What are Holy Panda Switches, Exactly?

holy panda switches

Holy Panda switches are some of the most hyped switches in the mechanical keyboard community.

While I’ve been a part of the mechanical keyboard community for four or five years, I’ve spent the last two years collecting switches and writing in-depth assessments of them.

Why were individuals prepared to spend up to $4 per holy panda switch during the zenith of the hype? What is the significance of this switch? In the mechanical keyboard world, Holy Pandas are one of the most popular switches.

What do Holy Pandas feel like?

Holy Pandas are a lot more tactile, smoother, and firmer Cherry MX Brown than conventional Cherry switches.

The tactility of Holy Pandas has been compared to that of Topre and ALPS switches, which is a preferred tactility profile for many.

Holy Pandas are a tactile switch, yet their smooth bump lasts for a long time.

Other switches have a similar tactile feel to the Holy Panda, but their bumps are considerably sharper, shorter, and rougher, making the Holy Pandas stand out.

Are Holy Pandas worth it?

Holy Pandas are widely regarded as a top-tier tactile switch, so they’re a potential option if you’re trying to complete your tactile trip.

Yes, Holy Pandas are absolutely worth trying if you’re a tactile switch enthusiast, especially now that there are so many different sorts of Holy Pandas available at reasonable costs.

Are Holy Pandas Clicky?

Holy Pandas feature a bump that is comparable to that of clicky switches, but they do not generate the same audible click noise.

What are Holy Panda Switches?

The most popular video on Youtube for Holy Pandas demonstrates why people adore the HPs.

The Zealios v2 switches have a smoother, more visible tactility, but they don’t have the same sound profile.

The Holy Pandas have a distinct sonic signature.

Holy Pandas are popular for two reasons: they’re quite tactile, with a distinct rounded bump, and they sound extremely pleasant when used with the correct keyboard. Quakemz’s original blog article on the development is still available.

The Holy Panda was created by merging the solid housing and spring from the linear Invyr Panda with the stem from the tactile Halo switch.

The original Holy Panda switch was made up of the following parts: Housing (and frequently spring) from an Invyr Panda switch and a Halo switch’s stem/slider.

Where To Buy Holy Panda Switches?

So the $1.20 price tag is a bit high, but it makes sense given the switch’s exclusivity.

A standard Cherry MX switch will cost less than a dollar apiece, whereas budget switches will cost around $0.30 each.

Drop is able to sell the Holy Panda for roughly $1.20 per because to its limited tooling and production capability.

The pricing is a little more than average, but it makes sense. The price of an item in the mechanical keyboard community is typically determined by the demand for that part, rather than the real worth of the plastic.

Previously, you had to purchase the Invyr Panda and Halo True individually, disassemble them, then reassemble them to create the Holy Panda.

Drop is the first store to have Holy Pandas in stock and sell them in a user-friendly manner.

Each store sells a somewhat different version of the Holy Panda, therefore each variety differs differently. If you want to test out Holy Panda switches for yourself, there are a few sites where you may do so.

Holy Panda Variants

Here’s a comprehensive list of Holy Pandas. The variations are discussed in further depth in Theremin Goat’s blog article.

The original tooling required to create real Holy Pandas vanished a long time ago. Several firms have stepped up to create Holy Pandas that are nearly identical to the original.

YOK Pandas

Yok Pandas are widely accessible and simple to find. Yok Pandas are a linear switch that may be used to create new Holy Pandas.

They are an accurate reproduction of the original Invyr Pandas. Novelkeys’ Holy Panda variations come in a variety of colours and perform identically. YOK Pandas are available in the following colours: Red, Mint, Polar, and Trash.

GSUS Panda

One of the first inexpensive and accessible recreations of the original Holy Pandas.

OG Invyr Holy Pandas

Holy Pandas’ first version, which merged the housing of Invyr Panda v1s with a Halo True stem.

Glorious Pandas

Glorious’ effort to create Holy Pandas. They’ve built their own stem to replace the original Halo stem, while having a similar profile and claiming to use the same housing as the original Invyr Panda’s.

Drop+Invyr Holy Pandas

Drop teamed up with Invyr to create their own take on the Holy Pandas.

The Drop Pandas are a relatively accurate reproduction of the original Pandas, albeit manufacturing consistency in terms of lubing has been an issue. Drop Pandas are commonly found.

Other variants

Other limited-edition Holy Panda clones are available; I’ve included the most prominent of them below.

Holy Panda recommendations

Drop is the best way to get the most authentic Holy Panda experience.

Glorious is the way to go if you’re alright with a 90% experience and want to save some money.

Yok Purple Trash Pandas aren’t actually Pandas, but they get close to it with a sharper hump. At $0.55 each switch, they’re comparable to the Glorious Pandas.

Glorious Pandas cost $0.60 per switch and operate similarly; the stem is a bit wobblier and the sound is a little less thocky, but for 40% less money, they’re a far better deal.

Drop is undoubtedly the most expensive Panda clone at $1 every swap. If you receive a steady, high-quality batch, I feel the Drop Pandas are the most true to the original Holy Pandas of the three.

Drop Holy Pandas, YOK Purple Trash Pandas, and Glorious Pandas are the three most common Holy Panda varieties.

Are Holy Pandas Good for Gaming?

With an actuation weight of 67 grammes, Holy Pandas are quite a weighty switch. The change in weight to push a key will undoubtedly induce fatigue if you’re coming from a quick gaming switch or even a standard Cherry MX switch.

I would only advocate using Holy Pandas for gaming if you are used to using heavier switches.

Conclusion

Drop performed an outstanding job of reaching the performance targets they had set out for themselves given the switch-driven performance of the Holy Panda X switches, and ignoring the contextual considerations.

Some design issues were inside the design like how the spring was scratchy and the bump felt really tactile. But the goal of improving smoothness of the switch and consistency of the bump has been achieved

Furthermore, given how often otherwise good-performing switches have been completely crippled by this mix of housing materials, the strong, muted, and well-balanced polycarbonate over nylon housing design was a pleasant surprise.

These Holy Panda switches are really good on nearly all stock performance measurements. They are great for factory lubing application and better than Gaterons newer switches

And, given the switch’s sturdy, well-designed, and unexpectedly powerful performance, I’m happy Drop went to the trouble of carving out the moulds and producing these switches.

Grayson Uppington, a former professional CS:GO player, has channeled his expertise into creating insightful content for Aimprac. With ten years in the gaming industry, he crafts detailed guides on aim training, game strategies, and tutorials.