Kailh Box Red vs NovelKeys NK Silk Yellow
The Kailh Box Red and the NovelKeys NK Silk Yellow are often cross-shopped. The main differences: travel is 3.6 mm on the Kailh Box Red and 4 mm on the NovelKeys NK Silk Yellow; stock they sound different: clean, subdued versus smooth, muted.
- Lubed from the factoryNovelKeys NK Silk Yellowusable out of the box without lubing
Choose the Kailh Box Red if
- you want a switch popular for gaming.
- you want a switch popular for humid climates.
Choose the NovelKeys NK Silk Yellow if
- you want a switch popular for no-mod builds.
- you want a switch popular for typing.
- you want a factory-lubed switch out of the box.
Kailh Box Red vs NovelKeys NK Silk Yellow, spec by spec
| Kailh Box Red | NovelKeys NK Silk Yellow | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Linear | Linear |
| Compatibility | Standard MX sockets | Standard MX sockets |
| Actuation force | 45g | 45g |
| Bottom-out force | n/a | 63.5g |
| Pre-travel | 1.8 mm | 2 mm |
| Total travel | 3.6 mm | 4 mm |
| Stem | POM | POM |
| Top housing | PC | PC |
| Bottom housing | nylon | nylon |
| Spring | single-stage | n/a |
| Factory lube | none | full (stronger spec) |
| Pins | 3-pin | 5-pin |
| Price / switch | $0.30 | $0.30 |
| Sound profile | clean, subdued | smooth, muted |
| Released | 2017 | 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 Fields marked n/a are unpublished by the maker; we list only verifiable numbers.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 Kailh Box Red; 22% of the 198 switches tracked here actuate lighter than the NovelKeys NK Silk Yellow.
34% of the 224 switches tracked here have shorter total travel than the Kailh Box Red; 57% of the 224 switches tracked here have shorter total travel than the NovelKeys NK Silk Yellow.
24% of the 193 switches tracked here cost less per switch than the Kailh Box Red; 24% of the 193 switches tracked here cost less per switch than the NovelKeys NK Silk Yellow.
Where to buy the Kailh Box Red
No verified retailer link right now. Check the maker or your usual switch retailers.
Where to buy the NovelKeys NK Silk Yellow
No verified retailer link right now. Check the maker or your usual switch retailers.
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