I was just at Micro Center and tried all of the display keyboards. I actually did NOT want it to be clicky, wanted it to be as quiet as possible and feel the best. Got the Huntsman V2 with Linear Optical Red Switches and it’s the best keyboard I’ve ever had. I love typing on it. Answer from theraginasian on reddit.com
Reddit
reddit.com › r/razer › razer huntsman v2 analog or linear optical?
r/razer on Reddit: Razer huntsman v2 analog or linear optical?
November 9, 2021 -
I’m trying to figure out if these 2; what one to get - the analog version or the newer linear optical red switch version? Thoughts?
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I was just at Micro Center and tried all of the display keyboards. I actually did NOT want it to be clicky, wanted it to be as quiet as possible and feel the best. Got the Huntsman V2 with Linear Optical Red Switches and it’s the best keyboard I’ve ever had. I love typing on it.
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razer huntsman analog v2 or linear optical switch The analog are normally 329 and on sale for 229$. The linear optical is 249$
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What the difference between clicky optical switch
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Videos
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Razer Keyboard Switches - How to Pick the RIGHT One - YouTube
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Clicky, tactile, or linear keyboard switches? 🤔 - YouTube
Are Optical Keyboards Better Than Mechanical Keyboards?
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Razer Huntsman V3 Pro Review – The Fastest Keyboard EVER?! | ...
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Razer Huntsman V3 Pro: Analog Optical vs Hall Effects 02 - YouTube
Razer Support
mysupport.razer.com › app › answers › detail › a_id › 394 › ~ › what-is-the-difference-between-razer-opto-mechanical™-vs.-razer-linear-optical
What is the difference between Razer Opto-Mechanical™ vs. Razer Linear Optical Switches?
The Razer Linear Optical switches are light and quiet, have a 40-gram actuation force and 1.0 mm actuation point while the Razer Opto-mechanical switch is light and clicky, has a 45-gram actuation force and 1.5 mm actuation point.
Hardware Canucks
hardwarecanucks.com › home › razer keyboard switches – how to pick the right one
Razer Keyboard Switches - How to Pick the RIGHT One
February 10, 2021 - The Razer Huntsman fits into this optical category with two variations, Clicky or Linear, and this falls into Razer’s premium switch and premium performance category, which is slightly more expensive. Nevertheless, the Huntsman TE TKL model is incredibly well-priced, and especially the 60% model with the incredible Gen2 switches. And that leads us to the analog direction with the Tartarus Pro, which is the only keypad on the market right now to feature analog controls.
RTINGS
rtings.com › home › keyboard
Razer Huntsman Elite vs Huntsman V2 Analog: Which Keyboard Is Better? - RTINGS.com
January 20, 2020 - The difference between the Analog Optical and the linear optical switch is that the Analog Optical has an adjustable pre-travel distance and lets you use the keyboard like an analog joystick.
XDA Developers
xda-developers.com › home › how analog optical switches differ from mechanical switches
How analog optical switches differ from mechanical switches
February 5, 2024 - The analog nature of these switches allows variable input, similar to a controller. This contrasts with traditional keyboards' basic 8-way directional input, enabling more nuanced in-game movement. This comes in handy where quick response and frequent movement are required. For instance, gently pressing a key can result in a character walking, while a deeper press can trigger running, offering a more immersive and accurate experience. Dual-step actuation in optical analog switches allows a key to perform two separate functions at different press depths.
Hirosart
hirosarts.com › home › 15 best optical switches for your keyboards (expert tested and reviewed)
15 best optical switches for your keyboards (Expert tested and reviewed) - Hirosart
November 11, 2024 - Being claimed as the speed of light, these switches enable actuation via light and have an ultra-low actuation point of 1.2 mm. Their measured length is 16.67% less than that of conventional linear mechanical switches. Razer optical purple delivers ...
Razer
razer.com › home › technology › understanding razer switches
Understanding Razer Switches - Blog
October 16, 2025 - Razer Analog Optical switches combine optical sensing with analog output. Instead of a simple on or off, each key can report a position value by sensing the amount of light throughput. This is the foundation for features like Rapid Trigger and Adjustable Actuation.
Razer
razer.com › home › the choice of pro players: razer’s analog optical switches vs hall effect switches
The Choice of Pro Players: Razer’s Analog Optical Switches vs Hall Effect Switches - Razer Newsroom Analog Optical Switches vs Hall Effect Switches
June 5, 2025 - A Hall Effect switch will have wider and more inconsistent spacing between each millimeter, whereas an Analog Optical switch will have almost proper consistency between each millimeter through the range and are spaced apart as what a millimeter should be. Effectively with Analog Optical switches, gamers would have far more precise and accurate keystrokes. Graph illustrating linearity of Analog Optical switches (in green) vs Hall Effect switches (in orange)
Tom's Hardware
tomshardware.com › peripherals › keyboards › gaming keyboards
Razer Huntsman V2 Analog Keyboard Review: Pressure-Sensitive Swank | Tom's Hardware
Razer Huntsman V2 Analog Keyboard Review: Pressure-Sensitive Swank
Again, I’d like to see how tactile, instead of linear switches, might make this feature easier to leverage. With a tactile switch, I could set the secondary input to a point after the bump, which would bring a clearer distinction between input 1 and input 2. ... The Huntsman V2 Analog debuts Razer’s Analog Optical ... Like a controller, but customizable, RGB and expensive
MakeUseOf
makeuseof.com › home › technology explained › optical vs. mechanical switches: what’s best for gaming?
Optical vs. Mechanical Switches: What’s Best for Gaming?
July 20, 2023 - Linear keys are quieter, require less force, and provide no tactile feedback when pressed. Tactile keys are louder and produce a bump in the middle of the keystroke, while clicky keys give a larger bump and a loud "click" in the middle of the ...
