Gateron Jade Magnetic HE 30g
Gateron Jade Magnetic HE 30g: a featherweight 30g Hall effect linear with adjustable actuation, factory lube and a POM stem, for magnetic boards only.
How it feels
How it sounds
Full review
Quick Summary
The Gateron Jade Magnetic HE 30g is a featherlight linear built for Hall effect keyboards rather than ordinary mechanical PCBs. A magnet in the stem lets a compatible board read travel continuously, which enables adjustable actuation, rapid trigger and analog input. At just 30g of initial force it is squarely aimed at speed-focused gamers. It is a strong, affordable entry into magnetic switches, provided you already own (or are building) a board that supports them.
Specs and Feel
This is a pole-free linear with a smooth, uninterrupted downstroke and roughly 3.5mm of total travel, slightly shorter than the usual 4.0mm MX figure. The 30g initial spring is genuinely light; presses feel quick and effortless, which is exactly the point for a switch meant to be paired with low actuation thresholds. The polycarbonate top, nylon bottom and POM stem give a controlled, slightly muted sound rather than a sharp clack, and a back cover on the bottom housing tidies up the acoustics. Factory lube keeps the stroke clean out of the box, with no obvious scratch and only minor stem wobble. Without a hard center pole, bottom-out is soft rather than crisp, so the feel rewards a lighter touch over heavy slamming.
Tuning
These ship factory lubed and feel ready to use as-is, which is the norm for HE switches. You generally do not film or relube magnetic switches, and you should never swap springs, since that changes the magnetic force curve the board calibrates against. The real tuning happens in firmware: dial in your actuation depth and rapid trigger settings per game, and recalibrate in software if presses feel off.
Verdict
Pick this if you have a Hall effect board and want a cheap, very light linear for fast, twitchy gameplay. It is smooth, quiet and excellent value, and the adjustable actuation is the genuine draw. Skip it if you type on a standard mechanical keyboard, since it simply will not work. Skip it too if you prefer a weightier, more deliberate switch with firm bottom-out feedback.
Frequently asked
Does the Gateron Jade Magnetic HE 30g work in a normal keyboard?
No. It is a Hall effect switch that reports keypresses via a magnet rather than metal contacts, so it requires a board with magnetic Hall effect sensors. It will not register in a standard mechanical PCB, and even among magnetic boards compatibility can vary, so confirm your board supports it.
What does the adjustable actuation point do?
Because the switch senses magnet position continuously, a compatible board lets you set how far the key must travel before it triggers: shallow for fast gaming taps, deeper to avoid accidental presses. Many boards also add rapid trigger and analog input on top of that.
Is 30g too light for typing?
It is on the featherweight end. Gamers chasing speed will love the low effort, but if you bottom out hard or want more typing feedback, a heavier magnetic switch may suit you better.
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