Hey folks
I am thinking of switching from magic keyboard to UHK 80. Not sure which key switches would give closest feel like Apple magic keyboard?
Also, for using in Mac most of the time, is trackball good enough or you recommend touchpad?
I had used Kinesis Split keyboard before, I liked everything except the key switches on that keyboard.
I am not a pro keyboard hacker, so please explain things if you feel I need to know in advance.
I have never used magic keyboard, but assuming it is a low profile keyboard, you may want to look into tecsee medium switch ( The "low profile" UHK ).
The trackball is great, at least if you have smart fingers and give them a week or so to adjust to it.
If you want more familiar controls, then you may as well place an apple trackpad between the halves, and maybe make a custom stand for it. 
Which Kinesis board did you have? I think they use a variety of different switches in their boards (Gateron low-profile, Cherry MX, rubber dome)…
Shortest answer is to go with a light, linear or mildly tactile switch. The Silent Pinks/Browns are probably the closest available from the UHK shop, but the switches on a Magic board are scissor-style membrane switches, which are VERY different from the MX-style mechanical switches used in the UHK.
Scissor switches are extremely low-profile in comparison to MXs. If you’ve never typed on MX-style mechanical switches, the travel distance when depressing the keys is MUCH further than scissors. The UHK80 uses four low-profile Choc V2 switches on the very bottom row thumb keys, but the rest are full-size MXs (which aren’t compatible with any scissor or low-profile switches, other than the Tecsee mediums that Karel mentioned).
I honestly don’t even know where to begin to explain any further, so I suggest just checking into the difference between scissor and MX keyswitches.
As for trackball vs touchpad…
I have a touchpad module, and it could be bigger, but it works fine. I don’t like tiny trackballs, so I never tried the UHK’s trackball module.
I recently got a UHK60v2 from a coworker, and was switching from an Apple A1314, but all apple keyboards have the same feel. The seller of mine had silent pink switches in it, and I used those for a few weeks until I just couldn’t take it anymore. I ended up installing Kailh box white switches, and couldn’t be happier. But I also like clicky switches – my favorite keyboard of all time was the IBM Model M.
You can check out the table on the UHK store – the switch tester has a nice table showing the differences between the switches. https://ultimatehackingkeyboard.com/product/switch-tester
I bought a big switch tester from Amazon and then found it to be a waste of money – the table on that switch tester page is all I needed, and I just chose clicky box switches. I seem to recall that I saw that box switches are better, and I just chose clicky because I like that. I might choose tactile next time, but these work fine enough, and the sound is very satisfying. You can just decide whether you want clicky, tactile, or linear (no feedback), and then get those. As a 25-year user of Apple laptop keyboards, I think you will be happy.
Thanks for the explanation. As a newbie on keyboard switches and UHK it was very helpful.
Which Kinesis board did you have?
I used Kinesis Freestyle 2 (the most basic one). I didn’t like the key switches honestly.
For MX-style switches, I have a keychron keyboard with brown switches, but it requires more effort to type compare to magic keyboard.
I will probably get UHK with silent pink switches and if it doesn’t work for me, I will get the Tecsee mediums. Thanks for putting the link for that.
I’m so much the same! If you like clicky switches, the Kailh box white are perfect. Thanks @mlac for recommending them to me!
Side note: I also own a low-profile Corne keyboard, and I initially installed Kailh Low Profile Choc White switches. They don’t even come close to the MX box white. The Choc version feels so much duller. Eventually, I ended up replacing them with Sunset Tactile.
I have Box Whites in my UHK60v2, and I agree they’re a very well-rounded clicky option for most people. However, If you like em heavy like the Model M, I recommend the Kailh Box Crystal Navy switches. I have those in my UHK80, and I absolutely love em. The most tactile & LOUD MX-style switches I’ve found so far. Look how heavy the bottom-out force is on these suckers…
The Freestyle 2 uses god-awful rubber dome switches, so I don’t blame you for not liking them. 
I bought one of those for my little sister a while back because she kept eyeballing my three UHKs. I thought about giving her my old UHK60v1, but then I realized I’d have to be the one to teach her how to use it. 
Unfortunately, I think pretty much all MX-style switches will require more effort than scissors, but there’s a million switches out there, so I’m sure you’ll find something you like. It’s mostly just a matter of finding the right balance of actuation force and travel distance.
I just saw these Kailh Box Saker gaming switches recently. They have a very short total travel distance (literally half the average MX travel). Might be worth looking into those as well.
Wow, that’s heavy!
When it comes to low-profile / laptop switches, the best switches I’ve ever had are those on a Google Pixelbook. They are scissor type, and at the same time crisp, tactile, simply great. I wish I could salvage those keyboards out of the two broken Pixelbooks I still have and use them elsewhere, but … special interface (ribbon cable) to some embedded circuitry, no documentation etc. Ugh. Another entry to the “future projects” pile.
I used Box Jades for a while, a little lighter and I found them too heavy for use, tired quickly.
I recently got my UHK80, I’ve been really liking Huano Sakura linear switches for it. Not too loud, not too heavy, just right linears in my humble opinion.
Geez, unnecessary proprietary BS is the worst…
Yeah, they’ll wear you out pretty quick. I just need the extra tactile feedback because I have nerve damage in my hands. Numbness & tingling in my fingers makes it hard to feel any switch under 60-80gf.
