Akko CS Air Switch vs Gateron KS-22 Optical
Gateron KS-22 Optical has live pricing available right now while Akko CS Air Switch is temporarily out of stock across tracked vendors. Gateron KS-22 Optical actuates lighter at 45 gf, while Akko CS Air Switch pushes back at 48 gf. The right pick comes down to which spec trade-offs fit your build — the pick-if grid below breaks that out in detail.
Detailed comparison
Spec-by-spec breakdown — differences highlighted in cyan.
| Spec | Akko CS Air Switch | Gateron KS-22 Optical |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Akko CS Air Switch | Gateron KS-22 Optical |
| Brand | Akko | Gateron |
| Price range | — | $13.99 |
| Community score | — | — |
| Switch type | Linear | Linear |
| Stem | MX (Cherry-compatible) | MX (Cherry-compatible) |
| Pins | 3 | 5 |
| Actuation force | 48 gf | 45 gf |
| Bottom-out force | 56 gf | 55 gf |
| Pre-travel | 1.9 mm | 2 mm |
| Total travel | 4 mm | 4 mm |
| Factory lubed | — | No |
| LED slot | — | Yes |
| Housing top | Polycarbonate | Polycarbonate |
| Housing bottom | Polycarbonate | Nylon |
| Stem material | POM | POM |
| Manufacturer | — | — |
Name
- Akko CS Air Switch
- Akko CS Air Switch
- Gateron KS-22 Optical
- Gateron KS-22 Optical
Brand
- Gateron KS-22 Optical
- Gateron
Price range
- Gateron KS-22 Optical
- $13.99
Community score
Switch type
- Akko CS Air Switch
- Linear
- Gateron KS-22 Optical
- Linear
Stem
- Akko CS Air Switch
- MX (Cherry-compatible)
- Gateron KS-22 Optical
- MX (Cherry-compatible)
Pins
Actuation force
- Akko CS Air Switch
- 48 gf
Bottom-out force
- Akko CS Air Switch
- 56 gf
Pre-travel
- Akko CS Air Switch
- 1.9 mm
Total travel
Factory lubed
LED slot
Housing top
- Akko CS Air Switch
- Polycarbonate
- Gateron KS-22 Optical
- Polycarbonate
Housing bottom
- Akko CS Air Switch
- Polycarbonate
Stem material
Manufacturer
Which should you buy?
Gateron KS-22 Optical has live pricing available right now while Akko CS Air Switch is temporarily out of stock across tracked vendors. Gateron KS-22 Optical actuates lighter at 45 gf, while Akko CS Air Switch pushes back at 48 gf. The right pick comes down to which spec trade-offs fit your build — the pick-if grid below breaks that out in detail.
Pick Akko CS Air Switch if
- You want a heavier 48gf actuation for deliberate typing
- You don't mind hand-lubing for a fully dialed-in feel
Pick Gateron KS-22 Optical if
From $13.99
- You prefer a lighter 45gf actuation for faster keypresses
- You value factory lube — no modding needed out of the box
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