Do you prefer blue or brown swithces?

[Rufkme]

Help me decide, I'm having buyers OCD.. lol

I mostly game, type and code.

I want that cool feedback but I also want to have the fast response for games. The problem with browns is that I feel is a mediocre red and a mediocre blue switch.

[dante]

NEITHER.  Matias swithces FO LYFE

[GL1TCH3D]

I started my journey with browns and to this day I regret it. The only good that came of it was that I didn't go out and buy a brown keyboard ever again.
I enjoyed the blues I got to replace it much more but the noise was an issue and I wanted something lighter.
Ended up importing a realforce 89s from Japan (30g topre)
Enjoyed that for a year up until yesterday.

[scubaste]

I have both and I prefer browns more overall, but that is not to say that it isn't fun to make some noise on the blues occasionally.

[Jotokun]

I'm not a fan of Cherry switches that aren't linear, but between the two I'd easily say blues. Browns feel like someone put sand in a linear switch. It's not so much tactile as it is "gritty". Blues at least feel like an honest effort, even if they are cheap feeling in comparison to BS or ALPS.

[Data]

Brown.  I have Blues in my Leopold numpad and they feel fine, but are just too loud.

[Analogy]

Between the two, blues, but in clicky switches I like the green more, and tactile I prefer clear.

[MahBoi]

Of the two, blues, but I'm not much of a fan of Cherry switches other than clears.

[kohi]

overall I prefer blues over browns because of the better tactile feel, but I can't stand the click. I mean they're okay at first, but over time it gets annoying, for me at least. if you don't mind the sharp click noise, then I guess go for blues. honestly when I had browns, they felt like reds - especially when typing. the only instance where I could feel the bump was when I pressing the switch down slowly past the actuation point...

I'm guessing linear switches are out of the question? ) I would suggest reds over browns if you don't mind linear
if not, brown if you don't like noisy switches, and blues if you don't care about noise haha.

[Deadly55]

I prefer Greens over all the other switches as I'm a heavy typer. Blues/Greens are what I consider fun switches and I really enjoy the clicky noise.

[Rufkme]

overall I prefer blues over browns because of the better tactile feel, but I can't stand the click. I mean they're okay at first, but over time it gets annoying, for me at least. if you don't mind the sharp click noise, then I guess go for blues. honestly when I had browns, they felt like reds - especially when typing. the only instance where I could feel the bump was when I pressing the switch down slowly past the actuation point...

I'm guessing linear switches are out of the question? ) I would suggest reds over browns if you don't mind linear
if not, brown if you don't like noisy switches, and blues if you don't care about noise haha.

I actually have Reds, they are fine but for typing i bottom them out a lot and overall make more mistakes than with a rubber dome. For gaming they rock though. That is what Im afraid about getting the blues or browns that I will hate gaming on them due to the tactile and low reset point

[blackbox]

overall I prefer blues over browns because of the better tactile feel, but I can't stand the click. I mean they're okay at first, but over time it gets annoying, for me at least. if you don't mind the sharp click noise, then I guess go for blues. honestly when I had browns, they felt like reds - especially when typing. the only instance where I could feel the bump was when I pressing the switch down slowly past the actuation point...

I'm guessing linear switches are out of the question? ) I would suggest reds over browns if you don't mind linear
if not, brown if you don't like noisy switches, and blues if you don't care about noise haha.

I actually have Reds, they are fine but for typing i bottom them out a lot and overall make more mistakes than with a rubber dome. For gaming they rock though. That is what Im afraid about getting the blues or browns that I will hate gaming on them due to the tactile and low reset point

If you want a heavier linear switch you have mx blacks.

[Deadly55]

overall I prefer blues over browns because of the better tactile feel, but I can't stand the click. I mean they're okay at first, but over time it gets annoying, for me at least. if you don't mind the sharp click noise, then I guess go for blues. honestly when I had browns, they felt like reds - especially when typing. the only instance where I could feel the bump was when I pressing the switch down slowly past the actuation point...

