There are times when mechanical keyboards can be confusing for many people due to the sheer number of brands, models, and colors of switches that there are; for this reason, that one type of switch is called Banana Split, like the dessert consisting of banana and ice cream, is striking to say the least…and easy to remember. A few marketing geniuses, its creators.
What is a Banana Split Switch?
They really aren’t new, as they were launched at the end of 2020, but it’s only now that they’ve started to cause a big stir in the hardware fan community, and more specifically among fans of customizable mechanical keyboards. Of course, the first thing that catches the eye is the color combination chosen for its design, which you can see in the images that accompany this article.
Initially, switches with this name are part of the “Snack Time Switch Line” series from C³Equalz and TheKey.Company (TKC), two of the biggest names in the configurable mechanical keyboard space. It is a mechanical switch with linear behavior (same as Cherry MX Red, for example) which requires 62 grams of pressure for its activation; for comparison, a Cherry MX Red requires 45 grams, while an MX Black requires 60 grams.
Some manufacturers also sold this type of switch under the nickname “Macho” (yes, in Spanish), but Banana Splits are not just a color change of these switches, because they have some special features.
For starters, its outer shell is lavender and purple, and the stem (the part that descends when pressed) is light yellow. The shells are made of a mix of nylon and polycarbonate, while the upper, which should be stronger, is made of polyoxymethylene (POM). Plus, they’re factory pre-lubricated and are designed so that any fan of mechanical keyboards with a bit of experience can easily re-lubricate them.
How do they behave and resonate? Why are they so popular?
The switches themselves are very sturdy, both due to the materials of construction and the fact that they require 62 grams of force to activate, meaning they have to be pressed… “hard”. They have a bit of wobble on the stem, although this isn’t noticeable at all when in use, and since they’re linear switches with no tactile feedback, you get a smooth click action to your point of trigger.
The 62 gram actuation force makes these Banana Split switches fast and good for heavy keyboard users and gamers, although they are definitely preferred by gamers because prolonged use of a keyboard requires so much force. heartbeat eventually produces fatigue.
As for the sound, as linear switches we should expect them to be pretty quiet…but no, they actually have a pretty loud clicking sound instead of the “thump” we hear usually on linear switches.
Since switches like these Banana Splits are usually only released in limited editions, they tend to become very popular with enthusiasts looking to get their hands on something unique, or at least rare, which is one of the reasons they have become favorites with many. people… the second factor, although it is already a hypothesis with us, is basically due to their aesthetics, since they contribute a lot to the “posture”.
Price and availability
Below we have linked the TKC website as the authors of the images we used in this article (because they are the original manufacturers), and in fact you can purchase them from their website; pricing is $7.49 for a 10-pack of Switches, though they can also be purchased in packs of up to 110 units for $69.99.
