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Are Cherry MX switches overrated?
Are they as good as people claim them to be or are other switches almost as good or even better? Or are they just plain crap?
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keyboard_arrow_downHappyNewNyaa
1
Sep 26, 2016
I personally feel Topre is the best for writing a long essays or typing for a long time. For gaming, I personally use MX Browns. I have MX Blues just for fun when I want to annoy the people around me :/
Meepsi
102
Sep 26, 2016
Everything about the typing experience is preference. Switch brand and type factor in heavily with the experience, but there are other factors as well; keycap material, case material, plate vs PCB mount, layout and ergonomics, etc.
That being said, the key switch is a very important part of the typing experience. With Cherry in particular, when I compare their linear switches to those of Gateron I find them to have a slight gritty feeling. If you press the key down very slowly, I tend to feel the irregularities as the switch is cycled. Much of this has to do with the injection molding process where the seam of the 2 die come together; this leaves a slight burr that grates the moving parts together. Though Gateron uses almost the same injection molding process, thier finished product tends to have less of a gritty feel to them.
If they were marketed at the same price I would have a hard time recommending one over the other, but since Cherry is usually priced significantly higher than Gateron, I find it very easy to recommend thier switches.
That being said, the key switch is a very important part of the typing experience. With Cherry in particular, when I compare their linear switches to those of Gateron I find them to have a slight gritty feeling. If you press the key down very slowly, I tend to feel the irregularities as the switch is cycled. Much of this has to do with the injection molding process where the seam of the 2 die come together; this leaves a slight burr that grates the moving parts together. Though Gateron uses almost the same injection molding process, thier finished product tends to have less of a gritty feel to them.
If they were marketed at the same price I would have a hard time recommending one over the other, but since Cherry is usually priced significantly higher than Gateron, I find it very easy to recommend thier switches.
Munnybear
259
Sep 22, 2016
Buy a test switch kit before you invest more money in this game of keyboards.
Munnybear
259
Sep 22, 2016
U do need a bit of imagination, but u don't have to build a whole keyboard every time to know what you "don't like". And then the fun is searching and owning a few of the boards u do like :p
Also, I ended up buying mostly gaterons because I m making too many keyboards and the price differences adds up. Honestly, I don't think I need to be picky about the same color switch between different manufacturer. Mostly because I will move onto the next board before i know it.
Also, I ended up buying mostly gaterons because I m making too many keyboards and the price differences adds up. Honestly, I don't think I need to be picky about the same color switch between different manufacturer. Mostly because I will move onto the next board before i know it.
Waah
390
Sep 19, 2016
Cherry has brand recognition. Go with whatever your fingers prefer though. I don't hear enough reports of stems breaking off or switches exploding to justify writing a particular brand off before trying it myself.
Waah
390
Sep 20, 2016
Probably not for long, since Cherry's patent expired recently in 2014. I wouldn't be surprised with clones being around before that point though. Deskthority states Kailh had a Cherry MX clone as early as 2007: https://deskthority.net/wiki/Kaihua_PG1511_series
As for durability, nobody can give you a solid answer (IMO) besides what they personally experience. I associate durability with whether these switches will maintain their consistency, and that's dependent on QC. That can always change, so not even time may tell.
As for durability, nobody can give you a solid answer (IMO) besides what they personally experience. I associate durability with whether these switches will maintain their consistency, and that's dependent on QC. That can always change, so not even time may tell.
jceaser
359
Sep 20, 2016
WaahI agree with what your saying.
In my case I went with cherry because I had cherry browns in another keyboard and wanted to experience blue. If I get a pre-made board I may try one of the other brands. I do love my classic Mac keyboard which I now know is alps so that is probobly in my future as well.
CosmosZhu
11
Sep 19, 2016
MX Clear switches have no clones. That's very interesting since even rarer switches like MX Green have clones from Gateron. Zealios is a very good switch, but I just seems to like MX Clear switches the best.
luneth
19
Sep 19, 2016
I think Alps switches by far have the best feel, and a lot of people who've used alps before would agree. That said, getting Alps keycaps isn't easy, nor Alps plates, so MX are a better option for many people . Zealios are the only MX switch I've used that comes close to an Alps tactile feel.
nicepear
60
Sep 22, 2016
ok. you seem to have some knowledge, maybe you can answer my final question. I will probably end up with mx clears, but I can't decide between that and browns. I like browns, but I have strong fingers and I think I would prefer clears, but I can't figure that out because there is nowhere to try clears. Ideas?
luneth
19
Sep 26, 2016
nicepearHonestly, I think you have to use a switch for a couple weeks before you can make a judgment on it. Get a board with Clears. Worst case scenario: you don't like it, resell it on r/mechmarket, and you didn't lose that much money. Like Munnybear, I tend to opt for Gateron's because of the price, and I prefer the feel on some of them. Might as well try something new.
U-3C
68
Sep 19, 2016
I prefer rubber dome switches over mechanical ones, so it's completely subjective.you might really love the Cherry MX over all other switches. Meanwhile, there are people like me who is literally staring and pressing a Cherry MX switch at the moment and I'm just shaking my head.
K800 by Logitech all the way. : )
K800 by Logitech all the way. : )
Hitmanmonlee
0
Sep 26, 2016
U-3CIf you prefer rubber dome over mechanical (and that's perfectly fine), then why are you at a community for mechanical keyboard enthusiasts?
Also, if you like rubber domes, have you ever tried out an apple bluetooth keybord? I use them during lectures where other people are recording, and I think that they feel better than standerd rubber domes and are much quieter too.
Also, if you like rubber domes, have you ever tried out an apple bluetooth keybord? I use them during lectures where other people are recording, and I think that they feel better than standerd rubber domes and are much quieter too.
U-3C
68
Sep 26, 2016
HitmanmonleeI was just checking out random discussions and I bumped into this one. : )
Isn't it better? To have an opinion from people with a perspective that's different from the majority to offer their insight? ^_^
Unfortunately, I haven't used those Apple keyboards. I've used some older ones that are not Bluetooth and didn't quite like them, but who knows? I'll be sure to try the Bluetooth ones when I get a chance!
Isn't it better? To have an opinion from people with a perspective that's different from the majority to offer their insight? ^_^
Unfortunately, I haven't used those Apple keyboards. I've used some older ones that are not Bluetooth and didn't quite like them, but who knows? I'll be sure to try the Bluetooth ones when I get a chance!
Sugar_Free
365
Sep 18, 2016
I honestly do believe Cherry MX switches are overrated now. I hear it all the time that Kailh blue switches feel better to type on and I hear gaterons are a lot smoother than Cherry switches. I've also heard the quality of Cherry MX switches are not what they use to be like. Apparently old keyboards that use Cherry's are a lot more solid and smoother feeling than newer Cherry MX switches.
Branny
733
Sep 18, 2016
I personally think the gateron equivalents are better. But I do think people over hype or give too much credit to "german made"
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