Top 5 Best Budget Tactile Switches

If you’re in the market for budget tactile switches, you may wonder where to start. With so many options available, sifting through them can be a bit overwhelming. To help simplify things, I have compiled a list of the best options currently available.

Are budget tactile switches good?

In short, yes. Budget switches can match the performance of their more expensive counterparts. Price isn’t everything. Going for one of these switches doesn’t come with many drawbacks. In fact, it can be a good idea to save a couple of bucks.

First, we have the Wuque Studio Brown, my favorite budget tactile switch. Their sound, feel, and low price are enough to make them number one in my book. Outperforming everything at this price point.

It has a prominent tactile bump with no pre-travel. The switch is loud, and its sound is sharp and high-pitched, best compared to popping bubble wrap. Like other switches manufactured by Haimu, it comes factory-lubed.

As for the materials, it uses nylon for the housings and POM for the stem, with a double-stage 55g spring and a 3.8mm travel. Additionally, there is a 45-gram single-stage version called the WS Heavy Tactile.

The Akko V3 Cream Blue Pro is an upgraded version of Akko’s well-loved V3 Cream Blue. Which used to be among my favorite budget tactile switches. But the Pro version has set the bar higher by improving upon the original design.

What made the original stand out was the sharp tactile bump, located at the top rather than the middle. This, combined with the long stem pole, allows for fast and snappy bottom-outs. Resulting in a more ‘clacky’, higher-pitched sound signature.

When it comes to weight, the 45g bottom-out and 55g bump hit the sweet spot, fitting a wide range of users. They have refined molds, further improving consistency and durability. They still use POM for the stem, PC for the top, and PA for the bottom.

Next is the Haimu Whisper, the quietest budget tactile switch currently available. Haimu is a new switch manufacturer that has been killing it. This switch is an attempt to fix the all-too-common “mushy” feel you get with other silent switches.

They were able to pull it off. Instead of rubber feet, they have plastic spring feet that act as dampeners. This results in a much nicer, less mushy bottom-out feel. The bump is a medium-sized “P” shape with no pre-travel and a long post-travel.

As for the construction, it has a complete nylon housing with a POM stem. The weight is pretty balanced as well, with a 47-gram actuation and a 60-gram bottom out. Like other switches manufactured by Haimu, they come factory-lubed.

Gateron Browns are pretty well-known budget tactile switches. But did you know that they also make other switch series? The Cap V2 series is the best. These switches come in two variations: Golden Brown and Milky Brown.

They have a subtle yet noticeable bump located in the middle, making them suitable for a wide range of users. What makes the Cap V2s special is the reversed stem pole, which aims to reduce stem wobble. Additionally, they come factory-lubed.

The Golden Brown has a POM stem and nylon housings. But the Milky Browns replace the nylon with Gateron’s proprietary “Milky” blend. This results in a different feel and sound. The weight is the same on both: a 55-gram actuation and a 4mm travel distance.

Finally, we come to the Tecsee Purple Panda. These budget tactile switches are trying to give a similar experience to the Holy Pandas. So, forget the Glorious Pandas and get these for a fraction of the price.

It has the same rounded tactile bump and extended stem pole that made the originals so famous. The sound profile is deep, “thocky,” and super satisfying. Where these switches shine is after modding, benefiting a lot from lubing and filming.

The materials used are also the same: a polycarbonate housing and a POM stem. Same thing with the weight: a 67-gram bottom-out with 4mm of travel.

Conclusion

In short, this list highlights the best budget tactile switches so far. I put the WS Brown at the top of my list. After that are the Akko V3 Cream Blue Pro and the Haimu Whisper switches. These low-cost tactile switches provide the best performance and value.