Gateron KS-3 Milky Yellow vs SteelSeries OptiPoint Linear
The Gateron KS-3 Milky Yellow and the SteelSeries OptiPoint Linear are often cross-shopped. The main differences: they are not interchangeable: the SteelSeries OptiPoint Linear is a proprietary SteelSeries optical switch that only fits keyboards built for it, not the standard MX hot-swap sockets the Gateron KS-3 Milky Yellow uses; the SteelSeries OptiPoint Linear is lighter to actuate (35g versus 50g); travel is 4 mm on the Gateron KS-3 Milky Yellow and 3.2 mm on the SteelSeries OptiPoint Linear.
Choose the Gateron KS-3 Milky Yellow if
- you want a switch popular for budget customs.
- you want a switch popular for hand-lube projects.
- you want a heavier, more deliberate press (50g).
Choose the SteelSeries OptiPoint Linear if
- you want a switch popular for esports.
- you want a switch popular for hot-swap gaming boards.
- you want a lighter keystroke (35g).
Gateron KS-3 Milky Yellow vs SteelSeries OptiPoint Linear, spec by spec
| Gateron KS-3 Milky Yellow | SteelSeries OptiPoint Linear | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Linear | Linear |
| Compatibility | Standard MX sockets | SteelSeries optical boards only |
| Actuation force | 50g | 35g |
| Bottom-out force | n/a | n/a |
| Pre-travel | n/a | 1 mm |
| Total travel | 4 mm | 3.2 mm |
| Stem | n/a | n/a |
| Top housing | milky | n/a |
| Bottom housing | milky | n/a |
| Spring | n/a | n/a |
| Factory lube | n/a | n/a |
| Pins | 5-pin | n/a |
| Price / switch | $0.25 | n/a |
| Sound profile | milky housing linear | Light, consistent linear sound with no need for factory lube since actuation is optical. |
| Released | 2020 | n/a |
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 Fields marked n/a are unpublished by the maker; we list only verifiable numbers.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
52% of the 198 switches tracked here actuate lighter than the Gateron KS-3 Milky Yellow; 0% of the 198 switches tracked here actuate lighter than the SteelSeries OptiPoint Linear.
57% of the 224 switches tracked here have shorter total travel than the Gateron KS-3 Milky Yellow; 6% of the 224 switches tracked here have shorter total travel than the SteelSeries OptiPoint Linear.
15% of the 193 switches tracked here cost less per switch than the Gateron KS-3 Milky Yellow.
Where to buy the Gateron KS-3 Milky Yellow
No verified retailer link right now. Check the maker or your usual switch retailers.
Where to buy the SteelSeries OptiPoint Linear
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