Silent Keyboard For Mac

• Silent Keyboard For Macro
• Best Keyboard For Mac

1. GK61s Mechanical Gaming Keyboard - 61 Keys Multi Color RGB Illuminated LED Backlit Wired Programmable for PC/Mac Gamer (Gateron Mechanical Silent Brown, Lavender) 4.7 out of 5 stars 8,010 $109.99 $ 109.
2. GK61s Mechanical Gaming Keyboard - 61 Keys Multi Color RGB Illuminated LED Backlit Wired Programmable for PC/Mac Gamer (Gateron Mechanical Silent Brown, Lavender) 4.7 out of 5 stars 8,010 $109.99 $ 109.

The smooth stabilizers on the Durgod K320 combined with one of the silent Cherry MX switches would create an awesome keyboard that is sure to keep noise to a minimum. If you aren't looking for a frilly, colorful keyboard and prefer to keep a simple aesthetic, I highly recommend checking out the Durgod K320.

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There is absolutely no doubt that mechanical keyboards are the preferred choice of gamers, typists and professionals. Because of the mechanical switches they are durable, fast, reliable, sturdy, put less stress on your fingers and feel great to type on. Once you switch to a mechanical keyboard then you won't get back to a membrane or rubber dome keyboard again. However, on the flip side, mechanical keyboards tend to make much more noise compared to rubber dome or membrane keyboards, and due to this they always face criticism of being loud, especially in quieter environments or workplaces like offices, hospitals, etc.

The Cherry MX blue switches are the loudest while browns and reds are comparatively quieter, but they also generate a decent amount of noise too. To make these traditional mechanical switches quieter, you can use O-rings that suppresses the noise to some extent, but they may not work every time as expected with some keyboards in dampening noise, and also some people don't like the feel of it because it kinda feels mushy. So, what to do when you want to use mechanical in a quieter place? New mac os catalina issues. Well, the solution to this problem is to use quiet mechanical keyboards that come with quiet mechanical switches.

Quiet mechanical switches generate very little noise and are suitable for a silent work environment. Examples of such quiet switches are Cherry MX Silent Red / RGB and Cherry MX Silent Black. These Cherry MX silent switches are developed by Cherry in collaboration with Corsair. These switches have less key travel distance (both pre-travel & total travel) and use patented noise reduction technology that involves the placement of shock/impact absorbers at the bottom and top area of the switch slider/stem.

These shock absorbers or sound dampeners are made of rubberized plastic kind of material, and they minimize or dampens the contact noise to a great extent when you bottom-out the switches. Cherry claims that these silent mechanical switches are 30% quieter than their regular counterparts. Below, you can see the comparison of Cherry MX Silent and Regular Cherry MX switches in terms of specifications and major characteristics.

As you can clearly see that because of low key travel and sound dampeners, these switches generate relatively less noise compared to their regular counterparts. So, if you are looking for a quiet mechanical keyboard with these silent switches, then here, I am going to list some of the best ones, that you can buy for gaming or work.

Note: Because of the use of mechanical parts such as springs, metal contacts, etc., these quiet switches may generate a little noise in form of dull clack or thud sound, which is quite understandable and normal in mechanical keyboards. They may not be as quiet as some of the rubber dome or membrane-based keyboards, but they are much quieter than other mechanical switches, even when compared to the regular or standard Cherry MX Red, Brown, Silver or Black switches, which are also on the quieter side of the spectrum. So, don't expect these quiet mechanical keyboards to be extremely silent, but they are silent enough to be used in a quieter environment.

Must Read:How to Fix Key Chatter in Mechanical Keyboards

Best Quiet Mechanical Keyboards with Silent Switches

Here are the best silent mechanical keyboards that are great for streamers, gamers, offices, workplaces, typists, professionals, content editors and places where the silent environment is necessary e.g. shared room, hospitals, banks, etc. These quiet mechanical keyboards come with special Cherry MX Silent switches for quieter operation.

Corsair K70 RGB MK.2 Mechanical Gaming Keyboard

[Cherry MX Silent RGB, Feature Rich, RGB LED]

To begin with, here we have Corsair K70 RGB MK.2, which is a full-size mechanical gaming keyboard but can also be used for work and typing too. The keyboard comes with Cherry MX Silent RGB switches, which are basically Cherry MX Silent Red switches with transparent housing so that RGB lighting will look more pronounced and brighter. These are linear switches which means they do not offer any tactile feedback, nor they produce any audible click sound. They are great for gaming and for fast typists. The keyboard has good build quality and uses a Brushed Anodized Aluminum frame. It is also a very good-looking keyboard and it comes with ABS keycaps with large fonts for better readability, and a textured spacebar that looks cool, and it also includes dedicated media and volume controls at the top. The keyboard has a floating key design which makes it easier to clean and maintain.