I'm guessing linear switches are out of the question? ) I would suggest reds over browns if you don't mind linear
if not, brown if you don't like noisy switches, and blues if you don't care about noise haha.

I actually have Reds, they are fine but for typing i bottom them out a lot and overall make more mistakes than with a rubber dome. For gaming they rock though. That is what Im afraid about getting the blues or browns that I will hate gaming on them due to the tactile and low reset point

Personally I don't have an issue gaming on blues,greens, or browns.

[Grendel]

I actually have Reds, they are fine but for typing i bottom them out a lot and overall make more mistakes than with a rubber dome. For gaming they rock though. That is what Im afraid about getting the blues or browns that I will hate gaming on them due to the tactile and low reset point

Use the reds for gaming (why change a proven winner?), get a clicky board (MX blue, green, or white) for regular typing needs. After a lot of experimenting I settled down to gaming on a LH ErgoDox w/ browns (I can't stand linear switches) and coding on whites, all switches modified w/ clear springs.

[kohi]

I actually have Reds, they are fine but for typing i bottom them out a lot and overall make more mistakes than with a rubber dome. For gaming they rock though. That is what Im afraid about getting the blues or browns that I will hate gaming on them due to the tactile and low reset point

well, it really depends on what type of gaming. I don't really like blues for FPS because of the reset point - makes it hard to double tap, but both blues and browns are good for RTS. if I were you, I would get blues just for typing/work and use the reds for gaming as @Grendel said. if you had to stick with just one board, browns would be okay, but since you already have reds - I'd go with blues.

[Oobly]

I would have recommended Browns a while back since you want to game and type / code with them, but more recently discovered that Clears are fantastic for both tasks! The larger tactile bump gives really nice feedback when typing and it also acts as a reference for the actuation point and a backstop on the upstroke for gaming, so you can double tap or hover without releasing the switch past the bump.

tldr; MX Clears FTW!

[ynrozturk]

I have both and I prefer browns more overall, but that is not to say that it isn't fun to make some noise on the blues occasionally.

Pretty much this.

[rowdy]

No.

I'd suggest blacks (the smoother the better) or greens.

Some people have trouble double-tapping with blues and greens.  I do not, you might

[frosty]

No linear love?

I personally love reds, but I am getting my vintage blacks soon so I'm probably end up loving them more!

[Lurch]

Out of the two, I prefer blues. No question.

[AverageHybrid]

Depends on which one you feel is more important; typing, coding or gaming. Also depends on which kinds of games you play like RTS games or FPS. I personally have only owned the blues and is considering the Reds or Browns. If you are going for coding and typing more I suggest Blues if you don't mind the bump as they are more accurate to type on (for me) and they feel better although you might not like the click sound. The browns are a good choice as they are in the middle, they have the actuation force of reds and the tactile feel slightly similiar to the blues. My suggestion is if you do coding and typing more go for the blues. You have to go down to a shop to try them personally though. Some people type just as fine on Reds and actually prefer reds for typing and gaming so I guess it's up to which task you pioritize for your keyboard.

[azhdar]

clear > black > green > blue > red > dirty red (aka brown )

[absyrd]

Blues plate-mounted.
Browns I can only be satisfied with PCB-mounted.

I'm odd.

[Hypersphere]

I wish I could like Cherry mx switches, but I have tried most of them and have yet to find one that I like.

My favorite switches are IBM capacitive buckling springs (IBM AT and XT) and Topre 55g (Realforce 87u 55g).

Blues are like typing on rice crispies. Greens sound and feel somewhat better than blues to me.

Browns feel gritty to me; clears even more so.

Now I am considering the linears (reds or blacks), but given that I like the definite tactile feedback from a collapsing rubber dome in Topres or a collapsing spring in an IBM capacitive buckling spring, I doubt that I will enjoy a purely linear switch.

If you are committed to choosing between just Cherry mx blues or browns (or any switch for that matter), it will come down to your preference. Blues provide both some tactility and auditory feedback; browns provide some tactility. Blues are slightly heavier than browns.

