In my time scouting the switch market, I can find Ink Blacks for around $0.75-$0.80 a switch, which is fairly expensive considering the other offerings on the market, such as regular Gaterons, which can retail for as low as $0.30 a switch.
![gateron black ink v2 gateron black ink v2](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0523/7198/0488/products/inkblack_bokeh_1024x1024.jpg)
Again, not that the Ink Black needed that in the first place, regardless. I did heavily lube my switch, but it did not interfere with the travel, actuation, upstroke, return, or keypress of the switch in any way, and I prefer heavily lubing my linears as it ensures 100% smoothness. With that being said, I still lubed my Gateron Ink Blacks with Tribosys 3204 as I felt that it didn't require thick lube like Krytox 205g0, and it made it even smoother. The Gateron Ink Black is super smooth even without lube. It's a fantastic switch at stock, and is probably one of three switches that I'd consider using stock, next to the Tealios V2 and the NovelKeys Cream. I personally like to use my linear switches lubed, but the Gateron Ink Black is one of those switches that doesn't require that treatment to be a smooth switch. My personal preferred weight for linear switches is anywhere between 62g to 67g so the 60g of actuation force is very welcome. The Ink Black is a fairly medium-weighted switch, requiring 60g of force to actuate and 70g of force to completely bottom out.
![gateron black ink v2 gateron black ink v2](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/FCqxzf2tLtM/maxresdefault.jpg)
![gateron black ink v2 gateron black ink v2](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/OvMAAOSwxPVfAmcA/s-l300.jpg)
The Gateron Ink Black is essentially a Gateron Black with a transparent, smoky housing and a black stem, and is highly regarded as one of, if not the most smooth MX-style switch on the market, rivaling that of Zeal's Tealios V2, and the Vintage Black.