Vertex V1 Switch Review

The budget king of linear switches? Let’s find out!

Introduction

‘Ello everybody. Today, I’m excited to dive into a switch that’s been on my (and I’m sure everyone’s) radar for a while—the Vertex V1 Linear Switch. For those who might not know, Vertex teamed up with Jwick (yep, the same crew behind Durock and Jwick switches) to create this little budget gem. If you’re wondering about the tech behind these names, Jwick is short for Jingweike—a budget brand we all know and love for its affordable but surprisingly good switches. However, the V1 isn’t your typical “budget” switch mold. Vertex claims it’s built with tighter tolerances, and their combination of automated and manual QC means you can skip switch films, and maybe even lubing (we’ll see about that 👀).

Design & Features

Let’s get into the nitty-gritty specs. The Vertex V1 comes rocking a PA66 nylon top and bottom housing with a 13.2mm POM stem, and you can grab them either factory spray lubed or unlubed. At TKM, we only carry the lubed version, but that’s probably the one you’re here for anyway. (Sorry to the tinkerers!) There’s a 15mm spring with a 62g bottom-out force and around 3.8mm of total travel (despite the advertised 4mm).

But one thing that really stands out about the V1s is the spherical bottom post. Most linear switches either go with a flat bottom (like Gateron) or round, but this spherical design promises a fuller sound profile—and yeah, that’s something we don’t see every day!

Performance

I slapped the V1s into my Neo65 to see how they’d perform with foams and without. Honestly, I expected them to have a somewhat thin sound with a touch of leaf ping (given their budget background), but I was pleasantly surprised. The V1s deliver a deeper tone and feel super smooth, with only a slight scratch out of the box. I definitely preferred having the foams, as the sound profile lends itself to a deep thock, and that type of sound in general just work better with foams & (sometimes) films.

The bottom-out force feels really nice, without that harsh slam that you sometimes get with cheaper switches. Across my experiences with the switch, I didn’t notice much variation in the factory lubing either, which was a huge plus. I’d call that spray-coating tech a success.

Sound & Feel

Let’s be real—this is where the Vertex V1 shines. For a switch that costs $0.48, the sound profile is full and deep—a nice break from the often hollow, higher-pitched sounds you get in the budget space. The spherical bottom post clearly does its job here, making each keypress feel satisfying without being too harsh or pingy.

There was barely any leaf ping, which was another surprise considering I thought I’d need to go back in and tweak things. Compared to something like the Akko CS Pink or Gateron Yellows, the Vertex V1 holds its own and actually provides a cleaner, more well-rounded sound.

In terms of feel, the 15mm spring gives the switch a decent snap back without feeling sluggish, though it’s not as fast as some other switches with longer springs. If you’re a fan of those snappy, long-pole switches, the V1 might feel a bit more “regular,” but that’s part of its charm—it’s just a solid, classic linear. Definitely a great choice if you’re having short pole burnout. Trust me, I have been there.

I will say that even though the switch is generally very smooth, there is a noticeable difference in wobble compared to the champs of stock perfection, HMX and TTC. The Vertex V1 suffers from a bit of wobble and would probably do well with some films, but I didn’t get to test that here. On a scale, I’d definitely put it above the likes of Cherry, Gateron, and other budget brands, but under HMX and TTC. It's a bit disappointing that the manufacturing process was so good for the smoothness but underwhelming for the tolerances.

TL;DR

The Vertex V1 Switch

In short: These switches are smooth, well-balanced, and surprisingly full-sounding for the price.

Final Thoughts

At $0.48 per switch, the Vertex V1 delivers some serious value. With consistent factory lubing, decent tolerances, and a unique sound profile, these are switches that’ll surprise you for their price range. Whether you’re building a budget board or just looking for a reliable linear switch without breaking the bank, the Vertex V1 is an easy recommendation.

The spherical bottom post design and smooth travel make these stand out in a sea of budget switches, and the fact that you can get them factory lubed is just the cherry on top.

Get the switch here:

That’s all for this one! Drop a comment if you’ve tried these out, would be super excited to chat. Sending love to all the ones who read this far and catch you guys in the next review! <3