Tecsee Sapphire V2 Review & Sound Test (2023)

tecsee sapphire v2 review

Need a tactile switch that sounds crackly, feels solid, and looks sparkling??

Here’s my full Tecsee Sapphire V2 review & sound test!

My general thoughts: The Tecsee Sapphire switches are one of the coolest-looking switches I’ve ever seen! The sparkly design looks incredible, and the unique “progressive gold spring” leads to a pleasant “wooden” and “crackly” sound and feel. The polycarbonate housing is quite durable, though the factory lubing is a bit inconsistent. Overall, these are one of my favorite linear switches!

So. Sparkly. And awesome.

Tecsee Sapphire V2 Sound Test

These switches sound “crackly” and “poppy,” not unlike pouring milk into Rice Krispies (I’m not joking). Personally, I dig it!

They’re also not too loud or muted. A good balance of volume for a tactile switch.

Tecsee Sapphire Switch Details

TypeTactile (meaning you feel a “bump” as you press the key) 3-pin switch
Operating Force:55g (medium resistance)
Spring:“Progressive Classic” features 3 compressed sections throughout the spring
Price:About $0.55 each on Amazon
Sound:“wooden, crackly, and muted”
Feel:“wooden & firm”

There are 2 interesting things about the Tecsee Sapphire switches:

  1. The progressive gold spring
  2. The sparkling design of the polycarbonate housing

The progressive gold spring

tecsee sapphire v2 progressive spring

These are the most unique springs I’ve seen in a long time!

It’s a long spring, with 3 separate compressed sections—the top, middle, and bottom.

To be honest, I’m not sure why they’ve done this—and typing normally, I can’t tell a massive difference from “normal” spring.

Sparkling Housing

The Tecsee Carrots (linear switches) had a really cheap & NOT durable PME material for their housing, and it was a huge pain to deal with. It warps easily during lubing, disassembly, and installation.

Luckily, Tecsee went back to a polycarbonate material for the Tecsee Sapphires—and in an AMAZING design no less.

the tecsee sapphire sparkly housing

The sparkles are quite noticeable against the deep blue housing (too bad they’ll be under your keycaps, right??).

But polycarbonate is SO much better and more durable than the PME material. I’m thankful for that change!

Tecsee Sapphire Pros and Cons

PROS ✅

  • The “wooden and crackly” sound is really, really nice! One of my faves.
  • Price point is ok $0.55 per switch
  • The sparkling design is really well done
  • Materials are solid and durable

CONS ❌

  • The factory lube job was definitely inconsistent.
  • The tactile bump could stand out more (I can hardly feel it)

Tecsee Sapphire Pricing

TECSEE Sapphire &Ruby V2 UHMWPE Stems Key Switches for Mechanical Gaming Keyboards | Double Gold Spring | Plate...
  • ✅ TECSEE Sapphire Tactile | 1.9mm Pre-Travel | 3.8mm Total Travel | 55g Actuation | 63.5g Bottom Out.
  • ✅ TECSEE Ruby Linear | 1.9mm Pre-Travel | 3.8mm Total Travel | 52g Actuation | 63.5g Bottom Out.
  • ✅ TECSEE new Mix PC material lubrication for your hot swappable mechanical gaming keyboards.

These come in at around $0.55 per switch, which is right in the middle for decent tactile switches.

That’s a bit more than the Akko Lavender Purples but still less than Holy Pandas (or even Glorious Pandas).

  • Tecsee Carrot (linear): $0.43 per switch
  • Akko Lavender Purples: $0.40 per switch
  • Glorious Pandas: $0.70 per switch

Given these switches actually compete with the Pandas—I think $0.55 is actually a great deal!

Tecsee Sapphire Sound & Feel

Let’s dive into real-world typing and gaming 😉

Sound

Here is how I’d describe the sound of the Sapphire Switches:

  • Crackly
  • Wooden
  • Muted

I think part of the crackly sound might be due to the inconsistencies in factory lubing? I’m not sure—but I LIKE IT. They’re also slightly more muted than most tactile switches.