For gaming, it comes with features such as 100% Anti-Ghosting with Full-Key Rollover, 8MB Profile Storage with Hardware Playback, Windows Lock key mode, and FPS / MOBA keycap sets. The RGB lighting and Keys (for Macro) can be customized using the Corsair iCUE software, which you can download from the Corsair's official website. A USB pass-through port is provided that can be used for connecting your gaming mouse, headset, pen drive or other low power USB devices. The keyboard also includes a soft-touch detachable wrist rest to provide you utmost comfort during gaming or typing. It comes with a pretty thick braided USB cable, which is unfortunately not detachable. The keyboard officially supports Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7 operating systems. It can work on Mac OS too, but the software does not support Mac, which means you will not be able to customize the keyboard settings and lighting. Overall, a feature-rich and high-quality quiet mechanical keyboard for users who prefer silent operation and fancy looks.

CHERRY MX Board SILENT Keyboard

[Basic, Classy & Simple Design, Great for Offices]

Cherry not only make mechanical switches, but also the keyboards. Here we have CHERRY MX Board SILENT Keyboard, which is a full size (104 keys) quiet mechanical keyboard that comes with Cherry MX Silent Black / MX Silent Red switches. It is a simple, plain-looking mechanical keyboard with basic design and functionality. The build quality is kind of average looking but it not bad enough to complain about. The keyboard is not portable and is a little bigger in size. It has got laser-etched keycaps with clean big fonts that are very soothing to the eye and easy to read.

The Cherry MX Silent Black switches are great for typing as they are stiffer, and offer a little more resistance at 60cN of force, which makes typing more accurate compared to the Red switches that are very light and may result in unforced typing errors or typos. The keyboard does not offer any feature except for the N-key rollover. Also, it does not come with multimedia keys and windows lock key either, but it does include LED indicators for Num Lock, Caps Lock, and Scroll Lock. You can use it for gaming too, but it is more suited for work and offices where flashy stuff is not required and may get you in trouble.

FNATIC STREAK eSports RGB Mechanical Keyboard

[RGB LED, Slim & Ultra-Thin, Lightweight, MX Silent Red]

FNATIC STREAK is a super-thin mechanical keyboard that is designed for gaming. This slim and quiet mechanical keyboard is marketed as an eSports keyboard, and it comes with Cherry MX Silent Red switches with RGB lighting. This is full-size keyboard, but due to this slim design, it is quite portable and can in tight spaces too. It comes with a PU Leather wrist rest for providing comfort during long intensive gaming sessions, and during typing. The keyboard also comes with a FN enabled media keys and a volume control wheel. A USB pass-through port is also provided for connecting your gaming mouse, headset, flash drive or other any other low power USB devices.

The RGB lighting modes and other customizations can be done using its OP software. For gaming, the keyboard also supports 100% Anti-Ghosting with Full-Key Rollover and Windows Lock. A very unique feature of this keyboard is the removable signature plate that is LED lit, and the company claims that in future you may be able to customize it to your name. The keyboard has floating keys design and it also pretty light at 962g. The keyboard has solid build quality and the material used in its construction include Anodized Aluminum and Polycarbonate. Overall, an attractive looking, slim and beautiful quiet gaming mechanical keyboard that you can get your gaming needs, and for your typing as well.

Note: A Tenkeyless variant is also available for this keyboard as FNATIC miniSTREAK that has the same specifications and feature list, except it lacks the metal volume control wheel. You can also check out this model from the link given below.

iKBC MF108 V.2 RGB Mechanical Keyboard

[PBT Keycaps, RGB LED, Interchangeable layouts]

Here we have another RGB quiet mechanical keyboard, which is IKBC MF108 RGB Mechanical Keyboard. This is a Full size (108 keys) keyboard and comes with Cherry MX Silent Red switches. The keyboard uses double shot PBT keycaps that are much better in terms of durability and feel over ABS keycaps as they do not develop shine over the period. PBT keycaps also feel much better to type on, and they are always preferred by typists for work. The PBT keycaps in this keyboard are backlit by RGB LEDs. This a solid keyboard with aluminum frame construction and looks very elegant with its simple design.

