Gateron Yellow and Gateron Milky Yellow Pro are both budget linear switches. They share the same stem and housing geometry, but the material difference changes the feel enough that buyers often prefer one over the other.
Key differences
| Feature | Gateron Yellow (KS-3) | Milky Yellow Pro (KS-3X1) |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | Full transparent nylon top + bottom | Milky white nylon top, nylon bottom |
| Spring | Standard 50g | Two-stage 50g spring |
| Factory lube | Minimal | Moderate |
| Sound | Higher pitched, scratchier | Deeper, smoother |
| Price | Typically slightly cheaper | Slightly more |
Feel
Standard Gateron Yellows are smooth enough for the price but have a noticeable scratch on slow presses. The Milky Yellow Pros feel noticeably smoother out of the box thanks to the two-stage spring and better factory lubrication. The milky housing also produces a deeper, rounder sound profile.
Which to buy
Choose Milky Yellow Pros if you want a smoother feel and deeper sound without hand-lubing. Choose standard Yellows if you plan to hand-lube anyway or want the cheapest linear that still works well.