The keyboard is a peripheral of high importance for any fan of video games. We currently find a wide variety of solutions on the market according to needs. The most valued keyboards are those that implement mechanical switches, found a great offer in the market.
So that you can correctly choose the mechanical keyboard that best suits you, we have compiled this guide to mechanical switches. Here you will find the characteristics of the solutions developed by Cherry, Razer, Kailh, Logitech, Topre and many other manufacturers.
Table of Contents
What are the advantages of a mechanical keyboard?
Let's see what are the main characteristics that mechanical keyboards offer us:
- Durability: The normal thing is that they offer us a durability of 20 million keystrokes or more, but it depends on the manufacturer. This guarantees us to have a keyboard for many years. Membrane or scissor-type keyboards typically have a durability of 1-10 million keystrokes, at most.
- Personalization: There are keyboards with switches from different manufacturers on the market. Each manufacturer offers a certain variety of mechanical switches according to the needs of the user. Most switches already offer RGB lighting.
- Anti-ghosting: It allows us to press many keys simultaneously without the keyboard collapsing. Normally gaming keyboards support ten or more keys pressed simultaneously, which is called N Key Rollover.
- Speed and precision: Mechanical keyboards offer us more precision when it comes to keystrokes. This is due to its internal mechanisms and that it is easier to feel the travel of the switch. Additionally we can find switches with different actuation routes.
- Simple to repair and clean: All keyboards end up getting dirty with the passage of time, especially they fill with dust. Removing the plastic switch cover and replacing it is very simple, simplifying cleaning. Changing mechanical switches is also a fairly straightforward task compared to other switches.
What is better a membrane or mechanical keyboard?
The main difference between both types of switches is the travel distance in the pulsation. In mechanical keyboards we can obtain a much more comfortable keystroke than in a membrane type. Within the mechanical switches we can even choose its path according to the manufacturer and model chosen.
Membrane keyboards have the advantage of being considerably quieter than mechanical keyboards. However, it's true that manufacturers like Cherry offer Cherry MX Silent switches . These are quieter than conventional models, although there is less variety available.
One advantage of membrane keyboards is their lower cost. This is because they are simpler to manufacture, while mechanical switches are more complex. Mechanical switches offer varying travel distances, sensitivity, and pressure resistance , whereas membrane switches are all the same.
We must also take into account the durability of the switches. Membrane ones usually have a durability of between 1-10 million keystrokes, with 5 million keystrokes being the most common. While mechanical switches offer us at least 20 million keystrokes, and can reach 50 million. Here the mechanics have a greater advantage, who also have N-Key Rollover technology, which allows them to recognize the pressing of multiple keys at the same time, which is not possible in membrane keys.
Finally indicate that the membrane having a flat pulsation are considered uncomfortable to write, but above all to play.
Cherry MX mechanical switches
Cherry is a company founded in the United States in 1953. It was in 1967 that the company began selling keyboards, becoming the oldest keyboard company in the world. In 1967, the company moved to Germany and was acquired by ZF Friedrichshafen AG in 2008, but today keyboards and mechanical switches continue to be manufactured under the Cherry brand. The company is best known for Cherry MX switches, which were launched around 1985. These switches are named according to their physical color, and each color corresponds to specific characteristics of the switch. These characteristics include: actuation force, tactile feedback, and the amount of force required to activate the switch, measured in centiNewtons (cN) or grams (g).
Cherry MX Black
Introduced in 1984, these black switches are among the oldest Cherry switches. They have a relatively high actuation force of 60cN (61.18g), making them the stiffest of the common Cherry switches. These switches are typically used in retail keyboards , as they are not generally considered suitable for typing due to their high actuation force. However, they are now also considered good for real-time strategy games, as the high actuation force helps prevent accidental keystrokes that can occur with less rigid switches. They feature a strong spring, resulting in a fast rebound and shorter actuation time between keystrokes.
- Linear switch
- Ideal for retail keyboards
- Actuation force: 60cN (61g)
- Activation distance: 2.0mm
- Travel distance: 4.0mm
Cherry MX Red
Introduced to the market in 2008, these are the most modern switches developed by the company. They have an actuation force of 45cN (45.89g), making them the least weighted and one of the four most common switches. Designed and marketed as gaming switches , they allow for faster actuation. These keys are the most commonly used on gaming keyboards, although they are more prone to accidental presses than Black switches. They have an actuation point of 2mm.