The keyboard features 3 Built-in preset layouts that are Qwerty, Dvorak, and Colemak, and they can be switched by using the FN key. This FN key is also used to activate multimedia and other shortcuts that are shared with the regular keys. For gaming, it does support NKRO with Anti-Ghosting and Macros that can be configured without using any software, but from the keys itself. Also, the RGB lighting modes can be changed from the keyboard without any software. The keyboard comes with a detachable USB cable, which really proves very handy when moving the keyboard from place to another. This is really a high-quality mechanical keyboard that can be used for both gaming and typing, where the silent environment is the main concern.

Note: A Tenkeyless (TKL) variant of this keyboard is also available, which is iKBC MF87 V.2 RGB Mechanical Keyboard. You can check it out too from the link given below.

Vortexgear Cypher Mechanical Keyboard

[PBT keycaps, For Programmers / Coders, Super Compact]

Vortexgear Cypher is a 65% mechanical keyboard that comes with Cherry MX Red switches. The keyboard comes with 68 keys in total, and highly durable PBT keycaps (laser engraved). The keyboard features two layers for working, where the default layer is what you normally see, and the function layer consists of extra functions that can be accessed by pressing the FN key. In addition to that, you also have access to Three programmable layers, each layer has its own LED under the left spacebar to indicate what layer is enabled.

[FN] + [M] = Default Layer

[FN] + [<] = Layer 1

[FN] + [>] = Layer 2

[FN] + [?] = Layer 3

The keyboard also allows you to program up to one hundred characters per key. To enter the programming mode, select your layer, and then press FN + CTRL key. There is a special Pn key present on the side of the Fn key to set or finalize the programming key. The keyboard also offers three customizable layouts that include Qwerty, Dvorak, and Colemak. It comes with a detachable USB Type-C cable for convenience. This is a great keyboard for programmers, coders, and typists. So, if you are looking for an ultra-portable quiet mechanical keyboard for work that can easily fit in your laptop bag, then this is the one for you.

Note: Make sure that you have the latest firmware installed for this keyboard. You can download the firmware and the instruction guide for this keyboard from vortexgear support page.

Important Note: All the above mentioned mechanical keyboards have a polling rate of 1000Hz (1ms).

Other Silent Mechanical Keyboards

Here are some other good quiet mechanical keyboards that you may want to check out.

How to Silence Mechanical Keyboards?

If you want to make your current mechanical keyboard (without silent switches) to make less noise, then you can install rubber O-Rings in at the bottom of keycaps, that can dampen the noise to some extent. Here are some good quality O-Rings that you can get for this purpose.

Rosewill Mechanical Keyboard Rubber O-Rings

High-quality Silicon O-Ring Dampeners for Cherry MX mechanical switches. Due to their translucent material, they allow light to pass through them and therefore it will not reduce the intensity of the back-lighting that your keyboard has. They dampen the keystroke noise when you bottom-out the switch, and they also reduce the key total travel distance. They absorb the impact by creating a softer landing, reducing finger fatigue. These Rosewill O-Rings are also resistant to cracking, tearing and lasts longer. Highly Recommended by me.

Quantity: 120 O-Ring pieces

The Package also includes a keycap puller, microfiber cloth, dusting brush.

Other O-Rings

Some Other Silent Mechanical Switches

Some other silent mechanical switches besides Cherry MX Silents are Gateron Silent (Red/Brown/Black), Zeal Silents (Zilents), Aliaz switches.

See also:

Final Words

I would say that quiet mechanical keyboards do work great in minimizing noise and they are comparatively quieter than standard mechanical keyboards without silent mechanical switches. These quiet mechanical keyboards are great for offices, work and for gamers and online streamers. They are kind of new to this tech world, and currently, there are not many options to choose from. However, I have done my best to list the best quiet mechanical keyboards in the market right now, and if you have any queries regarding them then feel free to ask here by leaving a comment below.

At first, most people are attracted to mechanical keyboards due to the loud, satisfying clicking noises that some switches make.

If you're interested in the best quiet mechanical keyboards, check out this article.

However, after the honeymoon phase ends, you are left with a loud keyboard that they can't use at work or around other people.

The loud clicking noise that used to bring such joy to their life, now echoes in the background when attempting to play video games and chatting with friends.

The clicks have become a curse that follow you everywhere.

A change is needed, it's time to change your switches to a quieter option. But with so many silent switch options available, which one is the best?

The Best Quiet Switches – Our Picks

#1 Pick: Gateron Silent Red/Black

Gateron Silent Red and Blacks are both linear switches that are super smooth and super quiet.

Gateron switches are known to be budget-friendly, so they make an excellent option for those who don't have a ton to spend on switches.

