Behold the Drop Holy Panda X switches, the sequel to the OG Holy Pandas!
I’m a keyboard nerd who’s built dozens of boards and swapped switches more times than my socks (gross, I know).
I’ve taken the time to try these out for you.
This Drop Holy Panda X review breaks down their specs, performance, and whether they’re worth your hard-earned cash.
Stick around to see if these tactile titans deserve a spot in your next build!
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Switch Snapshot
The Holy Panda experience has evolved. No more Frankenstein-ing Invyr Pandas and Drop Halo switches like the OG Holy Pandas.
Drop worked closely with Gateron to recreate the Holy Panda experience through a fully engineered product: the Holy Panda X.
Specs
- Type: Tactile
- Top Housing: Polycarbonate
- Bottom Housing: Nylon
- Stem: POM
- Spring Weight: 60g
- Total Travel: Not Specified
- Lubrication: Pre-lubricated
- Pins: 5-pin or 3-pin options
Specs were taken directly from the manufacturer’s website.
Wanna get into details about mechanical switches? Learn more about them here.
Tempted already? Snag a pack and join the tactile party!
Hands On Breakdown
I tried these switches as they came from the factory using the following setup:
Keyboard: Neo Studio Neo65
- Case: Aluminum
- Plate: FR4
- Mount: Gasket
Check out our keyboard case article, plate article, and gasket mount article for more info.
Keycaps: Wuque Studio BOW
- Material: PBT
- Printing: Double Shot
- Profile: Cherry
Learn all about keycaps here.
Check the force curve for the nerdy details:
I tested these switches in both gaming and typing scenarios.
Typing Feel
Preferences:
The switches I’ve used the longest are the Gateron Oil Kings. So, you can consider them the baseline for what my preferences are.
I like to rest my fingers on the keys when I’m typing. This often leads to keys being inadvertently pressed.
I also type like I’m hammering nails. I bottom out pretty hard when I press the keys.
General:
I’ve always been a fan of linears, but lately, tactiles have been doing it for me.
These switches felt smooth and I didn’t notice any scratchiness.
You really have to press deliberately to get to the bump, but it’s very subtle at the actuation. They have a very rounded tactile bump.
Take a look at the force curve above and you can see this clearly.
I’ve also included close-up picture of the stem in the sections below.
Gaming:
I sailed through Sea of Thieves with these switches for many many hours and they kept up like champs.
Even though they’re considered heavier switches, I didn’t notice any delay and my pirate moves were snappy.
A lot of time was spent fishing in game. For those that aren’t familiar with the game, fishes zig-zag like they’re dodging taxes and you have to pull the rod opposite of them. The switches felt crisp, with no lag on rod pulls.
Typing:
I’m actually writing this review using these switches right now.
These switches have the perfect weight for me. I can rest my fingers comfortably without any accidental presses. No typos here, unlike lighter switches that betray me.
Check out the score the score I got on TypeRacer:
Sound Profile
These switches sound more on the clacky side to me. They do have sorta a poppy sound, but it’s definitely more clack than anything.
I heard some pings when I brought individual switches up to my ear to listen. I could also hear ping when typing on my keyboard, but I had to listen very closely initially. The ping grew more noticeable as I continued using the switches.
These sound like issues that could be fixed with some lube. I’ll be back with an update after I lube them.
In the past, I regularly had complaints on Discord about my mic picking up keyboard sounds when I was using the Gateron Oil Kings, but I didn’t get any complaints at all when using these switches.
I even told my teammates to specifically listen for my typing as I mashed on the keyboard for them. They said they couldn’t hear anything.
Build Quality
At first glance, these switches screamed premium.
They snapped into my keyboard’s sockets like they meant business, no wobble.
But plot twist: when I began doing typing tests, I noticed that keys were registering when I wasn’t pushing them. Of the switches I used, three switches ghost-typed without me touching them.
I cracked them open and reseated the guts. Two of them started to behave, but it looks like the third one is a lost cause.
I snooped around on r/MechanicalKeyboards for a bit and found that this seemed to be an issue with the OG Pandas too.
