Silent linearLinear feel with internal dampeners that hush the bottom-out. Good for shared spaces.Cherry
Image courtesy of Cherry
The Cherry MX Silent Red is a 45g linear with integrated rubber dampeners on the stem that cut both bottom-out and upstroke noise, making it the standard quiet-office pick.
Cherry MX Silent Red specs
TypeLinear feel with internal dampeners that hush the bottom-out. Good for shared spaces.
Silent linear
Actuation forceForce (in grams) needed to register a keypress; lower feels lighter and faster.
45g
Bottom-out forceForce (in grams) to press the key all the way to the bottom.
n/a
Pre-travelDistance (mm) the key moves before it actuates.
1.9 mm
Total travelFull travel (mm) from rest to fully pressed, usually about 3.5–4 mm.
3.7 mm
Stem
POM with dampeners
Top housing
nylon
Bottom housing
nylon
Spring
single-stage
Factory lubeWhether the maker pre-lubricates the switch to smooth travel and refine the sound.
none
Pins3-pin (plate-mount) or 5-pin (PCB-mount). Most hot-swap boards accept both; 5-pin may need its legs clipped.
5-pin
Typical priceTypical price for a single switch; a keyboard needs roughly 60–100+.
$0.45 / switch
Sound profile
hushed, dampened
Released
2016
Spec fields marked n/a are unpublished by the maker; we list only verifiable numbers rather than guesses.
Unverified: specs compiled from manufacturer listings
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18 keyboards in the database list this as a stock switch.
Which keyboards can use it?
Any hot-swap board with standard MX sockets accepts the Cherry MX Silent Red (5-pin: check that your plate or PCB supports 5-pin, or clip the legs). Use compare boards side by side to shortlist hot-swap boards that fit your budget and size, or browse the keyboard database.