Not to mention, Gateron switches tend to be smoother than the Cherry counterparts.

The only downside to Gateron switches is that they last for around 50 million keystrokes, which is half of what Cherry MX lasts for. You read more about the differences here.

Coming in at around $0.30-0.50 each, the price is more affordable than the first two options on the list. Making it a better pick for those trying to keep their costs low.

You can find Gateron Silent switches on the Kebo Store for a really good price.

#2 Pick: Cherry MX Silent Red/Black

The Cherry MX Silent switches are linear with a 3.7mm total travel distance. They are slightly quieter than the other Cherry MX linear switches with a slightly different feel.

The switches have rubber dampening on the stem which keeps the switch from producing as much noise on impact.

The only downside to this design is it makes the switch feel more muddy on each keystroke. You do need to sacrifice the feel for noise reduction.

The Silent Reds have a 45 g bottom-out force and the Silent Blacks have a 60g bottom-out force.

The Cherry MX Silent switches are ranked number four because they produce a slightly louder and higher-pitched noise than the ZealPC switches listed above and they are scratchier than the Gateron switches.

You can find Cherry MX Silent switches for an affordable price on the Kebo Store.

#3 Pick: ZealPC Healios

Our first pick is the Healios, a silent linear switch made by ZealPC.

his is the quietest linear switch available on the market, and an excellent option for those who want to keep their typing sounds low.

The Healios have a silencing bumper to dampen not only the bottom out sounds, but also the up-stroke sounds. This means that the switch is silenced when pressed and released.

The switch also has a 67g bottom out force, which is slightly on the heavier side. Most mechanical keyboard switches have a bottom out force of around 45-60g.

Keep in mind these switches are on the pricier side, coming out to $1.20 each. It's hard to beat the quality and sound of these switches though, so the price may be worth it for you.

#4 Pick: ZealPC Zilents V2

Second up is the ZealPC Zilent V2.

The Zilents are very similar to the Healios, but they are tactile instead of linear.

The Zilents have a big smooth bump to provide tactile feedback to the user, and unlike other switches the bump starts at the very start of the key press with no pre-travel.

This means the keystroke does not happen unless you press hard enough to clear the bump, which removes user error from 'half-pressing' a key.

Coming in four different bottom-out forces, each Zilent variation offers its own feel and resistance. The different weights include 62g, 65g, 67g, and 78g.

At a price of $1.20 each, these are not cheap switches but similar to the Healios, the quality is great.

#5 Pick: Matias Quiet Linear

The Matias Quiet Linear is a truly quiet switch made for court stenographers and anyone else working in an environment where they need to keep the typing sounds low.

The spring has a unique design where there is more resistance at the start of the keypress that gradually decreases as the internal spring is compressed.

The Matias Quiet switches are slightly louder than the other options on the list, but are still a great pick for anyone looking for a quiet switch.

These are the cheapest on the list by far, coming in at $50 for a box of 200 switches. Or about $0.25 each.

Favorite Quiet Mechanical Keyboards

1. Ducky One 2 Mini: Best Quiet Keyboard for Gaming

The Ducky One 2 Mini is an excellent all-around 60% mechanical keyboard. We love using this keyboard for a mix of gaming and typing.

The keyboard comes with your choice of Cherry MX switches, so you can opt for the Cherry MX Silent Red or Silent Black if you need your keyboard to be a bit more quiet.

The Ducky One 2 Mini also comes with additional keycaps that you can swap out to customize the build even further. The keyboard is a lot of fun to tinker with.

You can check out our full review of the Ducky One 2 Mini, it is also included in our best 60% keyboard list.

The Ducky One 2 Mini is available for a really good price.

2. Durgod K320: Best Quiet Mechanical Keyboard for the Office

The Durgod K320 is one of the best keyboards for typing.

Durgod is known for their buttery smooth stabilizers and awesome build quality. If you're looking for a mechanical keyboard for work, you can't pass up on this one.

Much like the Ducky One 2 Mini, you have the option to purchase the keyboard with Cherry MX Silent switches so you can make it nice and stealthy.

The keycaps comes in a nice PBT material and two color design that is sure to impress.

You can find the Durgod K320 on Amazon with a bunch of different switch options.

3. Ducky MIYA Pro: Best Silent 65% Keyboard

The Ducky MIYA Pro is one of our absolute favorite keyboards.

The keyboard comes in a nice compact 65% layout which makes it perfect the perfect balance of comfort and compactness.

