GATERON KS-9 2.0 Silent Yellow Keyboard Switches RGB LED Pre Lubed 5 Pins Linear for MX Mechanical Keyboard (35PCS) Review (2026)

Who this switch pack is for

This pack suits keyboard builders who want to sample Gateron's silent linear switch before buying in bulk, or who only need enough switches for a small macro pad or a partial replacement job rather than a full-size board. The KS-9 2.0 revision is specifically a silent, dampened switch, so this is a strong fit for anyone typing in a shared office, a bedroom, or near a sleeping housemate where standard linear switches would carry too much bottom-out noise. Because the pack only contains 35 pieces, it is not the most economical way to source switches for a full keyboard build, which typically needs anywhere from 61 to well over 100 switches depending on layout. Builders planning a complete board should compare the per-switch cost of this small pack against larger 110-piece options before ordering.

Switch specs explained in plain terms

According to Gateron's own specifications for the KS-9 2.0 Silent switch, total travel runs 4.0mm with roughly 2.0mm of pre-travel before actuation, and the operating force sits around 50 grams with some tolerance either way. The housing uses a transparent polycarbonate top and a milky nylon bottom around a yellow POM stem, a combination chosen for smooth, low-friction keypresses. These switches ship pre-lubed from the factory, which reduces the scratchy feel some unlubed switches have and saves builders the extra step of lubing switches by hand. The 5-pin design means the switch has two extra plastic pins beyond the two metal contact pins, which helps it sit securely on a PCB during mounting. Gateron rates the switch for roughly 60 million keystrokes.

Installing and living with silent switches

Installing these switches is the same process as any 5-pin MX-style switch: they seat into hot-swap sockets by hand on a compatible board, or need soldering onto a non-hot-swap PCB. The silent dampening in the KS-9 2.0 comes from internal pads that cushion both the top and bottom of each keystroke, which noticeably quiets both the press and the release compared with a standard linear switch, though it does not make the board completely silent since keycap and case noise still factor in. SMD LED support means these switches will not block underglow lighting on boards built for it. Because they arrive pre-lubed, there is little maintenance needed beyond occasionally checking that pads have not worn down after very heavy, long-term use, which is more a concern for years down the line than early on.

How this pack compares with other silent switches

The site's silent switch roundup ranks this 35-piece Gateron pack seventh of eight, behind several 110-piece options including the Keychron Gateron Silent Red and a larger Gateron Silent Yellow pack that offer far more switches for a full build in a single purchase. The Keychron Low Profile Silent Red trades standard height for a slimmer profile, a different design goal than this standard-height KS-9 2.0. Against the TTC Silent Red, a dust-proof linear alternative, the main difference for most builders comes down to actuation force and personal feel rather than one being clearly superior. The closest rival in this exact pack size is the Gateron Ink V2 Silent Black, also sold in 35 pieces, which uses a different smokey housing material and linear feel worth comparing directly if you are choosing between the two.

Verdict and when to buy elsewhere

Buy this pack if you want to test Gateron's silent linear feel on a small board or macro pad, or if you are topping off an existing build that only needs a handful of extra switches. Given our score of 7.0 out of 10, it holds up on build quality and pre-lubed convenience but loses value points because the small pack size makes full keyboard builds more expensive per switch than buying a larger set outright. Anyone planning a standard 60 percent or larger keyboard from scratch should compare the total cost of multiple 35-piece packs against a single 110-piece pack before deciding, since the larger packs from Gateron and other brands usually work out cheaper per switch for a complete build.

Frequently asked questions