Gateron Magnetic Jade family, compared
"Magnetic Jade" is not one switch — it is a product line that now covers silent, tactile, low-profile and dual-protocol variants. They all target the same generic HE hot-swap boards, but they are not interchangeable in feel, and one of them is not even N-pole-down.
The family at a glance
| Switch | Feel | Travel | Force (typ.) | Stem | Polarity | Standout |
|---|
| Magnetic Jade (Gaming) | Linear | 3.5 mm | 36 / 50 gf | Walled/box | N-down | The original; ships in many Madlions/DrunkDeer-class boards |
| Magnetic Jade Pro | Linear | 3.5 ±0.1 mm | 36 / 50 gf | Standard MX | N-down | Refined lube + sound; the default recommendation |
| Magnetic Jade Silent | Linear, damped | ~3.5 mm | ~36 gf class | Standard MX | N-down | Works on HE and TMR boards; office-safe |
| Magnetic Jade Ultra | Linear, dual-drive | 3.5 mm class | 30–40 gf range | Modular | N-down | Gateron's flagship modular structure |
| Magnetic Jade Emerald | Tactile | 3.5 mm class | heavier bump | Standard MX | N-down | Tactile feedback on an HE board |
| Low Profile Magnetic Jade | Linear | ~3.3 mm | 36 / 50 gf | LP mount | N-down | For low-profile HE boards; LP keycap sets only |
| Magnetic White (KS-20) | Linear | 3.4 mm | 40 / 55 gf | Standard MX | Reversed vs Jade | Ships with Keychron-class boards; check the polarity note |
Force figures are vendor-typical; ±10% batch variance is normal (same disclaimer as the switch database). "N-down" = N-pole faces the PCB, per Gateron product pages.
Jade (Gaming) vs Jade Pro — the usual question
Both are 3.5 mm linears in the same force class with the full adjustable-actuation + rapid-trigger toolkit, and both fit the same generic HE boards. The differences are in the details:
- Stem: Jade (Gaming) uses a walled/box-style stem — extremely tight keycap skirts can bind slightly. Jade Pro's standard MX-style stem is friendlier to thick SA/MT3 walls.
- Factory lube: the Pro is smoother out of the box; the original runs slightly scratchier until lubed.
- Sound: the Pro is generally the cleaner, higher-fi clack; the Gaming variant sits a touch deeper but rougher.
If you are buying one switch for a Keychron/Madlions-class HE board, buy the Pro. The Gaming variant mainly matters if you are matching what shipped with the board.
The specialist variants
- Jade Silent — the office/night pick, and notable for being specified to work on both HE and TMR boards (see TMR vs Hall Effect). Same actuation/RT behaviour, damped sound.
- Jade Ultra — Gateron's modular "dual-drive" flagship, in a 30–40 gf range. Buy it if you chase the top-spec variant; otherwise the Pro does the same job.
- Jade Emerald — the tactile option. HE boards are dominated by linears; Emerald exists for typists who want a bump while keeping adjustable actuation.
- Low Profile Magnetic Jade — for low-profile HE boards only: needs LP keycap sets and an LP HE PCB. It will not fit standard-height sockets (see low-profile switches explained).
- Magnetic White KS-20 — the odd one out: compatibility notes describe its magnet polarity as reversed relative to the Jade family, and boards tuned for Jades may reject it. Check your board's listing.
Compatibility rules that apply to the whole family
- Socket first. Generic HE hot-swap boards (Keychron K/Q HE, Madlions, DrunkDeer class) take the Jade family. Wooting boards take Lekker only. No Jade fits a normal mechanical PCB — there is no Hall sensor under the socket.
- Polarity second. Gateron builds Jades N-pole-down; boards are tuned for that. A reversed switch can actuate inverted, ghost-trigger or not be detected at all — see the polarity column in the checker's board table.
- Flux range third. Boards calibrate to a magnetic flux window; after any swap, set actuation points and re-calibrate in the board's driver.
Which one should you buy?
Typing + gaming on a generic HE board: Jade Pro. Shared office / night sessions: Jade Silent. Chasing the flagship: Jade Ultra. Tactile preference: Jade Emerald. Low-profile HE board: Low Profile Magnetic Jade + LP caps. Replacing a Keychron stock switch: match polarity — if it shipped with KS-20 Whites, stay KS-20 or verify your board accepts N-down Jades.
Run your exact switch × keycap × layout through the checker — it now flags polarity alongside sockets.
FAQ
What is the difference between Gateron Magnetic Jade and Jade Pro?
Same core switch: 3.5 mm travel, ~36 gf initial / ~50 gf bottom-out, 0.1-3.5 mm adjustable actuation, 0.01 mm rapid-trigger sensitivity. Jade Pro is the refined revision: a standard MX-style stem instead of the walled/box stem of the original Jade (Gaming), better factory lube and a cleaner sound. The Pro is the safer pick for thick-walled keycap sets.
Which Gateron Jade switch is the quietest?
Gateron Magnetic Jade Silent, a Jade-family switch with damping pads that also works on TMR boards as well as HE boards. Use it for offices or late-night sessions; everything else in the family is a standard-loudness linear.
Do all Gateron Jade switches share the same magnet polarity?
Gateron specifies the Jade family with the N-pole facing down toward the PCB. The exception to check is the Magnetic White KS-20, whose polarity is documented as reversed versus the Jade family. Always confirm the polarity note on the exact switch product page; the compatibility checker carries a polarity column for this.
Can Gateron Jade switches go into a Wooting 60HE or 80HE?
No. Wooting boards use a proprietary socket calibrated for Lekker L45/L60 switches; Jade-family switches do not seat or calibrate there. Jades fit generic HE hot-swap boards: Keychron, Madlions, DrunkDeer class.
What is Gateron Magnetic Jade Emerald?
A heavy-tactile member of the magnetic Jade family: same magnet-and-sensor design but with a pronounced tactile bump for typists who want feedback from an HE board. Also specified N-pole down.