Gateron Ink Black V2 vs Oil King

Which Keyboard Switch Is Better?

Products

Gateron Ink Black V2
Gateron Oil King

Tested using Methodology v1.0.1

Updated Sep 29, 2025 07:44 PM

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Tested using Methodology v1.0.1

Updated Sep 29, 2025 05:47 PM

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Amazon.com
  1. Recommended in 2 articles:
  2. Mechanical
  3. Linear Mechanical

Our Verdict

Gateron Ink Black V2

Gateron Oil King

Gateron Ink Black V2 and Gateron Oil King switches are both linear switches. Both switches come pre-lubed from the factory and are well-known for their smoothness and low-pitched sound profiles out of the box. The Ink Black V2 switches have a slightly rounder, more resonant sound. The Oil Kings have a sharper sound and a marginally more lightweight actuation, but the difference is too small to be very noticeable. Note that both switches have dark housings, which significantly limits the brightness of any RGB lighting. However, the Ink Black V2 housings have a smokey finish, making them a bit better for letting out light than the Oil Kings, which are opaque.

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Variants

  • Ink Black V2 (108 Pcs)
  • Ink Black V2 (36 Pcs)
  • Ink Black V2 (72 Pcs)
  • Oil King (10 Pcs)
  • Oil King (100 Pcs)
  • Oil King (110 Pcs)
  • Oil King (35 Pcs)
  • Oil King (50 Pcs)
  • Oil King (70 Pcs)
  • Oil King (90 Pcs)

Check Price

108 Pcs
Ink Black V2
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
10 Pcs
Oil King
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
36 Pcs
Ink Black V2
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
100 Pcs
Oil King
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
72 Pcs
Ink Black V2
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
110 Pcs
Oil King
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
 
35 Pcs
Oil King
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
 
50 Pcs
Oil King
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
 
70 Pcs
Oil King
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
 
90 Pcs
Oil King
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Design

Compatibility 
 

8.1
8.1

Housing Picture  

Cherry MX PCB Pinout 
 

Yes
Yes

Pin Count 
 

5
5

Keycap Mount 
 

MX Style
MX Style

Illumination 
 

8.0
5.0

Upper Housing Color 
 

Black
Black

Upper Housing Finish 
 

Smoky
Opaque
Performance

Keystrokes 
 

Actuation Graph  

See details
See details

Feel 
 

Linear
Linear

Initial Force 
 

41gf
44gf

Peak Tactile Force 
 

N/A
N/A

Actuation Force 
 

54gf
48gf

Bottom-Out Force 
 

67gf
61gf

Actuation Distance (Pre-Travel) 
 

2.4 mm
2.1 mm

Bottom-Out Distance 
 

3.9 mm
3.9 mm

Factory Smoothness 
 

8.2
7.8

Smoothness Sample  

Keystroke Data Used For Smoothness   

See details
See details

Scratchy Factor 
 

10.0
18.7

Mid Actuation Peak Noise 
 

-70.6 dB
-73.0 dB

Mid Actuation Peak Frequency 
 

1,052 Hz
1,076 Hz

Latency 
 

7.4
7.7

Raw Data  

See details
See details

Press Average 
 

1.9 ms
1.7 ms

Press Std Dev 
 

±0.33 ms
±0.23 ms

Release Average 
 

6.1 ms
6.2 ms

Release Std Dev 
 

±0.61 ms
±0.36 ms

Check Price

108 Pcs
Ink Black V2
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
10 Pcs
Oil King
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
36 Pcs
Ink Black V2
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
100 Pcs
Oil King
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
72 Pcs
Ink Black V2
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
110 Pcs
Oil King
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
 
35 Pcs
Oil King
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
 
50 Pcs
Oil King
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
 
70 Pcs
Oil King
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
 
90 Pcs
Oil King
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com

Gateron Ink Black V2

Gateron Oil King

Comments

  1. Comparison

Gateron Ink Black V2 vs Gateron Oil King: Main Discussion

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