| Switch Type: Tactile | Mount: PCB Mount (5-pin) | Spring: Single Stage | Price: $23.00 (35 pcs) on Gateron |
| Top Housing: Nylon PA66 | Bottom Housing: Nylon PA66 | Stem: POM | Factory Lubed: Yes |
| Actuation Point: | 2.0 ± 0.6mm | Actuation Point: | 2.43mm |
| Actuation Force: | 55 ± 15 gf | Actuation Force: | 41.1gf |
| Total Travel: | 4.0mm Max | Total Travel: | 3.86mm |
| Peak Tactile Point: | 1.3mm | Peak Tactile Point: | 1.27mm |
| Peak Tactile Force: | 58gf | Peak Tactile Force: | 53.0gf |
| Reset Point: | 1.9mm | Reset Point: | 2.40mm |
| Bottom-out Force: | 58gf | Bottom-out Force: | 62.3gf |
| Stem Length: | 10.46mm | ||
The Gateron CAP Brown V2 is an innovative switch featuring an enlarged and hollowed out bottom housing aiming to reduce wobbliness. The stem has also been redesigned to accommodate this new feature. Therefore, it’s worth noting that the stem and bottom housing cannot be interchanged with normal switches as they would be incompatible.
TL;DR
There isn’t much to say about this switch apart from its new design (which isn’t good). Cheaper and smoother options include the Gateron Brown and the Akko POM Brown with the former being available almost anywhere for a super low price. So, unless you’re the experimental type, this is a poor purchase from a price or performance standpoint.
Smoothness: 5/10
On-centre keypresses are quite smooth with only very minor differences from one switch to the next.
Off-centre keypresses are substantially scratchier with very noticeable binding at slow keypresses.
Overall, just like CAP Yellows even though these come factory lubed, they’re still pretty scratchy and would need a lot of work for them to be smoother. Although, since they are smoother during on-centre keypresses; they edge out the CAP Yellows by a 1 point.
Gateron CAP Brown (V2) switch disassembled.
Weighting: 6/10
According to Gateron, these switches have an actuation force of 55g at 2.0mm, a bottom-out force of 60g at 4.0mm with a peak tactile force of 58g at 1.3mm. The reset point is indicated to be around 1.9mm on their force curve.
Gateron CAP Brown (V2) force curve.
As you can see from the force curve above, the Gateron CAP Brown V2 were within its outlined specs.
Gateron CAP Brown (V2) consistency force curve.
However, as you can see from the force curve above, the switches weren’t very consistent. During the downstroke, Switch 1 is noticeably heavier compared to Switch 2 and 3 around 2.7mm until the end of travel. Additionally, Switch 1 and 3 featured a downward spike during the tactile event. Though, this couldn’t be felt when normally typing.
There really isn’t anything too remarkable featured on the upstroke; apart from Switch 1 being the odd one out towards the bottom of the travel.
Gateron CAP Brown (V2) vs. Gateron Brown force curve.
The above force curve shows a comparison between the Gateron CAP Brown V2 and the Gateron Brown. On the downstroke, the Gateron Brown is very clearly the lighter switch, although their tactility is similar both in strength and sharpness with the Gateron Brown having a slightly stronger and sharper bump.
Gateron CAP Brown (V2) vs. Akko POM Brown force curve.
The above force curve shows a comparison between the Gateron CAP Brown V2 and the Akko POM Brown. The POM Brown is slightly lighter, has an earlier tactile bump and a shorter travel. It’s also worth noting that the POM Brown’s tactility is stronger and sharper. Although, both still have a relatively light tactile bump.
Overall, it’s a medium weighted switch with noticeable inconsistencies. I still quite like the weighting, but I wouldn’t recommend these to anyone unless you’re into really modding your switches.
Sound: 6/10
Unlike its linear counterpart, these are clacky and not at all quiet which is an automatically upvote for me.
However, just like with the Gateron CAP Yellows, these are also scratchy which you can hear in the typing test if you listen carefully.
Overall, they aren’t anything remarkable… just like the CAP Yellows.
The Gateron CAP Brown (V2) stem length is 10.46mm.
Typing Performance: 4/10
Apart from the scratchiness which features very prominently as soon as you lay your fingers on them, their tactility is also very underwhelming; barely featuring at all.
Additionally, their inconsistency is also a major factor. Although, unlike other switches, I didn’t find myself making too many typos with these.
Overall, these were very unimpressive. I’m unsure as to why Gateron didn’t at least make them a consistent performer; we all know they’re more than capable of it. Perhaps, in the next version.
Gaming Performance: 4/10
Just like with typing, their tactility also barely featured in gaming, but their inconsistency was on full display throughout.
They were vague at best in slower-paced games. And when I did feel some tactility, it was accompanied by a mushy and scratchy feel.
And, I sometimes forgot I was testing a tactile switch whenever I would play faster-paced games! Although, they were always quick to remind me how scratchy and inconsistent they were – they made sure you never forgot that.
Overall, they aren’t pleasant to game with and wouldn’t recommend them to anyone. There are cheaper options (compared above) which I can happily recommend over these.
Final Score = 25/50 (50%)
Oh, you got force curves now? Would you be able to measure some for the Kailh Box Pinks, if you still have them?