Key switches as far as the eye can see.
The Gateron booth was a place that seemed to embody the “rabbit hole” of keyboards.
The booth is filled with switch testers.
Reflecting current trends, a large number of “magnetic key switches” were on display in the more visible front section, while “mechanical key switches” were displayed in the back section.
KawamuraKey switches produce a wide variety of tactile sensations and sounds not only through their color and shape, but also through the shapes and materials of their component parts (top housing, bottom housing, stem), the spring tension, and the amount of lubricant used.
That’s what led to this variation.
What surprised me was how wide the variety of magnetic switches had become.
The “Wooting 60HE,” a pioneer in magnetic keyboards, was released in 2022.
I recall that in 2023, major gaming brands like Razer entered the market, and these keyboards have since become mainstream in the gaming scene.
When magnetic key switches (also known as Hall-effect switches) first began to gain popularity, even though they had a similar shape to Cherry MX-style switches, it was not yet possible to interchange them freely across different manufacturers.
One reason for this is the polarity and orientation of the magnets built into the Switch.
KawamuraMagnetism has an S pole and an N pole, doesn’t it?
According to the currently published product specifications, Gateron’s magnetic switches use the “north pole down” configuration, in which the north pole of the magnet faces the PCB.
Even on Gateron’s official website, it is explicitly stated that magnetic switches—including the Magnetic Jade series—have “the N-pole facing down toward the PCB.” Furthermore, in an explanatory article published by the company in 2026, it is explained that Gateron’s magnetic switches“a Hall Effect PCB compatible with N-pole-down magnet orientation is required.”
https://www.gateron.com/blog/detail/keyboard-switches-for-gaming
https://www.gateron.com/products/gateron-magic-jade-switch
https://www.gateron.com/u_file/2505/21/file/GateronMagneticJadeProSwitchKS-20TF10B045NW-Y106PRO1.pdf
On the other hand, in the early days of magnetic keyboards, other types also existed.
For example, in official documentation dated February 2024, Akko explicitly states that its magnetic keyboards at that time were designed with the S pole facing the PCB.
The document also explained that Gateron HE switches have reversed polarity and therefore will not function on Akko PCBs as-is.
In other words, it wasn’t simply a matter of being able to replace the magnetic switches from that era because “they were similar in shape to the MX series”; the orientation of the magnetic poles had to match exactly between the switch and the Hall sensor on the PCB.
I feel like this was very complicated, and there were many instances where, even if we were able to replace the part, it still wouldn’t work.
KawamuraI remember it being really complicated.
Nowadays, there are more and more products compatible with the N-pole-down configuration— such as Gateron —and it seems that swapping switches across different manufacturers has become easier than before.
Given the current state of the market, it can be inferred that as the approach of orienting the N pole toward the PCB—a feature of the PCB design itself—has become the mainstream, key switches have naturally come to conform to that specification as well.
However, this does not mean that a unified standard applicable to all magnetic switches has been established.
Even if it’s a key switch with the N pole facing the PCB, it won’t work properly unless the software supports “calibration.”
In that regard, it seemed that Gateron was expanding its selection of magnetic key switches so that they could be adopted in a wider range of magnetic keyboards.
On the other hand, there were also many traditional mechanical key switches on display in the back.
Personally, I was intrigued by the two quiet versions of the “Oil King.”
Key switches also follow “trends,” and I get the impression that lately, there are a lot of “pre-lubricated” key switches designed to reduce friction during operation.
I think it was “Oil King” that kicked things off.
Thanks to its generous lubrication, it offers surprisingly smooth operation. The stem is made of POM, making it one of those key switches that produces a pleasant “clack-clack” sound when bottoming out.
I feel that the reason they’re releasing this in a “silent” version (with switches designed to reduce the sound of the keys bottoming out) is to meet the demand from people who want to use their favorite key switches even in an office setting.
In Japan, in particular, there seems to be a lot of such latent demand.
KawamuraThat said, it seems there still aren’t very many people using mechanical keyboards in the office to begin with…
Gateron also sells tools for replacing key switches and keycaps.
That new product is this “3-in-1 Keycap & Switch Puller and Switch Opener.”
KawamuraAlthough it didn’t show up well in the photo, the other side is a key switch puller, and the protrusion visible on the inside is a tool for disassembling the switch.
By disassembling the switch, you’ll be able to lubricate the internal parts yourself and replace the stem and spring.
I also received a few key switch samples and a “2-in-1 Keyboard Tool: Keycap & Switch Puller” as souvenirs.
Up until now, I’ve been using an analog switch puller or keycap puller to pop them out, but this product is incredibly handy.
Both the 3-in-1 switch puller andthe 2-in-1 switch puller are available for purchase on Amazon.
This might come in handy if you have one.
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- Originally published:
- Last updated:
- Interview Method: In-person interview at TGS 2026
- Source: https://www.gateron.com/
- Conflict of Interest: Product provided: Yes. Monetized links in this post: Yes (Amazon links).
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