Cherry MX Switches – A Complete Guide to Choose The Best Switch

The popularity of mechanical keyboards is on rising for the past few years, and people are excited to experiment with different types of switches to understand how each one of these feels. For beginners, it might be difficult to understand the basic difference between so many switch options available. So, we have compiled this guide to help them know about Cherry MX switch options and to pick the ones they should use according to their usage. 

About Cherry MX

They are the market leaders when it comes to mechanical switches. It is a German company with a wide variety of switch options to choose from and is known to develop durable and long-lasting switches. A seamless user experience can only be ensured by using the highest standards of products, and that’s what Cherry MX is known for. The MX in the name refers to Mechanical X-Point technology incorporated in the switches which makes the keyboard accurate.

Cherry MX Switch Components:

Housings: Upper and lower housings to hold everything together.

Stem: It helps to place the keycap over the switch at one end above the cross mount, and is connected to the crosspoint contact at the other end.

Crosspoint Contact: This ensures the connection of the switch to the circuit using the pins at its bottom when the key is pressed.

Spring: It helps the switch to bring back to the neutral position after the keypress is completed.

How does the switch work?

When the key is pressed stem pushes down the crosspoint contact so that the pin comes in contact with the circuit and the signal is sent to the CPU. When the key is released the spring brings the switch to the neutral state.

 

 

Important Characteristics to consider :

• Feedback type: It is the most important factor to consider while choosing the most suitable switch. There are three types of feedback, you must already be knowing about, ie Linear, Clicky, and Tactile.
• Click Sound Level: Most of the switches make some kind of click sound, the intensity of the sound varies.
• Heavy vs light: The switch needs to be pressed with a certain force to register the keypress, known as actuation force, measured in Centi-Newton (cN). The more force is needed to press it the heavier it will feel on your finger. The advantage of the light switch is that it is stress-free on your finger, while the advantage of a heavier switch is that there are lesser chances of accidental key presses. 
• Switch travel and actuation distance: There is a certain vertical distance which the switch needs to travel to register the keypress. The lesser it has to travel, the faster the switch will be able to operate.

Range of MX Switches:

Most Popular Cherry MX Switch:

There are 5 Cherry MX switches that are most popular, let’s have a look at these switch types.

MX Standard Switches:

#1. CHERRY MX RED

• Feedback type: Linear, silent
• Feel: Smooth and direct
• Actuation force: 45 cN
• Actuation distance: 2 mm
• Total distance: 4 mm
• Suitable for: Gaming
• Variants: RGB LED and Non-RGB

 

The red switches from Cherry MX are known for their versatility and their lighter operation due to lower actuation force requirement and their linear characteristic. It can be easily pressed multiple times in less time duration which makes it easier to use the double-tap function as needed in many games. 

As mentioned earlier it is a versatile switch as it can be used for gaming as well as writing or other professional tasks. The red switch comes in another variant which is silent and is available in LED as well as without LED option. The silent version has a slightly shorter actuation than the normal one.

How it sounds:

 

#2. CHERRY MX BLACK

• Feedback type: Linear
• Feel: Powerful and direct
• Actuation force: 60 cN
• Actuation distance: 2 mm
• Total distance: 4 mm
• Suitable for: Typing
• Variants: RGB LED and Non-RGB

 

This switch has strong spirals in the spring area which offers increased spring force, and hence it is considered a powerful switch. Due to its linear characteristic, it is considered a good choice for longer work hours and is also popular within the gaming community. The company claims the switch operates smoothly to up to 100 million keystrokes. 

 

Due to higher actuation force, you will initially feel it heavier, especially if you have switched from a membrane keyboard. The benefit of a heavier switch is that it reduces the chances of accidental keypresses, and hence you can type more accurately and efficiently. For silent operation, you can also choose the silent black switch, where you will find the total travel distance to be slightly shorter. 

