What’s the big idea with magnetic switches? – how are they different from ‘regular’ switches?
Most mechanical keyboards use switches that work through conduction, which is just a fancy way to say that pressing the switch connects a pair of tiny thin metal plates called leaves inside the housing of the switch. When these pieces touch, they complete a circuit with the printed circuit board (PCB) of the keyboard, which registers a keystroke. Each leaf has one metallic pin that sticks out of the bottom of the switch in order to connect to the PCB, and these pins are the way you can tell that your switch is mechanical.
On the other hand, magnetic switches use magnets embedded in the stem of the switch, and they remain contained entirely within the switch housing. There’s currently two different mechanisms for detecting the magnet moving as the switch is pressed, the most common of which at the moment is the Hall Effect.
Before I get further into this, I do briefly want to touch on the definitions of two important words – analog and digital. You’ve likely heard of these words in reference to TV signals if you were born before the turn of the century, but it absolutely applies here too!
Digital is the way mechanical switch signals get interpreted. It essentially means that there are only two states: on and off. Either the circuit is complete, or it’s not. The benefit of sending and interpreting data this way is that it can be incredibly precise, noise (interference) resistant, and efficient.
Analog is the way magnetic, EC (electrostatic capacitive), optical, and inductive switches have their data sent and interpreted. The sensors in the keyboard continuously monitor conditions as the switch travels, meaning that the board can tell exactly how far a switch has been pressed and interpret data accordingly. Instead of having two binary states, ‘on’ and ‘off,’ everything in between the start and end of the key press is recorded too! That’s what makes these switches analog instead of digital.
Back to the matter at hand, though – magnetic switches! I plan to cover how both Hall Effect and Tunneling Magnetoresistance works in this article, which are the two current ways magnetic switches are detected on keyboards. The way these mechanisms function can be fairly complicated, but I’ll try my best to put it into layman’s terms here:
Note that you absolutely do not need to understand the specifics in order to use and appreciate these devices. I’m talking about the (heavily simplified) science behind it because some people (such as myself) are interested in the specifics behind how these things physically work. If you couldn’t care less, go ahead and skip past the HE and TMR sections.
Hall Effect (HE)
When a magnet is applied perpendicularly to a conductor carrying an electric current, a transverse (or in other words, perpendicular if you can wrap your head around it) voltage can be measured – This is because magnetic fields exert a force on electric fields when they are in motion relative to one another. This transverse voltage is called Hall voltage, and is a result of the Hall Effect. The force of the magnet on the electricity being conducted crowds the charge to one side of the conductor, which is what is detected by the sensors in a Hall Effect board. The analog nature of this effect combined with our ability to scale it down makes it quite helpful in equipment such as keyboards or controllers where motion needs to be detected with greater detail.
(Hall Effect diagram from HyperPhysics Concepts. This illustrates how the magnetic force pushes the electric force to one side!)
Hall Effect boards and controllers are prized for their sensitivity and customization options, often favored for fast paced and high stakes games such as Osu! or Valorant. These boards boast better programmability and greater accuracy than typical mechanical keyboards, as they are able to detect states that are more dynamic than just ‘on’ or ‘off.’ Most Hall Effect boards can tell exactly how far the switch has been pressed, and many boards allow you to customize things such as how far the switch needs to be pressed before a key press is registered – note, though, this is true of many analog keyboards, not just Hall Effect keyboards.
Tunnel Magnetoresistance (TMR)
Another type of magnetic keyboard makes use of Tunnel Magnetoresistance (TMR) to detect key presses. This mechanism also takes advantage of how magnets can affect electrons, though it does so in a bit less of a conventional way – quantum mechanics! Here’s how I’ve come to understand it: TMR keyboards utilize little things called Magnetic Tunnel Junctions (MTJs), which are composed of two ferromagnets sandwiching an insulator. When the insulator is extremely thin (as they tend to be in MTJs), electrons can tunnel through the insulator to move from one magnet to the other, despite lacking the energy to be able to do so normally (yes, tunneling as in quantum tunneling). The amount of tunneling that occurs is dependent on whether or not the two magnets in the MTJ are parallel to one another, or anti-parallel – meaning, whether their magnetic fields align or go against each other.
(MTJ Diagram from ScienceDirect. The arrows in this diagram indicate which way the magnetic fields are (or can be) pointing.)
The way TMR boards work with magnetic switches is by making use of a highly coercive (weak) magnet on the top layer of the MTJ, and a relatively stronger magnet on the bottom layer. The stronger magnet is often paired with another magnet that absolutely cannot change polarity by the influence of other magnetic fields. This ‘pinned’ layer is kept constant by the third magnet. The coercive magnet (aka the free layer) is weak but parallel to the bottom magnet (aka the pinned layer), so in its ‘inactivated’ state, tunneling is frequent. When a magnetic switch approaches the MTJ, the magnetic field of the switch gradually flips the polarity of the free layer to be anti-parallel, increasing resistance for electrons and reducing tunneling. This change in tunneling frequency is detected by sensors in the board, and a key press is registered. Similar to HE, the fact that this process is analog allows for detection of how far down a key is pressed, and the same customization abilities apply.
