Original switch research with transparent score maths, current Indian pack prices, compatibility checks and clear evidence limits.
Quick Verdict
The benchmarksutra Switch Score is a researched comparison of 38 switch models, with 34 ranked and 4 left unranked. It combines seven editorial row ratings with six buyer profiles. Prices are normalised to rupees per switch, while full-board costs use whole packs.
Researched, not hands-on tested.Prices and availability checked 8 November 2026. Scores are our editorial interpretation of documented specifications, Indian prices and stated warranty. We did not measure force curves, sound, latency or switch life.
Prices change frequently. The prices on this page were correct when we wrote and checked it, but they may have changed by the time you read this. Check the current price on the retailer's page before you buy.
What the score measures
A keyboard switch is a preference-sensitive component. A good comparison must distinguish the press type, force and travel from its price, stock and compatibility. Our model summarises documented design and purchase conditions; it does not turn manufacturer claims into measurements.
Row | What it means |
|---|---|
Feel | Published type, operating force, travel and tactile-bump specification. |
Smoothness and stability | Factory lubrication, stem/housing design and mounting details; not a measured friction result. |
Sound profile | Documented damping, click-bar or other sound-design features; not decibels. |
Durability | Manufacturer-rated life where confirmed; a missing numerical claim is not filled from another review site. |
Compatibility | Electrical technology, pin count and documented fit; Hall-effect compatibility needs exact confirmation. |
Availability in India | Exact-model stock and seller/channel evidence. |
India value | Per-switch price against the documented design and stated warranty. |
Why there are six profiles
Row | linear | tactile | clicky | magnetic / gaming | budget | quiet |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Feel | 25 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 15 | 20 |
Smoothness & stability | 25 | 20 | 15 | 20 | 10 | 15 |
Sound profile | 10 | 10 | 20 | 5 | 5 | 35 |
Durability | 10 | 10 | 10 | 15 | 10 | 10 |
Compatibility | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 5 |
Availability in India | 5 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 10 | 5 |
India value | 15 | 15 | 10 | 10 | 40 | 10 |
Original benchmarksutra research. Not a hands-on test.
The linear, tactile and clicky profiles emphasise the design relevant to each press type. Gaming adds weight to the documented actuation design, durability and availability without claiming measured latency. Budget gives India value 40 points. Quiet gives sound-design documentation 35 points. These are editorial priorities; readers can inspect every contribution.
A worked score you can reproduce
Gateron G Pro 3.0 Yellow costs ₹17.91 per switch; ₹179.10 for 10 at Meckeys. Its budget calculation is below. The raw score is 84.0, which rounds to 84/100, tier A.
Rating row | Rating /10 | Weight | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
Feel | 8 | 15 | 12.0 |
Smoothness & stability | 7.5 | 10 | 7.5 |
Sound profile | 7 | 5 | 3.5 |
Durability | 6 | 10 | 6.0 |
Compatibility | 9.5 | 10 | 9.5 |
Availability in India | 9.5 | 10 | 9.5 |
India value | 9 | 40 | 36.0 |
The profile weights total 100. Each /10 rating is multiplied by its weight, and the sum is divided by 10. We sort on the raw result before showing a rounded whole number. Two models can therefore display the same score while appearing in a different order. That ordering should not be interpreted as a measured performance margin.
Tiers and price bands
Tier | Score |
|---|---|
S | 90–100 |
A | 80–89 |
B | 70–79 |
C | 60–69 |
D | Below 60 |
Price bands are under ₹15, ₹15–30, above ₹30–50 and above ₹50 per switch. The budget list includes ranked models at ₹30 or below. Magnetic switches are compared with other magnetic designs for value because an MX contact switch is not a compatible substitute.
Per-switch price is not the checkout total
A pack price is divided by its actual quantity. For Gateron G Pro 3.0 Yellow, ₹179.10 ÷ 10 = ₹17.91 each. A 110-switch purchase needs 11 packs, gives 110 switches and costs ₹1,970.10. A 45-pack needs three packs to reach 110; the extras are still part of the amount paid.
Original benchmarksutra research. Not a hands-on test.
How evidence gaps affect rankings
We use switch-maker pages for specifications and exact-variant Indian retailer listings for stock and prices. Retailer-only facts are labelled. If a source does not establish enough information to support the model, we withhold its ranked score instead of guessing. Current Outemu entries keep their verified prices but have no ranked score in this refresh.
Verified prices, but not ranked
These exact Outemu variants remain in the research record. Their price and seller variant were checked, but the allowed source does not establish enough force, travel and life data for a defensible score. A missing score means insufficient evidence; it does not mean the product failed a test.
Model | Per switch | Pack | Retailer | Why unranked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Outemu Red | ₹7.25 | ₹145 / 20 | Insufficient primary/allowed retailer specifications for exact model; third-party switch-site data removed. | |
Outemu Brown (pre-lubed) | ₹11 | ₹220 / 20 | Insufficient primary/allowed retailer specifications for exact model; third-party switch-site data removed. | |
Outemu Blue (pre-lubed) | ₹11 | ₹220 / 20 | Insufficient primary/allowed retailer specifications for exact model; third-party switch-site data removed. | |
Outemu Silent Grey | ₹16.25 | ₹325 / 20 | Insufficient primary/allowed retailer specifications for exact model; third-party switch-site data removed. |
Warranty and source conflicts
A general warranty banner can disagree with a product-specific clause. We use the specific switch terms for the affected Cosmic Byte listings: they say switches have no warranty and cannot be exchanged or returned. We also distinguish model revisions and product variants before carrying specifications across. Unresolved conflicts remain caveats.
Check these before ordering
Check that the keyboard has hot-swap sockets for the exact electrical technology. A soldered board needs soldering work; magnetic switches require a compatible Hall-effect keyboard.
Count all the switches you intend to replace and add spares. A 45-pack may be enough for neither a full-size board nor a complete replacement on its own.
Check the PCB’s three-pin or five-pin support and the LED arrangement. Physical MX-style keycap fit alone does not prove electrical or magnetic compatibility.
Check the exact variant, lubrication option, seller, pack size and current stock. A low headline price on a multi-variant page may belong to a different colour or generation.
Read the switch-specific return and warranty clause. The Cosmic Byte switch policy excludes warranty and returns for the affected listings, despite the site’s general warranty banner.
If feel or noise matters strongly, start with a small sample or one pack rather than treating a researched score as a substitute for personal preference.
Related on benchmarksutra
Frequently asked questions
Is this a laboratory benchmark?
No. It is a transparent editorial scoring method for researched buying guides. There are no measured force curves, sound recordings or latency results in the score.
Can a cheap switch rank above an expensive switch?
Yes. The budget profile gives price and documented purchase conditions more weight. That does not mean the lower-priced model has better measured friction, sound or lifespan.
Are unranked switches bad?
No. Unranked means the permitted evidence is insufficient for a defensible score. It is different from a low score or a failed physical test.
When do the scores change?
We rebuild them when a verified specification, relevant warranty term, stock condition or price input changes. Rankings and full-pack costs are generated from the same score data.
Related buying guides
Choosing a complete keyboard? Seeour mechanical keyboard guideandthe keyboard scoring method.
Sources and editorial note
Data checked as of 8 November 2026. Manufacturer specifications are claims, not our measured results. Retailer-only information is identified as such. Prices include the displayed tax treatment; shipping and optional promotions are excluded. We compare exact variants and whole-pack costs. Commercial relationships do not determine scores or ordering.