If you've ever wanted a keyboard with a specialized design, look no further. The MIYA Pro comes in a ton of different colorful unique designs that are sure to impress.

You can check out all of the different options:

The Ducky MIYA Pro can be purchased with Cherry MX Silent Red switches to make it super quiet when typing.

Overall, this is one of our favorite 65% keyboards, so you can't go wrong with this pick.

4. Leopold FC980M: Excellent Silent Keyboard for Data Entry

The Leopold FC980M is another excellent option. This keyboard comes is really nice 1800-compact or 96% layout.

This layout is perfect for those who want access to a number pad, but don't need the traditional navigational cluster that often goes unused. It's a great way to save space without compromising utility.

The FC980M comes with two-color PBT keycaps and lots of other bells and whistlyes. I believe it's one of the best pre-built mechanical keyboards on the market.

The keyboard comes with a silent switch option as well so you don't need to worry about having a loud distracting keyboard.

You can find the FC980 on mechanicalkeyboards.com for a good price.

5. Keychron K6: Great Quiet Keyboard for Mac

The Keychron K6 is a feature-packed 65% keyboard.

This keyboard is compatible with Windows and Mac which makes it work with almost every computer. Not to mention it can connect through wired/wireless, so more worrying about being stuck at your desk.

You also have the option to opt for an aluminum case which makes this keyboard incredibly durable and well-built.

My favorite feature of the keyboard is that it's hot-swappable, which means you can choose which switch to put in the keyboard.

You're not stuck to any one switch, so you can pick the silent switch that fits best within your budget and needs. Pretty cool, huh?

You can find the Keychron K6 on Amazon with a few different options.

Why does Sound Matter?

The sound of a keyboard switch is one of the biggest factors when picking out a switch for your new mechanical keyboard. The other factor is typically the feel of the switch.

If you plan on recording videos, streaming, talking over a microphone, or working in a public space, it's a good idea to stay away from the loudest and clicky switch types.

The loud switches will create more background noise and microphones will pick up the sound of each keystroke. It's also good to keep in mind, most people don't enjoy the sound of your loud keyboard, especially in an enclosed area packed with people.

Avoid these loud switches:

• Cherry MX Blue, Green, and White
• Kailh BOX White, BOX Navy, and Kailh BOX Jade

Not All Sounds Are Created Equal

The pure decibel output of a keyboard switch is not the only factor when it comes to deciding which switch is the best pick for you.

While certain switches may be quieter than others, a switch that emits a higher-pitched sound tends to be get picked up more on microphones and is more disturbing to those around you.

Silent Keyboard For Macro

A deep, low-pitched sounding switch on the other hand, will be less intrusive and tends to not get picked up by microphones as much, even if it's louder.

The lower-pitched sound is generally much more pleasing on the ears and is a sound most keyboard switch manufacturers and enthusiasts attempt to go for when buying a keyboard.

Other sound factors include the amount the switch rattles and shakes.

Rattling is when the switch is not fully secured or machined to a tight tolerance, this makes the moving components inside the switch bang against each other instead of smoothly sliding up and down.

The rattling increases the noise output of the keyboard and makes the sound output much more unpleasant. Because of this, we considered this factor when making our top five list.

Your Keyboard Case & Stabilizers Matter

It's important to note that the switch is not the only factor that determines the sound of the keystroke. The overall build material of the case can change the overall feel and sound of each key.

For example, the lighter and more flexible materials such as plastic, tend to create more noise and dampen the sound less. The flexible material allows the vibrations and sound to travel through the keyboard, instead of reducing the overall decibel output.

Case materials such as aluminum, steel, and acrylic are heavier and sturdier. Because of their denser build material, they can dampen the sound of the keystrokes more effectively, creating a quieter and deeper sounding switch.

The stabilizers are also a big factor in determining the overall sound output of your keyboard. Stabilizers are placed under your larger keys, such as your spacebar, and reduce the amount the key shakes when pressed. Therefore, stabilizing it.

By reducing the amount the keys shake, stabilizers can lower the overall sound output of your keyboard. There are several ways to make your stabilizers more effective at reducing shakiness and ratting of your keys, but we'll get into that later.

How to Make Your Keyboard Even Quieter

There are a lot of silent switch options out there, and we hope we've helped you narrow down your search. For some people, however, even with the silent switches, your keyboard may still feel too loud.

Do not fear! There are several other options you can do to lower the sound of your keyboard. Such as adding a dampener inside your keyboard case, lubricating your switches, adding O-rings, and other great options.

Check out this post for a more in-depth write up on how to lower the sound output of your keyboard.