A big thank you to Chryosran22 for breaking this concept down in a way that I could understand in this video.
A Brief Aside on Compatibility…
It goes without saying that a regular mechanical switch is not compatible with most TMR or HE boards, and vice versa as well – with some exceptions, of course, such as the Womier SK75 TMR. Hybrids do exist if you look hard enough!
If you’re not really sure if your board is compatible with mechanical switches, look for the two little holes above the space for the center pin in your switch sockets that indicate room for the metal pins of mechanical switches. If those are present, your board can use mechanical switches. To check if your mechanical board may be hybrid, check the user manual, box, or product page. If you still don’t know, chances are that your board probably isn’t hybrid.
Mechanical switches won’t fit in an exclusively magnetic keyboard, and magnetic switches don’t do anything on a regular mechanical keyboard, even if they do end up fitting. Make sure that you’re buying the right kind of switch!
Both HE and TMR typically use the same switches, which is most commonly a PCB mounted switch with the north pole facing down toward the keyboard (as featured in products from Wooting or Keychron). However, there are some Magnetic boards that call for different polarity directions or other qualities about a switch that mean you cannot use the same switch inside of them as another keyboard. Similarly, the switches designed for those boards definitely won’t work inside boards that utilize other styles of magnetic switches. Always double check compatibility before making a purchase. Magnetic switch and keyboard vendors typically indicate on their product listings what brands are compatible with the product for sale.
There’s also some more information on some variants of magnetic switches independent of compatibility that you might like to be aware of below!
HE vs. TMR – is there a ‘better’ choice?
Objectively speaking from a utility standpoint, TMR is much better than HE in almost every fashion when it comes to what people use it for in keyboards. It consumes less power, is significantly more precise and sensitive, operates faster, and also wins in a battle of which one is cooler. However, it has the drawback of being a fair bit more expensive to manufacture and purchase compared to HE boards, and is still relatively new – we discovered the Hall Effect in the late 1800s, and TMR wasn’t discovered until another 100 years later. Its application in keyboards is a recent development. On top of that, it’s also more temperature sensitive, so you probably don’t want one if you’re going to keep it somewhere with large temperature variations.
On the other hand, HE keyboards are far more established and are much simpler to make, resulting in much lower costs. They’re also not nearly as temperature sensitive, which makes them a safer choice if you’re planning on using them in spaces with less temperature control, such as your mother’s attic. Additionally, software for them is further along in development, so you’ve got more options to pick between for customization and feel.
Ultimately, the decision of which one is ‘better’ is entirely up to you. The keyboard best suited for your use case and environment is the better keyboard – just as it is with switches, it’s subjective!
The importance of software
Both TMR and HE boards boast high sensitivity suitable for competitive gaming where precision matters. However, the hardware alone is not enough to grant you that minuscule improvement in game play you might be looking for. A magnetic keyboard without specialized software will still only register whether the key is ‘on’ or ‘off.’ The analog nature of magnetic switches does mean that registered inputs can be more specific, though!
Snappy-tappy, rappy-tappy, what..?
Magnetic keyboards (along with other analog keyboards) can make use of detecting how far a key is pressed, the order in which these presses happen, and the order in which keys are released (or at least, when they move up) to handle inputs in special ways. The most known example of this is SOCD (Simultaneous Opposing Cardinal Direction) cleaning. Normally, when you press both ‘A’ and ‘D’ together when moving in a game, these keys cancel each other out and you stop moving altogether. SOCD cleaning prioritizes one of those key presses (either the first or last, you decide) to allow for cleaner and faster strafing.
Below is a screenshot of the options for advanced key behavior offered in Wootility, the software for Wooting’s keyboards. I haven’t made use of any of these features, but it’s quite easy to set up – just select the keys you want the behavior from, select the behavior you want to occur, and it’s good to go.
(Screenshot of Wooting’s free software, Wootility.io)
It is important to note that some games (such as Trackmania or CS:GO) have banned the use of some of the specialized inputs possible with magnetic keyboards due to the fact that these tools can be viewed as “pay to win.” That makes sense, given that magnetic keyboards are not typically cheap due to the specialized hardware required to make them function. For that reason, if you are caught using these functionalities in the competitive scenes of some games, you may find yourself getting banned or sanctioned by moderation. Make sure you check whether or not software functionality like SOCD cleaning is allowed in the games you plan to use it in!
Some interesting variations of magnetic switches and keyboards
While north pole down magnetic switches with two little plastic legs for PCB mounting are the most common, there are some other variations out there that exist as well. On top of that, we’re also starting to see tactile and clicky magnetic switches, as well as low profile magnetic keyboards! Here’s a rundown on the different types of magnetic keyboard paraphernalia you may find out there.
