Yes, they have clear housing, so it’s even brighter than the Halo Clears!
Uh oh, it’s another incomprehensible title. That can only mean one thing… Danielle wants to talk about keyboards!
Well folks, that’s right, I’m here to tell you about my new favorite tactile switches, the Zealios V2 78g keyswitch. This switch started off as a Cherry MX clone mod (that’s right, a mod of a clone), which added a more tactile bump to clones of Cherry’s MX Clear switches. The Cherry MX Clear switch is, in my opinion, the only good switch Cherry makes. Controversial!
The V2 version of the Zealios switches are here to bring you more fealios. It does this by increasing the tactility of the switch substantially. Zealios put the tactile bump higher on the press, and also made it a much larger, round-feeling bump. The end result? The most fantastic tactile switch I’ve ever used.
Let’s take a look at it, shall we?
In This Article:
Why Zealios V2s?
Prior to trying out the Halo Clear switches on my Massdrop (now Drop) ALT, the Zealios V1 was my favorite tactile switch. However, the early tactility of the Halo Clears as well as the smooth feel of the Topre keyswitches had me hoping there was a mechanical switch that could combine my love of each switch. I wanted the mechanical bump of the Halo Clears with the smoothness of Topre switches. That’s exactly what all the reviews claimed of the Zealios V2 switch.
Why 78g?
This is the bottom out force, in grams, that it takes to press this keyswitch down all the way. I’m a heavy typer. I mash the keyboard like I’m mad at it. The high actuation force means I don’t bottom out much at all, and makes me feel like I can more easily float across the keys.
V1 vs V2?
So I mentioned that the V1 was my favorite tactile switch until the Halo Clears came into my life. That’s because it was a more tactile and firmer version of the Cherry MX Clear. The difference between the V1 and V2 switches is so huge, they shouldn’t even be called the same name. A version number isn’t enough. This is like calling the iPhone XS an “iPod V2.”
| Attribute | Zealios V1 | Zealios V2 |
| Actuation | Mid-high | High |
| Tactile Feel | Small rounded notch | Large rounded bump |
| Smoothness | Slightly scratchy, like an MX switch | Buttery smooth, like a lubed linear switch |
The difference between the two in every way that matters is gigantic. Visually, the only difference is that the Zealios V2 has a slightly brighter purple hue, and is less blue. But the moment you press it, and it’s difficult to believe they were ever cut from the same cloth.
Feel?
The improvement on typing experience is hard to understate. I usually go for clicky key switches. Loud switches like my Box Jade Tada68 are my favorites. But these are so good, I brought my keyboard home to write this review, and ended up using it all weekend anyway. It’s just so tactile that I can’t help but obsess over it a little.
You know the joy you get from popping bubble wrap? Everyone loves that feeling, right? It’s like that. The feeling is like popping bubble wrap repeatedly with no loud noise. Forget the bubble wrap, just get a keyboard with Zealios V2 switches!
Smoothness
I was surprised at just how smooth these are. They’re smoother than Halo Clears, and have a higher actuation point than Halo Clears. The tactile bump is also larger than Halo Clears. That was unexpected. They were better in nearly every way than my previous favorite tactile switch. I wouldn’t say they’re as smooth as Topre keyswitches, but they’re the closest a non-lubed tactile switch has ever come in my experience.
Cons: Stabilizers and Linear Bottom Out
Zealios V2 (Left) and Halo Clears (Right)
There are only two downsides to this switch. The largest are the presence of stabilizers. Unless you lube these, they could creak on some boards, so be sure to do that if you’re soldering your key switches to a board. If you’re using them with a hot swappable keyboard, as I am, then you’ll have to clip them off.
Every single key switch has 2 stabilizers. You’ll have to clip off and possibly file down each and every switch. The entire process took about an hour for my Drop ALT, with its 68 keys. I also had a few problems with bent contacts, though I blame myself for moving the contacts slightly in the clipping process.
Before and after clipping the stems
As for what you can use to clip the switches, I recommend wire cutters or, believe it or not, nail clippers. Nail clippers are especially good if you’ve got a file on them to smooth our rough edges on the nub left behind.
The second one is minuscule, barely noticeable by anyone but an absolute nut (hello!). The bottom out force of 78g is slightly less than that of the Halo Clears. That means, after the tactile bump, you’ll be slightly more likely to bottom out. The Clears have sort of a cushioned bottom out that makes them more difficult to bottom out, and usually a little quieter to type on. However, I’ve found that the tactility is so high that I usually bottom out less anyway.
Overall
In conclusion, if you can solder or have a hot swappable keyboard, or you’re choosing switches for your next board on an online configurator, get the Zealios V2 switches. If you only like linear switches, these would be your worst nightmare. The only other exception would be if you absolutely need a clickly switch. In that case, I recommend either making a loud clicking noise with your mouth with each press, or just using these anyway. If that sounds absurd, you could try the Box Navy, Box Jade, or Box White switches from Kaihl. These are the best clicky key switches I’ve played with so far.
The Zealios V2 78g are honestly the most tactile and wonderful key switches I’ve ever used and an absolute joy to type on. Well done, Zeal PC!