%Begin A guide to mechanical keyboard switches Tom's Guide Skip to main content Tom's Guide is supported by its audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.
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Lily Watson 2 minutes ago
Here's why you can trust us.
A guide to mechanical keyboard switches
By Marshall Honorof pu...
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Zoe Mueller Member
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Here's why you can trust us.
A guide to mechanical keyboard switches
By Marshall Honorof published 30 September 2022 Mechanical keyboard switches can elevate your gaming experience. A few years ago, a "gaming keyboard" consisted of a regular old membrane keyboard with a few fancy lights slapped on it for good measure.
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David Cohen 5 minutes ago
Now, mechanical keyboards are all the rage. Gamers have come to appreciate the responsiveness, durab...
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David Cohen 6 minutes ago
Still, having more options on the market also means more potential for confusion. How many different...
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Mia Anderson Member
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Now, mechanical keyboards are all the rage. Gamers have come to appreciate the responsiveness, durability and versatility that only mechanical switches can offer.
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Aria Nguyen 10 minutes ago
Still, having more options on the market also means more potential for confusion. How many different...
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Sofia Garcia Member
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Still, having more options on the market also means more potential for confusion. How many different kinds of mechanical switches are there, and what are the differences among them? Which brands should you look at?
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Brandon Kumar 14 minutes ago
Consult this handy guide to find out.
Why buy mechanical
Just in case you're one of the fe...
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Brandon Kumar 5 minutes ago
This makes the keyboard not only more rugged and less prone to failure, but also more responsive and...
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Chloe Santos Moderator
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Consult this handy guide to find out.
Why buy mechanical
Just in case you're one of the few holdouts who insist that a membrane keyboard is just fine, and you'd rather not spend so much money on your keyboard, take a few minutes to read our guide to mechanical keyboards. The short version: Membrane keyboards work by sending an electrical signal between two plastic membranes.Mechanical keyboards, on the other hand, work via a discrete switch underneath each key cap, like at typewriter has.
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Victoria Lopez 1 minutes ago
This makes the keyboard not only more rugged and less prone to failure, but also more responsive and...
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Audrey Mueller Member
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This makes the keyboard not only more rugged and less prone to failure, but also more responsive and comfortable. If you're a PC gamer or accomplished typist and you don't own a mechanical keyboard, getting one could change your life in a small but significant way.
How much do mechanical keyboards cost
If you're not picky about brand names, you could get a mechanical keyboard for as little as $60 - or even less, if you're willing to settle for an older model.
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Joseph Kim 12 minutes ago
If you go with a well-known brand, though, tenkeyless mechanical keyboards start at around $80, full...
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William Brown Member
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If you go with a well-known brand, though, tenkeyless mechanical keyboards start at around $80, full-size keyboards cost around $110, while full-size keyboards with RGB lighting can range up to $180.
Linear vs Tactile
Two words you'll need to know in order to get the most out of this guide are "linear" and "tactile." Almost every mechanical switch is one or the other, and the difference between the two types is easy to understand. To actuate a linear switch, you must push it all the way down, like a membrane key.
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Scarlett Brown 14 minutes ago
To actuate a tactile switch, you usually push it about halfway down; you can continue pressing the k...
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Chloe Santos 14 minutes ago
I have no particular feelings on this debate, having successfully used both linear and tactile switc...
To actuate a tactile switch, you usually push it about halfway down; you can continue pressing the key after that, but you can also take your finger off and move to the next key right away. Some aficionados argue that linear switches are better for gaming, while tactile switches are better for typing.
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Kevin Wang 9 minutes ago
I have no particular feelings on this debate, having successfully used both linear and tactile switc...
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Isaac Schmidt 2 minutes ago
If a manufacturer doesn't use authentic Cherry switches, you can bet that the company will do its be...
I have no particular feelings on this debate, having successfully used both linear and tactile switches for both purposes.
Cherry MX
Cherry MX switches are the gold standard for mechanical keyboards.