Conclusion

In general, there are a lot of factors that effect the overall sound output of your keyboard including the case, stabilizers, and switches. In this article, we went over our top five picks for the best mechanical keyboard switch to make your keyboard more quiet.

Our top pick was the ZealPC Healios with the Zilents in close second. Both of these switches are incredibly silent and have excellent build quality. While a bit on the pricier side, they are worth it if your budget allows it.

If not, there are other great options on this list that are more affordable as well.

We also recommend ordering a sample pack to test out several different switch types to figure out the best switch for you.

[FN] + [M] = Default Layer

[FN] + [<] = Layer 1

[FN] + [>] = Layer 2

[FN] + [?] = Layer 3

The keyboard also allows you to program up to one hundred characters per key. To enter the programming mode, select your layer, and then press FN + CTRL key. There is a special Pn key present on the side of the Fn key to set or finalize the programming key. The keyboard also offers three customizable layouts that include Qwerty, Dvorak, and Colemak. It comes with a detachable USB Type-C cable for convenience. This is a great keyboard for programmers, coders, and typists. So, if you are looking for an ultra-portable quiet mechanical keyboard for work that can easily fit in your laptop bag, then this is the one for you.

Note: Make sure that you have the latest firmware installed for this keyboard. You can download the firmware and the instruction guide for this keyboard from vortexgear support page.

Important Note: All the above mentioned mechanical keyboards have a polling rate of 1000Hz (1ms).

Other Silent Mechanical Keyboards

Here are some other good quiet mechanical keyboards that you may want to check out.

How to Silence Mechanical Keyboards?

If you want to make your current mechanical keyboard (without silent switches) to make less noise, then you can install rubber O-Rings in at the bottom of keycaps, that can dampen the noise to some extent. Here are some good quality O-Rings that you can get for this purpose.

Rosewill Mechanical Keyboard Rubber O-Rings

High-quality Silicon O-Ring Dampeners for Cherry MX mechanical switches. Due to their translucent material, they allow light to pass through them and therefore it will not reduce the intensity of the back-lighting that your keyboard has. They dampen the keystroke noise when you bottom-out the switch, and they also reduce the key total travel distance. They absorb the impact by creating a softer landing, reducing finger fatigue. These Rosewill O-Rings are also resistant to cracking, tearing and lasts longer. Highly Recommended by me.

Quantity: 120 O-Ring pieces

The Package also includes a keycap puller, microfiber cloth, dusting brush.

Other O-Rings

Some Other Silent Mechanical Switches

Some other silent mechanical switches besides Cherry MX Silents are Gateron Silent (Red/Brown/Black), Zeal Silents (Zilents), Aliaz switches.

See also:

Final Words

I would say that quiet mechanical keyboards do work great in minimizing noise and they are comparatively quieter than standard mechanical keyboards without silent mechanical switches. These quiet mechanical keyboards are great for offices, work and for gamers and online streamers. They are kind of new to this tech world, and currently, there are not many options to choose from. However, I have done my best to list the best quiet mechanical keyboards in the market right now, and if you have any queries regarding them then feel free to ask here by leaving a comment below.

At first, most people are attracted to mechanical keyboards due to the loud, satisfying clicking noises that some switches make.

If you're interested in the best quiet mechanical keyboards, check out this article.

However, after the honeymoon phase ends, you are left with a loud keyboard that they can't use at work or around other people.

The loud clicking noise that used to bring such joy to their life, now echoes in the background when attempting to play video games and chatting with friends.

The clicks have become a curse that follow you everywhere.

A change is needed, it's time to change your switches to a quieter option. But with so many silent switch options available, which one is the best?

The Best Quiet Switches – Our Picks

#1 Pick: Gateron Silent Red/Black

Gateron Silent Red and Blacks are both linear switches that are super smooth and super quiet.

Gateron switches are known to be budget-friendly, so they make an excellent option for those who don't have a ton to spend on switches.

Not to mention, Gateron switches tend to be smoother than the Cherry counterparts.

The only downside to Gateron switches is that they last for around 50 million keystrokes, which is half of what Cherry MX lasts for. You read more about the differences here.

Coming in at around $0.30-0.50 each, the price is more affordable than the first two options on the list. Making it a better pick for those trying to keep their costs low.

You can find Gateron Silent switches on the Kebo Store for a really good price.

#2 Pick: Cherry MX Silent Red/Black

The Cherry MX Silent switches are linear with a 3.7mm total travel distance. They are slightly quieter than the other Cherry MX linear switches with a slightly different feel.

