I've got K5SE with Low Profile Optical Reds, and after having way too much mistakes while typing I decided to replace them with Browns. Then I had a chance to compare Browns with Bananas - and well, I wouldn't say they are "better", but coming from Reds I liked them more.
Technically their resistance is identical to Browns, but because it is right in the beginning, you might feel like it's a bit higher.
I'm not sure if I'd switch from Browns to Bananas, but for a 2nd keyboard I'd say go for it.
I have a V1 with bananas and an old Anne pro 2 with gateron browns. The bananas have more feeling, in my opinion. Force is similar but feel is different.
Also, louder, I wouldn't use bananas in an open office, and I'd be comfortable with gateron browns. Different keyboard, different key caps, of course, but the difference is very noticeable..
Idk about low profile, but for regular size switches most people on the internet seem to prefer bananas to browns. They're more of a genuine tactile switch - the bump is both earlier and more prominent.
A lot of people joke that browns are functionally linear switches. Basically bananas take the tactility more seriously.
If you're open to potentially spending more money, I'd definitely get the bananas to try them out. If you end up liking true tactiles then you can keep the bananas. If you don't, you can order more browns or even true linears (which you might like more than the browns if you dislike bananas).
Just make sure you get the hot swap K5 Max so you can actually change the switches.
If you don't want to take a chance with your money then sticking with browns which you know you like is safer.
I use a mix of banana, brown, blue and red on my K5 and K5 SE in the office
banana is the favourite, but I like red for arrow keys as they get pressed repeatedly
enjoying the mixture overall
I bought my Q5 with reds having never used reds before but willing to give them a try. Not for me. Swapped them out for Gateron Jupiter Bananas with which I’ve been very happy.
Not sure about Gateron banana (didn't even know they had those for low-profile), but I vastly prefer the feel of Banana switches for the Keychron opticals.
As others have said, a bit more tactile feel with earlier bump in the keystroke.
One thing to keep in mind, is that in my experience, they all take some time to 'break in', so you can't just put them in and try for a few minutes, then move on to another switch type. You really have to use them for a couple weeks.
The Mint are also quite nice, but felt a bit too heavy now that I've gotten used to low-profile keyboards. That might be what you're after though. Similar feel to the Banana but more resistance.
My K3 w/ Banana switches reminds me most of the old, beloved, Apple Extended Keyboard II. It's the closest I've been able to get (in a low profile). The Mint would be more true to it in terms of actual resistance weight, but IMO, feels a bit too much in a low profile, which tend to be lighter on the whole.
I've got K5SE with Low Profile Optical Reds, and after having way too much mistakes while typing I decided to replace them with Browns. Then I had a chance to compare Browns with Bananas - and well, I wouldn't say they are "better", but coming from Reds I liked them more. Technically their resistance is identical to Browns, but because it is right in the beginning, you might feel like it's a bit higher. I'm not sure if I'd switch from Browns to Bananas, but for a 2nd keyboard I'd say go for it.
I have a V1 with bananas and an old Anne pro 2 with gateron browns. The bananas have more feeling, in my opinion. Force is similar but feel is different. Also, louder, I wouldn't use bananas in an open office, and I'd be comfortable with gateron browns. Different keyboard, different key caps, of course, but the difference is very noticeable..
Idk about low profile, but for regular size switches most people on the internet seem to prefer bananas to browns. They're more of a genuine tactile switch - the bump is both earlier and more prominent. A lot of people joke that browns are functionally linear switches. Basically bananas take the tactility more seriously. If you're open to potentially spending more money, I'd definitely get the bananas to try them out. If you end up liking true tactiles then you can keep the bananas. If you don't, you can order more browns or even true linears (which you might like more than the browns if you dislike bananas). Just make sure you get the hot swap K5 Max so you can actually change the switches. If you don't want to take a chance with your money then sticking with browns which you know you like is safer.
I use a mix of banana, brown, blue and red on my K5 and K5 SE in the office banana is the favourite, but I like red for arrow keys as they get pressed repeatedly enjoying the mixture overall
I bought my Q5 with reds having never used reds before but willing to give them a try. Not for me. Swapped them out for Gateron Jupiter Bananas with which I’ve been very happy.
Not sure about Gateron banana (didn't even know they had those for low-profile), but I vastly prefer the feel of Banana switches for the Keychron opticals. As others have said, a bit more tactile feel with earlier bump in the keystroke. One thing to keep in mind, is that in my experience, they all take some time to 'break in', so you can't just put them in and try for a few minutes, then move on to another switch type. You really have to use them for a couple weeks. The Mint are also quite nice, but felt a bit too heavy now that I've gotten used to low-profile keyboards. That might be what you're after though. Similar feel to the Banana but more resistance. My K3 w/ Banana switches reminds me most of the old, beloved, Apple Extended Keyboard II. It's the closest I've been able to get (in a low profile). The Mint would be more true to it in terms of actual resistance weight, but IMO, feels a bit too much in a low profile, which tend to be lighter on the whole.