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David Cohen 4 minutes ago
If a manufacturer doesn't use authentic Cherry switches, you can bet that the company will do its be...
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Nathan Chen Member
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If a manufacturer doesn't use authentic Cherry switches, you can bet that the company will do its best to imitate them. There's no single magical quality that makes Cherries so comfortable and responsive - just good, old-fashioned German engineering and versatility. MX switches from top-left clockwise: Red, Black, Brown and Blue Cherries come in a variety of colors, but these are the main ones you'll see:
Cherry MX Reds are some of the most widespread switches out there, and for good reason.
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Christopher Lee 17 minutes ago
These linear switches require 45 grams of force to actuate. The light touch makes them a good choice...
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Mia Anderson 12 minutes ago
Cherry MX Blacks are linear switches that are very similar to Reds, save that they require 60 g of f...
These linear switches require 45 grams of force to actuate. The light touch makes them a good choice for both gaming and typing. The keys are also very quiet, particularly the MX Red Silent variant, which makes them good for office environments or crowded houses.
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Amelia Singh 18 minutes ago
Cherry MX Blacks are linear switches that are very similar to Reds, save that they require 60 g of f...
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Emma Wilson 22 minutes ago
Cherry MX Browns are some of the most popular switches in gaming keyboards. Browns are tactile switc...
Cherry MX Blacks are linear switches that are very similar to Reds, save that they require 60 g of force to actuate. They feel a little more resistant than Reds, and are also available in a Silent variant.
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Audrey Mueller 26 minutes ago
Cherry MX Browns are some of the most popular switches in gaming keyboards. Browns are tactile switc...
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Sofia Garcia 13 minutes ago
Cherry MX Blues are "clicky" switches, meaning they make audible clicking noises every time you depr...
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Charlotte Lee Member
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Cherry MX Browns are some of the most popular switches in gaming keyboards. Browns are tactile switches that require 45 g of force to activate. They don't make much sound, and spring back very quickly after actuation.
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David Cohen 7 minutes ago
Cherry MX Blues are "clicky" switches, meaning they make audible clicking noises every time you depr...
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Scarlett Brown Member
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Cherry MX Blues are "clicky" switches, meaning they make audible clicking noises every time you depress them, like typewriters of old. Some users find the noise gratifying; others find it insufferable. You won't know until you try.
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Madison Singh Member
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Cherry MX Blues require 50 g of actuation force. Cherry MX Speed or Silver switches are built with gamers in mind.
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Ethan Thomas 15 minutes ago
Like Reds, Cherry MX Speeds are linear switches that require 45 g of actuation force. Unlike Reds, t...
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Grace Liu 7 minutes ago
There are other types of Cherry keys out there, like the extra-clicky Greens and the resistant Clear...
Like Reds, Cherry MX Speeds are linear switches that require 45 g of actuation force. Unlike Reds, though, they travel only 1.2 mm rather than the standard 2 mm. This theoretically lets gamers pound keys faster - helpful in genres like MOBA (League of Legends, Dota 2) and MMO (World of Warcraft, Star Wars: The Old Republic), where skills are constantly refreshing.
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Madison Singh 33 minutes ago
There are other types of Cherry keys out there, like the extra-clicky Greens and the resistant Clear...
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Elijah Patel 18 minutes ago
The Razer Blackwidow Chroma V2 with Razer Green switches Razer Green switches are the company's answ...
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Evelyn Zhang Member
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There are other types of Cherry keys out there, like the extra-clicky Greens and the resistant Clears, but those varieties are not as common as the ones listed above.Today's best Corsair K70 RGB Mk.2 deals237 Amazon customer reviews (opens in new tab)☆☆☆☆☆Reduced Price (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab)$159.99 (opens in new tab)$127.99 (opens in new tab)View Deal (opens in new tab)Deal ends Sun, Nov 6 (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab)$159.99 (opens in new tab)View Deal (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab)$169.99 (opens in new tab)View Deal (opens in new tab)Show More DealsWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Razer
Ever since 2014, Razer has produced mechanical switches for its keyboards in-house. The resulting switches are responsive, comfortable and arguably more durable than Cherry keys. In my tests, they've always fallen just a bit short of authentic Cherry MX switches, but they're still a far sight better than Razer's old membrane models.
