Gateron Ink Black V2 vs Gateron Ink Red V2
The Gateron Ink Black V2 and the Gateron Ink Red V2 are separated mostly by spring weight, 15 g of it at actuation, with the Gateron Ink Black V2 the firmer press and the Gateron Ink Red V2 the easier one to hold down. Our full switch library links the two to each other for that reason. Play the A/B bursts below to hear them back to back, match the volumes, then read the spec table and the verdict.
Hear them back to back
simulated from real specssound loads on your first tapShortcuts: press A or B anywhere outside a text box to fire that burst. Use the volume trims to loudness-match the pair before judging which sounds better.
Spec by spec
| Spec | Gateron Ink Black V2 | Gateron Ink Red V2 |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Linear | Linear |
| Brand rates force at | actuation | actuation |
| Actuation force | 60 g | 45 g |
| Bottom-out force | 70 g (our estimate) | 60 g (our estimate) |
| Pre-travel | 2 mm | 2 mm |
| Total travel | 4 mm | 4 mm |
| Silent (dampened) | No | No |
| Factory lubed | Yes | Yes |
| MX-compatible stem | Yes | Yes |
| Price tier | Premium | Premium |
| Street price | varies | varies |
Gateron advertises an actuation force for both of these, so the two headline figures in this table are measured at the same point and can be read against each other. Gateron publishes no bottom-out figure for either of these, so the two figures marked "our estimate" are our own derivation from the forces that are published rather than a rating. How we derive a bottom-out figure .
Verdict
Gateron is on both sides of this one and both are linears, so the question is which of its own linears suits you. The springs are far apart, with the Gateron Ink Black V2 at 60 g actuation versus 45 g for the Gateron Ink Red V2, a gap you feel within a paragraph of typing. Their voices split them more than their specs: the Gateron Ink Black V2 sounds like signature deep-yet-clacky Ink voice; smooth and resonant, while the Gateron Ink Red V2 gives you light and airy with the Ink housing's deep undertone. Where we land: the Gateron Ink Red V2 for gaming, the Gateron Ink Black V2 for typing and a shared office.
- Gaming pick
- Gateron Ink Red V2
- Typing pick
- Gateron Ink Black V2
- Office pick
- Gateron Ink Black V2
Force curves
Gateron Ink Black V2
Gateron publishes no bottom-out force for this switch, so the 70 g at the end of the stroke is our estimate and the run into it is dashed. Everything up to actuation comes from the published numbers. How we derive it.
Gateron Ink Red V2
Gateron publishes no bottom-out force for this switch, so the 60 g at the end of the stroke is our estimate and the run into it is dashed. Everything up to actuation comes from the published numbers. How we derive it.
Gateron Ink Black V2 or Gateron Ink Red V2: the long answer
Take the mechanical side first, since that is where this pair separates. The spread at actuation is 15 g, 60 g on the Gateron Ink Black V2 against 45 g on the Gateron Ink Red V2, which puts them in different weight brackets rather than two shades of one. Type is not in play. Both are linears, and neither one puts a bump or a click in the way of the press. The two stroke depths are identical, 2.0 mm to actuation inside 4.0 mm of total travel. Same stroke character, so the spring is the fact to weigh.
The ears usually get the last word here. The Gateron Ink Black V2 sits at signature deep-yet-clacky Ink voice; smooth and resonant; the Gateron Ink Red V2 answers with light and airy with the Ink housing's deep undertone. Worth repeating: the audio here is a simulation built from specs and community descriptions, not a recording of either switch.
On cost and convenience, both are premium priced. Factory lube on both, so the smoothness you hear in the player is roughly the smoothness you get.
Answer the use case and the switch follows. Games point at the Gateron Ink Red V2, because a lighter spring at actuation goes its way. Writing points at the Gateron Ink Black V2, since its keystroke stays consistent and comfortable across a full day of writing. A shared room points at the Gateron Ink Black V2, as it is the quieter of the two once the room is listening. The player above is the cheapest part of this decision, so use it before your wallet is involved.
There is more on both than a head-to-head can carry. Start with the Gateron Ink Black V2 page and the Gateron Ink Red V2 page, or test how your current keyboard performs with our free keyboard tester.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Gateron Ink Black V2 or the Gateron Ink Red V2 the better gaming switch?
We pick the Gateron Ink Red V2 for gaming. It takes this one on a lighter spring at actuation, which is what a fast repeated press actually cares about.
Is the Gateron Ink Black V2 quieter than the Gateron Ink Red V2?
Volume is roughly a wash: no dampening and no click mechanism on either, so your typing force and your case decide the level. The character is not a wash, with the Gateron Ink Black V2 reading as signature deep-yet-clacky Ink voice; smooth and resonant against light and airy with the Ink housing's deep undertone from the Gateron Ink Red V2.
Which has the heavier spring, the Gateron Ink Black V2 or the Gateron Ink Red V2?
The Gateron Ink Black V2, by 15 g. Both figures are published at actuation, 60 g against 45 g, so they are measured at the same point and can be read straight.
More comparisons
More vs Gateron Ink Black V2
More vs Gateron Ink Red V2
Or browse every switch comparison on the site.