The Best Thocky Switches | Satisfying Switches for Mechanical Keyboards

10 months ago

Want a satisfying sound when you press a key on your mechanical keyboard? Or maybe it’s the feel you’re after – a subtle or not-so-subtle “thocky” sound when your switch bottoms out. On the other hand, you might be a gamer looking to get an accurate rhythm and speed to win that all-important match. Whatever it’s for, you can find the best thocky switches for you right here in this article.

We’ve looked across the market to bring you the best thocky switches available today. Each pair has been tested against the criteria that matter most to you: sound, feel, feedback and value for money, From thick and juicy thoccs to satisfying finger-feels and feedback, these switches have all you need to get the ultimate typing experience. So, let’s get started on our list of the top 5 best thocky switches!

Product Comparison Table: Best Thocky Switches

TitlePriceRating (Amazon)Best in classBuy
Akko CS Rose Red $4.5 starsBest for Gaming Amazon
Gateron Milky Yellow Pro$$4.5 starsBest Linear Amazon
Cherry MX Blue$$$4.5 starsBest Premium Amazon

Glorious Panda Tactile
$$4.5 starsBest Tactile Amazon
Gateron Optical Black$4.5 starsBest Optical Amazon

Akko CS Rose Red

The Akko CS Rose Red is a 3-pin custom switch, made to give you the most satisfying possible experience.  With a light actuation force of 43gf, Akko rose red switches are more responsive than Akko pink switches, producing a light, crisp thocc on bottoming out through the whole 3.5mm stem. These CS (Custom Series) switches are equipped with an LED slot, ready for LED Mod/Assembly, and are SMD compatible to boot. Lastly, they have an approximate lifespan of 60 million keystrokes, but don’t come with a switch opener tool.

Pros 

  • Crisp, high thocc on bottom out
  • 3.5mm prolonged stem
  • 43gf light actuation

Cons

  • No switch opener tool
  • Thocc may be too light for some

Verdict
Although they may not have the loudest thocc, the Akko CS Rose Red switches are still our best thocky switch for gamers. The length of the stem is perfect to produce a satisfying sound – and easily noticeable feedback – without slowing down your typing speed. The sound may not be deep enough for those who like a resonant thocc, though.

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Gateron Milky Yellow Pro

The Gateron Milky Yellow Pro is pre-lubed, meaning it will feel much smoother than the regular Milky Yellow – without any extra effort on your part. This silky linear switch easily slides down to bottom-out, giving you a buttery smooth finger-feel whilst remaining substantial and solid. They have a 50g actuation force and a super long 4mm travel distance, with a satisfying strong thocc at the base. They actually achieve a whopping 63 grams of force upon that bottom-out, which is almost akin to a tactile switch. Best of all, you’re guaranteed this experience for 50 million keystrokes.

Pros

  • Pre-lubed and smooth
  • 50-63g of force
  • 4mm travel distance

Cons

  • Can cause wrist fatigue

Verdict

If you like a super thicc thocc from a linear switch, look no further than the Gateron Milky Yellow Pro. Gateron switches are often known as a cheaper, but equally effective version of the classic Cherry MX mechanical line, and these deliver on their reputation. The Milky Yellow is our best thocky switch in the linear class, offering one of our loudest thoccs too. So loud, in fact, and with so much force, that some users have reported feeling wrist fatigue after a couple hours’ typing!

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Cherry MX Blue

The Cherry Blue MX brings the Cherry name to the world of thocky switches. Manufactured in Germany, these iconic switches come with both a switch puller, and a clear protective plastic case to protect them in transit. Ideal for fast type-writers and professional gaming, they offer a tactile bump and a high-pitched audio when pressed lightly. Yet when they bottom out, they harness the power of their 60g actuation to release a deep and resonant thocc. Lastly, they have a total travel distance of 4mm, and are guaranteed for 40 million hits.

Pros

  • Iconic Cherry brand name
  • Two-stage press process
  • 4mm distance and 60g actuation

Cons

  • Only 10 per pack

Verdict

The Cherry MX Blue almost needs no introduction – Cherry switches are rightfully gods in the keyboard switch world. But lucky for you, the Cherry Blue MX also holds another title: the God of Thocc. These our our best thocky switches in the premium class, with a sound and feel that just can’t be beat. However, you only receive ten per pack, so fitting a whole keyboard could get pricey.

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Glorious Panda Tactile

Glorious Gaming’s Glorious Panda switch is our best thocky switch in the tactile category. They’re three-pole switches, just like the Cherry MX and Kalihs, so the vast majority of sockets are compatible. They come pre-lubed with Glorious’s own-brand lubricant, too. As for the thocc, they have a heavy 67g bottom out force and a 4mm travel distance, giving you a satisfying tactile bump to accompany the sound. There’s also a very swift snap back after – quicker than their “holy” soundalike, in fact!

Pros

  • Swift snap-back
  • 67g bottom out force
  • 4mm travel distance

Cons

  • Some stem wobble

Verdict

As the Glorious Panda’s name suggests, it might be easy to dismiss this switch line as yet another “Holy Panda clone”. But don’t be fooled; these aren’t just some finger-breaking imposters looking to fob you off with a nasty snap. They provide a deep, genuine thocc and a smooth typing experience – despite a tiny bit of stem wobble.

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Gateron Optical Black

The Gateron Optical Black offers a smooth and satisfying typing experience, as well as lightning-fast gaming performance (but not as fast as the Akko Rose Red, of course)! They have a super-high lifetime rating of 100 million keystrokes, too, which is especially impressive considering the weight of their thocc. With 4mm of total travel and an actuation force of 60g, they’re much louder than they look. Plus, the transparent design makes them perfect for RGB LED keyboards – all the pretty lights shine though perfectly.

Pros

  • 4mm travel and 60g actuation
  • Clear for RGB LEDs
  • 100 million keystrokes rating

Cons

  • VERY noisy

Verdict

The Gateron Optical Black are our best thocky switches for optical keyboards. The heavy actuation makes them nice and loud, with thoccs on both the bottom out, and the snap back. Unfortunately, this “clickety clackety” sound makes them difficult to use in office settings, or around people who don’t appreciate a good thocc. However, considering you’re reading this article, that’s probably music to your ears.

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