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Sofia Garcia 57 minutes ago
The Razer Blackwidow Chroma V2 with Razer Green switches Razer Green switches are the company's answ...
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Sebastian Silva 28 minutes ago
Orange switches are tactile, but barely make any sound, making them better-suited to office environm...
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Christopher Lee Member
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The Razer Blackwidow Chroma V2 with Razer Green switches Razer Green switches are the company's answer to clicky, tactile keys like the Cherry MX Blues. Razer Greens actuate at 50 g and make rapid-fire typewriter sounds as you tap. The Razer Blackwidow Tournament Edition with Razer Orange switches Razer Orange switches are a quieter alternative to the Greens, with a slightly lower actuation force of 45 g.
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Ryan Garcia 20 minutes ago
Orange switches are tactile, but barely make any sound, making them better-suited to office environm...
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Ryan Garcia 9 minutes ago
They require 45 g of actuation force. Razer says the lack of a tactile bump will make Yellows more a...
Orange switches are tactile, but barely make any sound, making them better-suited to office environments or homes with light sleepers. Razer Yellow switches target FPS gamers primarily. Unlike the Green and Orange switches, Razer Yellows are linear.
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Audrey Mueller 30 minutes ago
They require 45 g of actuation force. Razer says the lack of a tactile bump will make Yellows more a...
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Brandon Kumar 46 minutes ago
(Cherries, as both fans and detractors have pointed out, have always been designed with typing in mi...
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Sofia Garcia Member
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They require 45 g of actuation force. Razer says the lack of a tactile bump will make Yellows more attractive to gamers who need to hit keys forcefully and frequently.Today's best razer blackwidow lite deals280 Amazon customer reviews (opens in new tab)☆☆☆☆☆Reduced Price (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab)$89.99 (opens in new tab)$49.99 (opens in new tab)View Deal (opens in new tab)Reduced Price (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab)$89.99 (opens in new tab)$74.99 (opens in new tab)View Deal (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab)$89.99 (opens in new tab)View Deal (opens in new tab)Show More DealsWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Logitech Switches
Photo: Logitech Logitech engineered its proprietary Romer-Gs from scratch to provide key switches that would benefit gamers specifically.
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Daniel Kumar 43 minutes ago
(Cherries, as both fans and detractors have pointed out, have always been designed with typing in mi...
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Lily Watson 75 minutes ago
The names appended to each switch - linear, tactile, clicky and so forth - will help you determine w...
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Audrey Mueller Member
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(Cherries, as both fans and detractors have pointed out, have always been designed with typing in mind first and foremost.) A tactile, quiet switch that requires 45 g of actuation force, Romer-Gs are similar to Cherry MX Browns, but spring back a little faster. Newer Logitech keyboards employ either GL or GX switches, which vary in style and feel, depending on what kind you get. GL switches employ thin keycaps, while GX switches are a little more traditional.
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Luna Park Member
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The names appended to each switch - linear, tactile, clicky and so forth - will help you determine what the keys feel, and sound, like.Today's best logitech g513 deals255 Amazon customer reviews (opens in new tab)☆☆☆☆☆Reduced Price (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab)$149.99 (opens in new tab)$112.99 (opens in new tab)View Deal (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab)$129.99 (opens in new tab)View Deal (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab)$129.99 (opens in new tab)View Deal (opens in new tab)Show More DealsWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Topre
The Topre Heaven Keyboard Topre switches aren't too popular this side of the Pacific, but like Spinal Tap, they're really big in Japan. Acting as kind of a midpoint between membrane and mechanical keys, Topres are unusual rubber dome switches that come in interconnected sheets.
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Noah Davis 30 minutes ago
It's not exactly a membrane design, but not truly mechanical either. Still, Topre keys are quiet and...