How it sounds:

#3. CHERRY MX BLUE

• Feedback type: Clicky and tactile
• Feel: Slight bump with moderate effort
• Actuation force: 60 cN
• Actuation distance: 2.2 mm
• Total distance: 4 mm
• Suitable for: Typing
• Variants: RGB LED and Non-RGB

 

This switch is truly made for typists and coders who want to type accurately really fast, though the sound is loud so not suggested for open office cabins. As it needs more force to actuate the switch which makes sure that there are fewer accidental keypresses. The blue switches are the most profound clicky switches.

It is not recommended for gamers as it can be distracting for the gamers as well as will be difficult to make quick moves on the keyboards. 

How it sounds:

 

#4. CHERRY MX BROWN

• Feedback type: Tactile
• Feel: Medium resistance
• Actuation force: 55 cN
• Actuation distance: 2 mm
• Total distance: 4 mm
• Suitable for: Typing
• Variants: RGB LED and Non-RGB

 

This switch can be easily found in many consumer mechanical keyboards, as it is the most popular tactile switch with 100 million keystrokes lifespan. The moderate actuation force it needs to operate with a tactile bump makes it a delightful switch to use. The sound it produces is very moderate, not too loud compared to the clicky switches.

It is recommended to be used for gaming as well as typing and other professional purposes. The actuation distance and total distance are the same as Cherry MX red and black, i.e. 2 mm and 4 mm respectively.

How it sounds:

 

#5. CHERRY MX SPEED SILVER

• Feedback type: Linear, No sound
• Feel: Smooth and fast
• Actuation force: 45 cN
• Actuation distance: 1.2 mm
• Total distance: 3.4 mm
• Suitable for: Gaming
• Variants: RGB LED and Non-RGB

 

It is hard to find a switch that is faster than this switch, as it has an actuation distance of just 1.2 mm and a lower actuation force of 45 cN. There is no click sound or no bump, so there is no feedback mechanism in this switch. The switch can be quickly bottomed out, which some users love to do. 

 

It is a very useful switch for the purpose of gaming where every millisecond of action counts. It is a full-height switch with the lowest spring stress, which makes it very light to use and keeps your fingers stress-free.

How it sounds:

 

 

MX Special Switches:

#1. CHERRY MX GREEN

• Feedback type: Clicky
• Feel: Significant bump with loud click
• Actuation force: 80 cN
• Actuation distance: 2.2 mm
• Total distance: 4 mm
• Suitable for: Typing
• Variants: RGB LED and Non-RGB

 

 

This switch probably needs the highest level of actuation force to register the keypress. It carries the characteristics of the Blue switch, but with heavier resistance and a more audible click. The enthusiasts often use blue and green switches in combination, for example, larger keys like space and enter have green switches beneath while other keys have blue switches. 

How it sounds:

 

#2. CHERRY MX CLEAR

• Feedback type: Tactile, No sound
• Feel: Sharp bump with moderate resistance
• Actuation force: 65 cN
• Actuation distance: 2 mm
• Total distance: 4 mm
• Suitable for: Typing and gaming
• Variants: RGB LED and Non-RGB

 

This is very much similar to the Cherry Brown switch with a slightly higher actuation force of 65 cN, and a more noticeable bump. This is also very widely used for larger keys (space, enter, backspace, etc.) in combination with the Cherry MX Brown switches. 

 

#3. CHERRY MX GREY

• Feedback type: Tactile, No sound
• Feel: Sharp bump with higher resistance
• Actuation force: 80 cN
• Actuation distance: 2 mm
• Total distance: 4 mm
• Suitable for: Typing and gaming
• Variants: RGB LED and Non-RGB

 

This is again a clone of Cherry Brown and Cherry Clear with an actuation force of 85 cN which makes it a heavier switch. The tactile bump is highly noticeable and powerful. This is also used for larger keys (space, enter, backspace, etc.) in combination with the Cherry MX Brown or Clear switches. This one is recommended for heavy-handed typists. 

