Cherry MX Clones and their equivalent MX Switches

[Dihedral]

With all the MX Clones about right now, the different colours used by them can be confusing. Therefore, I'm compiling a list of Cherry MX Switches and their equivalent clones. Here it is so far: any extra information / feedback is greatly appreciated.

Note: Gateron actuation forces are not yet totally agreed on.

[Zeal]

There's a Gateron Red that's supposed to be the same as MX Reds. Clear Gaterons are in their own tier. )

The Gateron Black & Blues are supposed to have the same actuating weight as Cherry MX Reds as well.

[Dihedral]

There's a Gateron Red that's supposed to be the same as MX Reds. Clear Gaterons are in their own tier. )

The Gateron Black & Blues are supposed to have the same actuating weight as Cherry MX Reds as well.

I'm just using what I found on the page for hwood's Gateron IC

[Defect]

I thought Kailh was very close to their cherry counterparts? 

Also I believe clear springs have the same actuation force (slightly lighter actually) than MX black.  Or is this the entire switch (rather than spring only), including stem?

[hwood34]

There's a Gateron Red that's supposed to be the same as MX Reds. Clear Gaterons are in their own tier. )

The Gateron Black & Blues are supposed to have the same actuating weight as Cherry MX Reds as well.

I'm just using what I found on the page for hwood's Gateron IC

well, I could be wrong, where did you find the weights out Zeal?

And yeah, you could add Gateron Reds to the light linear category

[Dihedral]

There's a Gateron Red that's supposed to be the same as MX Reds. Clear Gaterons are in their own tier. )

The Gateron Black & Blues are supposed to have the same actuating weight as Cherry MX Reds as well.

I'm just using what I found on the page for hwood's Gateron IC

well, I could be wrong, where did you find the weights out Zeal?

And yeah, you could add Gateron Reds to the light linear category

Gateron reds are 45cN?

[hwood34]

There's a Gateron Red that's supposed to be the same as MX Reds. Clear Gaterons are in their own tier. )

The Gateron Black & Blues are supposed to have the same actuating weight as Cherry MX Reds as well.

I'm just using what I found on the page for hwood's Gateron IC

well, I could be wrong, where did you find the weights out Zeal?

And yeah, you could add Gateron Reds to the light linear category

Gateron reds are 45cN?

Yup

[Dihedral]

There's a Gateron Red that's supposed to be the same as MX Reds. Clear Gaterons are in their own tier. )

The Gateron Black & Blues are supposed to have the same actuating weight as Cherry MX Reds as well.

I'm just using what I found on the page for hwood's Gateron IC

well, I could be wrong, where did you find the weights out Zeal?

And yeah, you could add Gateron Reds to the light linear category

Gateron reds are 45cN?

Yup

Clears must be ridiculously light!

[hwood34]

There's a Gateron Red that's supposed to be the same as MX Reds. Clear Gaterons are in their own tier. )

The Gateron Black & Blues are supposed to have the same actuating weight as Cherry MX Reds as well.

I'm just using what I found on the page for hwood's Gateron IC

well, I could be wrong, where did you find the weights out Zeal?

And yeah, you could add Gateron Reds to the light linear category

Gateron reds are 45cN?

Yup

Clears must be ridiculously light!

Yeah I'm not sure how they can even be comfortable to use

[Dihedral]

Updated!

[Hyde]

Man I was thinking the other day that there seems to be getting more and more third party switches and it's getting confusing now, would be nice if someone can compile a list.

Then I woke up today and voila !  Here it is.  Good job dude ! 

And based on what I've tried/heard, sounds like Kailh Red/Gateron Black (50cn) hits the perfect sweet spot for linear switches. (Since MX Red is too light and MX Black is too heavy)

[Zeal]

Here's the product catalog for their V1 switches:



Blue/Black are "60gf"
Brown is "55gf"
Red is "45gf"
Gray/white (what we know as clear) stem is listed at 70 & 80gf. On another picture of their V1 catalog, "clear" stem was supposed to be "customizable" stem for ODM purposes.


There was also a limited production run of 150g (actuation?) linears in V1 clear housings.

[Dihedral]

Here's the product catalog for their V1 switches:

Show Image

Blue/Black are "60gf"
Brown is "55gf"
Red is "45gf"
Gray/white (what we know as clear) stem is listed at 70 & 80gf. On another picture of their V1 catalog, "clear" stem was supposed to be "customizable" stem for ODM purposes.


There was also a limited production run of 150g (actuation?) linears in V1 clear housings.

Show Image

Show Image

Now I'm confused... clears are actually heavy linears?

[Zeal]

Here's the product catalog for their V1 switches:

Show Image

Blue/Black are "60gf"
Brown is "55gf"
Red is "45gf"
Gray/white (what we know as clear) stem is listed at 70 & 80gf. On another picture of their V1 catalog, "clear" stem was supposed to be "customizable" stem for ODM purposes.


