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

Who this heavier silent switch pack suits

The KS-9 2.0 Silent Black is aimed at builders who want a firmer press than the lighter Red or White versions in the same silent lineup, since the operating force sits around 60 grams versus the lighter options nearby. That extra resistance helps reduce accidental key presses from fingers resting lightly on the board, which some typists and office users prefer over a hair trigger linear feel. Because these are silent switches with internal dampening, they are a natural fit for shared offices, apartments with thin walls, or late night sessions where a loud clicky or even a standard linear switch would be disruptive. The RGB-friendly clear top housing also means the pack suits people building or upgrading a board that already has per-key lighting, since the translucent shell lets the glow through instead of blocking it the way an opaque housing would.

What is actually inside the housing

Each switch is a linear design, moving straight down without a tactile bump, built around a POM stem paired with a PC top housing and a nylon bottom housing, a combination chosen for smooth, low friction keystrokes. GATERON specifies an operating force of roughly 60 grams with a small tolerance range, a 2 millimeter pre-travel and 4 millimeters of total travel, which is on the heavier side for a linear switch marketed at gamers and gives it a firmer bottom-out than most stock linear options. The switches arrive pre-lubed from the factory and use internal silent pads above and below the stem to cut both the upstroke and downstroke noise, rather than relying only on foam mods added later by the builder. They use a 5-pin mounting design for extra stability on hot-swap sockets and support SMD LEDs for per-key lighting, and GATERON rates the line for 60 million keystrokes of use.

Installing and living with them in a build

Because these are 5-pin switches, they drop straight into a plate mount or PCB mount hot-swap socket without extra pin clipping in most cases, though anyone building on a plate-only board without extra pin holes needs to clip two of the five pins first. The factory lube means these can go straight into a build without additional lubrication for most users, though enthusiasts chasing the smoothest possible feel sometimes add a light film of their own lube regardless. Daily use should stay quiet thanks to the internal dampening pads, and the heavier spring means the switches resist the light accidental taps that can happen when hands rest near the home row. Because only 35 pieces come in the pack, most builders will need at least two or three packs for a 60 percent board and considerably more for a tenkeyless or full-size layout, so this works better as a sampler or a spare parts pack than a single full build purchase.

How it compares with other silent linears

Against the Gateron Silent Yellow, a lighter and popular alternative in the same silent family, the KS-9 2.0 Silent Black trades some of that lighter switch's fast rebound for a heavier, more deliberate press that suits people who prefer resistance under their fingers. The TTC Silent Red ships in a 90 piece pack at a similar or lower price point, giving builders more switches per purchase, though GATERON's dampening and pre-lube quality are generally regarded as more consistent. Compared with GATERON's own Ink V2 Silent Black, which uses a smokey housing and is aimed at a similar heavier-linear niche, the KS-9 2.0 is the more affordable option while giving up some of the premium housing finish. Anyone assembling a full keyboard rather than sampling a feel should compare price per switch closely, since the 35 piece pack size pushes the effective cost per key higher than the 90 to 110 piece packs common elsewhere in this category.

Verdict and who should buy a different pack

Buy this pack if a firmer, pre-lubed silent linear switch with RGB-friendly housings appeals, and the plan is to sample the feel, keep spares on hand, or fill in a smaller layout board. Our score of 7.0 out of 10 reflects solid build and materials pulled down somewhat by the value of getting only 35 switches per pack. Anyone assembling a full 60 percent, tenkeyless or full-size keyboard should budget for multiple packs or look at competitors selling 90 to 110 pieces for closer to the same price, since the per-switch cost here is higher than most silent linear alternatives. Typists who want a lighter, faster silent switch should also consider the Silent Yellow or a Silent Red option instead of this heavier Black variant.

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