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Jun 17, 2023

Hall Effect vs. Optical: What Mechanical Keyboard Switches Should You Choose?

Mechanical switches come in all shapes and sizes, but some are much better than

Mechanical switches come in all shapes and sizes, but some are much better than others.

Anyone who owns a mechanical keyboard knows that the type of switch you choose can have a significant impact on your typing experience. With more choices than ever in the mechanical switch space today, making that choice can be quite difficult for the uninitiated.

Not only do we have different types of mechanical switches, but switches based on entirely different mechanisms are now also making waves in the market. Two such switches are hall effect and optical ones, but which one is the better choice for you?

While we've already compared optical and mechanical switches, hall effect switches are completely different. Both switches feature a contactless design and share many advantages and disadvantages. That said, they're completely different under the hood.

Much like Hall effect joysticks used in controllers, these switches use magnets at the bottom of the switch stem, which triggers the Hall effect sensor on the PCB to activate the switch.

Simply put, they make use of the Hall effect, which works by changing an active electrical field when a magnet passes through one. This means that there's no physical contact required for the switch to activate. The sensor on the keyboard PCB (or in the switch itself) then detects this change in voltage and tells your computer that a key has been pressed.

You might think that they're a new addition to the mechanical keyboard world, but the first Hall effect switches were on the market as far back as 1968. These were made using micro switches made by Honeywell at the time and weren't exactly practical for consumer use. However, modern Hall effect switches are much more cost-effective to produce, finally making them a viable choice for consumer keyboards.

Optical switches, on the other hand, work using a process called light induction. Every time you press a key, the corresponding switch's stem blocks a beam of infrared light, which is then detected by an infrared sensor which in turn tells your computer that a key has been pressed.

As mentioned before, both of these switches have a contactless design which can do wonders for durability and completely changes the feel of the switch as there's basically no resistance when pressing down. In fact, both of these switches have almost the same advantages—longer lifespan, greater durability, and faster actuation.

However, since mechanical switches are the most popular option for mechanical keyboards, Hall effect and optical switches often tend to cost higher as fewer manufacturers are making them in the first place. Their overall construction, although simpler, is also more expensive due to the nature of the parts required.

There are a lot of different aspects to a keyboard switch, but how they type and feel is of paramount importance. Longevity is important too, but with the average rating of Hall effect and mechanical switches being 100 million keystrokes, you can put your concerns to rest.

The typing performance of a switch largely relates to how fast you can actuate one. Compared to traditional mechanical switches, optical and hall effect switches actuate much faster.

This is due to the difference in the construction of the three switches. As you likely already know, mechanical switches work by making contact with a metal strip at the bottom of the switch using the switch stem. This strip often bounces when touched with the keyboard stem, and the switch can't be actuated again until it stabilizes—a time delay of about 5ms.

Both hall effect and optical switches eliminate this delay, with Razer going as far as claiming that its optical keyboard switches have zero debounce delay. These switches also often have shorter actuation distances, meaning you don't have to press the switch as much to get your keyboard to detect a keystroke.

One trick that hall effect switches have up their sleeve that optical switches don't though is the fact that you can change the switch's actuation point making it longer or shorter using the software.

You can find this functionality in the Hall effect switches used in the Wooting Two He and Steelseries Apex Pro (we really enjoyed the SteelSeries Apex Pro Mini when we reviewed it!). The MagLev Switch MX, a hall effect switch that you can effectively 3D print at home, also features adjustable actuation points. However, do keep in mind that this feature isn't available on every hall effect switch on the market.

All this means that both Hall effect and optical switches are much faster than their mechanical counterparts giving you an edge when it comes to typing speed or gaming. Whether or not that edge actually makes a difference is another matter.

The way a switch feels when you press on it matters to mechanical keyboard enthusiasts, which is why we have so many different varieties of mechanical keyboard switches.

Both Hall effect and optical switches are generally lighter to press, meaning their actuation force is lower, often hovering in the 45-50g range, although Hall effect switches tend to fall on the heavier side. The resistance you feel when pressing down the key is very different, making them feel quite different based on the switch itself and the material used.

Regardless, hall effect switches are closer in terms of feel and feedback to the traditional mechanical switch, while optical switches feel like slicing a sword through the air. By that analogy, a Hall effect switch would feel more like slicing a hot knife through butter.

The choice here comes down to what you prefer. We recommend trying out both switches, if possible, before making your choice to see which one gives you the desired typing feedback and feel.

This is a space where both switches are identical. Both hall effect and optical switches are generally rated for 100 million actuations. By contrast, the average mechanical switch is rated for 50-60 million actuation, with only the Cherry MX lineup claiming a 100 million actuation lifespan.

Given how 50-60 million actuations amount to roughly 15 years of intense gaming and typing on average, it's safe to assume that you won't be swapping out your hall effect or mechanical switches due to durability concerns anytime soon.

Generally speaking, Hall effect switches are pricier than their optical counterparts, that is, if you can find them in stock in the first place. Even if you were willing to look past the hefty price tag on both of these switches, finding them in stock is the biggest headache.

As of May 2023, a pack of 12 Lekker Hall effect switches will cost you $14.99. Keychron sells an 89-pack of its Lava optical switches for $21.00, and Gateron's KS-22 optical switches will set you back $20.00 for a set of 110 switches. All of these switches are either out of stock or about to run out at the time of writing.

For context, you can pick a pack of 110 Kailh Blue mechanical switches for 23 bucks on the Kailh website anytime, with its more expensive Cherry MX Blue counterpart coming in at $16.99 for 10 switches. Hall effect and optical switches may have matched their mechanical counterparts in terms of pricing, but they're still pretty hard to come by.

Both hall effect and mechanical switches give you a fast, light typing experience that'll last you for decades. With so many similarities between them, the switch that's best for you comes down to the experience you want and whether or not you can actually find your switch of choice.

If the idea of an adjustable actuation point gets you going, hall effect switches are the obvious choice. However, if you're looking for the lightest, most frictionless typing experience, optical is the way to go.

Regardless, we recommend trying out the switches if you can and then making your choice. You can compare specs between switches all you want, but the actual feel that a switch gives you when on your keyboard is what matters at the end of the day.

Hall effect and optical switches are a great way to change your typing experience by a significant measure. If you're looking for keyboard switches that'll last you a lifetime, either of these is a good choice.

However, your personal preferences, as well as your budget and availability of the switch, are what matters and will influence your decision.

Yadullah is a Computer Science graduate who writes/edits/shoots/codes all things cybersecurity, gaming, and tech hardware. When he's not, he streams himself racing virtual cars. He's been writing and reporting on tech and cybersecurity with websites like Candid.Technology and MakeUseOf since 2018.