GATERON Ink V2 Silent Black Keyboard Switches Linear 5 Pins RGB Smokey Housing for MX Mechanical Keyboard (35PCS) Review (2026)

Who the Ink V2 Silent Black suits

This switch targets builders who already know they want a heavier, quieter linear feel and are willing to pay for it, rather than newcomers picking a first switch. The Ink series carries a reputation in the enthusiast keyboard community for smooth, refined travel, and the Silent Black variant adds dampening aimed at muting the bottom-out sound without going fully silent. Firm typists who bottom out every key will appreciate the heavier spring, since it resists accidental presses better than lighter silent linears. It suits anyone building a board meant to look as good as it sounds, since the smokey translucent housing is designed to show off under RGB lighting rather than hide it.

Force, travel and housing specs

GATERON specifies the Ink V2 Silent Black as a linear switch with 60±15gf of operating force, higher than most standard linear switches in this category. Pre-travel runs about 2.0±0.6mm with a maximum total travel of 4.0mm. The switch uses a POM stem, a translucent PC top housing, and a translucent macromolecule bottom housing in the smokey finish, paired with black-plated springs and a 5-pin design for stability on hot-swap or PCB mount boards. LED support is plug-in style, and the switches are not pre-lubed from the factory, so smoothness out of the box depends partly on the housing tolerances GATERON is known for in the Ink line.

Living with a heavier silent switch

The 5-pin design means these mount securely on boards with 5-pin hot-swap sockets or plates cut for 5-pin support, holding steady during fast typing without wobble. Because the switches are not pre-lubed, some builders choose to lube them by hand before installing to smooth out the stem-to-housing feel further, though many report the Ink housings already feel notably smooth from the factory compared with cheaper silent linears. The heavier 60gf force takes an adjustment period for anyone coming from a standard 45gf linear, since more finger effort is needed to bottom out each key, which can be tiring over very long sessions for a lighter touch typist. The dampened bottom-out is a genuine noise reduction versus a standard linear, though it will still be audible in a completely silent room.

Trade-offs against other silent switches

Against the Keychron Gateron Silent Switch Red, which tops this silent switches guide with a lighter, more accessible force and a larger 110-piece pack, the Ink V2 Silent Black asks for a higher price per switch and a firmer press in exchange for the smokey housing and Ink line reputation. The Gateron Silent Yellow, also ranked above it here, offers a similar dampened feel at a lower cost per switch with a bigger pack size better suited to a full build. Against the lighter Gateron Creamy Silent Linear, ranked just below it in this same guide, the Ink V2 trades a lighter, easier press for a heavier, more deliberate one under a nicer looking housing.

Verdict and who should pick something else

Choose this pack if the build already calls for a heavier, quieter linear switch and the smokey RGB housing matters for the finished look, and budget allows for buying enough 35-piece packs to cover a full board. Skip it if the goal is the lowest cost per switch for a full build, where a 110-piece pack from a rival brand covers more keys for less money. Light touch typists who tire on heavier springs should also look toward the lighter Gateron Silent Yellow or Creamy Silent options ranked in the same guide rather than committing to the firmer Ink V2 Black.

Frequently asked questions