Akko V3 Piano Pro vs Gateron Low Profile Red
The Akko V3 Piano Pro and the Gateron Low Profile Red are often cross-shopped. The main differences: they are not interchangeable: the Gateron Low Profile Red is a Gateron low-profile switch that only fits keyboards built for it, not the standard MX hot-swap sockets the Akko V3 Piano Pro uses; travel is 3.5 mm on the Akko V3 Piano Pro and 2.5 mm on the Gateron Low Profile Red; stock they sound different: clacky, resonant versus shallow, clacky.
- Cheaper per switchAkko V3 Piano Pro$0.20 versus $0.23
Choose the Akko V3 Piano Pro if
- you want a switch popular for budget builds.
- you want a switch popular for clacky builds.
- you want to spend less per switch.
Choose the Gateron Low Profile Red if
- you want a switch popular for low-profile boards.
- you want a switch popular for portable keyboards.
Akko V3 Piano Pro vs Gateron Low Profile Red, spec by spec
| Akko V3 Piano Pro | Gateron Low Profile Red | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Linear | Linear |
| Compatibility | Standard MX sockets | Gateron low-profile boards only |
| Actuation force | 45g | 45g |
| Bottom-out force | 55g | 60g |
| Pre-travel | 1.9 mm | 1.5 mm |
| Total travel | 3.5 mm | 2.5 mm |
| Stem | POM | POM |
| Top housing | PC | transparent PC |
| Bottom housing | nylon | nylon |
| Spring | n/a | single-stage |
| Factory lube | light | light |
| Pins | 5-pin | 3-pin |
| Price / switch | $0.20 (stronger spec) | $0.23 |
| Sound profile | clacky, resonant | shallow, clacky |
| Released | 2023 | 2021 |
Highlighted rows are where the two differ; a check marks the objectively stronger spec (price, battery, modability). Feel and preference rows never get a check. Fields marked n/a are unpublished by the maker; we list only verifiable numbers.
Where they sit among all 227 switches we track
22% of the 198 switches tracked here actuate lighter than the Akko V3 Piano Pro; 22% of the 198 switches tracked here actuate lighter than the Gateron Low Profile Red.
16% of the 224 switches tracked here have shorter total travel than the Akko V3 Piano Pro; 0% of the 224 switches tracked here have shorter total travel than the Gateron Low Profile Red.
5% of the 193 switches tracked here cost less per switch than the Akko V3 Piano Pro; 12% of the 193 switches tracked here cost less per switch than the Gateron Low Profile Red.
Where to buy the Akko V3 Piano Pro
Where to buy the Gateron Low Profile Red
No verified retailer link right now. Check the maker or your usual switch retailers.
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