There was also a limited production run of 150g (actuation?) linears in V1 clear housings.

Show Image

Show Image

Now I'm confused... clears are actually heavy linears?

No. That's just what's stated in the catalog. I'm guessing Gateron decided to use 35gs for clears instead.

[Dihedral]

Here's the product catalog for their V1 switches:

Show Image

Blue/Black are "60gf"
Brown is "55gf"
Red is "45gf"
Gray/white (what we know as clear) stem is listed at 70 & 80gf. On another picture of their V1 catalog, "clear" stem was supposed to be "customizable" stem for ODM purposes.


There was also a limited production run of 150g (actuation?) linears in V1 clear housings.

Show Image

Show Image

Now I'm confused... clears are actually heavy linears?

No. That's just what's stated in the catalog. I'm guessing Gateron decided to use 35gs for clears instead.

Ah OK.

[TheO-RingGuys]

Thanks for the chart. It's actually very interesting.. I never knew Razer's orange switches were basically MX Browns with a different name. :S

[jabbon]

can't wait to try the gateron clears . buttery smooth light linear switch.

[bigDave]

I really want to try some of the rip off switches to see how different they are and if  I can feel the difference.

[Nai_Calus]

Clears must be ridiculously light!

Insanely. I ended up getting a board with them at a meetup yesterday and I'm almost convinced I could actuate them with a strong breath. Typing on them I get a lot of errors, but I'm used to blues which are both heavier and obviously the whole tactile clicking thing.

Yeah I'm not sure how they can even be comfortable to use

Well it depends on how you define comfort. The crazy lightness is actually really comfortable to use since keypresses take almost no force so getting tired would be nearly impossible, but it's a little awkward and you really have to watch what you're doing to not typo everywhere.

I really want to try some of the rip off switches to see how different they are and if  I can feel the difference.

I've seen Gateron clears, reds, blacks, and blues. I didn't play with the reds/blacks much because I prefer tactile switches to linear. Red felt about the same, black seemed a little lighter. Blue is a little harder to compare ATM because I just have a lose blue switch with a keycap on it at the moment, but it does feel a bit different from the blues on my monoprice. Maybe a little higher and faster on the click, and the click sounds a bit sharper and higher pitched. Hard to tell without mounting it on something though. Clear doesn't have an MX equivalent.

[hwood34]

Yeah I'm not sure how they can even be comfortable to use

Well it depends on how you define comfort. The crazy lightness is actually really comfortable to use since keypresses take almost no force so getting tired would be nearly impossible, but it's a little awkward and you really have to watch what you're doing to not typo everywhere.

Well, I was thinking more along the lines of "it would hurt to bottom out that much"

I really want to try some of the rip off switches to see how different they are and if  I can feel the difference.

I've seen Gateron clears, reds, blacks, and blues. I didn't play with the reds/blacks much because I prefer tactile switches to linear. Red felt about the same, black seemed a little lighter. Blue is a little harder to compare ATM because I just have a lose blue switch with a keycap on it at the moment, but it does feel a bit different from the blues on my monoprice. Maybe a little higher and faster on the click, and the click sounds a bit sharper and higher pitched. Hard to tell without mounting it on something though. Clear doesn't have an MX equivalent.

The blues definitely have a much higher actuation, like a full mm.

[Dihedral]

Clears must be ridiculously light!

Insanely. I ended up getting a board with them at a meetup yesterday and I'm almost convinced I could actuate them with a strong breath. Typing on them I get a lot of errors, but I'm used to blues which are both heavier and obviously the whole tactile clicking thing.

Yeah I'm not sure how they can even be comfortable to use

Well it depends on how you define comfort. The crazy lightness is actually really comfortable to use since keypresses take almost no force so getting tired would be nearly impossible, but it's a little awkward and you really have to watch what you're doing to not typo everywhere.

I really want to try some of the rip off switches to see how different they are and if  I can feel the difference.

I've seen Gateron clears, reds, blacks, and blues. I didn't play with the reds/blacks much because I prefer tactile switches to linear. Red felt about the same, black seemed a little lighter. Blue is a little harder to compare ATM because I just have a lose blue switch with a keycap on it at the moment, but it does feel a bit different from the blues on my monoprice. Maybe a little higher and faster on the click, and the click sounds a bit sharper and higher pitched. Hard to tell without mounting it on something though. Clear doesn't have an MX equivalent.

Interesting. The closest switch ive felt to clears is probably a  matias quiet click.

[werear]

I wanted to try kailh red switch if TT esports were offering Poseidon ZX (Red switch). I read Kailh switch are actually better feeling than cherry. Also I'm personaly not so impressed with cherry's quality. It's fine quality but not significantly good. Say, stiff backspace caused by uneven cherry stabilizer beneath left-side and right-side, noisy rattling spacebar, squeaky spring in the random switches (the switches would be fully functional but give ordinary quality impression), etc.