Akko CS Starfish Switch vs NuPhy Panda Max Switch
Akko CS Starfish Switch has live pricing available right now while NuPhy Panda Max Switch is temporarily out of stock across tracked vendors. NuPhy Panda Max Switch actuates lighter at 45 gf, while Akko CS Starfish Switch pushes back at 50 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 Starfish Switch | NuPhy Panda Max Switch |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Akko CS Starfish Switch | NuPhy Panda Max Switch |
| Brand | Akko | Nuphy |
| Price range | $17.99 | — |
| Community score | — | — |
| Switch type | Linear | Tactile |
| Stem | MX (Cherry-compatible) | MX (Cherry-compatible) |
| Pins | 3 | 5 |
| Actuation force | 50 gf | 45 gf |
| Bottom-out force | — | 55 gf |
| Pre-travel | 1.9 mm | 2.2 mm |
| Total travel | 4 mm | 3.3 mm |
| Factory lubed | — | Yes |
| LED slot | — | — |
| Housing top | — | POM |
| Housing bottom | — | POM |
| Stem material | — | POM |
| Manufacturer | — | — |
Name
- Akko CS Starfish Switch
- Akko CS Starfish Switch
- NuPhy Panda Max Switch
- NuPhy Panda Max Switch
Brand
Price range
- Akko CS Starfish Switch
- $17.99
Community score
Switch type
- Akko CS Starfish Switch
- Linear
- NuPhy Panda Max Switch
- Tactile
Stem
- Akko CS Starfish Switch
- MX (Cherry-compatible)
- NuPhy Panda Max Switch
- MX (Cherry-compatible)
Pins
Actuation force
Bottom-out force
Pre-travel
- Akko CS Starfish Switch
- 1.9 mm
- NuPhy Panda Max Switch
- 2.2 mm
Total travel
- NuPhy Panda Max Switch
- 3.3 mm
Factory lubed
LED slot
Housing top
Housing bottom
Stem material
Manufacturer
Which should you buy?
Akko CS Starfish Switch has live pricing available right now while NuPhy Panda Max Switch is temporarily out of stock across tracked vendors. NuPhy Panda Max Switch actuates lighter at 45 gf, while Akko CS Starfish Switch pushes back at 50 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 Starfish Switch if
From $17.99
- You want a heavier 50gf actuation for deliberate typing
- You don't mind hand-lubing for a fully dialed-in feel
- You prefer a linear feel
Pick NuPhy Panda Max Switch if
- You prefer a lighter 45gf actuation for faster keypresses
- You value factory lube — no modding needed out of the box
- You prefer a tactile feel
Also compared
Popular pairings that involve Starfish Switch or Max Switch.