[Defect]

Just an opinion but for me

ALPS Click > MX Click by far
Clears > browns

Between the two (tactile vs. click) it's about your keyboard use.  I prefer click for typing but tactile is a much better all purpose switch.

[pr0ximity]

I've typed on both and prefer Reds, for what it's worth. IMO they're nice to type and game on. With o-rings you avoid any harsh bottoming out, though you get a very nice clack without them. They're a very "no nonsense" experience.

[robertsig]

MX Clears modded with Originative 65g springs.  Best switch ever.

[ADFX_Pixy]

I only tried Blues and that's what I got. Do I regret not researching on the other switches? Nah *clickclickclickclick*

[noisyturtle]

If I had to choose between just those, I'd go with browns.

[katushkin]

If I had to choose between just those, I'd go with browns.

Definitely.

If these are your only two options, I would pick browns. Clears are a better version of browns, and greens are a better version of blues. I don't like blues all that much, but I LOVE greens. I also love both browns and clears.

[Polymer]

Help me decide, I'm having buyers OCD.. lol

I mostly game, type and code.

I want that cool feedback but I also want to have the fast response for games. The problem with browns is that I feel is a mediocre red and a mediocre blue switch.

Most people will game fine on blues..some people don't like the difference in reset and actuation...The only real issue with blues (or not an issue for some) is the noise..if you don't mind it or are in an environment that doesn't mind the noise then they're great.

Browns feel great as well...If you press them slowly, yes, they feel gritty...but when you're using them they have pretty decent tactility and it feels fine..it doesn't feel at all like a "dirty" red...

They'll also offer a bit more resistance than reds while typing which is a good thing (it is significantly more).  Basically it requires 55g to get over the tactile bump...whereas reds are linear up to actuation at 45g....at the same point in the switch, brown is 55g (tactile bump) and reds are 40g...so they actually feel significantly different from each other....

[jacobolus]

Relatively common clicky switches I prefer to MX blue: Model F, Model M, Alps (blue/white), Alps plate spring, Matias clicky, Alps-mount amber Omrons, Alps-mount blue SMKs (and other clicky SMKs), Hi-Tek black “space invaders”, NEC switches. [Plus plenty of other more obscure switches.]

Relatively common tactile (non-clicky) switches I prefer to MX brown: Matias quiet, Alps (orange/salmon/brown/tactile green), Alps-mount white SMKs (and other tactile SMKs), Topre. [Plus various more obscure switches.]

[Roibhilin]

browns>blues
blues just feel cheap and "plasticky" to me and the noise gets annoying after a while esp. if you're using a mic
browns are my favorite so far but i'm considering making them into ergo clears

[Hypersphere]

Relatively common clicky switches I prefer to MX blue: Model F, Model M, Alps (blue/white), Alps plate spring, Matias clicky, Alps-mount amber Omrons, Alps-mount blue SMKs (and other clicky SMKs), Hi-Tek black “space invaders”, NEC switches. [Plus plenty of other more obscure switches.]

Relatively common tactile (non-clicky) switches I prefer to MX brown: Matias quiet, Alps (orange/salmon/brown/tactile green), Alps-mount white SMKs (and other tactile SMKs), Topre. [Plus various more obscure switches.]

Your switch preferences are almost identical to mine.

Which keyboard do you have that has Orange Alps? I have an old Magnavox VideoWriter keyboard with Orange Alps that I bought from eBay out of curiosity. I really like the feel of the switches -- they are Topre-like, in that they have a collapse point after which the force drops until bottoming out. The keyboard has a connector like a telephone handset. I would like to find a way to convert it to USB, although the layout presents some challenges with finding suitable modifiers, and the CapsLock physically locks into place -- I would prefer this to be a regular key that I could use as Control.

In any case, Orange Alps feel quite good -- I certainly prefer them to Cherry mx blue or brown, or any Cherry mx switch for that matter. Even so, my favorites are IBM capacitive buckling springs, like those in the IBM XT keyboard, and Topre 55g, as in the RF 87u 55g.

