KiiwiCherry MX Red vs Brown vs Blue sound
The three classic Cherry switches, one of each feel: the Red is linear, the Brown is tactile and the Blue is clicky. Type below and switch between them to hear the difference.
Type the words below, then switch above. Headphones make the difference obvious.
The short answer
The Red is the quietest and smoothest, the Brown adds a soft bump you feel more than hear, and the Blue clicks on every press. If you share a room, the Red or the Brown; if you want the classic loud mechanical keyboard, the Blue.
Cherry MX Red: smooth and light
The MX Red is a light 45cN linear with no bump and no click, so presses come quickly and evenly. On ABS keycaps it sounds bright and a little clacky, with a crisp bottom-out. Almost all of its sound is the key hitting the bottom.
Cherry MX Brown: a gentle bump
The MX Brown has a small bump partway down and no click. You feel the bump more than you hear it, so it sounds close to a linear, just slightly busier. That's why it's so often recommended as a first mechanical switch for an office. Kiiwi has it recorded stock and on ABS and PBT keycaps: ABS sounds higher, PBT more muted.
Cherry MX Blue: the click
The MX Blue has a click jacket that snaps as the key goes down, so every press makes a sharp click on top of the bottom-out. It's the switch most people picture when they think of a loud mechanical keyboard. On ABS keycaps the click is sharper; on PBT it's slightly softer.
New to switch types? Start with linear vs tactile vs clicky.
At a glance
| Cherry MX Red | Cherry MX Brown | Cherry MX Blue | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Linear | Tactile | Clicky |
| Bump | None | Gentle | Yes, with the click |
| Click | No | No | Yes |
| Loudness | Quietest | Quiet | Loud |
Questions
Which is quieter, Cherry MX Red or Brown?
Both are quiet, since neither has a click. The Red is the quieter of the two: it has no bump, so nearly all of its sound is the bottom-out. The Brown's bump adds a little more to each press.
Is Cherry MX Blue too loud for an office?
Often, yes. The Blue clicks on every press, and the click carries across a room. In an office the Red or the Brown is the safer pick. With Kiiwi the sound plays in your headphones, so you can use the Blue without anyone else hearing it.
Which Cherry MX switch is best for typing?
It comes down to feel. The Brown is the common middle ground: a bump that tells you the key registered, without the noise of a click. The Red suits people who like smooth, light presses, and the Blue suits people who like the click.
Can I hear the Red, Brown and Blue on my Mac without buying a keyboard?
Yes. Kiiwi plays all three, 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