The switches have rubber dampening on the stem which keeps the switch from producing as much noise on impact.

The only downside to this design is it makes the switch feel more muddy on each keystroke. You do need to sacrifice the feel for noise reduction.

The Silent Reds have a 45 g bottom-out force and the Silent Blacks have a 60g bottom-out force.

The Cherry MX Silent switches are ranked number four because they produce a slightly louder and higher-pitched noise than the ZealPC switches listed above and they are scratchier than the Gateron switches.

You can find Cherry MX Silent switches for an affordable price on the Kebo Store.

#3 Pick: ZealPC Healios

Our first pick is the Healios, a silent linear switch made by ZealPC.

his is the quietest linear switch available on the market, and an excellent option for those who want to keep their typing sounds low.

The Healios have a silencing bumper to dampen not only the bottom out sounds, but also the up-stroke sounds. This means that the switch is silenced when pressed and released.

The switch also has a 67g bottom out force, which is slightly on the heavier side. Most mechanical keyboard switches have a bottom out force of around 45-60g.

Keep in mind these switches are on the pricier side, coming out to $1.20 each. It's hard to beat the quality and sound of these switches though, so the price may be worth it for you.

#4 Pick: ZealPC Zilents V2

Second up is the ZealPC Zilent V2.

The Zilents are very similar to the Healios, but they are tactile instead of linear.

The Zilents have a big smooth bump to provide tactile feedback to the user, and unlike other switches the bump starts at the very start of the key press with no pre-travel.

This means the keystroke does not happen unless you press hard enough to clear the bump, which removes user error from 'half-pressing' a key.

Coming in four different bottom-out forces, each Zilent variation offers its own feel and resistance. The different weights include 62g, 65g, 67g, and 78g.

At a price of $1.20 each, these are not cheap switches but similar to the Healios, the quality is great.

#5 Pick: Matias Quiet Linear

The Matias Quiet Linear is a truly quiet switch made for court stenographers and anyone else working in an environment where they need to keep the typing sounds low.

The spring has a unique design where there is more resistance at the start of the keypress that gradually decreases as the internal spring is compressed.

The Matias Quiet switches are slightly louder than the other options on the list, but are still a great pick for anyone looking for a quiet switch.

These are the cheapest on the list by far, coming in at $50 for a box of 200 switches. Or about $0.25 each.

Favorite Quiet Mechanical Keyboards

1. Ducky One 2 Mini: Best Quiet Keyboard for Gaming

The Ducky One 2 Mini is an excellent all-around 60% mechanical keyboard. We love using this keyboard for a mix of gaming and typing.

The keyboard comes with your choice of Cherry MX switches, so you can opt for the Cherry MX Silent Red or Silent Black if you need your keyboard to be a bit more quiet.

The Ducky One 2 Mini also comes with additional keycaps that you can swap out to customize the build even further. The keyboard is a lot of fun to tinker with.

You can check out our full review of the Ducky One 2 Mini, it is also included in our best 60% keyboard list.

The Ducky One 2 Mini is available for a really good price.

2. Durgod K320: Best Quiet Mechanical Keyboard for the Office

The Durgod K320 is one of the best keyboards for typing.

Durgod is known for their buttery smooth stabilizers and awesome build quality. If you're looking for a mechanical keyboard for work, you can't pass up on this one.

Much like the Ducky One 2 Mini, you have the option to purchase the keyboard with Cherry MX Silent switches so you can make it nice and stealthy.

The keycaps comes in a nice PBT material and two color design that is sure to impress.

You can find the Durgod K320 on Amazon with a bunch of different switch options.

3. Ducky MIYA Pro: Best Silent 65% Keyboard

The Ducky MIYA Pro is one of our absolute favorite keyboards.

The keyboard comes in a nice compact 65% layout which makes it perfect the perfect balance of comfort and compactness.

If you've ever wanted a keyboard with a specialized design, look no further. The MIYA Pro comes in a ton of different colorful unique designs that are sure to impress.

You can check out all of the different options:

The Ducky MIYA Pro can be purchased with Cherry MX Silent Red switches to make it super quiet when typing.

Overall, this is one of our favorite 65% keyboards, so you can't go wrong with this pick.

4. Leopold FC980M: Excellent Silent Keyboard for Data Entry

The Leopold FC980M is another excellent option. This keyboard comes is really nice 1800-compact or 96% layout.

This layout is perfect for those who want access to a number pad, but don't need the traditional navigational cluster that often goes unused. It's a great way to save space without compromising utility.

