INK-V2-BLACK

1. Overview

The Gateron Ink V2 Black is the heavier-spring linear variant in Gateron's flagship "Ink" V2 series — a second-generation revision of the original Ink switches, featuring a proprietary smokey-translucent nylon-blend housing ("Ink" material) known for producing a characteristically deep, low-pitched "thock" sound profile. V2 improvements over V1 include coated springs (eliminating spring ping), redesigned contact leaves (preventing fallout), and refined factory lubrication. At 60g actuation / 70g bottom-out, the Black is the heaviest linear in the standard V2 lineup, contrasting with the Red (45g) and Yellow (50g) variants. The Ink Black V2 is widely considered one of the benchmark premium stock linears in keyboard enthusiast communities.

2. User Sentiment

Community reception is strongly positive. Reviewers on hirosarts, rgbkeys, and factsreviews describe the Ink Black V2 as "an excellent switch" with "outstanding performance and upscale feel," noting it "delivers a premium experience directly from the factory" — a rarity for enthusiast switches. The heavier 60g spring is praised for providing better typing control and reducing accidental keystrokes during fast gaming input. Sound profile — deep, muted "thock" — is a consistent highlight and attributed directly to the Ink housing material's high-frequency dampening. Detractors note the 60g weight can cause fatigue in extended sessions (for which the Red 45g is recommended), and minor stem wobble is acknowledged though mitigated by films. RGB aesthetics are a trade-off: smokey housing diffuses rather than transmits backlighting.

3. Real-World Applications

The Ink Black V2 is used almost exclusively in custom enthusiast mechanical keyboards — both gaming-focused and productivity-focused builds. The heavier spring is preferred by touch-typists who appreciate deliberate actuation resistance and users who want to minimize accidental keypresses during gaming. It is a common choice in aluminum-case "endgame" builds seeking thocky acoustic profiles without foam dampening. The 5-pin PCB footprint is standard for high-end custom PCBs; 3-pin plate users clip the guide pins.

4. Technical Specifications

• Type: Linear (no tactile bump, no click)
• Actuation Force: 60g (60±15 gf per Gateron official spec)
• Bottom-Out Force: 70g
• Pre-Travel: 2.0mm (2.0±0.6mm)
• Total Travel: 4.0mm (4.0mm max)
• Mount: 5-pin PCB mount (3-pin compatible with pin clipping)
• Housing Material: Proprietary "Ink" nylon-blend, smokey-translucent
• Stem Material: POM (polyoxymethylene), black-colored, MX-compatible
• Spring: Stainless steel, coated (V2 improvement — reduces ping vs V1 uncoated)
• Factory Lubed: Yes — lightly factory lubed
• Lifespan: 50 million keystrokes
• Category / Subcategory: keyboard-switch / mechanical / linear

5. Ordering & Compatibility

Divinikey prices the Ink V2 Black at $0.72/switch; Silent Black variant at $0.83/switch. Gateron's official site sells 110-switch sets for $70.40 (~$0.64/switch). Available at MechanicalKeyboards.com, NovelKeys, KBDfans, ikasaya.com, mechmods.co.uk (UK), hippokeys.com, and cherryxtrfy.com. The MX-compatible stem accepts all standard MX keycaps and aftermarket components. Compatible with MX hot-swap sockets and solder PCBs. Related variants: Red (45g lighter linear), Yellow (50g, shorter 3.4mm total travel), Blue (75g clicky), Silent Black (60g with integrated dampeners).

6. Known Issues

Minor stem wobble is present stock; switch films (Deskeys, Thicc, TX) are widely recommended to eliminate it and further improve smoothness and sound. Factory lube, while present, is light — many enthusiasts re-lube with Krytox 205g0 for a buttery feel, though stock performance is considered above-average. The smokey housing diffuses RGB light rather than projecting a vivid glow, making it less suited to RGB-showcase builds. The 60g actuation weight may cause finger fatigue during very long typing sessions for users accustomed to lighter switches.