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They feel like somewhere in between cherry reds and cherry blacks. They are almsot like a non tactile browns.
Browns feel like fighting friction of two rusty metal parts touching another once you've tasted the smoothness of the Topre keyswitches. The "feedback" is way better at, well.., giving you actual feedback of your press, than that of the Browns. They're not any related to Blacks or linear. They are related to Reds because of their similar weighting, though a 45 G Realforce (or HHKB) takes even less energy to actuate and type on than a Cherry Reds board, because of the way the "45 G force" comes into play (and you can see it on their respective force diagrams: ) Topre 45 G are 45 G maximum force only at the actuation point and then rapidly decreases to about 30-35 G, on a Cherry Red the actuation happens at 45 G but linearly continues to increase (like any spring really) past that point to 55-60 G once at bottom out.
55 G Realforces are the ones comparable to browns in terms of the force you need to apply; but the feedback remains a lot better on the Topre IMO... it's the one I prefer by a fair margin (and I've tried every major types of switches), and many others feel the same way; but a few also have a very diverging opinion about Topre too (because they do not click or feel as "mechanical", see my following point) and you need to be aware of that before buying one. Some people don't like Topres just like some folks dislike Electrostatics; yes I'm making that parallel, I think Topres are to keyboards what the Stats are to headphones.
"Many describe them as a refined rubber dome."
Yes, I'd agree with that... but not "refined" as in refinements in sound of headphones. It's a night and day difference, and though they do use high quality rubber domes (30 vs. 10 millions key presses) in their construction, they also use ultra-precise springs for capacitive actuation and doesn't not make any contact with the printed circuit board (as opposed to rubber domes); so they differ fundamentally at their core, registering principle. I suggest you never make the mistake of calling Topre's a rubber dome, not only it's an insult but you would regret it as soon as you would touch a Realforce, realizing they are miles ahead and better in every way... many people see them as the pinnacle of the keyboard experience.
Finally Topre keyboards overall built quality--as far as a metal plate, circuits, controller, plastic encasing and keycaps go-- tops even the Filco Majestouch. If you want a tank of a keyboard, it's a Realforce.
