Cherry MX Clears vs Browns for typing & gaming

[ToenailCrud]

So I've recently been eyeing up some new keyboards and I'm wondering what switch to get. I have used the blues in the past and really like them, the only thing I don't like is the sound. So I've been looking at cherry mx browns and clears.

I do a lot of typing and want a lot of comfort when typing and I like tactile switches so please don't recommend any linear switches please. I also do a little gaming. Such as CS and Overwatch in my sparetime and I want this to be a factor when choosing a switch as well.

Thanks for your help 

[ndakota79]

Browns are better for gaming, clears are better for typing.

I changed from blues to browns a couple of weeks ago and my writing is still not as fast as it was with blues. Still making lots of mistakes. The new 60% layout could be a factor, too. Gaming is much better than with blues though. I am able to press buttons faster. Clears don't have that advantage compared to blues, but the tactile feedback is stronger compared to browns.

[bocahgundul]

Try both and see it for yourself.

For me I prefer cherry mx brown anyday to clears cause clears are just not for me

[Firebolt1914]

I personally don't agree with a switch being better than another for gaming/typing, etc. At the end of the day, what makes a switch better is pure preference. As bocahgundul said, you should try both of them with as few variables as possible between the two boards and see which one you like.

What I did because I couldn't get two boards was to just choose one of the two (or more), and see if I like it or not. If I didn't enjoy it, I would sell it on the classifieds for a slight loss, and get the other one.

That being said, it may take a while for a certain board to grow on you.

[Tactile]

None of the "tactile" switches from Cherry are very tactile. You sound like a good candidate for Matias quiet click switches. KB Paradise have both TKL and 60% boards with these switches.

Clears are my favorite MX switch but I learned to type as a child with an old typewriter and a ball-peen hammer. I think they'd be too stiff for the comfort you're after.

[ndakota79]

My problem with matias is, you can hardly get good keycaps. And the stock ones are thin lasered abs...

[Tactile]

My problem with matias is, you can hardly get good keycaps. And the stock ones are thin lasered abs...

Yes, I agree the cap selection is thin. I think, however, that if someone is really looking primarily for a comfortable keyboard for typing that the feel is worth just getting a keyboard with a decent set of keycaps and enjoy the feel of the keyboard.

Something like this:

https://mechanicalkeyboards.com/shop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=1772

...or this:

https://mechanicalkeyboards.com/shop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=1360

[ndakota79]

When OP is in the US, he could get the version with double shots and hope they're decent.
However in the EU there is much less varienty. Keyboardco.com does have the first set you linked, but the caps are lasered. Don't know about the thickness and general quality though.

Topre could be an alternative, but I find the HHKB layout strange and in Germany it would have to be imported from outside EU. Tenkeyless with option for after market keycaps would be possible with novatouch or get a decent package witch realforce but no after market caps... You've got to compromise.

[chuckdee]

I definitely don't agree with the certain switches being better.  It's a personal thing.  And I wish I'd known that.  I like Browns a lot.  But when people said Clears were better for typing, I got a clear Pok3r for work.  And found out that I should have gotten Browns.

[hwood34]

Browns are better for gaming, clears are better for typing.

I definitely don't agree with the certain switches being better.  It's a personal thing.

^This. Especially saying a certain weight, probably the most objective preferential aspect, is objectively better.

[ndakota79]

Its not about the weight, its about the actuation and the release point. With Browns both are closer together, so you can easier spam the keys.

[barefootbob]

Its definitely personal preference. I don't like how clears feel at all. Love browns for typing and games

[chuckdee]

Its not about the weight, its about the actuation and the release point. With Browns both are closer together, so you can easier spam the keys.

That's a technical answer,  interspersed with opinion. Which is cool,  but that's just,  like,  your opinion,  man.  (sorry,  couldn't resist)

The point being,  you're technically right. But browns feel better to me for both gaming and typing

[ndakota79]

I'm not denying that personal preference is very important. Just making the point that mx browns are (technically as you mentioned) better for gaming than mx clears or blues. That is to be considered when asking for a switch for gaming.

For writing though its pure personal preference.

When I first mentioned that mx browns are better for gaming and mx clears better for writing, I hope everyone understands that this can not be true for everyone. It's describing a general trend, how most people feel.

[ideus]

I'm not denying that personal preference is very important. Just making the point that mx browns are (technically as you mentioned) better for gaming than mx clears or blues. That is to be considered when asking for a switch for gaming.

For writing though its pure personal preference.

When I first mentioned that mx browns are better for gaming and mx clears better for writing, I hope everyone understands that this can not be true for everyone. It's describing a general trend, how most people feel.

We all understand that many features are personal preference, after all, we are all here because we want to customize our typing experience as much as possible; otherwise, we may be happy using an stock rubber dome.