- Linear switch
- Ideal for gaming
- Actuation force: 45cN (45g)
- Activation distance: 2.0mm
- Travel distance: 4.0mm
Cherry MX Silver or Speed Silver
These silver switches, or Speed Silver switches, are relatively unknown and first appeared on the market in 2016, courtesy of Corsair. They are very similar to Cherry MX Red switches; in fact, they require the same actuation force of 45cN (45.89g). The MX Red switches have a 2mm travel distance, while the MX Silver switches have a 1.2mm travel distance, which is the main difference. They are not yet widely adopted in the market and are clearly intended primarily for gaming, offering faster actuation than the MX Red switches.
- Linear switch
- Specifically designed for gaming
- Actuation force: 45cN (45g)
- Activation distance: 1.2mm
- Travel distance: 3.4mm
Cherry MX Brown
Introduced in 1994, these are the most popular tactile switches. These brown switches are ideal for typing, as they are better suited for long texts, allowing for shorter response times, both when pressing a key and when it returns to its initial position. Many gaming keyboards also use these switches, as they offer the best balance between typing and gaming performance. Brown switches have a 2mm actuation point and a maximum actuation point of 4mm, while the actuation force is 45cN (45.89g), the same as Cherry MX Red switches.
- Linear / touch switch
- Hybrid typing and gaming
- Actuation force: 45cN (45g)
- Activation distance: 2.0mm
- Travel distance: 4.0mm
Cherry MX Blue
These keys have two parts, giving the switches a 'click' effect when pressed. These blue switches have the same travel distance as MX Brown switches. Thanks to their two-part design, the keystroke is much more comfortable, as the first half of the travel is very soft and the second half is slightly firmer. They have a relatively high actuation force of 50cN (50.985g).
They are considered the best for typing and long texts , although they can lead to unintentional multiple keystrokes. The white portion of the keycap at the bottom of the screen sometimes doesn't fully retract, meaning that pressing the same key again can be interpreted as multiple presses. For example, typing 'Cherry' on this keyboard might result in typing 'Cherrrry'.
- Linear / touch switch
- Ideal for typing
- Actuation force: 50cN (51g)
- Activation distance: 2.2mm
- Travel distance: 4.0mm
Cherry MX Purple
Cherry's latest switch design is intended for budget gaming keyboards . These keys are much simpler than the company's other switches, but equally high-quality. Internally, they use a V-shaped spring-loaded bronze contact housed in a pressure-sensitive polymer casing with eight pillars.
Features a semi-transparent plastic housing and has the ability to contain RGB lighting
- Linear switch
- Ideal for gaming
- Actuation force: 45cN (45g)
- Activation distance: 2.0mm
- Travel distance: 4.0mm
![CHERRY VIOLA: A Mechanical Switch For The Value Market [CES 2020]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/x5yg0txlTFA/hqdefault.jpg)
RGB switches
The Cherry MX Red, Black, Brown, Blue, Speed Silver, Silent Red, and Silent Black switches are characterized by having an RGB LED backlighting variant . The only difference lies in the outer body of the mechanical switches, not in the mechanism itself. The underside of these switches is white, and the top is transparent , integrating an RGB LED inside, which can be configured and customized by the user.
Cherry MX Low Profile RGB
Introduced at CES 2018, these more compact mechanical switches are characterized by their reduced size , allowing for the development of smaller keyboards. They are based on the Cherry MX Red , which in its original model measures 18.5 x 15 x 15.6 mm , while the Cherry MX Low Profile RGB Red switches measure only 11.9 x 15 x 15 mm , representing a 35% size reduction.
This isn't the only difference between the two models. The MX Red model has a 2mm actuation point , while the total travel distance is 4mm. In contrast, the MX Low Profile RGB Red has a 1.2mm actuation point , while the total travel distance of these switches is 3.2mm.
Less common Cherry MX
The four mentioned above are the most common, although there are also other varieties of less common mechanical keyboards, which we can sometimes find on some very specific keyboards.
- Cherry MX Clear. They are more rigid than MX Brown switches, requiring an activation pressure of 65cN (66.28g).
- Cherry MX Gray. These are most commonly used for spacer bars, with an activation pressure of 80cN (81.58g).