S-pole Switches
If you’re sporting a magnetic board from Akko or MonsGeek, you likely know about the difference between N-pole and S-pole switches. The majority of magnetic switches on the market use N-pole, which are utilized by boards from Wooting, Keychron, NuPhy, and others. The name N-pole or S-pole refers to which pole of the magnet in the switch stem is pointed toward the PCB. If your PCB reads N-pole switches and you install S-pole ones, for example, the board won’t work properly.
The keyboard you buy should hopefully mention what kinds of switches are compatible with it, just as most magnetic switches specify what kinds of boards they’re able to work in.
Tactiles
To some, this may be confusing. If the idea of magnetic keyboards is that they allow for extra control over key presses and how they’re registered, wouldn’t tactiles defeat the purpose of that precision? Ultimately, it comes down to preference. Some people dislike linears because of the lack of feedback that you’d otherwise get with a tactile key press. A light tactile magnetic switch would still allow for most of the control you’re looking for while also providing that feedback. Additionally, since the components inside a magnetic switch and keyboard don’t require contact with each other to register inputs, they’re significantly longer lived than regular mechanical switches. Mechanical switches can also run into issues due to oxidation of the copper leaves or dust/dirt buildup, while magnetic switches remain resistant to such things.
An example of a tactile magnetic switch would be Gateron Magnetic Jade Emerald. Included below is a side by side comparison of the travel of some regular linear magnetic switches to the Jade Emeralds, as viewed in the visual feedback portion of Wootility.
(Top: Linear, Bottom: Tactile. Recordings of Wooting’s free software, Wootility.io)
Silent Magnetic Switches
Just as there are silent switches of the regular mechanical variety, there are silent magnetic switches as well. The ones I see most widely referenced and recommended would be Haimu Dove, which was one of the first silent magnetic switches on the market. They’re not perfectly silent, but they’re far quieter than some other alternatives, such as Gateron Genty (which, in my opinion, can hardly be called a silent switch -- rather than featuring muting on the stem like the images below, it just has some dampening on the top housing).
Just as Tactiles would affect your control during travel, silent switches can affect the precision of the bottom-out due to the presence of different types of muting. For example, Haimu Dove silent HE switches feature an S stem to absorb impact and reduce bottom-out noise, and Glorious Panda silent HE switches use little silicone pieces in the stem to absorb impact. Both of these muting methods may cause slight variations in how the travel actually gets recorded when bottoming-out.
(Left: Haimu Dove HE stem, Right: Glorious Panda silent HE stem)
An additional note -- if you're confused why one switch is 'taller' than the other, it has to do with spring length! Haimu Dove has a longer spring than Glorious Panda. This doesn't effect total travel.
Low Profile
There are some new low profile boards from MelGeek and NuPhy that are magnetic. The shorter travel may make it a little harder to utilize the benefits of good software, but it’s not out of the question! It’s a good bridge between laptop keyboards and standard profile keyboards for those who are interested in HE without wanting to get used to standard profile typing.
And More..?
There’s some other interesting variations out there worth mentioning!
Outemu and Glorious have each taken a crack at making clicky magnetic switches. While it’s possible to maintain some degree of that linear precision with light tactiles, it would be much harder to do so with a clicky switch. These switches might exist to take advantage of the longevity of magnetic switches, or they're just for people who have a magnetic board that they just really want clickies on – to which I say, fair enough!
Aeboards Raeds HE switches make use of a rubber dome instead of springs, which is similar to EC switches. They’re out there for people with magnetic boards who are potentially interested in seeing what EC may feel like, given that they offer similar contactless lifespans and benefits to magnetic typing. The rubber dome has a very light tactile feel, but is barely noticeable with high typing speeds or a heavier touch.
Hey, my switches have a hole on the bottom. What’s up with that?
Some magnetic switches have holes in the middle of their bottom housing that line up with the stem (and by extension, the magnet). Whether or not your switch has a hole in the bottom shouldn’t make a big difference in utility or performance, as it’s likely just there to accommodate manufacturing.
It is worth noting that switches with holes on the bottom have a flatter, slightly quieter, and less clacky sound. The lack of a completely sealed interior means there’s less resonance; a lot of higher end frequencies get lost more quickly, and the sound doesn’t linger as long.
Summary
This article more or less looked over all the details of magnetic switches and keyboards – how they work, what they use, how to use them, and what to look for. Hopefully this provided some insights for those of you who are interested in magnetic boards and looking to learn more, either for fun or for product research! If this article helped push you toward any direction, that’s good news – that was the goal. Keyboards are complicated and expensive, so it’s always important to make the right choice for you.
If you’re interested in getting a keyboard and aren’t sure what types of switches are right for you, feel free to check out our guides on switch types. It can provide some insight about what type of switch you might prefer and point you towards what kinds of switches to try!
