Keyboard switches are quieter, smoother, and last a 100 million operations
Author: EIS Release Date: Aug 31, 2023
Cherry has announced quieter operation amongst other up-grades to its long-running MX series of keyboard switches, with the introduction of MX2A types. At the same time, it revealed a keyboard, Xtrfy K5V2, built with the switches.
Cherry MX2A Red keyboard switch photo
The original gold cross-point contacts are retained and changes are largely details, with, for example. a move from cylindrical spring to an barrel spring to give a more linear force curve (below) and to increase durability by reduce internal scratching. The spring-centring stem also now has a crown of ribs which “ensures a more precise and consistent feel and sound, reducing scratchiness and improving sliding properties”.
Cherry MX2A Red keyboard switch graph
Surfaces have been improved by polishing the moulds, and a proprietary factory-applied lubricant has been introduced. “Our specially formulated grease is an oil-based lubricant [which] mirrors the properties of the community-preferred Krytox GPL 205 Grade 0,” said Cherry.
Slightly confusingly, the MX2A switches will be known, for example, as MX Red (graph and photo) with no ‘2A’ to be seen.
The types are:
‘Red’ – no click
Linear force characteristic
45cN operation
2.0mm pre travel
4.0mm total travel
> 100 million actuations
‘Silent Red’ – “silent”, said Cherry
Linear force characteristic
45cN operation
1.9mm pre travel
3.7mm total travel
> 50 million actuations
‘Black’ – no click
Linear force characteristic
60cN operation
2.0mm pre travel
4.0mm total travel
> 100 million actuations
‘Silent black’ – “silent”
Linear switching characteristics
60 cN operation
1.9 mm pre travel
3.7 mm total travel
no durability data
‘Brown’ – no click
Tactile force characteristic
55cN operation
2.0mm pre travel
4.0mm total travel
> 100 million actuations
‘Blue’ – audible click
Tactile force characteristic
60 cN operation
2.2mm pre travel
4.0mm total travel
> 50 million actuations
‘Speed silver’ – no click
Linear force characteristic
45 cN operation
1.2mm pre travel
3.4mm total travel
> 100 million actuations
“While benefiting from the overall MX2A enhancements, the MX Blue variant will maintain its distinct clicky character without the lubrication and barrel spring due to technical considerations,” according to the company.
With gaming keyboards a primary market, the switches are fast: debouncing in <1ms.
Each of the new switches comes in two forms: opaque bodied and transparent bodies.
The latter (photo above) versions are called ‘RGB’ but have no light-emitting elements. Instead there is a hole in the bottom designed to match with a surface-mount LED on the PCB below.
Opaque and transparent types further both come in a five-pin version which is self-supporting on a PCB, and a three-pin version designed to be snapped into a frame.
K5V2 is a 65% format gaming keyboard with per-key RGB illumination and in-built sound-dampening foam. For customisation “everything from the switches, stabilisers and keycaps to the cable, frame and logo plate are swappable”, said Cherry. Keys are scanned every 500μs to reduce latency.
These switches are made in Germany