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Halo vs Cherry Switches
posted in Hardware
1
#1
0 Frags +

Im looking to buy a new keyboard, and for switches im trying to choose between Cherry Brown and Halo True/Clear. theres only like a $10 difference, does anybody have an opinion either way?

Im looking to buy a new keyboard, and for switches im trying to choose between Cherry Brown and Halo True/Clear. theres only like a $10 difference, does anybody have an opinion either way?
2
#2
-15 Frags +

there's probably a good reason why cherry switches are the more popular choice

there's probably a good reason why cherry switches are the more popular choice
3
#3
1 Frags +

My current board has halo trues and I hate it. They feel nothing like a "blend of topre and cherry mx". Clears might be ok but I'd just suggest sticking to the browns if those r ur only options.

My current board has halo trues and I hate it. They feel nothing like a "blend of topre and cherry mx". Clears might be ok but I'd just suggest sticking to the browns if those r ur only options.
4
#4
9 Frags +
pirate

The reason is that up until recently, the options were Cherry switches (bad) or cheap Chinese clones (worse). Since the patent expired, Cherry switches have been superseded by basically any other switch maker that cares to make one. The only reason to buy Cherry switches these days is blind brand loyalty, as the only switches they outperform are the absolute cheapest of the cheap Chinese clones.

I don't have any experience with Halo switches, but they can't possibly be as badbadnotgood as Cherry Sands, so I would recommend those, especially if they're not that much more expensive. In general I always recommend people avoid tactile switches unless you work in a cramped office with people on top of you, because there is no way to make a tactile switch that feels even half as good as a halfway decent (i.e. not Cherry) clicky switch, but to each his own.

If you want further recommendations: I have had fantastic experiences with Kailh switches, both their recently developed clickbar clicky switches and their linear switches. I've also been enjoying the crap out of my Wooting One for the past few months, which has optoelectric, non-contact-based switches, and they are the smoothest things I've ever had the pleasure to type on. They're far smoother than any linear, Cherry-derived switch I've used, including stuff like the NovelKeys Creams which claim to be self-lubricating. There are also a lot of other 'premium' keyboard makers that are coming out with optoelectric/Hall-effect keyboards that are far smoother than anything you can achieve with a contact-based switch. And finally, the best tactile switches you can get pretty much anywhere are going to be Topre switches, as they're a fundamentally different design from Cherry's (Dome-over-coil vs Plunger-in-box) that work much much better for silent, tactile applications.

[quote=pirate][/quote]
The reason is that up until recently, the options were Cherry switches (bad) or cheap Chinese clones (worse). Since the patent expired, Cherry switches have been superseded by basically any other switch maker that cares to make one. The only reason to buy Cherry switches these days is blind brand loyalty, as the only switches they outperform are the absolute cheapest of the cheap Chinese clones.

I don't have any experience with Halo switches, but they can't possibly be as badbadnotgood as Cherry Sands, so I would recommend those, especially if they're not that much more expensive. In general I always recommend people avoid tactile switches unless you work in a cramped office with people on top of you, because there is no way to make a tactile switch that feels even half as good as a halfway decent (i.e. not Cherry) clicky switch, but to each his own.

If you want further recommendations: I have had fantastic experiences with Kailh switches, both their recently developed clickbar clicky switches and their linear switches. I've also been enjoying the crap out of my Wooting One for the past few months, which has optoelectric, non-contact-based switches, and they are the smoothest things I've ever had the pleasure to type on. They're far smoother than any linear, Cherry-derived switch I've used, including stuff like the NovelKeys Creams which claim to be self-lubricating. There are also a lot of other 'premium' keyboard makers that are coming out with optoelectric/Hall-effect keyboards that are far smoother than anything you can achieve with a contact-based switch. And finally, the best tactile switches you can get pretty much anywhere are going to be Topre switches, as they're a fundamentally different design from Cherry's (Dome-over-coil vs Plunger-in-box) that work much much better for silent, tactile applications.
5
#5
4 Frags +

i genuinely had no idea that cherry switches were low-quality and basically had a monopoly (for lack of a better term) on keyboard switches. i'll have to test some non-cherry keyboards and see how it works out

i genuinely had no idea that cherry switches were low-quality and basically had a monopoly (for lack of a better term) on keyboard switches. i'll have to test some non-cherry keyboards and see how it works out
6
#6
-2 Frags +

i have a strong opinion about switches and i think both of the mentioned switches are not really good.
i find the halo trues to be too heavy. on my keyboard i use them solely for modifiers like escape and tab.
imo the best tactile switches you can get are any zealios switches.
but it depends if the only choice you have for the keyboard are those three switches. id go for the halos but the lighter variant.

