| Switch Type: | Tactile |
| Mount Type: | Plate Mount |
| Travel Distance: | 1.8mm Actuation | 3.6mm Total |
| Force: | 45g Operating | 70g Bottom-out |
| Price: | $18 (36 pieces) on NovelKeys |
The Kailh BOX Royal is a somewhat sharp tactile switch made for NovelKeys by Kailhua. It features a thicker contact leaf which increases their tactility compared to the Kailh BOX Burnt Orange switch.
TL;DR
It’s scratchy and inconsistent. It’s definitely no longer the top-tier tactile switch it once was. More competitive switches such as the MOMOKA Shark and the Akko V3 Cream Blue are far better options.
Smoothness: 6/10
On-centre keypresses are extremely smooth with no discernible scratchiness to be felt.
Off-centre keypresses are do show some levels of scratchiness and slight binding during normal typing which threw me off. While that is undesirable, it’s tolerable and not excessively problematic.
Overall, they’re a little bit inconsistent and I personally wouldn’t recommend them. However, on-centre keypresses are super smooth. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for off-centre keypresses.
Kailh BOX Royal switch disassembled.
Weighting: 7/10
According to NovelKeys, these switches have an actuation force of 45g at 1.8mm, a peak tactile force of 75g and a bottom-out force of 70g at 3.6mm.
In terms of the real-world key feel, they have a slight pre-travel just before the tactile bump which is reflected in the force curve below. Additionally, I’m a fan of the weighting itself. Whilst they are on the inconsistent side, I do like the tactility the switches offer.
And, speaking of the force curve, there also appears to be a secondary tactile bump, reminiscent of the Akko Jelly Blue switch. However, just like the Jelly Blue, this second tactile bump cannot be felt under normal typing conditions.
The BOX Royals are also ‘P’ shape tactile switches, similar to the MOMOKA Shark. However, the unlike the Shark switches, the BOX Royal is significantly more inconsistent. It’s not a dealbreaker as it is manageable enough, but it is a downside nonetheless.
Overall, the weighting is the best aspect about these switches. They aren’t too heavy and they aren’t too light for my tastes. Though, some have reported them to be too heavy, so keep this in mind.
Sound: 5/10
These sound clacky (as to be expected), but also scratchy and very thin. They certainly aren’t the most pleasant-sounding switches around, and I personally wouldn’t buy them for their acoustic quality.
Additionally, some switches make a faint, but noticeable clicky sound which defeats the purpose of them being tactile switches. It’s a design flaw which wasn’t present in the less tactile Kailh BOX Burnt Orange.
Overall, they’re “meh”. Not offensively bad, but not amazing.
Typing Performance: 5/10
The BOX Royal was a very interesting switch when it first launched a few years ago when the only real competitor was the Zealio switch. It was deemed as a ‘proper’ tactile switch by enthusiasts.
Fast forward to 2023, it falls behind in pretty much every aspect. They’re scratchy, inconsistent and poor value for money compared to switches like the MOMOKA Shark and the Akko V3 Cream Blue – two switches that have recently demonstrated that you don’t need to spend a lot, to get a lot.
Additionally, as mentioned above, some switches make a clicky sound. This wasn’t present at first, but after 2 weeks of testing, they have showed a major flaw which newer switches don’t have.
Adding to more downsides, the switch installed in my spacebar kept chattering throughout the whole test period – even more so compared to the MOMOKA Shark. I’d say there is a 1 in 10 chance of a key chatter (it happened 3 times writing this paragraph alone). So, if you see an extra space somewhere, you can blame it on the switch.
However, with all that said, if Kailhua made the necessary changes to the BOX Royals – mainly its smoothness and consistency, it would make for a compelling switch given its already priced competitively with its rivals.
Overall, whilst they are nicely weighted and actually tactile, they simply have too many downsides for a solid recommendation from me.
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Gaming Performance: 5/10
Similarly to the MOMOKA Shark switch, it’s short and sharp tactile bump was something I could actually rely on. However, I preferred the overall tactility of the Sharks.
But, the good stuff pretty much ends there. The biggest downside was the key chattering which is very frustrating in fast-paced games like DOOM Eternal or in games where a combination set of keys trigger an action. So, if you were thinking of using these for osu! Please stay away.
Moreover, the scratchiness and binding are unpleasant to the touch in slower-paced games. Thankfully, the faint clicking keys were not an issue here.
Overall, its gaming performance is lacklustre. It could be usable in casual games, but I wouldn’t count on them for any competitive play.
Final Score = 28/50 (56%)
Places to purchase this switch:
NovelKeys | AliExpress | Mechboards