Zealio
 |
This article requires additional photographic illustration — clear, plus a family photo of clear and purple together |
| Manufacturer | Gateron |
|---|---|
| Family | Gateron KS-3 series |
| Product name | Zealio |
| Introduced | August 2015 |
| Switch type | Tactile; linear |
| Sense method | Metal leaf |
| Rated lifetime | 50 M |
| Keycap mount | Cherry MX mount |
| Switch mount | PCB mount, PCB mount |
| Website | zealpc.net/collections/switches/products/zealio |
The Zealio switch series are boutique key switches produced for Zeal PC. They are clones of Cherry MX switches produced by Gateron. They initially included tactile variants akin to Cherry MX Ergo Clear (Zealio V1) but those have been discontinued in favour of a more tactile switch (Zealios V2). There are also linear switches and dampened variants of tactile and linear.
Contents
Description
The switches are manufactured exclusively for Zeal PC by Gateron. The top housing carry the Gateron logo. The tactile purple sliders (Zealio V1 and V2) were custom made for Zeal PC. Unlike Gateron's regular switches, they have gold-plated springs which makes the springs resistant to corrosion and therefore friction when the keys are pressed.
Most variants have fully transparent housings, which are supposed to help with backlighting.
The Zealio V1 tactile variant's purple stem is shaped like the Cherry MX Clear but is less tight on keycaps.. The feel is reported to be smoother - even smoother than lubricated Ergo Clears. [1]
According to reviews, the Version 2 Zealio has no noticeable pre-travel before the tactile bump and more travel between the bump and the actuation point. Critics have said that it is easier to overshoot the actuation point, making it harder not to bottom out. It is also easier to overcome the tactile bump without activating the switch as well as to deactivate the switch without going back over the tactile bump.[2]
Issues
There have been reports of the early examples with clear bottom melting more easily from the heat of a soldering iron than other switches. Zeal PC offered the purple switch in a 65g variant with a milky bottom like regular Gateron KS-3.
The damping rubber inside Zilents V2 has been reported of deforming (or moving) with use, increasing the pre-travel.[3]
Variants
| Stem colour | Depicted | Type | Bottom-out weight | Bottom | Mount | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Lavender | Round 6 | Tactile | 62 g | Transparent | PCB |
 |
Violet | Round 6 | Tactile | 65 g | Transparent | PCB |
 |
Translucent | PCB | ||||
 |
Plate | |||||
 |
Deep violet | Round 6 | Tactile | 67 g | Transparent | PCB |
 |
Deeper violet | Round 6 | Tactile | 78 g | Transparent | PCB |
 |
Translucent | Linear | 62 g | Transparent | PCB | |
|
65 g | |||||
|
67 g |
| Name | Stem colour | Type | Bottom-out weight | Bottom | Mount | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zilents | |
Light blue | Tactile dampened | 62g | Transparent | PCB |
|
Medium/light blue | 65g | ||||
|
Medium/Dark blue | 67g | ||||
|
Dark blue | 78g | ||||
| Tealios | |
Teal | Linear | 67g | Transparent | PCB |
| Healios | |
Orange | Linear dampened | 67g | Transparent | PCB |
Purple Zealios modified with heavier springs for use in the space bar or enter positions are called Deep Purples.
Revision History
Version 1
- Round 1: Introduced 62g, 65g, and 67g Linear (translucent stem) and Tactile (purple stem) switches
- Round 2: Introduced 78g variants, began using different shades of purple for different weights (lighter to darker as they get heavier), introduced 65g switches with milky-white bottoms (plate mount only) that are more heat resistant
- Round 3: No additions, but Linear Zealios no longer offered from this round on
- Round 4: 78g changed to make the force curve more uniform, stem mould tweaked to reduce wobble significantly
- Round 7: Tealio linears introduced in 67g, no changes to Zealio switches
- Round 8: 67g Zealio spring tweaked for "crisper" bump with more cushion at bottom-out, 78g Zealio spring tweaked to be more similar to 67g variant, with snappier bump compared to previous 78g Zealios
At some point during or prior to Round 8, 65g milky-bottom Zealios began being offered in PCB mount as well as plate mount.
Version 2
- On Sep 21, 2018, Version 2 were introduced for preorder. The tactile switches' stems had been modified with a bigger tactile bump than previous Zealios and Zilents. Healios (linear dampened) was introduced. Tealios also started to get the same housing as other V2 switches. All with transparent housings for PCB-mount.[4]
Availability
Switches have become available in batches for pre-order. The first group-order run was started in August 2015[5]. It is now (as of Dec 2017) on its eighth run. There have been eight rounds of Zealios, with the switches currently being in Round 8.
- Zeal PC's web site.
- Group orders on Geekhack.
- Group orders on Massdrop. For instance, they have been available as an option for the WhiteFox keyboard
References
- ↑ Keychatter.com: REVIEW: Project Zealio switches Posted on 2015-08-19. Retrieved 2015-08-20.
- ↑ Geekhack.org—Zealios V2 - opinions. Dated 2018-12-21. Retrieved 2018-12-23
- ↑ Geekhack.org—Dampening rubber in Zilent V2 switches deforms with use. Posted 2020-07-28. Retrieved 2020-07-28.
- ↑ Geekhack.org—Healios, Zealios V2, Zilents V2, Rev4 Zeal60 (Black & Gold), etc.. Dated 2018-10-26. Retrieved 2018-11-02
- ↑ Geekhack – GB: PURPLE/CLEAR ZEALIO SWITCHES (Complete). Dated 2015-08-25. Retrieved 2016-11-08
