Scroll to the bottom of the page to get an idea of what the catgories mean and how I score every keyboard and switch. Totally not inspired by the DougScore.
Keyboard Scores
Every keyboard I've reviewed will have a score here. Unthoroughly tested keyboards are HIGHLIGHTED in ORANGE.| Keyboard | Switch | Build Quality | Features | Daily Performance | Reliability | Value | Total | Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SteelSeries 7G | Cherry MX Black | 8 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 38 | 76% |
| GK61 (Barebones) | N/A | 7 | 6 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 34 | 68% |
| Razer BlackWidow 2014 | Razer Green | 8 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 32 | 64% |
| Razer BlackWidow 2010 | Cherry MX Blue | 8 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 27 | 54% |
| Rapoo V500 | Kailh Yellow | 6 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 25 | 50% |
| The G-Lab Keyz#Meca | Jixian Blue | 4 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 24 | 48% |
| Corsair K70 RGB | Cherry MX Brown | 7 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 23 | 46% |
ALL Switch Scores
Every switch I've tested will have a score here. Unthoroughly tested switches are HIGHLIGHTED in ORANGE.| Switch | Switch Type | Keyboard | Smoothness | Weighting | Sound | Typing Performance | Gaming Performance | Total | Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gateron Silent Black Ink | Linear | GK61 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 37 | 74% |
| Gateron Black | Linear | GK61 | 6 | 8 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 33 | 66% |
| Outemu Red | Linear | GK61 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 30 | 60% |
| Cherry MX Silent Black | Linear | GK61 | 5 | 8 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 29 | 58% |
| Greetech Brown | Tactile | GK61 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 28 | 56% |
| TTC Gold V2 Brown | Tactile | GK61 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 27 | 54% |
| Cherry MX Silent Red (Cherry MX "Pink") | Linear | GK61 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 7 | 27 | 54% |
| Outemu Brown | Tactile | GK61 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 27 | 54% |
| TTC Gold V2 Red | Linear | GK61 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 26 | 52% |
| Gateron Brown | Tactile | GK61 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 26 | 52% |
| Razer Green | Clicky | Razer BlackWidow 2014 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 26 | 52% |
| Cherry MX Black | Linear | SteelSeries 7G | 3 |
| 5 | 6 | 5 | 26 | 52% |
| Cherry MX Blue | Clicky | Razer BlackWidow 2010 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 25 | 50% |
| Outemu Blue | Clicky | GK61 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 24 | 48% |
| Greetech Blue | Clicky | GK61 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 23 | 46% |
| Gateron Blue | Clicky | GK61 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 23 | 46% |
| TTC Silent Red | Linear | GK61 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 22 | 44% |
| Cherry MX Brown | Tactile | Corsair K70 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 21 | 42% |
| Kailh Red | Linear | GK61 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 21 | 42% |
| Jixian Blue | Clicky | The G-Lab Keyz#Meca | 4 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 19 | 38% |
| TTC Silent Brown | Tactile | GK61 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 17 | 34% |
| Kailh Yellow | Linear | Rapoo V500 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 17 | 34% |
The KeebScore
How does it work? There are 5 separate categories for both keyboards and switches. Each one is judged on a scale from 1 through 10 – with “1” being the worst, and “10” being the best, meaning the highest possible KeebScore is 50.
Each keyboard or switch is judged and ranked against all other keyboards or switches. This makes for an absolute scale, instead of a relative one. This is important to note. And yes, many of the categories are subjective.
Now, it’s time for the categories:
Keyboard
There are 5 categories here. Build Quality, Features, Daily Performance, Reliability and Value.
Build Quality
For this, I’m essentially asking how well-built is the keyboard? . Well-built keyboards such as the Apple Extended will do very well, whilst poorly built keyboards like the Amstrad PCW 8256 won’t.
Features
Features will be based on the bell and whistles the keyboard offers. Usually, the more features, the better, but if the intended feature is broken (like a keyboard calculator) or barely useful (like extra unprogrammable keys), it doesn’t count.
Daily Performance
Daily Performance is a category used to judge how a keyboard performs on a day-to-day basis, as well as how easy it is to use and understand. A keyboard with useful features, great switches and a standard layout will do well, whilst the opposite won’t.
Reliability
Keyboards that stand the test of time such the IBM Model M will get top scores here, whilst cheapo Poundland keyboards won’t. It’s sometimes hard to determine the reliability of a keyboard, especially when they’re brand new. In this case, I’ll have to guess based on my experience, brand reputation and what others have experienced.
Value
In other words, Is it worth it? . This takes into account everything from the previous categories. A £1000 keyboard isn’t necessarily a bad value if it excels at what it does. In the same fashion that a £5 keyboard can be a poor value if it’s terrible to use, poorly built and inferior compared to rivals.
Switch
There are 5 categories here. Smoothness, Weighting, Sound, Typing Performance and Gaming Performance.
Smoothness
Smoothness is a category used to judge how buttery smooth the switch is. Modern hall-effect switches such as the SteelSeries OmniPoint are very smooth and get deserve a “10”, whilst rough and scratchy switches like the Cherry MY doesn’t deserve a score above a “2”.
Weighting
Generally, switches that are very light (less than 40 grams) and switches that are very heavy (over 80 grams) don’t do well here. Everyone is sensitive to weighting, so this is a very subjective category.
Sound
Sound is, once again, very subjective. A great sounding switch to me isn’t going to be a great sounding switch to everyone. Additionally, this doesn’t account for any chassis difference between keyboards. If I happen to be reviewing a switch in a bad sounding chassis, the switch will simply get a low score here. There just isn’t any way to test every keyboard configuration out there.
Typing Performance
For this, I’m asking Is it pleasant to type on? . This is all about the typing experience. Kailh BOX Pinks and IBM Buckling Springs earn top scores here, whilst a large variety of spring over membrane switches don’t even come close.
Gaming Performance
Gaming Performance is a category designed to judge switches based on how well they perform for all types of games, though, more specifically, in fast paced games. There are now plenty of switches purely designed with gaming in mind. However, some vintage switches have proven to be great candidates too.