In the keyboard switch community, most brands discussed are Cherry MX, Gateron, and Outemu. Even though the said brands are known for manufacturing their switches, they also specialize in producing commissioned keyboard switches for other popular switch brands. One of the most well-known quality switches manufactured by a famous brand, Outemu, is the Gazzew switches. For general use, one of the most versatile switches in the Gazzew Boba lineup is the Boba U4T switch. Due to its offered various spring weights, the enthusiast-grade tactile switch can be used whenever and for whatever the typists’ use case is. This especially applies to enthusiasts that are part of the tactile gang, sharing a fondness for true tactility in mechanical keyboard switches.

The second area where this switch will suffer is not even objectively poor, but rather ‘poor’ by the way of the community standard. The tactile bump on both the original U4 stems, as well as the Boba U4 switches are both mid-range in terms of tactile strength. While I have previously mentioned that silent tactiles do lose some edge of tactility over their non-silent competitors in normal tactiles, these switches were never aimed at being the “most tactile switch that you’ve ever felt”. And the reason that this is a detriment, unfortunately, is due to such a large part of the community deeming tactile switches as good if and only if they have a tactile event strong enough to beat you up for your lunch money. There is such a thing as good, mid-range tactile switches that provide tactile events that don’t actively try and compete against Holy Pandas. (And yes, you are allowed to like them.) So with my grandstanding out of the way, while I truly think these are a great mid-tactility silent tactile switch in terms of push feel, I feel like some portion of the community will wrinkle their noses at it because it’s not “tactile enough”. Sound There are a few ways you can lube the Boba U4, including the traditional method of lubing the springs, housings, and stem with GPL105 and Tribosys 3203 or 3204.First things first, other Gateron and Cherry Switches aren't in the list just because the above listed are all in all better in many ways. I am open to any other opinion though but I have to mention that I am searching for an ultimate silent linear switch.

In fact, because of the robust tactility, dampened landing, and silent operation, a Boba U4 feels and sounds like what a membrane keyboard wants to be when it grows up and becomes a proper keyboard.Actuation occurs after the bump, so you may be reminded of a membrane keyboard even more in that actuation could be tied with bottom-out depending on your typing style. Another choice you may want to consider if you have to turn the sound down a notch is the silent tactile switch, the Boba U4. This tactile switch is perfect for environments requiring you to do typing and be quiet simultaneously without reducing the satisfaction given by the tactile experience of the switch. Recommended Switches for General Use Cannonkeys Savage65 with Gazzew Boba Linear Switch I'm currently in the process of creating my first custom keyboard. I want it to be silent and smooth. Therefore I want to buy a silent linear switch. The biggest detail surrounding the Boba U4 switches that I was otherwise unable to analyze in any of my above categories was with respect to the discussion in the original sales post regarding a new plastic composition for the switches. Aside looking damn pretty in the sample top housings that I received, these are touted as being softer than Nylon and have a higher melting point temperature than Polycarbonate. As discussed previously in my Gateron Yellow document, this may be an attempt on his part to make them more beginner friendly with respect to soldering and/or usable in factory OEM style setups which use wave soldering techniques. While I always want to know every detail surrounding a switch, and especially about the mystery surrounding the housing material of so many modern switches, I will suffice to say that I am interested in how this material will be used in future Gazzew releases and will leave it to mystery for now. Comparison Notes to Other Notable Silent Tactile Switches The combination of the two colors makes the Boba U4 appear milkier than Gateron Milkies, and creamier than NK Creams.

Thanks to Outemu, we are proud to offer another stellar switch to the Gazzew product line - Boba Gum (Silent Linear Switch). The Boba U4 does benefit from a bit of lube, but does not require film, as the housing is already tight enough and displays no wobble. The stem legs themselves are similar to that of the Halo stem found on Holy Pandas, with a rounder but larger and fuller bump. To get it out as simply as possible: these top housings are pretty much pushing the absolute manufacturing limits of stem wobble. In hand, there is ever so slight stem wobble in both the N/S and E/W directions, but its such a miniscule amount that with caps on I’m almost certain that it would not be noticeable, even at taller profiles like MT3 or SA. I’m genuinely of the belief that there is not much more of a reduction in stem wobble that you could get between the top housing and the stems reliably through a manufacturing process such as injection molding, which most switch components are made with.

Significantly greater stem wobble in both N/S and E/W directions compared to the Boba U4. Outemu Sky Silent Tactile (68g) The “D” describes the profile, corresponding to the feeling from top to bottom. A “D-bump” starts at top, and ends very close to bottom-out. I'm currently using modded Cherry MX silents I salvaged from another keyboard in my ymdk96. (45g springs, lubed with trybosis 3204 and applied TX switch films)