- Cherry MX Green. These switches are a more rigid version of the blue switches, using a tactile bump and a small audible sound, both of which have a pressure of 80cN (81.58g). These are also used for the spacer bars.
- Cherry MX White. They are quite similar to the MX Greens, but they are a more modern version of them, with a pressure equal to the MX Greens, but it is a bit quieter than these.
- Cherry MX Super Black. Extremely rigid switches, with an actuation pressure of 150cN (152.96g). These special keys have been developed for space keys, where the rest of the keys of these keyboards are MX Black.
- Cherry MX Dark Gray. These switches are slightly stiffer linear, with a pressure of 80cN (81.58g), which are used on spacer bars with MX Black switches.
- Cherry MXLock. Linear switches with lock, which are held down until pressed again, used mainly for the Caps Lock and TTY Lock found on keyboards in the 80s.
Razer mechanical switches
Keyboard manufacturers typically rely on existing market solutions. Many mechanical switch manufacturers offer a wide variety of options. Razer, however, has chosen to manufacture its own mechanical switches , better aligning them with the brand's needs and product lines.
For many years Razer used Cherry MX mechanical switches , but the company wanted something more specific. Therefore, they designed their own mechanical switches , which were initially manufactured by Kaihua Electronics, a Chinese company. Currently, the company states that they manufacture them themselves, although this isn't entirely clear.
RazerGreen
The company's first mechanical switch, initially integrated into the Razer BlackWidow. It has a tactile and audible feel , with an actuation force of 49cN (50g) , a travel distance of 4.0mm, and an actuation distance of 1.9mm.
Features
- Ideal for gaming and typing
- Actuation force: 50cN (50g)
- Travel distance: 4.0mm
- Activation distance: 1.9mm
razer orange
This could be considered an evolution of the Razer Green . Its main characteristics are its tactile feel and significantly quieter operation compared to the previous model . This switch offers an actuation force of 44cN (45g) and shares the same travel distance and activation range as its predecessor.
Features
- Ideal for gaming and typing
- Actuation force: 45cN (45g)
- Travel distance: 4.0mm
- Activation distance: 1.9mm
Razer Yellow
This mechanical switch is characterized by its linear, silent, and very fast actuation. The actuation force is the same as the Razer Green. The travel distance is 3.5mm and the actuation distance is 1.2mm . This makes it ideal for shooter games , as its response is very fast due to the short travel distance.
Features
- Ideal for gaming and typing
- Actuation force: 45cN (45g)
- Travel distance: 3.5mm
- Activation distance: 1.2mm
Razer Optical Mechanical Switches
Razer has begun introducing new optical-mechanical switches into its keyboards. These opto-mechanical switches are activated by light pulses. When a key is pressed, the light passes through the switch's shaft, detecting the keystroke.
These Razer switches feature stabilization on both sides of the key and a reduced number of moving parts. Thanks to this optical actuation, physical contact is minimized, increasing durability. This reduced degradation results in a lifespan of at least 100 million keystrokes.
They have a new stabilizer bar system that allows more balanced keystrokes, regardless of the point of pressing the key.
Razer Clicky Optical Switch
Features
- Ideal for gaming
- Actuation force: 45cN (45g)
- Travel distance: 1.5mm
- Activation: 1.5mm
Razer Linear Optical Switch
Features
- Ideal for gaming
- Actuation force: 40cN (40g)
- Travel distance: 1.0mm
- Activation: 1.0mm
Roccat mechanical switches
Roccat's Titan switches have been developed for gamers who want high-precision, high-performance mechanical switches . These new switches feature innovative aspects never before implemented. Actuation points have been reduced, bounce eliminated, the housing reinforced, and a custom firmware created.
Titan Linear Switch
The Linear switch is characterized by being 30% faster than its competitors in terms of actuation speed. The travel distance has been significantly reduced for a much quicker actuation. This is combined with minimal bounce and a specific firmware that takes full advantage of the benefits of these mechanical switches.
- Ideal for shooter
- Drive force: -
- Travel distance: 1.4mm
- Activation: 3.6mm
Titan Touch Switch
If we're looking for something more versatile, but with good responsiveness, we have the Tactile switches . These switches are practically identical to the Linear switches, only differing in the travel distance , which is slightly longer.