Overall, the muted crackly sound makes the Sapphires one of my favorite tactile switches! I prefer these over more premium switches (like the Holy Pandas).

I also didn’t notice any spring ping or scratchiness. No complaints from me there.

Feel

They somehow feel like typing on wood, and it’s not a bad thing.

However, I think the tactile bump isn’t very pronounced (could be due to the crazy design of the progressive spring).

It’s still distinguishable from a linear switch, but I find myself wishing it had more of a bump.

The 55g of actuation force feels pretty accurate—I’d say it’s “medium-heavy” resistance.

NOTE: I did NOT apply any additional lube to the Tecsee Sapphires. For one, it’s always tougher to lube tactile switches (since you want to AVOID lubing the stem leaves where the bump is), and I also wanted to test the factory lube (which WAS there—but inconsistent).

If you want to learn more about which switches I lube and why—check out our full guide to lubing mechanical switches here.

Tecsee Sapphire V2 Alternatives:

First, click here to see our best tactile switches for your mechanical keyboard.

Here are some similar switches that you may want to consider:

Akko Lavender Purples (read our review here)

These feel REALLY similar to the Sapphire switches. They’re firm, stiff, and the tactile bump feels similar.

But, they’re even cheaper.

They also sound more higher-pitch and “tappy,” and less “crackly” like the Sapphires.

Akko Ocean Blues

These are the other great tactile switch from Akko.

  • Same price
  • Same actuation force
  • DIFFERENT “progressive” spring (which is shorter and more compressed)

It’ll sound similar, but probably be a bit smoother. The tactile bump is also farther “down” the keystroke.

Glorious Pandas

These have always been some of my favorite tactiles.

  • More expensive, for sure
  • Sound is a bit more “flat,” but still fairly loud (most people like this)
  • Feel pretty similar. Maybe a bit more smooth.

They’re a community favorite for a reason.

Akko Vintage Whites (read our review here)

Ok I know we’ve already mentioned this, and these are a LINEAR switch, but that’s about the only difference.

Same spring, actuation force, and tappy sound.

Just smoother (because no bump!).

Bottom line: Should you buy the Tecsee Sapphire switches?

This will always come down to personal preference, but the Tecsee Sapphires have become one of my favorite tactile switches! If you’re looking for a nice, “wooden and crackly” tactile typing experience—I think you’ll enjoy these (especially if you ALSO like linear switches—as the tacile bump is quite light).

I do think the inconsistent factory lube job is a bit of a bummer—but overall I’m quite pleased with these switches.

At $0.55 per switch, they’re priced fairly considering their competition. I just wish I could SEE that amazing design whilst typing!

Tecsee Switch F.A.Q.s

Are Tecsee switches good?

Personally, I do think Tecsee switches are worth the budget price point, but this will also come down to personal preference! Also, some Tecsee switches are made from standard materials like POM and polycarbonate (Tecsee Sapphire and Ruby switches), while others are made from Tecsee’s proprietary PME material (like the Tecsee Carrot linear switches, which feel less durable and cheap). That said, most of Tecsee’s switches are known for sounding & feeling great right out of the box (stock, unlubed).

Are Tecsee Sapphires Pre-lubed?

Yes, the Tecsee Sapphire linear switches come “factory-lubed,” meaning some lube is applied. However, these factory-lubing process can often be inconsistent, leading some switches sounding and feeling slightly different (though the difference is barely noticeable).

Are Carrot switches MX?

Yes, the Tecsee Carrot switches are “MX-style” switches. They’re compatible with MX keycaps and feature the “cross” design stem.

Are Tecsee switches long pole?

Yes, the Tecsee Carrot switches feature an extended stem pole (the pole underneath the stem that inserts down into the spring), which supposedly leads to a smoother “bottom out” of the keystroke.