i have a strong opinion about switches and i think both of the mentioned switches are not really good.
i find the halo trues to be too heavy. on my keyboard i use them solely for modifiers like escape and tab.
imo the best tactile switches you can get are any zealios switches.
but it depends if the only choice you have for the keyboard are those three switches. id go for the halos but the lighter variant.
7
#7
-4 Frags +
xattuuIm looking to buy a new keyboard, and for switches im trying to choose between Cherry Brown and Halo True/Clear. theres only like a $10 difference, does anybody have an opinion either way?

neither are going to give you any type of satisfaction, cherry browns are (popular opinion) scratchy and halo clears only sound good if lubed

[quote=xattuu]Im looking to buy a new keyboard, and for switches im trying to choose between Cherry Brown and Halo True/Clear. theres only like a $10 difference, does anybody have an opinion either way?[/quote]
neither are going to give you any type of satisfaction, cherry browns are (popular opinion) scratchy and halo clears only sound good if lubed
8
#8
0 Frags +

this is a stupid question but are there any good keyboards (ideally tenkeyless) that are wired but have the option to go wireless?
i love my hhkb pro2 (the topres are rly nice) but i wanna have something with the option to unplug and use from the couch for casual stuff

this is a stupid question but are there any good keyboards (ideally tenkeyless) that are wired but have the option to go wireless?
i love my hhkb pro2 (the topres are rly nice) but i wanna have something with the option to unplug and use from the couch for casual stuff
9
#9
0 Frags +

halo switches are not very highly regarded either unfortunately, they're most widely known for their stems being harvested to make holy pandas, a popular tactile frankenswitch

and yeah you're probably not gonna find the 'true' boutique expensive switches in a prebuilt no matter where you look

halo switches are not very highly regarded either unfortunately, they're most widely known for their stems being harvested to make holy pandas, a popular tactile frankenswitch

and yeah you're probably not gonna find the 'true' boutique expensive switches in a prebuilt no matter where you look
10
#10
0 Frags +

to add/modify a bit of what ghadilli said

ghadilliThe reason is that up until recently, the options were Cherry switches (bad) or cheap Chinese clones (worse). Since the patent expired, Cherry switches have been superseded by basically any other switch maker that cares to make one. The only reason to buy Cherry switches these days is blind brand loyalty, as the only switches they outperform are the absolute cheapest of the cheap Chinese clones.

this is mostly true, but the exception would probably be retooled cherry mx blacks or hyperglides, which are solid budget-mid tier offerings when lubed although a bit scratchy if not

but yeah definitely don't look to cherry for a satisfying tactile or clicky switch unless you like BARELY tactile switches (and even then there are less scratchy options)

ghadilliIn general I always recommend people avoid tactile switches unless you work in a cramped office with people on top of you, because there is no way to make a tactile switch that feels even half as good as a halfway decent (i.e. not Cherry) clicky switch, but to each his own.

while it may be true that the tactility of mx-style switches is not as good as like an alps or topre on average, I do think there are some mx tactiles that can fill the niche if need be (but they can also get very expensive since so many of them are either frankenswitches or zeal). for slightly more affordable and really solid mx tactiles, I would recommend boba u4ts if you can find them.

ghadilliThey're far smoother than any linear, Cherry-derived switch I've used, including stuff like the NovelKeys Creams which claim to be self-lubricating.

not only is that 'self-lubricating' idea with POM a total lie, creams are ironically considered one of the scratchiest switches on the market unless they're HEAVILY broken in. it's true that mx switches basically require lubing to reach their full potential unlike a lot of other designs, but I do think most jwk switches tend to be very smooth overall.

ghadilliThere are also a lot of other 'premium' keyboard makers that are coming out with optoelectric/Hall-effect keyboards that are far smoother than anything you can achieve with a contact-based switch. And finally, the best tactile switches you can get pretty much anywhere are going to be Topre switches, as they're a fundamentally different design from Cherry's (Dome-over-coil vs Plunger-in-box) that work much much better for silent, tactile applications.

