NovelKeys Cream+
The NovelKeys Cream+ is a linear with a hollow stem that takes material inserts to reshape its sound. Our review of its feel, tuning, and best use.
How it feels
Feel ratings not yet recorded for this switch.
How it sounds
Full review
Quick Summary
The Cream+ is the experimenter’s Cream. It’s a linear built on a hollowed stem that accepts inserts made of different materials, each one nudging the sound profile in a different direction. If you treat switches as a tuning hobby rather than a finished product, this is one of the more genuinely playful options on the market.
Specs and Feel
Underneath the gimmick it’s a Cream-family linear: a smooth MX-style stroke with the slightly self-lubricating character the cream POM housings are known for. The standard 2mm-ish pre-travel and 4mm total travel feel are familiar. What’s novel is the stem — hollowing it out changes the resonance of the keypress, and the swappable inserts let you tune that resonance deliberately. A denser insert grounds the sound toward a deeper note; a lighter one keeps it more open and poppy. The feel stays consistent across inserts; it’s the acoustics you’re shaping.
Tuning
The Cream+ is tuning, by design. Start with the inserts — that’s the headline adjustment and the reason to buy this over a plain linear. Beyond that, the cream housings benefit from a light lube on the rails and springs if you want to chase smoothness, but go easy so you don’t muffle the resonance you just paid to control. There’s no single “correct” setup here; the fun is in finding the insert that matches your build.
Verdict
Buy the Cream+ if you like to experiment and want a switch that keeps giving you knobs to turn. It rewards curiosity in a way most stock linears can’t. If you’d rather just type, a fixed linear like the Alexotos Granite or a standard Cream makes more sense — but for tinkerers, the modular stem is a genuinely different proposition, and a far quieter one than its Cream Clickie sibling.
Frequently asked
What makes the Cream+ different from a normal Cream linear?
The stem is hollowed out so you can drop inserts of different materials inside, each of which changes the switch's sound profile. It turns the switch into a small tuning platform rather than a fixed product.
Do I have to use the inserts?
No. It works as a normal Cream-family linear without them, but the inserts are the whole reason to choose the Plus over a standard Cream.
Is it good for tinkerers?
Very much so. If you enjoy experimenting with sound, the modular stem gives you a reason to keep tweaking long after the switch is mounted.
Compare NovelKeys Cream+ against another switch
Stack specs, sound profiles, and feel side by side.