 

MX Low Profile Switches:

#1. CHERRY MX LOW PROFILE RED

• Feedback type: Linear
• Feel: Smooth, soundless
• Actuation force: 45 cN
• Actuation distance: 1.2 mm
• Total distance: 3.2 mm
• Suitable for: Gaming
• Variants: RGB LED and Non-RGB

 

The switch has 35% lesser height than the full height switches, and combined with lower resistance is very fast and smooth to operate. It is used in low-profile ergonomic keyboards to offer a balanced typing experience to the users. The switch claims to have 100 million keystrokes. 

 

#2. CHERRY MX LOW PROFILE SPEED SILVER

• Feedback type: Linear
• Feel: Smooth, soundless
• Actuation force: 45 cN
• Actuation distance: 1 mm
• Total distance: 3.2 mm
• Suitable for: Gaming
• Variants: RGB LED and Non-RGB

 

The Cherry MX Speed Silver has an even lesser actuation distance of 1mm. The switch is very light, with minimal resistance and quick bottom out which makes it really faster, popular among gamers.

Alternate Low Profile Switches:

The alternate low-profile switches are offered by Gateron and Kalih. Gateron is definitely a great low-cost alternative to Cherry switches. The actuation distance in Gateron low profile switches is 1.5mm. 

The 3 Gateron low profile switches are:

• Gateron Low-Profile Red

• • • Feedback Type: Linear
    • Actuation Distance: 1.5
    • Actuation Force: 50 cN

• Gateron Low-Profile Brown

• • • Feedback Type: Tactile
    • Actuation Distance: 1.5
    • Actuation Force: 55 cN

• Gateron Low-Profile Blue

• • Feedback Type: Clicky
  • Actuation Distance: 1.5
  • Actuation Force: 52 cN

 

MX Ultra Low Profile Switches:

#1. CHERRY MX ULP CLICK

• Feedback type: Tactile and click sound
• Feel: Smooth and fast
• Actuation force: 65 cN
• Actuation distance: 0.8 mm
• Total distance: 1.8 mm
• Suitable for: Gaming
• Variants: RGB LED and Non-RGB

 

The ultra-low-profile has a totally different structure, though the basic mechanism and principle of the switch is the same. It has a spring placed in a horizontal position above stainless wings attached to an actuator socket. For absolute precision, it has triangular cross-contacts. The overall structure significantly reduces the switch height and limits the actuation distance to 0.8 mm.

Being an ultra-low-profile, the switch provides tactile feedback with a noticeable click, which is remarkable. The switch is highly suitable for fast gaming or coding purpose. 

Frequently Asked Questions:

Is there a way I can test different types of switches?

Yes, there are various switch testers available only ranging from a 6-key tester, 9-key tester, 12-key tester,w, and 24-key testers. The 9-key Cherry MX switch tester is very popular which you can purchase under $20 and find out how each one of these feels while operating. 

Are all Clicky switches have tactile feedback?

Yes, in all clicky switches you will also get tactile feedback, though the intensity differs from one switch to another.

What kind of switches are more suitable for gaming?

The switches with linear feedback characteristics and lower actuation distance are considered best for gaming, as they have faster response, and are friendly on the user’s finger for longer sessions. 

You can read more about why mechanical keyboards are better for gaming

Why do some users use heavier switches for larger keys, while lighter switch is used for other keys?

It is done to avoid accidental key presses to maintain a consistent speed while typing or coding. When a switch is heavier it will not register a keypress if pressed lightly, it needs more force to actuate the switch. 

Conclusion:

This article must have cleared a lot of doubts for you related to various Cherry MX switches. It is the most popular switch used across the globe, due to the highest quality standard and durability. I have described the characteristics of each of these switches. I highly recommend you order a switch tester to have a better understanding of the different types of switches. 

The article was a bit longer than expected, with lots of information, but it should give you a better understanding of MX Cherry switches. Overall, Cherry MX switches are the most popular ones, and rightfully so, they offer great quality, great sound, and also a great feeling while using them.

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