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Cherry MX Brown vs Gateron Brown sound

Two gentle tactiles from the two biggest switch makers. Both have a small bump and no click. Type below and switch between them.

Type the words below, then switch above. Headphones make the difference obvious.

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The short answer

Both are soft, quiet tactiles that sound close to a linear. The Gateron Brown is the lighter of the two, one of the lightest tactiles in Kiiwi's library.

Cherry MX Brown

Cherry's gentle tactile: a small bump partway down and no click, felt more than heard. On ABS keycaps it's higher pitched; on PBT more muted.

Gateron Brown

Gateron's gentle tactile, lighter than Cherry's. A small, soft bump and no click, with a quiet sound close to a linear's. It's one of the easiest tactiles to live with in a shared room.

At a glance

Cherry MX BrownGateron Brown
TypeTactileTactile
BumpGentleGentle, lighter
ClickNoNo
RecordingsStock, ABS, PBTOne

Questions

Is Gateron Brown lighter than Cherry MX Brown?

Yes. The Gateron Brown is lighter, and it's one of the lightest tactiles in Kiiwi's library.

Which is quieter?

Both are quiet, with a soft bump and no click. Type the same words on each above to hear the difference.

Are Brown switches good for an office?

Yes. Their bump is gentle and there's no click, so they're among the easiest mechanical switches to use around other people.

Can I hear the Cherry MX Brown and Gateron Brown on my Mac?

Yes. Kiiwi plays the Cherry MX Brown and Gateron Brown, recorded from real switches, under the keyboard you already own, from the menu bar, in every app.

Get these sounds on your Mac

Kiiwi has all 38 recordings, these included, and plays them under the keyboard you already own. In your headphones or on your speakers, from the menu bar. $4.99 once.

Download for macOS
One-time purchasemacOS Sonoma 14.0 or laterApple silicon & Intel