Switches


1	Switch Branding	Switch Name	Actuation Force (cN)	Linear	Tactile bump	Tactile click	Full travel distance (mm)	Actuation distance (mm)	Notes

2	ALPS	Simplified Black	60		✔		3.5	?	ALPS are commonly found in older keyboards. There are many, many other varieties of ALPS switches that won't be covered here due to relative rarity compared to modern switch types e.g. Cherry MX.
3	ALPS	Complicated Black	70		✔		3.5	?
4	ALPS	White	60 - 70			✔	3.5	?
5	Cherry MX	Red	45	✔			4	2.2 ± 0.6	These are the four most common types of Cherry MX switch
6	Cherry MX	Black	60	✔			4	2.2 ± 0.6
7	Cherry MX	Brown	45		✔		4	2.2 ± 0.6
8	Cherry MX	Blue	50			✔	4	2.2 ± 0.6
9	Cherry MX	Clear	55		✔		4	2.2 ± 0.6	Less common than the main 4, but the range of available boards with these switches is getting larger
10	Cherry MX	Green	80			✔	4	2.2 ± 0.6
11	Cherry MX	White	80			✔	4	2.2 ± 0.6
12	Cherry MX	Tactile Grey	80		✔		4	2.2 ± 0.6	Rare
13	Cherry MX	Linear Grey	80	✔			4	2.2 ± 0.6	Rare
14	Cherry MX	Super Black	150	✔			4	2.2 ± 0.6	Very rare
15	Cherry MX (DIY)	Ergo Clear	~50		✔		4	2.2 ± 0.6	Made by combining the stem from an MX Clear with the spring from an MX Brown. Results in a switch similar to an MX Brown, but with a much more pronounced tactile bump.
16	Cherry MX (DIY)	Panda Clear	~60		✔		4	2.2 ± 0.6	Made by combining the stem from an MX Clear with the spring from an MX Black. Results in a switch akin to a heavier MX Clear.
17	Cherry MX (DIY)	Ghetto Green	~50			✔	4	2.2 ± 0.6	Made by combining the stem from an MX Blue with the spring from an MX Black. Results in a heavy(ish) clicky switch as a lighter alternative to an MX Green.
18	Gateron	Clear	35	✔			4	2.2 ± 0.6	Very light linear switch with no Cherry MX counterpart.
19	Gateron	Red	45	✔			4	2.2 ± 0.6	Clone of their Cherry MX counterpart.
20	Gateron	Black	50	✔			4	2.2 ± 0.6
21	Gateron	Brown	45		✔		4	2.2 ± 0.6
22	Gateron	Blue	55			✔	4	2.2 ± 0.6
23	Gateron	Zealio Purple	62, 65 or 67		✔		4	2.2 ± 0.6	Collaboration between Zeal PC and Gateron. Available with several different springs.
24	Gateron	Zealio Clear	62, 65 or 67	✔			4	2.2 ± 0.6
25	Kailh/ Kaihua	Red	50	✔			4	2.2 ± 0.6	Physical clones of Cherry MX switches
26	Kailh/ Kaihua	Black	60	✔			4	2.2 ± 0.6
27	Kailh/ Kaihua	Brown	60		✔		4	2.2 ± 0.6
28	Kailh/ Kaihua	Blue	60			✔	4	2.2 ± 0.6
29	Razer (produced by Kailh/ Kaihua)	Green	50			✔	4	1.9 ± 0.4	'Improved' version of the Cherry MX Blue, with a shallower actuation distance, less hysteresis and longer laverage ife span.
30	Razer (produced by Kailh/ Kaihua)	Orange	45		✔		4	1.9 ± 0.4	'Improved' version of the Cherry MX Brown, with a shallower actuation distance and longer average life span.
31	Topre	30g	30g		✔		4	~ 2	Not quite as common as heavier Topre switches
32	Topre	35g	35g		✔		4	~ 2	Not quite as common as heavier Topre switches
33	Topre	45g	45g		✔		4	~ 2	Commonly found on RealForce and CM Novatouch boards.
34	Topre	55g	55g		✔		4	~ 2	Commonly found on RealForce boards.