The FC980M comes with two-color PBT keycaps and lots of other bells and whistlyes. I believe it's one of the best pre-built mechanical keyboards on the market.

The keyboard comes with a silent switch option as well so you don't need to worry about having a loud distracting keyboard.

You can find the FC980 on mechanicalkeyboards.com for a good price.

5. Keychron K6: Great Quiet Keyboard for Mac

The Keychron K6 is a feature-packed 65% keyboard.

This keyboard is compatible with Windows and Mac which makes it work with almost every computer. Not to mention it can connect through wired/wireless, so more worrying about being stuck at your desk.

You also have the option to opt for an aluminum case which makes this keyboard incredibly durable and well-built.

My favorite feature of the keyboard is that it's hot-swappable, which means you can choose which switch to put in the keyboard.

You're not stuck to any one switch, so you can pick the silent switch that fits best within your budget and needs. Pretty cool, huh?

You can find the Keychron K6 on Amazon with a few different options.

Why does Sound Matter?

The sound of a keyboard switch is one of the biggest factors when picking out a switch for your new mechanical keyboard. The other factor is typically the feel of the switch.

If you plan on recording videos, streaming, talking over a microphone, or working in a public space, it's a good idea to stay away from the loudest and clicky switch types.

The loud switches will create more background noise and microphones will pick up the sound of each keystroke. It's also good to keep in mind, most people don't enjoy the sound of your loud keyboard, especially in an enclosed area packed with people.

Avoid these loud switches:

• Cherry MX Blue, Green, and White
• Kailh BOX White, BOX Navy, and Kailh BOX Jade

Not All Sounds Are Created Equal

The pure decibel output of a keyboard switch is not the only factor when it comes to deciding which switch is the best pick for you.

While certain switches may be quieter than others, a switch that emits a higher-pitched sound tends to be get picked up more on microphones and is more disturbing to those around you.

Silent Keyboard For Macro

A deep, low-pitched sounding switch on the other hand, will be less intrusive and tends to not get picked up by microphones as much, even if it's louder.

The lower-pitched sound is generally much more pleasing on the ears and is a sound most keyboard switch manufacturers and enthusiasts attempt to go for when buying a keyboard.

Other sound factors include the amount the switch rattles and shakes.

Rattling is when the switch is not fully secured or machined to a tight tolerance, this makes the moving components inside the switch bang against each other instead of smoothly sliding up and down.

The rattling increases the noise output of the keyboard and makes the sound output much more unpleasant. Because of this, we considered this factor when making our top five list.

Your Keyboard Case & Stabilizers Matter

It's important to note that the switch is not the only factor that determines the sound of the keystroke. The overall build material of the case can change the overall feel and sound of each key.

For example, the lighter and more flexible materials such as plastic, tend to create more noise and dampen the sound less. The flexible material allows the vibrations and sound to travel through the keyboard, instead of reducing the overall decibel output.

Case materials such as aluminum, steel, and acrylic are heavier and sturdier. Because of their denser build material, they can dampen the sound of the keystrokes more effectively, creating a quieter and deeper sounding switch.

The stabilizers are also a big factor in determining the overall sound output of your keyboard. Stabilizers are placed under your larger keys, such as your spacebar, and reduce the amount the key shakes when pressed. Therefore, stabilizing it.

By reducing the amount the keys shake, stabilizers can lower the overall sound output of your keyboard. There are several ways to make your stabilizers more effective at reducing shakiness and ratting of your keys, but we'll get into that later.

How to Make Your Keyboard Even Quieter

There are a lot of silent switch options out there, and we hope we've helped you narrow down your search. For some people, however, even with the silent switches, your keyboard may still feel too loud.

Do not fear! There are several other options you can do to lower the sound of your keyboard. Such as adding a dampener inside your keyboard case, lubricating your switches, adding O-rings, and other great options.

Check out this post for a more in-depth write up on how to lower the sound output of your keyboard.

Conclusion

In general, there are a lot of factors that effect the overall sound output of your keyboard including the case, stabilizers, and switches. In this article, we went over our top five picks for the best mechanical keyboard switch to make your keyboard more quiet.

Our top pick was the ZealPC Healios with the Zilents in close second. Both of these switches are incredibly silent and have excellent build quality. While a bit on the pricier side, they are worth it if your budget allows it.

If not, there are other great options on this list that are more affordable as well.

We also recommend ordering a sample pack to test out several different switch types to figure out the best switch for you.

We hope you found some helpful information in this post and are one step closer to getting your next keyboard.

Best Keyboard For Mac

And, as always, happy typing!