Switch Type Tests

Cherry MX Red is the most popular linear switch for gaming keyboards. Its smooth keystroke with no tactile bump and light 45g actuation force lets you glide across keys with minimal effort. The quiet operation makes it suitable for shared offices and late-night sessions.

Cherry MX Brown is the classic all-rounder tactile switch. A subtle bump at the actuation point gives you physical feedback without the loud click of Blue switches. At 55g, it strikes a balance between gaming speed and typing comfort, making it the most popular switch for prebuilt mechanical keyboards.

Cherry MX Blue is the iconic clicky switch that defined the mechanical keyboard sound. A sharp tactile bump paired with an audible click gives unmistakable feedback on every press. At 60g, it has enough resistance to prevent accidental presses, making it a favorite for touch typists — though coworkers may disagree.

Cherry MX Clear delivers the most pronounced tactile bump of any stock Cherry switch. At 65g, it demands deliberate effort that reduces bottom-out fatigue for heavy typists. Enthusiasts love Clear for typing purity — the strong bump leaves no doubt when a key registers, and the moderate sound won't clear a room.

Cherry MX Speed Silver is the fastest-actuating stock Cherry switch. With a 1.2mm actuation point (vs 2mm on Red) and 3.4mm total travel, it registers keys with barely any downward movement. This makes it the switch of choice for competitive esports where every millisecond of reaction time matters.

Cherry MX Green is the heaviest stock Cherry clicky switch at 80g — essentially a Blue with a much stiffer spring. The same click mechanism delivers loud, sharp feedback, but the heavy force requires deliberate, forceful presses. It's a niche switch for heavy typists who want maximum resistance and the most unmistakable click.

Optical Red switches use a light beam instead of metal contacts to register key presses. An infrared LED and sensor detect when the stem interrupts the beam, triggering actuation instantly with zero physical debounce. This means faster response, no contact bounce, and a 100 million keystroke lifespan — double that of Cherry MX.

Hall effect switches use a magnetic sensor to detect key position, enabling analog input and adjustable actuation points. Popularized by Wooting and Razer, these switches let you set exactly where a key registers — from 0.1mm for maximum speed to 4.0mm for deliberate presses. They also support analog sensitivity for variable movement in games.