Gateron KS-20 Dual Rail Orange Magnetic
The Gateron KS-20 Dual Rail Orange is a 30g magnetic Hall-effect linear with adjustable actuation and a dual-rail stem for extra stability.
How it feels
How it sounds
Full review
Quick Summary
The Gateron KS-20 Dual Rail Orange is a 30g magnetic linear built for Hall-effect boards rather than ordinary mechanical PCBs. It trades the usual contact leaf for a magnet, so actuation is sensed by a sensor and can be tuned per key, which is useful for gaming and rapid-trigger setups. If you already run a magnetic board and want a light, smooth, low-wobble linear, it is a reasonable pick. If you are on a standard keyboard, it will not work.
Specs and Feel
This is a pure linear with no bump or click, riding on a long 4.1mm total travel. The headline number is the 30g initial force, which puts it in light-spring territory. Fingers stay relaxed, and because there’s no physical contact to overcome, the keystroke feels uniform from top to bottom. With magnets handling actuation there’s no leaf scratch or chatter, and the stroke is clean and consistent. The dual-rail stem is the other differentiator: it adds a second guide surface that reduces stem wobble. Lateral play is minimal in both directions, which keeps keycaps stable. Sound is on the quieter, rounded side thanks to the light spring and long travel, with no metallic ping to speak of. The translucent upper housing and frosted light guide make it a tidy choice for an RGB build.
Tuning
There’s little to chase here. The magnetic mechanism is already smooth out of the box, so factory lube isn’t the point of friction it would be on a contact switch, and most builders run these stock. The bigger lever is firmware: spend your effort setting actuation depth and rapid-trigger settings in your board’s software, where tuning has the most effect, rather than reaching for films or hand-lube.
Verdict
Pick it if you own a Hall-effect keyboard and want a light, smooth, stable linear with per-key actuation tuning. The 30g weight and dual-rail stability make it a solid everyday and gaming option. Skip it if you’re on a conventional mechanical board, since it physically cannot register there. Within its niche, it is one of the more capable magnetic linears you can buy.
Frequently asked
Will the Gateron KS-20 work in a regular mechanical keyboard?
No. The KS-20 is a magnetic Hall-effect switch and needs a board with magnetic sensors and firmware to read them. It will not register in a standard hot-swap or soldered mechanical PCB. Due to manufacturing tolerances it may also not work in every Hall-effect board, so confirm compatibility before buying.
What does the dual-rail design actually do?
The dual-rail stem adds a second set of guide rails inside the housing, which reduces side-to-side play. In practice that means noticeably tighter stem stability and very little wobble compared with single-rail magnetic switches.
Can I adjust where the KS-20 actuates?
Yes, that is the main appeal. Because actuation is sensed magnetically rather than by physical contact, a compatible board lets you set the trigger point per key, anywhere through the travel, and many boards also support rapid-trigger and multi-point binds.
Compare Gateron KS-20 Dual Rail Orange Magnetic against another switch
Stack specs, sound profiles, and feel side by side.