[CPTBadAss]

I personally think MX Browns are the only switch I dislike more than MX Reds. And those 2 represent my least favorite mechanical switches period. I also don't subscribe to one switch being superior to another for a certain task. They're not different tools for different uses. Definitely personal preference.

[Findecanor]

Yeah, Browns or Clears for gaming - that is mostly personal preference. But I think that you could give generalized recommendations for different typing-styles and different gaming-styles.

If you need a light switch, browns are tactile when you press them lightly. It is harder to feel the tactility if you press hard or fast on them: then they feel more like more scratchy reds. When I type on Browns it therefore feels to me as if the arrow keys are more tactile than the alphanumeric keys, only because I tend to press the arrow keys more lightly.

I prefer Clears for typing but it took me about a week of typing to find how to use them properly. I don't bottom out (much) because I press until the dip after the tactile bump, at which the sharp increase in force cushions the stroke. That means that even though the springs are harder in Clears than in Browns, I don't press them down as deeply. Curiously enough, my typing feels lighter and more fluid on clears than on Browns or Blues.

When I game, I tend to press harder on the keys anyway the more agitated I am so the higher force of the Clears does not bother me - and then which switch I use becomes something that I don't focus on.

[chuckdee]

I'm not denying that personal preference is very important. Just making the point that mx browns are (technically as you mentioned) better for gaming than mx clears or blues. That is to be considered when asking for a switch for gaming.

For writing though its pure personal preference.

When I first mentioned that mx browns are better for gaming and mx clears better for writing, I hope everyone understands that this can not be true for everyone. It's describing a general trend, how most people feel.

That's not what I was saying at all.  I was saying that you are right- technically the point of actuation is close to the point of release.  That's what I meant as far as that. 

It isn't technically better for gaming or anything else.  It's totally personal preference.

[jcoffin1981]

The Gateron Brown switches are slightly more tactile than Cherry MX Browns.  They are also a tidbit lighter subjectively.  These light switches seem more responsive with lighter keycaps.  I have a KBP V60 with Gateron Browns and the original thin ABS keycaps.  I also have a Poker 3 with Gateron Browns and the PBT poker the keycaps, which are heavier in weight.  The v60 in my opinion does seem more responsive with the thinner keycaps.

Some people love the MX clears, but I just find them too fatiguing. 

[OfTheWild]

I would think lighter linear switches were ideal for gamers. I loved my mx reds. I think you'd be hard pressed to find someone that was serious about subtle movements using a tactile switch. Thats just my guess as a non-pro gamer.

Why not put together a little WASD switch tester and run the gauntlet to figure out what you really want?

[rowdy]

Welcome to Geekhack!

Browns are like gritty reds.  The tactility is not very much.

Clears are a good all-round switch, although they can get tiring if you do not have reasonably strong fingers.

[Blaise170]

As always a personal preference, though I fall in the same camp as Cpt, Browns and Reds are pretty bad. I think for the most part, all of Cherry's line is pretty subpar compared to other brands like Alps, Honeywell, etc. and even clones like Gateron are better in my experience.

[sushi]

I game on browns and really like the lightness of them. Makes key spamming easier, and since I play a lot of FPS games, it makes movement much easier with the WASD cluster. I tried playing overwatch recently with my HHKB and was a pretty big disaster, between the heavier weighting of the HHKB and the key travel, everything just took longer.

[Screwdriver]

I tried a few different MX switches for gaming and settled on Browns. Still my favorite MX switch

[Moistgun]

Out of curiosity, have you ever tried linear switches?

Blacks are way better than browns and clears :3

If you need tactile, get topre.

[KHAANNN]

Fatigue-wise, which should be the main concern, I gamed for a few months with stronger clears, didn't notice any fatigue

When I first started mechs, Cherry MX Red's was my first choice, a very bad one in hindsight, with Red's, mis-triggers were a wide-spread issue - so lighter switches might be bad, if you are playing Dota for example, and you accidentally press R, it's pretty hard to explain, you can claim you sensed an invisible opponent around, but it will likely not cut it

So my suggestion is to go for Cherry MX Clear's, unless you don't have fatigue related concerns

[sushi]

Completely true about DOTA! I don't play MOBA's that much but the feather weight triggering deffinitley did cause problems.

This is pretty interesting actually - anybody here use different boards for different games?

[mathilda]

Browns are safer choice for both gaming and typing. Clears are better in typing but you can play game with them if you have strong hand.

If you can typing on clears for 2 hours without too much weary, you can play game without any problems.

[AnTi PRO]

Just curious which ones of the two are more silent?

[Moistgun]

Just curious which ones of the two are more silent?

Probably browns from the upstroke, but that would be a tiny difference, hardly even noticeable.

[AnTi PRO]

Just curious which ones of the two are more silent?

Probably browns from the upstroke, but that would be a tiny difference, hardly even noticeable.