I definitely agree that it's hard to beat a good HHKB for office work due to the quiet tactility and portability, but unfortunately topre and hall-effect switches are still not commonly an option in the high-end custom world. you can find fancy keyboards that support alps-compatible pcbs, but a) well-maintained alps are still hard to find and b) I find they still sound best in their original plastic chassis most of the time

to add/modify a bit of what ghadilli said

[quote=ghadilli]
The reason is that up until recently, the options were Cherry switches (bad) or cheap Chinese clones (worse). Since the patent expired, Cherry switches have been superseded by basically any other switch maker that cares to make one. The only reason to buy Cherry switches these days is blind brand loyalty, as the only switches they outperform are the absolute cheapest of the cheap Chinese clones.
[/quote]

this is mostly true, but the exception would probably be retooled cherry mx blacks or hyperglides, which are solid budget-mid tier offerings when lubed although a bit scratchy if not

but yeah definitely don't look to cherry for a satisfying tactile or clicky switch unless you like BARELY tactile switches (and even then there are less scratchy options)

[quote=ghadilli]
In general I always recommend people avoid tactile switches unless you work in a cramped office with people on top of you, because there is no way to make a tactile switch that feels even half as good as a halfway decent (i.e. not Cherry) clicky switch, but to each his own.
[/quote]

while it may be true that the tactility of mx-style switches is not as good as like an alps or topre on average, I do think there are some mx tactiles that can fill the niche if need be (but they can also get very expensive since so many of them are either frankenswitches or zeal). for slightly more affordable and really solid mx tactiles, I would recommend boba u4ts if you can find them.

[quote=ghadilli]
They're far smoother than any linear, Cherry-derived switch I've used, including stuff like the NovelKeys Creams which claim to be self-lubricating.[/quote]

not only is that 'self-lubricating' idea with POM a total lie, creams are ironically considered one of the scratchiest switches on the market unless they're HEAVILY broken in. it's true that mx switches basically require lubing to reach their full potential unlike a lot of other designs, but I do think most jwk switches tend to be very smooth overall.

[quote=ghadilli]
There are also a lot of other 'premium' keyboard makers that are coming out with optoelectric/Hall-effect keyboards that are far smoother than anything you can achieve with a contact-based switch. And finally, the best tactile switches you can get pretty much anywhere are going to be Topre switches, as they're a fundamentally different design from Cherry's (Dome-over-coil vs Plunger-in-box) that work much much better for silent, tactile applications.[/quote]

I definitely agree that it's hard to beat a good HHKB for office work due to the quiet tactility and portability, but unfortunately topre and hall-effect switches are still not commonly an option in the high-end custom world. you can find fancy keyboards that support alps-compatible pcbs, but a) well-maintained alps are still hard to find and b) I find they still sound best in their original plastic chassis most of the time
11
#11
1 Frags +
bearodactylthis is a stupid question but are there any good keyboards (ideally tenkeyless) that are wired but have the option to go wireless?
i love my hhkb pro2 (the topres are rly nice) but i wanna have something with the option to unplug and use from the couch for casual stuff

if you don't mind opening up your hhkb and doing a little work
hhkb mod

[quote=bearodactyl]this is a stupid question but are there any good keyboards (ideally tenkeyless) that are wired but have the option to go wireless?
i love my hhkb pro2 (the topres are rly nice) but i wanna have something with the option to unplug and use from the couch for casual stuff[/quote]

if you don't mind opening up your hhkb and doing a little work
[url=https://kbdfans.com/products/hhkb-ble-mod-upgrade-module]hhkb mod[/url]
12
#12
0 Frags +
extracrispybearodactylthis is a stupid question but are there any good keyboards (ideally tenkeyless) that are wired but have the option to go wireless?
i love my hhkb pro2 (the topres are rly nice) but i wanna have something with the option to unplug and use from the couch for casual stuff

if you don't mind opening up your hhkb and doing a little work
hhkb mod

+1 on hhkb mod, personally am big fan

[quote=extracrispy][quote=bearodactyl]this is a stupid question but are there any good keyboards (ideally tenkeyless) that are wired but have the option to go wireless?
i love my hhkb pro2 (the topres are rly nice) but i wanna have something with the option to unplug and use from the couch for casual stuff[/quote]

if you don't mind opening up your hhkb and doing a little work
[url=https://kbdfans.com/products/hhkb-ble-mod-upgrade-module]hhkb mod[/url][/quote]
+1 on hhkb mod, personally am big fan
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