What is a hot-swap keyboard? A thorough explanation of its features, advantages and disadvantages, and how to choose one.

What is a hot-swap keyboard?

The word "hot swap" is originally a term for digital equipment, "a mechanism for a device that has a structure that allows it to be powered on and off. It is also referred to as hot plugging.

In the mechanical keyboard community, the meaning is somewhat different, and a mechanism that allows you to replace the switches on a mechanical keyboard yourself is called a "hot swap" or "hot swap keyboard.

Normally, mechanical keyboards cannot be replaced by yourself because the switches are punched into the keyboard plate or soldered to it, and when they malfunction, they are usually repaired by the manufacturer or a specialist, or replaced by a new one.

Hot-swappable mechanical keyboards, however, only have pins embedded in the base, so you can replace the switches yourself.

What keyswitches and keycaps can I use?

Given the special feature of hot-swapping, it would seem that a hot-swappable keyboard requires special keyswitches and keycaps, but a hot-swappable keyboard only has hot-swappable key bases, and the keyswitches themselves can be 3-pin or 5-pin mechanical switches such as CHERRY MX. pin mechanical switches such as CHERRY MX. However, they must have the same shape as the pin receptacles on the base.

Hot-swap keyboards are the same as regular mechanical switches, so you can use keycaps designed for mechanical switches.

Are hot-swap keyboards heavier?

Hot-swappable keyboards are basically not heavier than hot-swappable keyboards, since they use a different substrate.

However, there are still only a few types of mechanical keyboards that support hot-swapping, so there are certainly not many options for lightweight keyboards that support hot-swapping.

Are there hot-swappable keyboards that support RGB backlighting?

There are two types of keyboard backlight features.

the keyswitches themselves are lighted
the LEDs are on the base side of the keyboard

In the case of hot-swap keyboards, the key switches are supposed to be replaced, so in most cases, the LEDs are on the base side of the keyboard (2). In other words, if the keyboard itself supports RGB backlighting, you can use RGB backlighting.

It is important to note that if you replace the key switch by yourself, you need to choose a "backlight transparent type key switch" in which the base unit of the key switch is transparent.

Advantages of hot-swap keyboards

You can repair it yourself in case of failure.

Although the switches on mechanical keyboards have high durability performance, such as 50 million cycles, they still have a limited life span if you type every day.

If all keys have equal life expectancy, you can give up. However, in normal typing, there are "frequently used keys" (e.g. vowels), and some keys will have an earlier life expectancy than others. In other words, you will have to "replace some keys even though they are still alive.

However, with hot-swappable mechanical keyboards, "the only repair method is to replace the switch," so anyone can easily repair a mechanical keyboard.

Moreover, since a single key switch is as inexpensive as a few dollars, it is far more cost-effective than replacing it, and you can use your favorite keyboard for a long time.

You can customize it by attaching the axis of your choice.

Not only mechanical keyboards, but also keyboards are standardized in terms of switches and methods for all keys.

However, hot-swappable mechanical keyboards allow you to replace the switches yourself, so you can use the switch of your choice on any key you want.

For example, you can customize the WASD key, which is often used for games, to a slightly lighter axis, or use quiet keys for larger keys such as the space key, which tends to make a lot of noise.

In the past, you would have to build your own keyboard using a home-built kit to lay out the axes to your liking, but with the advent of hot-swap keyboards, you can now freely customize your own keyboard with the precision of a manufacturer's product.

Disadvantages of hot-swappable keyboards.

Fewer types

The disadvantage of hot-swappable mechanical keyboards is that they are a type of keyboard that has spread over the past few years, so there are still only a few types available.

As explained earlier, hot-swappable keyboards require hot-swappable key pedestals (plates), so fewer types mean fewer types of pedestal layouts.

High price

Mechanical keyboards tend to be more expensive than regular keyboards, but hot-swappable mechanical keyboards tend to be even more expensive, with prices in the low 7,000 yen range and the volume zone at around 10,000-15,000 yen.

If you want a mechanical keyboard at any cost, it may be a little over your budget, but if you use a keyboard on a daily basis, it can be said to be cost-effective in the sense that you can use it for a long time with "repair = replacement of switches only".

Some products are less durable than others.

Conventional mechanical keyboards are firmly fixed with solder, whereas hot-swap keyboards are simply inserted with pins, so the durability of the contacts is likely to be a problem.

Due to these structural reasons, we often see reviews of hot-swappable keyboards that say that the switches break immediately.

However, this varies from product to product and is a point that will be improved in the future.

How to choose a hot-swap keyboard and what to look for

Choose from a proven manufacturer.

Hot-swap keyboards have only been around for a few years, so the products are still in their infancy. Moreover, since new keyboard manufacturers are emerging rapidly, the quality of their products is not consistent.

Because of this instability, it is best to choose a keyboard manufacturer with a proven track record.

If you can buy a hot-swap keyboard from a manufacturer in Japan, such as CORSAIR, e-Yooso, or Keychron, be sure to check the reviews carefully to make sure there are no problems before purchasing.

Be aware of compatible keyswitches.

Most hot-swappable keyboards are compatible with CherryMX-type keyswitches, but there are cases where the switches do not respond depending on the combination.

In anticipation of such cases, keyboard manufacturers usually list the manufacturer and model number of the switch that can be used to replace the keyswitch.

It is important to note the availability of replaceable key switches. Even if the keyswitch is replaceable, if the keyswitch itself is not available, it is the same as not being able to replace the keyswitch in effect.