Alright, so let me tell you about my little adventure with these Kailh Choc Pale Blue switches. I’d been itching for a change on one of my low-profile keyboards. You know how it is, sometimes you just get tired of the feel, or maybe the old switches start feeling a bit off. I kept seeing these “Pale Blues” pop up in discussions, so I figured, why not give them a try?
Getting My Hands on Them
So, I went ahead and ordered a bag of these. The waiting game began, as it always does with keyboard parts. Thankfully, it wasn’t one of those super long waits. When the package finally landed, it was just a simple bag, but you know, new switches always feel like a little bag of potential. I was pretty eager to see what they were all about.
Before even thinking about putting them in a board, I just grabbed a few and clicked them in my hand. You gotta do that, right? First impression: definitely clicky! And a nice, crisp click at that. They felt lighter than I imagined, which got me curious about how they’d feel once installed.
The Big Swap
Okay, so then came the main event: getting them into my keyboard. I have this slim, kinda compact board that I use quite a bit, and it was the chosen one for this experiment. Pulled out my trusty keycap puller and switch puller – essential tools for this hobby, let me tell you. Getting the old switches out was, well, a bit of a job. Some of them were really snug in there, and I had to be careful not to mess up the hot-swap sockets. Patience, lots of patience.
But then, putting in the Kailh Choc Pale Blues was mostly a breeze. Just line ’em up with the socket, a gentle push, and snap, they’re in. That little click as each switch seats properly is so satisfying. I went row by row, taking my time. It’s kinda therapeutic, changing out switches, don’t you think?
First Keystrokes – The Moment of Truth
Once all the switches were in, I popped on a set of keycaps. This is always the exciting part. I took a deep breath and started typing. And man, it was different. That click is definitely front and center, very distinct. But it wasn’t an annoying, super high-pitched click like some others I’ve tried. It felt more… I don’t know, refined? And the switches themselves felt fast. My fingers just seemed to glide across the keys. The lightness was immediately noticeable.
Living With The Pale Blues
I decided to really put them through their paces, so I used this board exclusively for about a week. Did all my usual stuff: writing a bunch of emails, coding, and yeah, a little bit of gaming too.
- For typing: I actually found them pretty comfortable. The tactile bump, you feel it right at the very top of the press, almost at the same time as the click. It’s very clear when you’ve actuated the key. I felt like I was making fewer mistakes because each press was so defined. They’re not heavy at all, so long typing sessions didn’t tire my fingers out.
- For gaming: Their lightness is a plus for quick actions. Double-tapping, quick movements, stuff like that felt responsive. I will say, if you’re someone who rests their fingers heavily on the keys, you might get an accidental press now and then because they actuate so easily. For my casual gaming, though, they were perfectly fine. The clicky sound didn’t bother me one bit during gameplay.
Let’s Talk About Sound
Yeah, they’re clicky. No doubt about it. If you’re planning to use these in a quiet office or a library, you might get some dirty looks. These are definitely switches that announce their presence. But for my home office, the sound is quite nice. It’s a crisp, clean click. Not too thocky, not too pingy, just a clear click. I kind of like the auditory feedback; it matches the tactile feel well.
Any Hiccups or Downsides?
Well, if you absolutely despise clicky switches, then these Pale Blues are obviously not going to convert you. That’s just a given. And being Choc switches, your keycap choices are naturally more limited than with standard MX-style switches. That’s just the reality of the low-profile world, though, not a knock on these specific switches. I’d also say that because they are quite light, if you’re a really heavy-handed typist who smashes keys, you might find them a bit too easy to press, or you’ll be bottoming out hard all the time. It’s all about preference, isn’t it?
So, What’s the Verdict?
You know what? I’m genuinely pleased with these Kailh Choc Pale Blues. They’ve breathed some new life into my low-profile keyboard. They offer a really crisp, light, and clicky typing experience. The feedback is great, and they feel pretty darn responsive. It’s always a bit of a gamble trying out new switches you’ve only read about, but this time, it definitely paid off for me. If you’re in the market for a clicky low-profile switch and want something that feels sharp and quick, I’d say these are definitely worth checking out. I’m glad I took the plunge!