Keygeek Y1X and Y3 Linear Switch
Keygeek Y1X and Y3 switches are MZ Studio's newest creations in collaboration with Keygeek. Y1X is the successor of MZ Y1 switches, and Y3 switches are a completely new design. Some of you might be curious about why we need a Y1X as it looks exactly the same as MZ Y1 switches and the design specs are also identical. The secret is in the molding design this time, and let's take a look at the details.
Price
Price:
Price：0.25USD per switch for Y1X
0.23USD per switch for Y3
Keygeek Y1X Switch Specifications
Switch type: Linear
Designer: MZ
Manufacturer: Keygeek
Stem material: Y1
Top Housings: PA66
Bottom Housing: PBT+30% fiberglass
Operating Force: 48±5g
Bottom-out Force: 53g±5g
Pre-travel: 2.0mm±0.2mm
Total Travel: 3.6±0.2mm
Spring: 18mm KOS Single-Stage extended spring
Factory Lubed: Yes!
Keygeek Y3 Switch Specifications
Switch type: Linear
Designer: MZ
Manufacturer: Keygeek
Stem material: M3
Top Housings: PA66 with NO glassfiber
Bottom Housing: PA66 with NO glassfiber
Operating Force: 48±5g
Bottom-out Force: 53g±5g
Pre-travel: 2.0mm±0.2mm
Total Travel: 3.8±0.2mm
Spring: 18mm KOS Single-Stage extended spring
Factory Lubed: Yes!
Keygeek Y1X and Y3
Why?
Yes why? Just like we mentioned, there was already a Y1 switch with exactly the same specs; Why would we need a new Y1X? The answer is pretty simple: MZ wasn't satisfied with how Y1 turned out. After the initial release of Y1 switches, MZ kept working with Keygeek to further modify both their housing and stem molds. The reason that drove him to keep making the changes was that Y1 switches' top-out and bottom-out sounds weren't either solid or clean. Stem wobble was also a big issue with Keygeek's MX-style switches at the time. In order to have these problems fixed, Keygeek re-did all of their existing molds with the help of MZ, and here we are...
Y3 switches were designed and developed during the revamp stage. The aim was to have a deeper and thockier switch that could be released with Y1X switches since Y1X is pretty clacky and loud. It was also sort of a "test run" of Keygeek to see if the modified mold sets work well with various materials. The outcome is pretty impressive and promising. Hence I am bringing both Y1X and Y3 switches to your attention today.
Materials:
Both Y1X and Y3's material specs are pretty standard except that Y1 and M3 are both materials we haven't heard of before. But no worries, let me decrypt them for you; Although neither MZ nor Keygeek told me exactly what these materials are composite of, it is very easy to make an educated guess based on their performance, smoothness, and sound signature. To be short, here are my assumptions:
Y1: Given that it creates a clacky bottom-out sound with the PBT+FG bottom housing, I would guess it is most likely POM. However, it is not purely made of POM alone; Y1 is Keygeek's strengthened POM blend that they frequently use with clacky switch designs.
M3: Surprise surprise! M3 is also POM, but it is a different blend from the Y1. Based on my limited knowledge, my guess is that M3 is either a POM+PTFE blend (Some other manufacturers call this the LY material) or a POM+PE blend. The goal is to keep POM's sound signature while increasing its smoothness (or lower its surface friction coefficient). I made such an assumption based on MZ's description of the M3 stem: M3 is a blend material created to work with PA66's scratchy nature and to make the switch smoother than other linear switches that have a PA66 housing. Normally, a switch with POM stem and nylon housing would be kinda scratchy (ie. the Cherry switches), but with a modified POM stem, its smoothness could be improved significantly.
Mold:
This is where Keygeek has made the most improvements during the past year. Keygeek's switches that came with dustproof stems have always been fine, but their MX-style switches have been lackluster. The major reason is the molding needed fixing. I don't wanna get too technical to make this section boring. Overall, Keygeek made adjustments to both the housing and stem molds to fix issues such as stem wobble, noisy bottom-out and top-out, and inconsistent switch sound. Such improvements were made starting from Keygeek Purple Dawn, Y1X, and Y3 switches, and they will be implemented in all future Keygeek switches. Thanks to MZ and Keygeek, the changes were implemented very quickly, and based on testimony from a few content creators such as Keebtaro, Bokehbob, Keyboardad, and ScoopedBar, the differences are easy to notice and the improvements are remarkable.
At last:
To give a brief conclusion of these two switches: Y1X is clacky and loud while Y3 is quiet, deep, and thocky. Please choose according to your own preference.
Regarding the price: These switches are cheap but I personally don't think they fall into the budget switch category; The reason is that both Y1X and Y3' quality is way above the "budget" range. Such price point is limited to Y1X, Y3, and Keygeek purple dawn switches only. All following new Keygeek switches will return to the regular price at 0.35 USD each.
Form of Sales
Time of Sales
August 20th