Also, (surprise) they’re not pre-lubed, despite Drop’s claims on their official website. They felt smooth anyway, but lubing could make them godly and fix the pinging.
Aesthetics and Compatibility
The switches have the following color scheme:
- Yellow: POM stem
- Black: Transparent PC top housing
- Charcoal: Nylon bottom housing
I purchased the 5-pin design and (as noted in the Build Quality section) they seated very securely in the socket and plate.
There are RGB slots on each switch that worked well and let a lot of RGB through, but I didn’t notice much RGB through the black transparent top housing.
The keycaps fit tightly over the MX-style stems on the switches.
When removing the keycaps, the switches stayed secured to the socket. Not a single switch popped out when removing the keycaps.
Quick Comparison
Here’s how the Drop Holy Panda X switches stack up against some similar options:
| Switch | Type | Tactile Force | Travel Distance | Materials |
| Drop Holy Panda X | Tactile | 60g (Spring Weight) | Not Specified | PC/Nylon Housing, POM Stem |
| Cherry MX Brown | Tactile | 55cN | 4.0mm | Plastic Polymer Housing |
| Gateron G Pro 3.0 Brown | Tactile | 55g | 4.0mm | PC/Nylon Housing, POM Stem |
| Kailh Box V2 Brown | Tactile | 75g | 3.6mm | PC/Nylon Housing, POM Stem |
| Gazzew Boba Black U4T | Tactile | 62-68g (Spring Weight) | 4.0mm | Proprietary Plastic Housing, POM stem |
| Gateron Baby Kangaroo 2.0 | Tactile | 59g | 3.4mm | PC/Nylon Housing, POM Stem |
| Akko V3 Lavender Purple Pro | Tactile | 55g | 3.8mm | Not Specified |
| EPOMAKER Budgerigar | Tactile | 55g (Initial Force) | 3.8mm | Nylon Housing, POM Stem |
| Glorious Panda | Tactile | 60g (Bottom Out) | 3.3mm | PC/Nylon Housing, POM Stem |
| Gateron Quinn | Tactile | 59g | 3.4 | Nylon Housing, POM Stem |
Price and Value
At the time of this writing, the Drop Holy Panda X have a regular cost of ~$1.00 per switch.
There’s no sugar coating this. These aren’t budget-friendly options.
If you’re looking to shop frugal, look for something else. But if money is no object, these are some nice feeling switches that I’m sure you’ll enjoy.
Simply put, these are premium switches at a premium price point (despite a few duds).
They have been on sale before. So, definitely swoop them up if they inch towards a price point you’re happy with.
Who Are These Switches For?
These switches are for tactile fans that want a heavier feel. When I say “heavier,” I mean it.
They aren’t for people looking for something close to linears.
You put some pressure on the switch and it doesn’t move. You put even more pressure, and it still doesn’t move. Then you put more, and finally, the switch snaps downward and the key registers.
Perfect for people with heavy fingers, like me.
These switches would also be good for people who are into clack and don’t care about pinging sounds (in the factory-state).
Wrapping Up
The Drop Holy Panda X, as they came from the factory, felt great but the pinging got old fast.
A few duds and the lube fib were bummers, but I enjoyed both gaming and typing with them.
A sharper tactile bump would have been nicer, but that’s just my personal preference.
I can only imagine what they’ll feel (and sound) like once I do get a chance to lube them. Stay tuned for the slick sequel review.
So, you ready to give them a spin? Grab a pack and upgrade your typing today!
The Fine Print
Keyboard Forge is a 100% independent publisher.
We purchased these switches with our own funds and were not paid by any company or manufacturer to influence our opinions or decisions.
We conducted numerous hours of hands-on testing with these switches in both gaming and typing environments. Majority of the gaming testing was done playing Sea of Thieves. Majority of the typing testing was done writing articles for Keyboard Forge.
We hope this review helps you get a better understanding of these switches. Feel free to reach out to suggest switches to review in the future.
Thanks for the support!
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