Gateron Oil King V2 プレルーブ 5ピンリニアスイッチ メカニカルキーボード用(90個入り) — the Gateron Oil King V2 — is a 90-pack of pre-lubed 5-pin linear switches whose entire value proposition is that you can open the box and start building. This article looks at what the 55gf spec actually feels like, where the 5-pin design trips people up, and who should skip it.
Overview
The Gateron Oil King V2 is a pre-lubed 5-pin linear switch sold in packs of 90. It specifies 55gf ±5gf actuation, 65gf ±10gf bottom-out, 4mm total travel, and a 60-million-cycle rated lifespan — squarely in the middle of the linear weight range, neither feather-light nor heavy.
The numbers look ordinary, but what defines a linear switch is friction consistency, not weight. Unlubed linears vary from unit to unit, and across 90 switches a few scratchy outliers almost always appear.
Factory lubrication flattens that variance, so a full board built in one go feels uniform. The 90-count is a practical quantity: enough to fill a TKL (roughly 87 keys) or a 65%/75% layout with spares.
The Amazon.co.jp listing shows 4.7 out of 5 stars from 298 reviews (about 94% positive, as captured in September 2026).
With a sample that size, this is clearly not a product plagued by out-of-box defects.
Compatibility Guide
Three facts govern fitment: 5-pin PCB mount, Cherry MX-compatible stem, and support for 2-pin/4-pin LEDs plus non-protruding SMD LEDs.
| Item | Spec | Practical note |
|---|---|---|
| Mount | 5-pin (PCB mount) | Drops straight into 5-pin PCBs |
| Stem | Cherry MX compatible | Works with MX-profile keycaps |
| LED | 2-pin/4-pin, non-protruding SMD | Tall SMD LEDs may interfere |
| Travel | 4mm | Standard for MX-style housings |
The most common failure is a 3-pin (plate-mount) PCB. A 5-pin switch has two extra plastic legs beside the center pole, and a 3-pin PCB has no holes for them.
You can clip them with flush cutters, but doing that 90 times takes real time. Trim level with the housing rather than digging into the base.
Also confirm your board is hot-swappable. Without sockets you must desolder every existing switch — a heavy job for a beginner at 90 keys.
On a hot-swap board, pulling and seating 90 switches takes about an hour.
These will not work in magnetic (Hall effect) or optical keyboards. Most rapid-trigger boards require their own proprietary switches, so rule that out first.
Product Info
The Amazon.co.jp price was ¥9,600 for the 90-pack as captured on 18 September 2026, about ¥107 per switch.
That sits mid-to-upper in the custom switch market; budget unlubed linears run roughly ¥50–70 each, so you are effectively paying for the lubing labor you skip. Prices move with stock, exchange rates, and sales, so check the product page for the current figure.
The same ASIN also appears via an Amazon US listing, and fulfillment can change price and delivery time. Marketplace listings such as eBay show only "See listing," meaning each seller must be checked individually.
The package contains switches only, held in a compartmented plastic tray. No keycaps, no puller, no extra grease.
A switch puller is worth buying separately — it makes a 90-switch swap dramatically easier. Warranty handling varies by seller, so confirm who handles defective units before ordering.
What It Feels Like
A 55gf actuation with 65gf bottom-out reads as light at the top of the stroke with a slight firming just before the bottom. For long typing sessions the return is clean and fatigue stays low; for gaming, the key reliably resets during fast repeats.
Being linear, there is no tactile bump, so you cannot feel where actuation occurs — a genuine drawback if you rely on that feedback for accuracy.
Sound follows the usual linear pattern: no click, with bottom-out and keycap material dominating. Factory lube suppresses spring ping, but these are not silent.
Silent (dampened) switches are a different design goal; if you need your neighbor not to hear you, this is the wrong pick.
How It Compares
The decision reduces to three axes: pre-lubed or not, weight, and availability. Unlubed classics cost less per switch but cost you several hours — sometimes a full day — to lube 90 of them.
Priced against your own time, the premium usually pays for itself. If you plan to swap springs and add films anyway, you will open the housings regardless and the pre-lube advantage shrinks.
On weight, this is noticeably more substantial than 45–50gf featherweight linears. Good if light switches caused you typos; possibly too firm if you want minimum finger effort.
Best Use Cases
- First-time switch swappers — pre-lubed means no brush, no grease, no 90-switch lubing marathon. On a hot-swap board it is an easy first project.
- Builders who want one uniform board — 90 switches cover a TKL or 65%/75% build from a single batch, avoiding lot-to-lot mismatch.
- FPS, action, and rhythm gamers — no mid-stroke bump suits fast repeated input.
- Office users who want a quieter board — no click noise, though see the caveat below about true silence.
Before You Buy
The listing metadata may not match the product. The Amazon listing records a manufacturer name other than Gateron (kutethy).
That is common with resold or parallel-import listings, and you will see the same discrepancy when you open the page. Verify via the product images, title, and the markings on the switch housings that you are getting genuine Gateron Oil King V2 switches.
With parallel imports, defect support typically runs through the seller rather than the manufacturer.
3-pin PCBs require modification. Clipping two legs off 90 switches is the first wall people hit when they did not check the mount type.
Pre-lubed does not mean flawless. Factory application varies slightly, so a few switches out of 90 may feel marginally different.
That is unit variance, not a defect. If you want them perfectly matched, you will end up tuning them yourself.
Do not buy these for silence. Linear only removes the click; bottom-out noise remains.
Pair with foam, a gasket-mounted case, or choose dedicated silent switches instead.
Incompatible with magnetic and optical boards. If you came here looking for rapid trigger, this is not a substitute.
Keycaps are not included. Swapping switches changes feel, not looks. Budget for an MX-compatible keycap set if appearance matters.
FAQ
Q. Can I use these on a non-hot-swap keyboard? A.
Physically yes, but you must desolder the existing switches. Ninety keys of desoldering is an experienced-builder job; beginners should start with a hot-swap board.
Q. What about a 3-pin PCB? A.
Clip the two outer plastic legs with flush cutters. Trim level with the housing rather than cutting into it.
Q. Should I add more lube? A.
Generally no — they ship lubed and are fine as-is. Only enthusiasts chasing a specific sound add, for example, a touch of spring lube.
Q. Are 90 switches enough? A.
Comfortably for a TKL (about 87 keys) or a 65%/75% layout. A 104-key full-size board will not be covered by one pack.
Q. How long is 60 million cycles? A.
It is the rated durability figure and implies several years of typical use, but real lifespan also depends on dust and environment. Treat it as a guideline.
Q. How much should I trust the rating? A.
4.7 out of 5 from 298 reviews as captured in September 2026 — a large enough sample to rule out widespread defects, though reviews shift by seller and date, so check the latest before buying.
