I’m actually not sure where this should go so I’m going to put it in reviews for now. My other Mr. Interface Switch Try Bag review went here so I suppose this can go there as well.
I’ve had quite a few conversations about this topic lately and I thought it might be fun to share some of my thoughts on it. This write up is probably going to be way less objective than most of my other reviews. Although now that I think about it, I think all my reviews are probably very opinionated; that’s why they’re my reviews. Anyways there are some stipulations to this:
- I’ve always maintained that trying to compare Alps to MX is like comparing Topre to Buckling Spring. Sure they’re keyboard switches but they feel different enough that it’s hard to say X feels like Y. Please keep that in mind when you’re reading this.
- My older reviews covering Alps don’t seem to match up with how I see them now. I think I’ve got more experience with Alps now.
- I’m having trouble differentiating Salmon and Orange Alps in my head. I really can’t remember how the two feel individually. In my memory, they feel the same and I don’t think that’s the case.
- I’m biased towards clicky switches and complicated/SKCL/SKCM Alps switches.
- Alps don’t age as well as other switches so they need to be cleaned up in order to feel “proper”. I haven’t cleaned out my switches or boards and my memory of how the boards felt may be changed because of this.
- When I type, I *always* bottom out.
Alps switches were made from
the Alps Electric Corporation. Complicated Alps switches were
made for about ten years from 1983 until 1995. Alps Electric also had a long venture with
Forward Electronics in Taiwan, from about 1970 until 2000. Forward Electronics was known for making the
simplified Alps switch series.
If you don’t know a lot about Alps switches or want a refresher, check out these lovely links and read up:
So in general, I think that there is a much larger range in how Alps switches feel. I think they have a lot more subtleties versus the MX range. That could also be due to the fact that there are more switches to pick from. Also keep in mind that the actuation point is much higher than in MX and that Alps have a shorter travel distance. MX switches have a travel distance of 4mm while Alps have a travel distance of 3.5mm. Alps switches also have much more wobble versus MX switches. I actually don’t mind it since I think it’s part of the appeal of Alps and you can hit switches off-centered much more easily. Finally, I don’t really know the numbers off the top of my head for actuation force. Silencium and the Deskthority wiki should have the numbers if you’re so inclined. I’m not going to focus on that.
Alps switches that I have tried and remember (I will be calling switches “complicated” or “simplified” just because I’m accustomed to using colloquialisms.):
Linear
Clicky
Tactile
ComparisonsLinear:
1) Complicated Green Alps – These feel like extremely smooth MX blacks or maybe Nixdorfs. Definitely smoother than my lubed 65g MX Blacks. They feel a touch lighter than Blacks.
These are my new favorite linear switches. I plan on swapping my Epsilon to different switches.
2) Alps Low Profile – About as heavy as MX Blacks. However the bottom out was….cushioned, even though I know there isn’t any cushioning in these switches. It felt like someone put a bit of rubber in the landing. I didn’t like the feeling. These switches are a bit harder to find though. I had them in a
Dauphin DCK-84 which I sold because I didn’t like the feeling overall.
Clicky:
1) Complicated Blue Alps – These feel like 65g Blues….if blues were smooth. The stems clicking are fairly apparent when I type on MX Blues. Even though the click is provided by a secondary leaf spring in these switches, I find them to be very smooth. It almost feels like the switch is equal parts tactile and clicky. Deskthority wiki says that the switches may have dry film lube. I wouldn’t be surprised if they do.
2) Matias Click Alps clones – These switches feel less smooth than the complicated Blues. The actuation force feels about the same; they remind me of 65g Blues. The click is far more apparent than the complicated Blue Alps.
3) Complicated White Alps – I think the closest comparison would be to MX Greens. They’re very clicky and heavy; I think they feel a bit heavier than Greens because I can daily on Greens but I can’t type on the complicated Whites for too long. Actually, they’re a bit too heavy from me. The bottom out force starts to fatigue and hurt my hands after about an hour or two.
4) Simplified Grey Alps - These feel *exactly* like the Matias click switches. So see my thoughts above about the Matias click switches.
5) Monterey Blue “Alps” – Of all the Alps and Alps mount clicky switches that are I’ve tried, I these are probably the closest to stock MX Blues. They even sound a bit like MX Blues with the pitch. However, they are smoother than MX Blues.
6) Simplified White Alps – After further examination, I think that my Filco Zero has simplified White Alps. I’ll have to verify this when I desolder the board. These feel like a “crunchier” or snappier version of the Matias click switches. They feel to be about the same weight though. So maybe they’re like smoother 67g or 68g MX Blues.
7) XM KSB-C White Slider aka Ducky 1087XM “White Alps” – These switches came with my Ducky 1087XM. I remember them feeling like a flimsy version of the simplified white Alps. Extremely cheap and the click felt like more like MX Blues with the two bit slider. I’m not sure I’ve ever tried an XM switch I liked.
Tactile
1) Matias Quiet Click Alps clones – A while back there was a thread about adding silicone balls to the MX switch housings. I think that this switch might feel like a heavier MX Brown with one of those balls inside. When you press down, the switch feels sort of like the Matias Click. When you bottom out, it’s cushiony. Then on the rebound, the switch also has a bit of dampening so the top out feels cushiony, but not as much as the bottom out. It’s definitely a very unique typing experience.
2) Complicated Black Alps – These are probably close to Panda Clears or 65g Clears but they’re crunchy. They’re not smooth like the other Alps switches I’ve talked about previously. They’re also a bit clicky. Another switch that is pretty unique.
3) Complicated Dampened Cream Alps – The actuation down feels a bit like my Complicated Blues but there is the cushioned bottom out like the Quiet click. And no cushioned top out. So think of 65g or 67g MX Clears with a cushiony bottom out.
4) Complicated Salmon Alps – These felt very similar to MX Browns to me. Unfortunately, I really don’t like MX Browns so I sold the M0116 that had these switches.
5) XM KSB-C Green Slider aka Ducky 1087XM “Green Alps” – These are some my least favorite switches. They’re too light. They’re like 45g MX Blues if they were always clicky and not sticky. The bottom out is horribly crunchy and it feels like there’s rocks or particles inside the switch. I imagine the switch could be replicated by dragging some 45g MX Blues through a beach then typing on them.
FavoritesI really love Complicated Blue Alps, Complicated Green Alps, and Matias Clicky switches. I’m in the process of getting all three of these into keyboards.
I also like Monterey Blue Alps. If you can get a hold of a Siig Minitouch or a similar board with these switches, it’s a great choice for a 75% or small layout Alps keyboard.
Post Keycon UpdateI made an update after going to Keycon with my experience with Orange vs Salmon and Brown Alps.
The link can be found here.