Zoë Blade's notebook

MX switch

The MX switch (short for Mechanical X-Point) is a range of mechanical keyboard switches made by Cherry, starting with the MX Black switch in the 1980s.

Specifically, the MX Black switch was a regular linear switch; the MX Blue switch added an audible click; and the MX Brown switch added a tactile feel similar to the Blue's, without being as loud.

When Cherry's MX switch patent expired, companies like Gateron and Kailh cloned them, turning them into a de facto standard used by hot swappable mechanical keyboards.

Switches

Name Type Feature Operating force Pre travel Total travel Lubed
MX Red Linear Popular 45 cN 2.0 mm 4.0 mm No
MX Blue Clicky Popular 60 cN 2.2 mm 4.0 mm No
MX Brown Tactile Popular 55 cN 2.0 mm 4.0 mm No
MX Speed Silver Linear Fast 45 cN 1.2 mm 3.4 mm No
MX Silent Red Linear Quiet 45 cN 1.9 mm 3.7 mm No
MX Black Linear Heavy 60 cN 2.0 mm 4.0 mm No
MX Black Clear Top Linear Popular, heavy 63 cN 2.0 mm 4.0 mm Optional
MX Ergo Clear Tactile Balanced 60 cN 2.0 mm 4.0 mm Yes
MX Green Clicky Heavy 80 cN 2.2 mm 4.0 mm No
MX Grey Tactile Heavy 80 cN 2.0 mm 4.0 mm No

Clones

Downloads

Documentation

Patents

De facto standards: ADAT | MX switch | SysEx file | ZX Spectrum

Switches: MX switch