairly extra stem wobble in comparison to the Phoenix however general it’s nonetheless a forged performer on this regard. 

Typing at the Crystal felt gentle in the beginning, adopted through a pointy building up in rigidity as I approached the top of my downstroke. In all probability it’s because of the transparent fabrics, the switches have some slight scratchiness, on the other hand they’re most commonly inaudible. Relubing the switches and stem may strengthen the total smoothness. However, the ensuing “thock” is pleasurable to listen to with out being too loud. 

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Typing Traits: Gamakay Bumblebee

Right here I stored my favorite of the 3 for closing. The Gamakay Bumblebee properties a gray box-shaped stem between a transparent best and yellow backside housing. Stem wobble is probably the most obvious of the 3 however nonetheless lovely excellent. 

Whilst checking out all 3 switches, I stay leaning in opposition to the Bumblebee principally because of the way it feels to sort. The Bumblebee is clean with the least quantity of pre-travel. It’s the heaviest of the bunch and it does really feel like so, albeit in a extra linear model. Every downstroke feels in keeping with a clean building up in rigidity, adopted through a deep, crisp backside out “thock”. 

Conclusion

Retailing at US$16.99 for 35 items, the Gamakay linear switches are reasonably priced and are nice performers on this value bracket. You get excellent acting switches with little to minimum stem wobble which might be factory-lubricated. Granted, one of the most switches may use a little bit of re-lubing, however this is just about down to private choice.

If you wish to be informed extra about Gamakay linear switches, head over to their professional retailer, or take hold of your self a field at their Authentic AliExpress Retailer.