Thoughts on Switches Part 10: Kailh Box Cream Pro

These are an interesting switch offered from Keychron’s website. They have the same qualities as the regular Box Cream switches but are factory lubricated. The most interesting aspect of them though is the price. Regular Box Creams are sold at the price of $25.20 for 36 switches, a price of $0.70 a switch. Box Cream Pro switches on the other hand are $38.00 for 110 switches, a price of just under $0.35 a switch. Even if you wanted to lubricate them yourself that would still mean a price half that of the unlubricated switches. So, as I had been wanting to try Box Cream switches since they came out this option was an easy choice. Cheaper and factory lubricated? Absolutely! 

When I started really getting back into the mechanical keyboard hobby my first ‘premium’ switches were Kailh Cream switches from NovelKeys. They honestly changed my opinion on linear switches. Sure, they are scratchy and gritty at first but as I used them, they became smoother, they had a good mid-to-heavy weighting, and a lovely sound to be found with all-POM design. I’ve since found other switches to be more pleasant to type on, but I still will rotate in my Creams from time to time as they are fun switches to use.

That’s where lubrication really can make these types of switches shine. Reducing that feeling of POM-on-POM rubbing is a tremendous improvement in the tactile quality of these switches. Box Cream switches are lighter than standard Cream switches. Creams come in at 55g actuation and 70g bottom out while Box Creams (and in turn Box Cream Pros) are 45g actuation and 55g bottom out force. That is a significant reduction in the forces that is noticeable in day to day typing. I enjoy both but have come to appreciate the lower force switches more as I’ve used both types. Both switches are very different in physical design as well.

Box Creams feature a circular enclosed stem and a steeper upper housing using Kailh’s latch design versus Cherry’s design. That improves keycap compatibility with north-facing socket keyboards and Cherry profile keycaps. Though that’s not an issue I’ve had it is common enough to warrant talking about in the custom keyboard world. Ideally, all boards would use south-facing sockets but as that’s not the case it’s a factor to consider in choices of keycaps and switches.

The different design improves stem wobble and stability. It also slightly changes the sound profile of the switches in comparison to the original Cream design, but they are largely the same due to the shared materials between both switches. It also puts me in an interesting position because I’ve never lubricated my Cream switches and lack unlubricated Box Cream switches. There’s no side-by-side comparison I can really do so I must compare by what I do have.

Compared to other factory lubricated switches, Box Cream Pros aren’t as smooth. That’s not to say that they aren’t smooth, just that the inherent nature of using identical materials rubbing against each other will result in more scratchiness than by having different materials with different frictional properties. They’re not unpleasant or overly lubricated. They are about par for what I think of with factory lubricated switches. There is more variance than some other switches I’ve used, such as NovelKeys Silk switches, where some switches clearly have less lubrication than others, but they all are lubricated to a similar extent. Given the price, they do offer a premium switch sound and feel at a much more budget-friendly price.

I’ve used them with two sets of keycaps in my new daily-driver board, my Keychron Q7. The first set was my MT3 Dasher set made in double-shot ABS. I found that I didn’t care for the sound profile with that setup. The combination of taller, double-shot ABS caps, all POM switches, and aluminum body for the keyboard really emphasized the aluminum sound of the keyboard. The best way I would describe it is that it almost sounded like the aluminum and metallic notes were accentuated. I simply didn’t like the sound. Moving on to a set of Cherry profile double-shot PBT caps from Keychron completely changed the sound of the board. They deemphasized the sound of the body and instead really brought forward the sound of the switches themselves, giving that absolutely delightful thocky nature that all-POM switches are so renowned for providing. They really have shined with this setup, and it was almost like switching to a completely different keyboard. In particular, the spacebar went from being the strongest sound that was the worst offender for the aforementioned metallic sound to being much more muted, to the point where the letter keys are the loudest and at the forefront of sound now.

As with all switches, finding the right combination of parts can make or ruin your perception of them. The combination of this keyboard and these keycaps with these switches provides a delightful typing experience for me. They feel lovely, sound brilliant, and if RGB lighting is important, they also let that shine through brilliantly as well. At their price I think they are an excellent option for factory lubricated linear switches. They are cheaper than many, offer a unique and interesting typing experience, and do so in a fun way featuring great keycap compatibility no matter whether your board is north or south-facing.

I think these are one set of switches that most anyone could find enjoyment using. They’re not too heavy, nor too light. They’re a smoother linear switch that are ready to go without needing to lubricate them. They offer a premium feel and sound with a mid-range price. And they offer that without being too niche in their design. With that I mean they are nicely in the middle of the road with much of their design. They don’t attempt to do too much or change much drastically but what they do have is built upon a solid foundation. They are fun for enthusiasts and newcomers alike. Kailh Box Cream Pros are simply great switches.