Reddit
reddit.com › r/razer › huntsman mini analog vs linear
r/razer on Reddit: Huntsman mini analog vs linear
July 12, 2024 -
Hello, I'm into competitive gaming and was just wondering which would be the better or the two keyboards please and thank you. I also play story, multiplayer and action games too.
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The analog should be the better choice because of functions like rapid trigger and the recently introduced snap tap. For me the analog is better because it gives me the ability to change the actuation point whereas the linear is fixed at 1mm iirc, and that makes it impossible for me to type on or even rest my fingers on.
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I have the Huntsman v3 Pro TKL analog, and I love all the features it comes with. I’m not too sure if they’re similar, but it can also come with its downsides. For instance, sometimes when I go to play with my controller, the keyboard messes with the software and it’s really really buggy having both on at the same time. Razer hasn’t really implemented a way to turn off this thing (virtual joystick) that makes it near impossible to play various games on controller, so it gets annoying. So short answer, if you really really want to have the fastest gear get the analog switches.
PC Gamer
pcgamer.com › hardware › gaming keyboards
Razer claims optical gaming keyboards are more precise than Hall effect ones because magnets are 'hard to control' | PC Gamer
August 14, 2025 - I've been using a Hall effect keyboard for quite a while, and I'm keenly aware that this switch technology is the most popular for gamers right now. However, a while ago I spoke with Razer product manager Dexter Tan about optical keyboards, and he argued that optical is actually better. Both kinds of tech allow for analogue input, meaning keyboard switches don't just measure a binary 'off' or 'on', but instead can measure how far down each key has been pressed.
Reddit
reddit.com › r/razer › optical switches: [red] linear vs [purple] clicky
r/razer on Reddit: Optical Switches: [Red] Linear VS [Purple] Clicky
June 18, 2020 -
Hey guys! I got a huntsman with (red) linear optical switches. I really love the keyboard but the switches are very light and it's so easy to actuate them that I constantly do typos.
I am thinking of returning it and getting the one with purple clicky switches as they take bit more force to actuate and have a longer actuation distance, but I've read a lot of reviews of people saying that they're extremely loud.
Is that true? Are they really that loud and if so how do you put up with it?
Please respond to me if you have a keyboard with purple switches as it would be of great help making this decision :)
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People just prefer the super loud Clicky switches. They are very loud. We dont "put up" with them, we love them BECAUSE they're super loud and Clicky. Go with the yellow switch on Blackwidow Elite if you're looking for heavier actuation and silence.
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Hey, I am in the same boat as you - got the Red one and it's too messy for me to type on. Did you grab Purple one?
Reddit
reddit.com › r/mechanicalkeyboards › mechanical vs optical switches
r/MechanicalKeyboards on Reddit: Mechanical vs Optical Switches
October 17, 2022 -
I am quite new into mechanical keyboards. How to choose between them? Please advice, thank you.
Also, low profile vs normal mechanical keyboard, which to choose?
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Mechanical and normal is the default. Unless you have a specific reason to choose it, you're limiting yourself to a much smaller pool of possibilities and in general are considered worse, which is why they're not the default. For mechanical vs optical: Mechanical was the default and still is because nothing else offers a good enough trade off to switch. Optical does offer some benefits, but wasn't enough for the entire market to swap. As far as I know, the most common selling points are: 1. They last longer because they use light instead of electrical contacts (While it might be technically true, in most cases people aren't replacing keyboards or switches because a switch dies from regular use. You're probably replacing it for other reasons, so in most cases switch lifespan shouldn't affect your decision IMO. If you're able to swap switches anyway whether because you can solder or it's hotswap, it's not really a big deal to replace dead switches. Even if you're not going to fix dead switches, if you used your keyboard down to actually wear out a switch, you're probably more than happy with how long it lasted anyway) 2. They actuate faster (Sometimes, but not always as this just depends on the actuation distance. Some mechanical switches, often called speed switches, offer shorter actuation points, but it isn't always desired since it can also increase the frequency of fat finger mistakes) 3. They have less latency (I don't know too much, but apparently using optical switches can offer lower latency than mechanical switches because they have to work around something called debounce. So while it technically can reduce latency, I haven't seen anything regarding the difference in latency and whether it's an amount that someone would or could even notice in the context of everything else that adds latency.) As for low profile, I don't know if you mean low profile cases or low profile switches. Low profile cases is almost purely an aesthetic choice, one that most people don't like. Me personally I used to use low profile cases exclusively because I used my palm to press left ctrl. I've since swapped my left ctrl to where caps lock normally is and have moved away from low profile cases. They're super limited in choice, so unless you have a specific desire, it's generally not recommended. Unless you REALLY want to see your switches from the side or something (even then, just get something with a clear case). If you're talking low profile switches, I don't have personal experience in these. As far as I know, most low profile switches require low profile keycaps as well, though I believe I have seen cherry compatible low profile switches. You'd only really look for low profile switch keyboards if you really wanted it for it's thinness. Nobody picks and uses low profile switches for any other reason. (Basically they offer nothing other than its lack of thickness, but you are giving up a lot such as a lot of options, lower travel time, etc.)
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All I’ll say is, I was global elite in csgo when I had a £30 ordinary msi keyboard, than a razer huntsman elite with optical switches. You’re all deluded and take this subject way too far.
TikTok
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Whats Better Analog Optical Switches or Linear Switches
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Razer
razer.com › razer-optical-switch
Razer Optical Switches - Speed of Light ⌨️ | Razer United States
Measured to be 16.67% shorter than standard linear mechanical switches. The Razer™ Optical Switches are found in our Razer Huntsman family and outfitted with the best components to make it our fastest switches yet.