Gateron x Siliworks Type R
Gateron x Siliworks Type R: a 100% tactile, short-travel switch with a sharp, clacky sound and a rounded bump. Specs, feel and tuning.
How it feels
Feel ratings not yet recorded for this switch.
How it sounds
clackyFull review
Quick Summary
The Gateron x Siliworks Type R is a collaboration switch built around one idea: cut the travel down and make the tactility the whole experience. With roughly 3.0mm of total travel and a 2.2mm pre-travel, there’s very little linear glide before or after the bump, so every keystroke feels deliberate and quick to bottom out. It’s a strong pick for tactile typists who want a snappier, more compact feel than a standard 4mm switch delivers.
Specs and Feel
This is a true tactile switch. Siliworks calls it “100% tactile,” and that label holds up. The rounded bump arrives early in the 2.2mm pre-travel and the shortened 3.0mm total travel means you reach the bottom almost immediately after clearing it, which gives the Type R its characteristic snap. Actuation sits around 55g with a 60g bottom-out, so the force curve stays light and approachable rather than heavy.
The POM stem against PA66 top and bottom housings, paired with a 22mm double-stage KOS spring, produces a sound that leans high-pitched, clacky, and sharp. The reduced travel is doing real work here. Smoothness is good for a stock tactile thanks to the factory lube job, with only minor scratch on the upstroke. Stem wobble is present but kept in check by the tight housing tolerances and the short throw.
Tuning
These don’t need much. Gateron lubes the leaf spring, stem feet, and bottom-housing rails with GPL 105 and 205 at the factory, so they’re ready to use. If you want to chase the deepest possible version of that clacky signature, switch films and a thicker stem lube can tighten things further, but it’s strictly optional polish.
Verdict
Buy the Type R if you specifically want a short-travel, pure-tactile feel with a bright, percussive sound. It nails a distinct niche that most off-the-shelf tactiles don’t touch. If you prefer the longer, more cushioned travel of a conventional 4mm switch or want something muted and deep, this isn’t it. For fans of snappy, fast-bottoming tactility, though, it’s an easy recommendation.
Frequently asked
Are the Gateron x Siliworks Type R switches factory lubed?
Yes. They ship lubed with GPL 105 and GPL 205 on the leaf spring, stem feet, and bottom-housing rails, so they feel reasonably smooth out of the box and most people can drop them in without any hand-tuning.
What makes the Type R different from a standard tactile switch?
The total travel is shortened to about 3.0mm, so there is very little linear movement before and after the bump. That "100% tactile" design gives a snappy, bottom-out-quickly feel and a higher-pitched, sharper sound than a full 4mm switch.
Do the Type R switches need films?
Not really. The PA66 housings are reasonably tight, and the short travel means housing wobble is less noticeable in use. Films are an optional refinement rather than a fix.
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