| Switch Type: Tactile | Mount: PCB Mount (5-pin) | Spring: Single Stage | Price: £12 (45 pcs) on Akko |
| Top Housing: PC | Bottom Housing: PA66 | Stem: POM | Factory Lubed: Yes |
| Actuation Point: | 2.0 ± 0.5 mm | Actuation Point: | 2.51mm |
| Actuation Force: | 36 ± 5g | Actuation Force: | 38.1gf |
| Total Travel: | 3.5 ± 0.3mm | Total Travel: | 3.41mm |
| Peak Tactile Point: | 0.2 ± 0.2mm | Peak Tactile Point: | 0.19mm |
| Peak Tactile Force: | 56 ± 5gf | Peak Tactile Force: | 56.5gf |
| Reset Point: | 2.0mm | Reset Point: | 2.48mm |
| Bottom-out Force: | 53 ± 5gf | Bottom-out Force: | 52.1gf |
| Stem Length: | 13.56mm | ||
The Akko Cilantro switch is an affordable tactile switch. Its performance is very reminiscent of the Akko V3 Cream Blue – another one of Akko’s cheap tactile switch.
DISCLAIMER | Please Read:
These switches were sent by Akko for review and testing purposes. I was NOT PAID in any way to write this review. Impartiality will always be a top priority here at KeebWorks; this one included.
TL;DR
Sure, it has a silly name like with many of today’s switches, but it performs outstandingly for its price. It’s smooth, consistent and sounds pretty decent.
If you can’t get your hands on these, the Akko V3 Cream Blue is a very similar switch and is generally priced about the same too.
Smoothness: 8/10
On-centre keypresses are ultra-smooth with only very minor scratchiness at very slow keypresses.
Off-centre keypresses aren’t as smooth with noticeable binding on some keys at slower keypresses.
Overall, as per most Akko switches, they’re still very smooth.
Akko Cilantro switch disassembled.
Weighting: 10/10
Now, According to Akko these switches have peak tactile force of 58g at 0.2mm, an actuation force of 36g at 2.0mm and a bottom-out force of 53g at 3.5mm.
Akko Cilantro force curve.
As you can see from the force curve above, the Akko Cilantro were within its outlined specs.
Akko Cilantro consistency force curve.
They were also very consistent on both the up and downstrokes.
Akko Cilantro vs. Akko V3 Cream Blue force curve.
The above force curve shows a comparison between the Akko Cilantro and the Akko V3 Cream Blue. And while the Cream Blue has an earlier actuation point, both their tactility characteristics are very similar.
Akko Cilantro vs. Akko Lavender Purple force curve.
The above force curve shows a comparison between the Akko Cilantro and the Akko Lavender Purple. The Lavender switch is a bit lighter and has an earlier actuation point like the Cream Blue. Although, Akko doesn’t seem to sell the Lavender switches anymore.
Overall, these are very consistent, medium weighted switches with a relatively sharp tactile feel. I really like their weighting and I hope to see more switches like this from Akko. This is top-tier material!
Sound: 8/10
Its sound leans more into the clacky territory. In fact, Akko claims that the “Cilantro switches are Akko’s first deep clack tactile switches.”
I very much like clacky switches, but I’m not quite sure what Akko means by “deep clack” – usually deeper sounding switches are referred to as “thocky”. Plus, these switches don’t sound deep at all to my ears. Although, that could be due to my aluminium case.
Overall, generally the more clack, the better and I’m a fan of how they sound.
The Akko Cilantro stem length is 13.56 mm.
Typing Performance: 8/10
I firstly I want to mention one downside I discovered when testing these.
Key chattering. Just like with the Gateron Jupiter, a couple of switches chattered. Mind you, it was nowhere near as much as the Gateron Jupiter, but it was still present.
Other that that, its performance has been top-notch across the board. There isn’t much I can fault them on. They’ve just been smooth and consistent throughout.
Overall, if I don’t have much to say, just like in this case, then it’s a mark of a great switch. The Akko Cilantro switches are great typists’ switches.
Gaming Performance: 9/10
They’re gaming performance was also did not falter.
Unlike many ‘brown’ switches, these actually had “real” tactility which was present in both fast and slow-paced games. Sure, its tactility “disappears” in super-fast and intense situations, but that applies to most tactile switches out there.
Not to mention, they were incredibly smooth and consistent throughout my gaming sessions too. I’m not sure what else I can really ask for.
Overall, Akko did not once mention the word “gaming” in its marketing material for these switches, but it more than delivered in this segment.
Final Score = 43/50 (86%)
Places to purchase this switch:
Akko | MonacoKeys | UniKeys