Back to the OP's question, if I had to choose between Cherry mx blue or brown, I would probably choose brown.

[ksm123]

If these were the only choices I would choose browns.

My first mechanical keyboard was blue (Razer Blackwidow), I've never got used to it.
This is because I got blank Das Keyboard with brown switches, and used it at work. It was very good keyboard, and its browns were terrific. I loved the feel of this switch, after a month of getting used to it, it became pure pleasure to use it (without bottoming it out at speed).

Now a days I use Ergodox with ergo-clears at work, it is superb keyboard (if you have hands large enough to use its thumb clusters without harming your thumb tendons).
Because of clear and brown shortages near end of previous year, when I ordered my second Ergodox, I gave blues second chance. To this day I regret it. Ergodox with blues sucks :-(
The thing I hate the most about blues is: they become a little stiff before 'click', and very soft just after 'click', as a result I bottom them out almost everytime. Browns are much easier not to bottom out (for me, YMMV).

[RED-404]

It its my only choice blue, browns feel broken to me.
Edit: I may have had bad luck with the MX Brown keyboard I tried.

[PointyFox]

Relatively common clicky switches I prefer to MX blue: Model F, Model M, Alps (blue/white), Alps plate spring, Matias clicky, Alps-mount amber Omrons, Alps-mount blue SMKs (and other clicky SMKs), Hi-Tek black “space invaders”, NEC switches. [Plus plenty of other more obscure switches.]

Relatively common tactile (non-clicky) switches I prefer to MX brown: Matias quiet, Alps (orange/salmon/brown/tactile green), Alps-mount white SMKs (and other tactile SMKs), Topre. [Plus various more obscure switches.]

Your switch preferences are almost identical to mine.

Which keyboard do you have that has Orange Alps? I have an old Magnavox VideoWriter keyboard with Orange Alps that I bought from eBay out of curiosity. I really like the feel of the switches -- they are Topre-like, in that they have a collapse point after which the force drops until bottoming out. The keyboard has a connector like a telephone handset. I would like to find a way to convert it to USB, although the layout presents some challenges with finding suitable modifiers, and the CapsLock physically locks into place -- I would prefer this to be a regular key that I could use as Control.

In any case, Orange Alps feel quite good -- I certainly prefer them to Cherry mx blue or brown, or any Cherry mx switch for that matter. Even so, my favorites are IBM capacitive buckling springs, like those in the IBM XT keyboard, and Topre 55g, as in the RF 87u 55g.

Back to the OP's question, if I had to choose between Cherry mx blue or brown, I would probably choose brown.

I agree with these switch preferences.

[epzy]

Blue>Brown by far!

[noisyturtle]

blues just feel cheap and "plasticky" to me and the noise gets annoying after a while esp. if you're using a mic

Oh yes, there was someone in my WoW guild who gamed on blues and kept his mic on speak to talk. Let's just say it got real annoying real fast.

[Fragil1ty]

Help me decide, I'm having buyers OCD.. lol

I mostly game, type and code.

I want that cool feedback but I also want to have the fast response for games. The problem with browns is that I feel is a mediocre red and a mediocre blue switch.

Reds ftw.

[Hypersphere]

Since posting in this thread, I completed an experiment with changing keycaps and installing O-rings on a Kul ES-87 with mx clear switches. Before changing the caps and installing the O-rings, I was convinced that I did not like any Cherry mx switch, least of all mx clears. However, after changing the caps and installing the O-rings, I found that the mx clears were not only tolerable, but they have become my favorite Cherry mx switch. While I still prefer the feel of IBM capacitive buckling springs and Topre switches, the Kul ES-87 with mx clears is a solid board, and my accuracy and speed on it are even better than on my Topre and IBM boards.

