Key Takeaways
1. Limited Tactile Switch Options: Currently, the main tactile switch options for Hall effect keyboards are Glorious Panda HE and AEboards Raeds HE switches, with limited compatibility.
2. Gateron’s New Switch: Gateron is introducing the Magnetic Jade Emerald tactile switch, which is expected to be broadly compatible with various Hall effect keyboards.
3. Pricing and Specs Anticipation: While exact pricing and specifications are not yet revealed, an announcement is anticipated during Gamescom or IFA, with a likely price similar to the Jade Pro switches.
4. Design Innovations: The Magnetic Jade Emerald switch features a round stem for better stability and may include nubs to reduce friction, potentially enhancing smoothness in keystrokes.
5. User Preference for Tactile Feedback: Despite the popularity of linear switches for Hall effect keyboards, many users are still seeking tactile feedback, indicating a demand for more tactile switch options.
If you own a Hall effect gaming keyboard and are in search of tactile switches, your main options right now are the Glorious Panda HE switches, which have very limited compatibility—seemingly only working with Glorious and Keychron HE keyboards—or the AEboards Raeds HE switches. The latter are labeled as tactile, but they achieve this by using rubber domes to mimic the Topre switch designs.
Gateron Enters the Market
Gateron is stepping into the scene with their new Magnetic Jade Emerald tactile switch. This switch appears to be a more broadly compatible Hall effect option for keyboards such as the Wooting 80HE and Iqunix EZ63. While Gateron has only given a sneak peek of this new switch on X, we can deduce a few details from the image they shared.
Anticipated Pricing and Specs
Exact cost and specifications haven’t been disclosed yet, but it seems that an announcement during Gamescom or IFA is very probable, as Gateron mentioned that the new switch will be available “soon.”
Considering that the Gateron Magnetic Jade Emerald switch is part of the same series as the Jade Pro (currently priced at $56 for 70 switches on Amazon) switches, which we lauded in our Iqunix EZ3 review, we can infer that it shares the same design features, including a closed-bottom design, a PC top housing, a nylon bottom housing, and a POM stem. It will likely maintain the same 3.5 mm total travel as the Jade Pro and gaming switches.
Design Innovations
However, the tactile Magnetic Jade Emerald switch seems to differ from its linear counterparts, especially in the stem design. The round stem deviates from Gateron’s typical HE switches and could offer enhanced stability when pressing keycaps off-center. Upon examining the top housing closely, it appears to incorporate the same small nubs around the stem that Gateron has recently utilized on the Magnetic Spark switches. These nubs are designed to reduce friction between the stem and the top housing, leading to smoother keystrokes.
It is still uncertain if Gateron will also adopt the dual-drive modular structure from the Spark, which separates the stem into two components and allegedly removes the impact of stem wobble on the Hall sensor’s precision.
User Preferences in Tactile Feedback
Hall effect gaming keyboards have primarily been associated with linear switches, which is generally understandable. The analog controls enabled by HE technology, such as adjustable actuation distance, rapid trigger, and SOCD, benefit from linear movement. Having precise control over the switch’s position during travel facilitates the use of these features. Nevertheless, many HE keyboard users still desire a more classic tactile feedback that can only be achieved with tactile switches.
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