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Jun 23, 2023

What Are Banana Split Keyboard Switches?

A banana split... in your keyboard? If you're a mechanical keyboard enthusiast,

A banana split... in your keyboard?

If you're a mechanical keyboard enthusiast, you'll know all the latest trends in mechanical keyboard switches. However, for newcomers to the hobby, certain things can be confusing, specifically as mechanical switches come in dozens, if not hundreds, of different types.

The Banana Split keyboard switches have been wildly popular since their late 2020 release. While they come in a rather neat housing, there's more to these switches than aesthetics that make them so popular.

The Banana Split keyboard switches are part of the "Snack Time Switch Line" series by C³Equalz and TheKey.Company (TKC), two of the biggest names in the mechanical keyboard space. Other switches in the lineup include Tangerines, Kiwis, and Dragon Fruits.

The Banana Splits switches are a 62-gram linear switch designed by C³Equalz in collaboration with TKC and manufactured by JWK. Other vendors previously sold these switches under the working development name "Macho." However, Banana Splits aren't simply a recolor of an existing JWK switch, courtesy of a proprietary C³Equalz housing mold.

They feature lavender and purple outer housings with a yellow stem. The housings are made from a blend of nylon and polycarbonate, with the stem made of polyoxymethylene (POM). They also come pre-lubed from the factory, although only with a light application, and you can lube them on top of that. We've already covered how to lube mechanical switches if you're looking for reasons to lube your switches or need a quick guide to get started.

The switches themselves are constructed sturdily. While they have a little stem wobble, you likely won't notice it during day-to-day typing or gaming. Since they're linear switches, you get a smooth action all the way to the actuation point with no tactile bump. If you need a refresher on switch types, we have already compared linear, tactile, and clicky switches.

The 62-gram actuation force makes these switches nimble and good for both quick typists and gamers. As far as the sound is concerned, due to their construction, they have a rather high-pitch clicky sound instead of the "thock" many mechanical switches have.

Since switches like this are only released in limited-time runs, they tend to be quite popular among enthusiasts wanting to get their hands on something unique.

One of the major contributing factors to the Banana Split's popularity includes the popularity of the companies that designed and manufactured the switch. JWK also manufactures other popular switches like Durocks, Everglides, and EV-Series switches. In addition, TKC has gained popularity primarily for creating keycaps and desk mats and also offers keyboard kits and keyboard switches from time to time.

Finally, reviews from popular keyboard enthusiast YouTubers like Filled Types, Brandon Taylor, and Too Much Tech showing off the smooth typing experience and sound profile of the switches shot them up in popularity around the time of their release.

For a switch that only runs from time to time, the Banana Splits are surprisingly well-priced. At the time of writing, a 10-pack of Banana Splits will cost you $7.49 on TKC's website. You can also get the switches in a 70, 90, or 110 pack for $49.99, $59.99, and $69.99, respectively.

In case the switches are out of stock when you're trying to buy them, you can find them on the aftermarket, especially with eBay vendors or from users on the r/mechmarket subreddit. That said, they will likely cost you much higher than TKC's retail price.

If you're looking to spice up your keyboard, a switch is just one of the many things you can change or modify to your liking. Sure, the Banana Splits are a rather unique set of switches that'd make a great addition to your keyboard, but anything from keycaps, cables, and even entire keyboard housings can be changed to customize your keyboard to your exact preferences.

Yadullah is a Computer Science graduate who writes/edits/shoots/codes all things cybersecurity, gaming, and tech hardware. When he's not, he streams himself racing virtual cars. He's been writing and reporting on tech and cybersecurity with websites like Candid.Technology and MakeUseOf since 2018.