- Ideal for gaming
- Drive force: -
- Travel distance: 1.8mm
- Activation: 3.6mm
Outemu Mechanical Switches
These mechanical switches are manufactured by Dongguan Gaote Electronics Co., Ltd. , which is headquartered in China. The Chinese company has extensive experience in manufacturing electronic components . For over a decade, they have been producing USB ports, HDMI connectors, and other connectors. Several years ago, the company developed the Outemu ICE switch, and later, the SKY series.
Although Outemu switches are considered a generic brand, they offer surprisingly good quality . They are becoming increasingly common in gaming keyboards. Thanks to their excellent price-to-performance ratio, they have even managed to outperform budget-friendly solutions from other manufacturers.
Outemu Network
These switches are specifically designed for video games . They are characterized by fast and quiet actuation. They are ideal for any type of game, and these switches are available in an RGB version.
- Type: Linear
- Performance: 45g
- Actuation travel: 2mm
- Total travel: 4mm
- Loudness: Silent
Outemu Black
Review of the Outemu Red switches, which are characterized by their increased durability . A special version for users who find the standard Red switches too soft. Due to their greater resistance, they can cause fatigue. These mechanical switches also have an RGB variant.
- Type: Linear
- Performance: 50g
- Actuation travel: 2mm
- Total travel: 4mm
- Sound: Silent
Outema Brown
It's a versatile type of switch designed for typing long texts and for gaming. They're considered ideal for all kinds of shooter games. They also come in an RGB version.
- Type: Touch
- Performance: 45g
- Actuation travel: 2mm
- Total travel: 4mm
- Sound: Medium
Outema Blue
These are classic toggle switches . They have medium resistance, are quite noisy, and return to their original position fairly quickly . They are especially suitable for typing , although they can cause fatigue.
- Type: Touch (clicky)
- Performance: 50g
- Actuation travel: 2mm
- Total travel: 4mm
- Sound: Sound
Logitech mechanical switches
One of the manufacturers of keyboards and peripherals in general is Logitech, with years of experience. To offer users the best solutions, Logitech has developed its own mechanical switches. They have been designed to offer the best performance, quality and reliability. Not only do Logitech offer standard height mechanical switches, they also offer low profile mechanical switches.
GX Blue
These mechanical switches are characterized by offering an audible and tactile response, just like conventional switches for gaming. They are the best solution for those who want a 'perceptible click' feeling.
- Response type: audible click
- Actuation distance: 2.0mm
- Total travel: 4.0mm
- Medium strength: 50g
- Touch force: 60g
- Durability: 70 million keystrokes
GX Brown
Developed to offer a reduced response through performance. They have been designed in this way to provide high update accuracy. These switches are very quiet. They are especially intended for users who play competitive titles or FPS.
- Response type: clear bump
- Actuation distance: 2.0mm
- Total travel: 4.0mm
- Medium strength: 50g
- Touch force: 60g
- Durability: 70 million keystrokes
GX Network
Thanks to their linear actuator, these switches are specially designed for fast pulsations. Furthermore, these mechanical switches are especially optimal for rapid successive keystrokes and non-stop keystrokes. They are especially optimal for action games and MMOs.
- Response type: fluid and smooth
- Actuation distance: 1.9mm
- Total travel: 4.0mm
- Medium strength: 50g
- Tactile strength: n / a
- Durability: 70 million keystrokes
Romer-G Touch
It offers us a minimal response thanks to a performance that guarantees confidence and precision when pressing. These switches are specially designed for competitive games and FPS.
- Response type: clear bump
- Actuation distance: 1.5mm
- Total travel: 3.2mm
- Medium strength: 45g
- Touch force: 50g
- Durability: 70 million keystrokes
Romer-G Linear
They are switches with a linear actuation that is optimal for double presses, for quick presses, successive keystrokes and for half presses without interruption. They are specially designed for action games and MMOs.
- Response type: soft
- Actuation distance: 1.5mm
- Total travel: 3.2mm
- Medium strength: 45g
- Tactile strength: n / a
- Durability: 70 million keystrokes
Huano mechanical switches
Huano Network
It is characterized by having a simple linear actuation with no pressure point with minimal resistance. Offers smooth movement so they are quieter than touch and click switches. They are compatible with RGB plates and are also compatible with Cherry MX.
- Type: linear
- Actuation force: 45g
- Actuation distance: 2mm
- Total travel: 4mm
- Compatible with Cherry MX, Outemu and Kailh switch sockets
- Durability: 50 million keystrokes