| Switch Type: | Linear |
| Mount Type: | PCB Mount |
| Travel Distance: | 1.3mm Actuation | 3.6mm Total |
| Force: | 45g Operating |
| Stem Length (mm): | 11.33 |
| Price: | £7.40 (10 pieces) on AliExpress |
The Kailh BOX Speed Ultimate is a speed switch in the newer BOX configuration. It is also an upgrade to the Kailh Speed Silver.
TL;DR
Whilst this is a massive improvement to the Kailh Speed Silver, it’s still only a pretty average switch across the board. Additionally, these are quite pricey compared to other gaming switches like the Akko POM Silver or the Gateron Pro V3 Silver.
Smoothness: 5/10
On-centre keypresses are somewhat smooth with only minor hints of scratchiness in a few switches.
Off-centre keypresses aren’t so much “scratchy”. Although, most of them tend to bind leading to an inconsistent key feel; this is especially noticeable during very slow keypresses.
Overall, whilst these are a slight improvement over their predecessor, they aren’t that much better which is in stark contrast to many BOX switches on the market.
Kailh BOX Speed Ultimate switch disassembled.
Weighting: 5/10
According to Kailh, these switches have an actuation force of 45g at 1.3mm, and have a total travel of 3.6mm.
In the real world, they feel as advertised unlike their predecessor. They also didn’t have any weighting or actuation discrepancies which is a welcome improvement.
Although even with all that said, they are still very light switches with a high actuation point which I am not a fan of. I made plenty of typos with them as with most switches of this nature, but less so compared to other speed switches.
Overall, I’m glad to see Kailh improving on their older designs and going for something a little more unique. However, I’m going to have to pass on this one. These are simply too light and too sensitive for my tastes.
Sound: 6/10
They’re clacky with a slightly higher-than-normal pitch on the upstroke – Basically, they really aren’t anything special even though the spring is designed to be “quiet-focused”. It’s also nice to not hear any obvious signs of scratchiness.
Overall, this is the biggest improvement in comparison to their predecessor. Although, as a gaming switch, you probably won’t care about their sound anyway.
The Kailh BOX Speed Ultimate stem length is 11.33 mm.
Typing Performance: 4/10
To achieve its Ultimate goal, Kailh has opted for a “20.5-millimeter noise-reduction spring that provides tremendous upward force after each actuation”. This change was instantly noticeable.
So, how does the new spring set-up affect typing?
Well, it made typing quite weird. The upward force (or rebound) really is tremendous which gives these quite a unique typing feel. Although, since they also have a high actuation point, they feel less predictable for typing – it’s almost like the switch ‘wants’ to reset as soon as it is actuated. This also means you are discouraged from bottoming-out.
Finally, this new spring design made them longer to get accustomed to. I made numerous typos and accidental keypresses which is typical of gaming switches, but more so for one with a different spring feel.
Overall, I wouldn’t use these for typing. It feels like an “anti-typist switch”.
Gaming Performance: 6/10
I enjoyed using these a bit more for gaming. The unique spring set-up didn’t really bring anything new to the table here, but it also didn’t bother me.
Additionally, they didn’t have any weighting or actuation discrepancies like their predecessor which made the gaming experience more pleasant. Although, some off-centre keypresses were a bit jarring.
Furthermore, the switch is designed to excel in fast-paced games which is does quite well given its new spring set-up. However, it’s pretty much just a normal switch in slower paced games.
Overall, unless you’re a competitive gamer, this switch is a complete big waste of money. Plus, even then, there are better options like the Gateron Pro V3 Silver or the Akko POM Silver.
Final Score = 26/50 (52%)