Today we’re taking a look at the KiiBoom x Strawberryjam1986 Strawberry Jello mechanical switches. As the name suggests, these switches are the result of a collaboration between KiiBoom and keyboard content creator Strawberryjam1986. These linear switches aim to combine bright looks with a smooth typing experience. Let’s see what they’re like.
Pricing and Packaging
The KiiBoom x Strawberryjam1986 Strawberry Jello switches are sold in packs of 35 for $19.99, which works out to about $0.57 per switch. That places them in the mid-range price bracket for mechanical switches. KiiBoom also runs discounts and promotions quite frequently, so there’s a good chance you may be able to pick them up for a lower price.
The switches come in a sturdy cardboard box with a magnetic hinged lid. Inside, they’re neatly organized in a molded plastic tray with individual slots for each switch and covered by a clear plastic cover that keeps everything securely in place. It’s a practical package that not only protects the switches during shipping but also works great for long-term storage.
As for the box design, it’s not really my cup of tea. The pink color scheme and the KiiBoom BooBoo mascot on the front make it look a bit playful for my taste. That said, the packaging is only there to get the switches safely to you – and once it’s open, what really matters is what’s inside.
Appearance
The Strawberry Jello switch is a standard-profile MX-style mechanical switch featuring a 4-clip housing design, a 5-pin PCB mount, and a traditional cross-mount stem, making it compatible with virtually any MX-compatible keycap set.
The switch features a pink upper and lower housing paired with a green stem. The idea is clearly to resemble a strawberry, and I’d say it does a pretty convincing job. It’s a distinctive color combination that fits the switch’s theme very well.
The upper housing is made from a semi-transparent pink plastic, allowing some of your keyboard’s RGB lighting to shine through. Because of its pink tint, however, it can slightly alter the appearance of the lighting, especially on keyboards with weaker LEDs. There’s also no integrated light diffuser, so keep this in mind if RGB lighting is important to you.
Feel
The Strawberry Jello switch has a total travel distance of 3.6 mm with an actuation point at 2.2 mm. Compared to the standard 4.0 mm travel, the slightly shorter travel makes the switch feel just a bit quicker when bottoming out, although the overall typing experience remains very familiar. The 2.2 mm actuation point is also 0.2 mm deeper than the 2.0 mm that’s commonly found on many linear switches, but in practice, such a small difference is virtually impossible to notice during normal use.
With a 40 gf actuation force and a 45 gf bottom-out force, the Strawberry Jello sits comfortably in the medium-weight category. It’s not particularly light, but it’s not heavy either, making it suitable for a wide range of users. It works equally well for gaming and everyday typing, doesn’t require any adjustment if you’re coming from most other switches, and is heavy enough that accidental key presses aren’t something I found myself worrying about.
The switch is equipped with a 21 mm extended spring, which gives each keypress a noticeably snappier character. The additional preload creates a more springy feel throughout the keypress, while the rebound feels faster and more decisive after releasing the key. This is a characteristic that will especially appeal to gamers, as the quicker rebound feels more natural during rapid repeated inputs.
The Strawberry Jello switches come factory lubricated and feature POM stems. POM (polyoxymethylene) is a material well known for its low coefficient of friction and naturally self-lubricating properties. In practice, the result is exactly what you’d expect. The travel feels exceptionally smooth from top to bottom, with no noticeable scratchiness or friction at any point in the keypress.
Stem wobble is also kept to a minimum. Both front-to-back and side-to-side movement are well controlled, giving each keypress a stable and consistent feel.
Sound
Sound-wise, the Strawberry Jello has a creamy sound signature with a slightly lower-pitched character and a clearly defined bottom-out sound. The top-out is on par with bottom-out, which helps keep the overall sound profile balanced. The sound is clean and consistent, with no noticeable spring ping, scratchiness, or unwanted noises. In terms of volume, the switch falls in the mid-range – it’s not particularly loud, but it also doesn’t feel muted, making it a good fit for a variety of keyboard builds.
Who Is the Strawberry Jello For?
The KiiBoom x Strawberryjam1986 Strawberry Jello is a great fit for users who want a linear switch that feels balanced for both gaming and everyday typing. It is also a great choice for anyone looking to build a keyboard with a creamy or thocky sound profile. And, of course, the pink colorway makes it an obvious pick for anyone looking to build a keyboard around a pink theme.
Controller and mechanical keyboard enthusiast. Tech reviewer, regularly sharing thoughts about gadgets and computer peripherals.