Gotcha

Thank you! I'm in the market for a board to take to work, but I need something more on the quiet side. I was thinking browns or blacks and I'm not gonna lie I haven't even heard of clears until I started browsing around this site haha Didn't even know they were an option.

[Moistgun]

Just curious which ones of the two are more silent?

Probably browns from the upstroke, but that would be a tiny difference, hardly even noticeable.

Gotcha

Thank you! I'm in the market for a board to take to work, but I need something more on the quiet side. I was thinking browns or blacks and I'm not gonna lie I haven't even heard of clears until I started browsing around this site haha Didn't even know they were an option.

Browns are for people who are indecisive.
Blacks for me are easier to NOT bottom out, so that would make them the quietest switch type for ME by quite a large margin.

[AnTi PRO]

Just curious which ones of the two are more silent?

Probably browns from the upstroke, but that would be a tiny difference, hardly even noticeable.

Gotcha

Thank you! I'm in the market for a board to take to work, but I need something more on the quiet side. I was thinking browns or blacks and I'm not gonna lie I haven't even heard of clears until I started browsing around this site haha Didn't even know they were an option.

Browns are for people who are indecisive.
Blacks for me are easier to NOT bottom out, so that would make them the quietest switch type for ME by quite a large margin.

I'm a pretty indecisive dude so I guess browns it is for me! Then I'll have to get some blacks at some point just to try it out.

[chuckdee]

Just curious which ones of the two are more silent?

Probably browns from the upstroke, but that would be a tiny difference, hardly even noticeable.

Gotcha

Thank you! I'm in the market for a board to take to work, but I need something more on the quiet side. I was thinking browns or blacks and I'm not gonna lie I haven't even heard of clears until I started browsing around this site haha Didn't even know they were an option.

I definitely think Browns.   I have a clear Pok3r and a brown one,  and I had to install o-rings on my clear to make it not bother anyone,  but my brown one was fine as is.

[AnTi PRO]

Sounds like brown might be my goal then, thanks!

[nimrod01]

So I've recently been eyeing up some new keyboards and I'm wondering what switch to get. I have used the blues in the past and really like them, the only thing I don't like is the sound. So I've been looking at cherry mx browns and clears.

I do a lot of typing and want a lot of comfort when typing and I like tactile switches so please don't recommend any linear switches please. I also do a little gaming. Such as CS and Overwatch in my sparetime and I want this to be a factor when choosing a switch as well.

Thanks for your help 

I to once had blues.  I really liked them for a while but the novelty of the sound wore off and I moved to browns for the past while.  I recently got a new CODE keyboard with clears and am just not getting used to it.  The keys are very stuff IMO, and I do get hand fatigue.  I'm wondering if its something that will pass after a while, but am really wishing I got it with browns and likely will soon.

[user 18]

So I've recently been eyeing up some new keyboards and I'm wondering what switch to get. I have used the blues in the past and really like them, the only thing I don't like is the sound. So I've been looking at cherry mx browns and clears.

I do a lot of typing and want a lot of comfort when typing and I like tactile switches so please don't recommend any linear switches please. I also do a little gaming. Such as CS and Overwatch in my sparetime and I want this to be a factor when choosing a switch as well.

Thanks for your help 

I to once had blues.  I really liked them for a while but the novelty of the sound wore off and I moved to browns for the past while.  I recently got a new CODE keyboard with clears and am just not getting used to it.  The keys are very stuff IMO, and I do get hand fatigue.  I'm wondering if its something that will pass after a while, but am really wishing I got it with browns and likely will soon.

I got my first board with clears after only having used browns and blues for a year. It took me about a week to get used to the clears, now my blues feel light and I haven't really used browns since.

[rowdy]

So I've recently been eyeing up some new keyboards and I'm wondering what switch to get. I have used the blues in the past and really like them, the only thing I don't like is the sound. So I've been looking at cherry mx browns and clears.

I do a lot of typing and want a lot of comfort when typing and I like tactile switches so please don't recommend any linear switches please. I also do a little gaming. Such as CS and Overwatch in my sparetime and I want this to be a factor when choosing a switch as well.

Thanks for your help 

I to once had blues.  I really liked them for a while but the novelty of the sound wore off and I moved to browns for the past while.  I recently got a new CODE keyboard with clears and am just not getting used to it.  The keys are very stuff IMO, and I do get hand fatigue.  I'm wondering if its something that will pass after a while, but am really wishing I got it with browns and likely will soon.

I was using blues and reds, and not liking them.

Then I moved on to mostly using blacks and greens, with the occasional dabble with buckling springs.

When I got my CODE with MX clears, I also found it a bit heavy to start with, and in fact it was the only keyboard I didn't consistently bottom out on.

Now some six months or so later, I am used to it, it may have worn in slightly, and I bottom out quite happily on it all the time.