Keyboard Cherry MX Switches
Cherry Corporation of Germany makes a series of mechanical key switches called Cherry MX.
Cherry MX series of switches are first introduced in 1983. They are the most well known switches. There are several different models, with different feel to them. These models are color coded.
| Cherry MX Switch | type | force | pre-travel | total travel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▩ Speed Silver | linear | 45g | 1.2mm | 3.4mm |
| ▩ Red | linear | 45g | 2mm | 4mm |
| ▩ Silent Red | linear | 45g | 1.9mm | 3.7mm |
| ▩ Black | linear | 60g | 2mm | 4mm |
| ▩ Brown | tactile | 55g | 2mm | 4mm |
| ▩ Blue | clicky | 60g | 2.2mm | 4mm |
Linear Action: Red, Black, Silent Red, Speed Silver
All these are linear switches.
MX Red requires the least pressure to activate the key. It's really nice. Typing on it is effortless.
Cherry MX Black is same as Red, except more force is required. I don't like MX Black at all.
Tactile Action: Brown, Blue
The Brown and Blue types have a tactile bump. When you press down, after certain point, there's a bump feel, then after that the pressure is reduced.
The Brown and Blue types are often preferred by programers and writers.
The difference between Brown and Blue are:
- Blue has a very definite click feel.
- Blue is very noisy. It makes a “click” sound by design.
Cherry MX Blue switches Cherry MX Brown switches
There are many other color-coded Cherry MX switches, but less common.
Key Switch Topic
- Key Switch Mechanisms
-
Rubber Dome -
Scissor Switch -
Cherry MX Switches - Noise Comparison
- N-key Rollover and Ghosting
Buckling Spring- Kailh Switch
- Kailh BOX Switch
-
Kailh Choc Switch 
Romer-G Switch
Topre Switch
Niz Switch-
Varmilo EC 
Optical Switch- XMIT Hall Effect Switch
ALPS Switch- Old Key Switches
- Mechanical Keyboard and RSI