I've posted a review of the Kul ES-87, which includes a detailed comparison of force-displacement curves for Cherry, IBM, and Topre switches:

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=63305.0

[johndavis33]

Browns < reds < blues <<<< blacks < clears < greens = whites

[PointyFox]

Browns < reds < blues <<<< blacks < clears < greens = whites

metal foil < metal dome < MY < buckling spring < greens < ML < reds = blues = whites < browns < rubber dome <  blacks < clears < vintage blacks < Topre

[jacobolus]

Relatively common clicky switches I prefer to MX blue: Model F, Model M, Alps (blue/white), Alps plate spring, Matias clicky, Alps-mount amber Omrons, Alps-mount blue SMKs (and other clicky SMKs), Hi-Tek black “space invaders”, NEC switches. [Plus plenty of other more obscure switches.]

Relatively common tactile (non-clicky) switches I prefer to MX brown: Matias quiet, Alps (orange/salmon/brown/tactile green), Alps-mount white SMKs (and other tactile SMKs), Topre. [Plus various more obscure switches.]

Your switch preferences are almost identical to mine.

Which keyboard do you have that has Orange Alps? [...] I really like the feel of the switches -- they are Topre-like, in that they have a collapse point after which the force drops until bottoming out.

I have several old Apple keyboards with orange Alps switches.

I don’t really think orange Alps switches feel especially like Topre though. Actually, I don’t personally enjoy Topre especially much. I like them better than MX brown, but that’s a low bar.

Even so, my favorites are IBM capacitive buckling springs, like those in the IBM XT keyboard, and Topre 55g, as in the RF 87u 55g.

Other switches you might enjoy: brown Alps (these are as close as it gets to 55g Topre among Alps switches IMO, though still fairly different), Alps plate spring, Matias quiet switches.

[davkol]

No. I don't prefer blue or brown switches, i.e. I don't prefer blue switches and I don't prefer brown switches (De Morgan's laws).

I have extremely sensitive hearing; high-pitched click of MX Blue, scratchy bump of new stock MX Brown and the sound of bottoming out hard annoy the hell out of me. Tactility and especially springs of these particular switches don't help against bottoming out. I can tolerate either, provided they're properly lubed, broken-in and used with soft-landing pads and thick non-ABS keycaps, and I'm wearing headphones while typing.

OTOH linear MX or stock MX Clear switches are a different story, although I still demand good keycaps and lubrication if possible.

[wes1099]

Blues are 3 loud 5 me. Stock browns are 3 light 5 me.

[user 18]

I don't like browns all that much, but they're still nicer to use than linear switches, IMO. Clears are much nicer if you can get used to the heavier springs or do an ergo mod -- they're a lot more tactile, and tactility is what I seem to like in my switches.

Blues are good. I've never had any real issues with them in casual FPS, but when I play more serious matches, I have been asked to change my keyboard so they aren't heard over voice chat. I have occasionally missed a press with them that I wouldn't have missed with my browns or clears, but only rarely. Other issue I've had with blues is that if people are trying to sleep in the same room, I can't use that board.

For typing/coding, I prefer blues immensely to browns, although now that I've used clears for a while I'm wanting to mod them with heavier springs and make greens.

My personal recommendation would be to use blues, but it all comes down to what you prefer. The best option is always to see if you can borrow a keyboard and try it out for a period of time (a week maybe). Or if you're lucky enough to live near a store that would allow you to return or exchange a board, you could try buying a board with blues, and later exchanging it for the browns if you find you don't enjoy the blues or are having trouble with them.

[frowni]

Have them all..browns are so boring. Green all the way!

[ynrozturk]

I don't browns boring at all, it's switch that is pretty much good for everything. If you do a lot of typing I think they're even better than blues. The sound becomes too much after a while and the feeling isn't that great either.

And clears. I love clears.

[C5Allroad]

If you're having trouble choosing. Maxkeyboard has a switch test with 8 types of switches, blue, brown, black, red, green, grey, white and clear.
If you end up not liking the switch you choose, you can sell it here on the classifieds.
Out of browns and blues, I chose browns because I don't want to wake up parents...
Now people call me crazy about this, but am I the only one who barely noticed a difference between browns and blues other than some more crisp typing. They both felt the same in terms of weight, and tactile feel. I've typed on blues from a BWU and a das keyboard. So I don't really know if I'm just crazy or what