HMX Xinhai Switch Review

The Golden Child of HMX—does it live up to the hype?

Introduction

Hey y’all. Today, we're diving into the HMX Xinhai switches, and let me tell you – these little guys are something else. With a blue and milky white colorway, they’re reminiscent of weathered porcelain tea cups, bringing a nostalgic vibe that pairs perfectly with their calming sound profile. Let's get into it.

Design & Features

The HMX Xinhai is built to impress. Let’s talk specs: we’ve got a PA12 top housing, a modified nylon bottom housing, and a POM stem. They come factory lubed, which is great for those who love that out-of-the-box smoothness. There’s a 22mm spring with a 45g bottom-out force and a 3.4mm total travel.

One unique thing about the Xinhai switches is the spherical bottom post, which contributes to their standout sound profile. It’s not something you see every day in linear switches—most go with either a flat or rounded post, but HMX has taken a different approach here, and I think it really works in their favor.

Performance

I dropped the Xinhai switches into my Neo65 and tried them both with and without foam. I expected a somewhat light and thin sound, but they surprised me. The Xinhais provide a fuller, mellowed-out tone, and they feel incredibly smooth. Personally, I preferred them without foams, as it accentuates the insane clack that these switches provide.

The bottom-out force is on the lighter side, which is perfect for me. With only 37g of actuation force, typing feels effortless and smooth, perfect for long essay writing sessions. (It’s master’s application season for me; good luck to everyone with their school apps!) However, these might not be a good fit for gaming due to potential mispresses. If they’re too light for you, consider spring swapping or checking out the 55g actuation version—it might just be what you need.

Sound & Feel

This is where the HMX Xinhai truly shines. The sound profile is full, crisp, and high-pitched, which is impressive considering they cost somewhere around $0.34 per switch. The spherical bottom post really helps give it that nice pop without being harsh. There was also barely any leaf ping, which was a big plus, especially for a switch in this price range.

In terms of feel, the 22mm spring gives it a satisfying snap back—not sluggish, but definitely not as snappy as some of those longer springs out there. If you love the feel of long-pole switches, these are at a balanced travel distance of 3.4mm. As usual, there is minimal wobble, which is quickly becoming the default expectation of HMX switches.

TL;DR

The HMX Xinhai Switch

In short: These switches are smooth, full-sounding, and provide great value for the price.

Final Thoughts

At $0.34 per switch, the HMX Xinhai delivers an experience that’s hard to match in its price bracket. The consistent factory lubing, the smooth travel, and the unique sound profile all come together to create a switch that’s versatile and satisfying. Whether you’re looking to build a budget board or just want to try something new, the Xinhai is a strong contender.

This switch really is something special. We don’t even carry it and I’m writing a glowing review about it—let that be an indicator of it’s greatness. Thanks for reading, and catch you in the next review <3