The ZENAIM KEY SWITCH features 1.9mm key stroke and a non-contact magnetic sensor system. Top professional ESports players brought their name and vast playing knowledge to this project.

In order to reduce the key stroke and minimize switch wobble while achieving the same feel no matter where you press, ZENAIM developed a completely original switch that is not bound by conventional switch structure. We were able to achieve both overwhelming reaction speed and resistance to misfires.

It all comes from our desire to pursue an immersive experience in which the player and the character become one.

In this column, we will introduce the three unique technologies installed in ZENAIM KEY SWITCH, which have not been introduced in detail until now, and the reasons why ZENAIM is confident that it has achieved an extremely smooth and straight 1.9mm key stroke.

Idea for "long guide structure" came from creativity and innovative thinking

How can we make a 1.9mm short stroke as smooth and straight as possible? The development of the ZENAIM KEY SWITCH began with this one question.

In order to prevent switch from wobbling and rattling, it was necessary to secure the "guide length" required for the stroke to the maximum extent possible. However, the conventional switch structure on the market could not achieve the performance that ZENAIM required.

This is because the guide protruding from the side hits the stopper, so the guide cannot be extended beyond the length of the stopper. If the guide is forcibly lengthened, the stroke will be shortened accordingly.

In solve to this contradiction, the ZENAIM development team tried to change in thinking. The part of the switch that can ensure the longest stroke is the part where the axis in the center moves. If we want to create the longest guide without being affected by the stopper, we thought that we should use the axis itself as a guide, and a new structure that integrates the axis and guide, the "long guide structure," was born.

This is why the ZENAIM KEY SWITCH can achieve 1.9mm key stroke as smoothly and straight as possible.

"Wide spring structure" is being used to further accelerate smooth keystroke

The axis is not the only issue in creating a straight keystroke.

Conventional switch structures have a spring in the center of the axis, which means that there is a big difference in the feel when you press the center of the keycap versus when you press the edge. This is because the spring cannot fully support the movement of your finger.

Rather than supporting the center with a thin spring, we came up with the idea that operation could be stabilized by supporting it from as far as possible on the outside of the axis. This led to the development of a "wide spring design" for ZENAIM KEY SWITCH, which enlarges the spring diameter all the way to the inside wall of the bottom case.

This achieves the same feel no matter where you press the key.

Each key has "Rail-less construction" to minimize key wobbling

Conventional keyboard switches are generally made up of three plastic parts. Every time the keyboard switch strokes, the three parts come into contact, and friction between the parts occurs, which creates the risk of wobbling or getting caught. In addition, there is also manufacturing variation (individual differences) in each of the three parts, which can prevent all keyboard switches from performing equally. This was a major issue that we wanted to avoid in achieving the precise key stroke that ZENAIM pursue.

Therefore, ZENAIM KEY SWITCH adopts a top railless structure that sets the switch guide on the central axis, so that the contact between the parts is limited to the "axis guide part" and the "bottom case rail part", successfully minimizing it from the conventional three-part structure.

This makes it possible to reduce variance in manufacturing and maximize the performance of the guide to achieve both precise operation and sensing.

ZENAIM KEYBOARD was developed with 3 unique cutting-edge technologies

Equipped with three technologies born from ZENAIM's commitment, ZENAIM KEYBOARD has been born, achieving an extremely smooth and straight 1.9mm stroke.

The switch wobbling was eliminated to the maximum extent possible, and ON/OFF operation is always at the same point whether you press the center or the edge of the key. And the operation of your fingers is directly transmitted to the device, leading to an ideal gaming experience that let you became a character in your favorite video game.

ZENAIM KEYBOARD is a keyboard that can deliver optimal gaming performance even in professional scenes where meniscus keyboard operation error or delayed reaction can be fatal.

We offer new customers to try our ZENAIM KEYBOARD at Yodobashi Camera stores in Japan (see here for details). If you have not tried it, we encourage you to visit one of our store and give it a try!