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Scarlett Brown 16 minutes ago
Greetech and Kailh are both inexpensive Chinese switch brands. I hesitate to say "cheap," because bo...
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Sophie Martin Member
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It's not exactly a membrane design, but not truly mechanical either. Still, Topre keys are quiet and actuate at only 5 g, making them worth considering if you want the lightest touch possible in something a little more durable than a membrane peripheral.
Greetech and Kailh
A lot of second-tier peripheral companies keep costs low by using Greetech or Kailh switches instead of Cherry MXs.
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Sofia Garcia 64 minutes ago
Greetech and Kailh are both inexpensive Chinese switch brands. I hesitate to say "cheap," because bo...
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Sophia Chen 7 minutes ago
Greetech and Kailh switches generally imitate Cherry colors and styles, meaning that a Greetech Red ...
Greetech and Kailh are both inexpensive Chinese switch brands. I hesitate to say "cheap," because both brands feel fine; they're just not premium products.
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Brandon Kumar 22 minutes ago
Greetech and Kailh switches generally imitate Cherry colors and styles, meaning that a Greetech Red ...
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Emma Wilson Admin
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Greetech and Kailh switches generally imitate Cherry colors and styles, meaning that a Greetech Red will feel like a Cherry MX Red, a Kailh Brown will feel like a Cherry MX Brown and so forth. The Das Keyboard 4C with greentech switches. If you have the money, I'd recommend going for a peripheral with authentic Cherry MX switches.
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Sebastian Silva 8 minutes ago
However, if that's not an option for whatever reason (Cherry switches are often in short supply, amo...
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Mia Anderson Member
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However, if that's not an option for whatever reason (Cherry switches are often in short supply, among other things), Greetech and Kailh make passable replacements.Today's best Das Keyboard X50Q deals181 Amazon customer reviews (opens in new tab)☆☆☆☆☆Reduced Price (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab)$199 (opens in new tab)$129 (opens in new tab)View Deal (opens in new tab)We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Bottom line
The kind of switches you'll want depends on whether you want a linear or tactile experience, and whether you prefer quiet or noisy keys. Knowing those two factors will reduce your potential keyboard choices from dozens down to just a handful. If possible, buy a keyboard with Cherry MX switches.
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Jack Thompson 49 minutes ago
The gap between Cherries and competing switches is not as wide as it was even a few years ago, but t...
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Natalie Lopez Member
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The gap between Cherries and competing switches is not as wide as it was even a few years ago, but there's a reason Cherry is still the best-known brand on the market. Mechanical keyboards are expensive, but unless you insist on having the very latest gadgets, you can often save a few (dozen) bucks by buying a model that's been recently replaced.
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Madison Singh 54 minutes ago
Since gaming companies tend to refresh their keyboard lineups every two years or so, you can get som...
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Ella Rodriguez Member
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Since gaming companies tend to refresh their keyboard lineups every two years or so, you can get some pretty good deals on peripherals that have all kinds of switches if you're willing to forego features like RGB lighting and fancy software. Next: Check out our guide on how to clean a mechanical keyboard.Today's best Razer BlackWidow Elite deals12 Amazon customer reviews (opens in new tab)☆☆☆☆☆ (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab)No price information (opens in new tab)Check Amazon (opens in new tab)We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
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Marshall HonorofMarshall Honorof is a senior editor for Tom's Guide, overseeing the site's coverage ...
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and beyond5This fully waterproof speaker is just $69 in early Black Friday deal1YouTube just got a m...
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Marshall HonorofMarshall Honorof is a senior editor for Tom's Guide, overseeing the site's coverage of gaming hardware and software. He comes from a science writing background, having studied paleomammalogy, biological anthropology, and the history of science and technology. After hours, you can find him practicing taekwondo or doing deep dives on classic sci-fi. More about keyboards
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A guide to mechanical keyboard switches Tom's Guide Skip to main content Tom's Guide is supported b...