| Switch Type: Tactile | Mount: Plate Mount (3-pin) | Spring: Single Stage | Price: $13.00 (45 pcs) on Keychron |
| Top Housing: PC | Bottom Housing: Nylon | Stem: POM | Factory Lubed: Yes |
| Actuation Point: | 2.0mm | Actuation Point: | 1.87mm |
| Actuation Force: | 59 ± 10gf | Actuation Force: | 35.6gf |
| Total Travel: | 3.4mm | Total Travel: | 3.22mm |
| Peak Tactile Point: | 0.5mm | Peak Tactile Point: | 0.28mm |
| Peak Tactile Force: | 59gf | Peak Tactile Force: | 59.7gf |
| Reset Point: | 1.8mm | Reset Point: | 1.83mm |
| Bottom-out Force: | 52gf | Bottom-out Force: | 51.1gf |
| Stem Length: | 13.65mm | ||
The Gateron Jupiter Banana is a strong and sharp “P-shaped” tactile switch reminiscent of Drop + Invyr Holy Panda.
TL;DR
They’re somewhat of a Holy Panda clone. Although, these have a slightly shorter travel and are more “P-shaped” in their tactility.
Additionally, these would’ve been fantastic switches if it wasn’t for the constant key chattering! It’s insane that a brand-new switch in the modern era is sooooo incredibly bad. I don’t know what Gateron was smoking with this one, but I definitely DO NOT recommend these. I wouldn’t mind testing a V2 if that is to ever come out.
If you’re looking for a high-quality Holy Panda switch or alternative; the Gazzew Boba U4T or the Outemu Panda are more reliable choices.
Smoothness: 7/10
On-centre keypresses are smooth with only minor scratchiness at very slow keypresses.
Off-centre keypresses aren’t as smooth with more noticeable scratchiness at very slow keypresses.
Overall, they’re still a decently smooth switch, but I would personally re-lube them if I wanted to get more smoothness out of them.
Gateron Jupiter Banana switch disassembled.
Weighting: 8/10
According to Keychron, these switches have a peak tactile force of 59g at 0.5mm, an actuation force of 59g at 2mm and a bottom-out force of 53g at 3.4mm.
Gateron Jupiter Banana force curve.
As you can see from the force curve above, the Gateron Jupiter Banana were within its outlined specs apart from the actuation force.
The recorded actuation force was 35.6g. This is well outside the quoted 59 ± 10g mentioned on the specs sheet.
Gateron Jupiter Banana consistency force curve.
At least they were consistent with Switch 3 (black line) showing the most deviation from the others with a slightly later actuation point, a rounder tactility and more travel, but they were all pretty much in-line with one another.
Gateron Jupiter Banana vs. Drop + Invyr Holy Panda force curve.
The above force curve shows a comparison between the Gateron Jupiter Banana and the Drop + Invyr Holy Panda. On the downstroke (right side), it’s clear that the Holy Panda has more of a “D-shaped” rounder tactile bump as opposed to the Banana’s “P-shaped” sharper bump.
Additionally, the Holy Panda has more travel and is overall the slightly heavier switch as seen on the upstroke (left side).
Gateron Jupiter Banana vs. Gazzew Boba U4T (62g) force curve.
The above force curve shows a comparison between the Gateron Jupiter Banana and the Gazzew Boba U4T (62g). On the downstroke, the Boba U4T features a “P-shaped” tactile bump with almost the same peak force as the Banana switch.
The Boba U4T’s tactile bump doesn’t stay at its peak for as long as the Banana. Plus, the U4T’s tactility has a more gradual approach leading to a slightly weaker and rounder tactile feel.
Overall, they have a medium to heavy weighting with decent performance in consistency. Plus, despite it showing a very similar weighting to the Boba U4T, the Banana switch feels slightly heavier to type on. Perhaps, it’s the length of the tactile bump? I’m not too sure. I enjoyed typing on them, though… but I wouldn’t want them to be any heavier.
Sound: 8/10
I would describe them as super clacky and poppy. I find it to be quite an enjoyable sound signature.
Overall, they’re a very good sounding switch, and it would probably be better if they were lubed properly.
The Gateron Jupiter Banana stem length is 13.65 mm.
Typing Performance: 5/10
So far, the Banana switch has been doing quite well.
However, it has ONE glaring issue. Key chatter.
Ever since day one, it has had very noticeable key chatter. This would normally be the case for old and worn-out switches. But these are completely brand-new, so I’m led to believe these have some sort of a manufacture defect.
On a more positive note, I really like the tactility of these switches. They feel ever so slightly heavier compared to the Boba U4T, but that didn’t affect my performance.
Overall, this would’ve been such an easy recommendation as a cheaper alternative to the Holy Panda or even the Boba U4T, but its key chattering issues prevent that from happening. Hopefully Gateron rectifies this issue in an updated version.
Gaming Performance: 7/10
Key chattering issues aside, their gaming performance was a lot better.
I could actually feel its tactility in both fast and slow-paced games which was great. Although, the switches are quite loud given their poppy nature, so do bear this in mind.
Additionally, I could feel noticeable scratchiness during slower moments, but I’m glad it wasn’t super distracting. The scratchiness is would most likely disappear if I lubed the switches the way I wanted to.
Overall, even if they did chatter during typing, that wasn’t an issue when purely gaming.
Final Score = 35/50 (70%)
Places to purchase this switch:
Keychron | AliExpress | Gateron
“The recorded actuation force was 35.6g. This is well outside the quoted 59 ± 10g mentioned on the specs sheet.”
The spec lists the *operation force* as 59g, not the actuation force. The operation force is the peak of the force graph before actuation. You aren’t going to operate the switch with a stack of 8 nickels, you need 12.
Could you explain the key chattering issue in a bit more detail?
I’m new to mechanical keyboards as a hobby but I recently purchased a keyboard with these switches and want to find out more.
Is it related to double key presses?
You assume correctly. Contact bounce creates double registration of switch actuations. The firmware of the mouse or keyboard usually does something like ignoring additional actuations for 5 ms after the initial one, which covers most switches when they are new. But when a switch bounces for slightly longer (out of the box or due to wear), the time window needs to be increased to prevent double key presses.