What is the best switch color for a mechanical keyboard

• Posted by Stephen Richard February 17, 2023 Filed in Technology #budget mechanical keyboard  402 views
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  Mechanical keyboards are made up of physical switches which are classified using a color code. This color denotes the actuation force required to press each switch along with the smoothness and loudness of the key press. Cherry MX is the standard for the color codes of mechanical keyboards. But there are other companies like Razer that also have their own color-coded classification.

  

  In this article, we are going to discuss the various switches available and what each color denotes so that you can choose the best switch color for a mechanical keyboard.

   

  The standard Cherry MX has four different color switches and the Gateron brand has seven different switch colors. The color codes of Cherry MX are Red, Black, Blue, and Brown. While the Gateron has Clear, Red, Black, Blue, Green, Brown, and Yellow. Each has its own distinct feature and choosing the best one depends on one’s personal preference. Let us now discuss each of them to understand their unique quality.

   

  Cherry MX Red

   

  This is a type of linear switch where you will not feel any bumps or clicks. The switch actuates linearly straight down in a smooth manner. This provides a very smooth keypress and a highly reactive switch.

   

  The click and bump are provided by small protrusions in the switch design. But the Red linear switches avoid these bumps and they don’t give you clicky tactile feedback.

   

  Another feature of this key switch is that they are very quiet. Even if you press harder on the key, you will not have any loud noise. But the switch requires only 45g actuation force.

   

  The MX red is also very responsive which makes it the best choice for gamers. Since it lacks the bumps in the switch, it will not have any delay in the keypress response.

   

  This responsiveness can also be a disadvantage of using this switch. Since the switch is very responsive, there can be accidental keypresses which might lead to less accuracy. You can also get a silent version of this Red switch.

   

  Cherry MX Black

   

  The black switch is also a linear type like the red but requires more actuation force than red. You require an actuation force of 60g to get a response with a keypress in black switches.

   

  There is also a silent version in the Black switch. This is a great choice for gamers and office users who don’t want to have any accuracy issues or accidental key presses.

   

  Cherry MX Brown

   

  Unlike linear switches which retract back without any tactile bump or click, the brown switches can provide you with a tactile bump. When a keypress is made, it retracts back instantly with a tactile bump providing you with better feedback.

   

  This is the primary choice of gamers since it requires only 45g of force and can come back to the position instantly. You can also avoid accidental presses with this key switch and can get higher accuracy.

   

  The speed of the keypresses can slightly reduce but it will not affect a lot since the bump feel is only satisfying more than hindering the typing experience.

   

  Cherry MX Blue

   

  This is the noisiest switch which can produce clicky noise when the keys are pressed. The actuation force required is just 50g but when you press the keys you will get a distinct click sound.

   

  People who love to use old typewriters and love the noise of them will absolutely get this key switch. You can also get a more clicky sound with Green color switches and you can get it if you love the sound of it.

   

  Apart from these, there are other switches from Cherry MX known as Speed or Silver which have a less key travel of 1.2mm and make it easier for highly competitive games.

   

  Gateron Clear, Red, Yellow, and Black

   

  These switch colors from Gateron are linear type switches but each color has different actuation force. The clear type switch has 35g, Red has 45g, Yellow has 50g, and the Black has 60g. All have an actuation point of 2mm. So as per your requirement, you can choose switches with different actuation forces.

   

  Gateron Brown

   

  Brown switches make very less sound but provide tactile feedback instead of a clicky one. The actuation force is also 55g which makes it easier to use the keyboard in office or public environments.

   

  Gateron Blue and Green

   

  Both are clicky type switches that produce loud click noise and has different actuation forces. The Blue switch has 60g and the green switch has 80g.

   

  These are the major classification and popular key switch brands you can get in the market today. Apart from these, there are Logitech, Topre, Greetech, Kalih, etc. which also provide similar switch models but are not very popular. You can get cheaper versions with these brands.

   

  Best color for Gamers

   

  Gamers can choose between Cherry MX red and Cherry MX Brown. If they opt for Gateron, they can go for the Gateron Red. Because the Red and Gateron Red are completely linear switches that provide better response and faster retraction of the switch.

   

   

   

  As for the Cherry MX Brown, you can get bump feedback and the retraction is much faster than linear which makes it a better choice for responsive gaming.

   

  Best Color for Typing Masters

   

  If you are an office goer and require a quiet mechanical keyboard, you can choose the Cherry MX Red or Cherry MX Speed. If you want to get the feel of typewriters you can go for Cherry MX Blue.

   

  The Red provides linear feedback and doesn’t have any clicks or bumps that affect your typing. If you are a typing master then you can go for the Cherry MX Speed which has very less key travel and provides high accuracy.

   

  Conclusion

   

  The best color switch for a mechanical keyboard depends on the user's preference. If you are a gamer, then you need to choose a linear or tactile switch. If you are an office person, then you will need a quieter switch. So, the above-mentioned guide will help you to choose the best one for you as per your requirement and task.