Cherry MX Greens require 0.70 N of force to actuate and 0.80 N of force to get over the tactile bump. They are rare to find, but are heavy and clicky. They are slightly heavier than Browns, requiring 0.60 N of force to get over the tactile bump.Ĭherry MX Green- These are the heaviest tactile switch that you can feasibly get your hands on. The click adds an extra layer to the tactile feedback received with each key press. Cherry MX Blue switches are clicky, so typing at speed generates plenty of noise. Browns require 0.45 N of force to actuate, just like Reds, but the tactile feedback kicks in after 0.55 N of force is applied.Ĭherry MX Blue- My personal favourite switch but often overlooked due to their noisy nature. However, they aren't clicky, making them quieter than Cherry MX Blue switches. It is a tactile switch, so you will physically feel the point of actuation with every key press. These require a whopping 0.80 N of force to actuate, making them the heaviest switch in the line-up by quite some margin.Ĭherry MX Brown- Brown switches are quieter than most on the list. This results in the switch almost pushing back at you with each key press.Ĭherry MX Linear Grey- Cherry MX Grey switches are also rare, but it is the only Cherry switch to come in both a tactile and linear variant. These require 0.60 N of force to actuate. It is far from being the heaviest linear switch in Cherry's lineup though.Ĭherry MX Black- Black switches are more common than whites but still not widely used. Cherry MX White switches require 0.55 N of force to actuate, making them slightly harder to press. Cherry MX Speed requires the same 0.45 N of actuation force as Cherry MX Reds, but the actuation point is found at just 1.2mm, meaning each key stroke is registered well before the key is close to bottoming out.Ĭherry MX White- White switches are very rare and differ from Reds in one key area- actuation force. These were introduced to compete with other new switches hitting the market. This means that each key press activates faster and registering each press will be easier on your fingers.Ĭherry MX Speed- Speed switches first debuted in 2016 on a Corsair keyboard. Red's are also very light, requiring just 0.45 N of force to actuate. Red switches aren't clicky and don't offer tactile feedback, making them quieter than other alternatives. There is just one switch that differs in this area, which we'll get into below.Ĭherry MX Red- the most popular mechanical switch. Almost all of Cherry's switches have an actuation distance of 2mm and a total travel distance of 4mm. However, Cherry also has a few other variants, including Cherry MX Black, White and Green.
#Clicky vs linear vs tactile Pc
There are four main Cherry MX switches you are likely to come across as a PC gamer: Red, Blue, Brown and Speed. The first Cherry MX switch appeared in 1983, and while there has been much more competition over the last few years, Cherry is still fairly dominant in the mechanical keyboard space. Cherry MXĬherry is often viewed as the gold standard for keyboard switches. This also allows for quicker actuation and lower necessary force for each key press, but it differs quite a bit between different switch types- which we'll begin diving into below. In gaming circles, linear switches tend to be more popular.Ī linear switch removes the ‘bump' element inside of the key switch, which results in less noise and a smoother key press from top to bottom. Tactile switches can be broken down further into clicky and non-clicky switches. Many typists prefer tactile switches due to this level of tactile feedback. Tactile switches include a small ‘bump' that you will feel while typing. Below you'll find an image that shows how tactile, linear and clicky switches work under the hood. Individual mechanical switches use a spring mechanism in each key and metal contacts to register a key press without having to necessarily push a key all the way down to the bottom of the keyboard.
![clicky vs linear vs tactile clicky vs linear vs tactile](https://justgestures.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Tactile-Vs-Linear-Vs-Clicky-Switches-1024x512.jpg)
Mechanical switches have more going on under the hood and offer many benefits, ranging from different levels of actuation and force required to register a keypress, to different levels of feedback (tactile or linear). Rubber dome switches are fairly simple, utilising piece of plastic under the key that depresses the rubber dome and makes contact with the underlying circuit board.
![clicky vs linear vs tactile clicky vs linear vs tactile](https://i2.wp.com/switchandclick.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/k6-top-down-1.jpg)
![clicky vs linear vs tactile clicky vs linear vs tactile](https://everyhometech.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Screen-Shot-2020-08-13-at-12.20.59-PM-1.png)
Today we'll be going over the different mechanical switches currently on the market, explaining what each of them do differently.īefore we dive into the different switch makers and their many offerings, let's break down what a mechanical switch does. However, with so many different kinds of switches floating around, it can be confusing to decide which one to go with. These switches offer more tactile feedback, faster actuation and longer life spans when compared to cheaper membrane/rubber dome boards. Mechanical keyboards are a staple for many serious PC gaming set ups.