Akko CS Radiant Red vs Cherry MX Red

The Akko CS Radiant Red and the Cherry MX Red are often cross-shopped. The main differences: stock they sound different: smooth budget linear versus neutral, slightly scratchy.

Akko CS Radiant Red Linear · 45g
Cherry MX Red Linear · 45g

Choose the Akko CS Radiant Red if

  • you want a switch popular for budget customs.
  • you want a switch popular for Akko boards.
  • you want a factory-lubed switch out of the box.

Choose the Cherry MX Red if

  • you want a switch popular for gaming.
  • you want a switch popular for prebuilts.

Akko CS Radiant Red vs Cherry MX Red, spec by spec

Akko CS Radiant RedCherry MX Red
Type Linear Linear
Compatibility Standard MX sockets Standard MX sockets
Actuation force 45g 45g
Bottom-out force n/a n/a
Pre-travel n/a 2 mm
Total travel 4 mm 4 mm
Stem n/a POM
Top housing n/a nylon
Bottom housing n/a nylon
Spring n/a single-stage
Factory lube factory lubed (stronger spec) none
Pins 5-pin 5-pin
Price / switch $0.35 $0.35
Sound profile smooth budget linear neutral, slightly scratchy
Released 2021 2008

Highlighted rows are where the two differ; a check marks the objectively stronger spec (price, battery, modability). Feel and preference rows never get a check. Fields marked n/a are unpublished by the maker; we list only verifiable numbers.

Where they sit among all 227 switches we track

Actuation force lightest heaviest
Akko CS Radiant Red 45g
Cherry MX Red 45g

22% of the 198 switches tracked here actuate lighter than the Akko CS Radiant Red; 22% of the 198 switches tracked here actuate lighter than the Cherry MX Red.

Total travel shortest longest
Akko CS Radiant Red 4 mm
Cherry MX Red 4 mm

57% of the 224 switches tracked here have shorter total travel than the Akko CS Radiant Red; 57% of the 224 switches tracked here have shorter total travel than the Cherry MX Red.

Price per switch cheapest priciest
Akko CS Radiant Red $0.35
Cherry MX Red $0.35

30% of the 193 switches tracked here cost less per switch than the Akko CS Radiant Red; 30% of the 193 switches tracked here cost less per switch than the Cherry MX Red.

Where to buy the Akko CS Radiant Red

No verified retailer link right now. Check the maker or your usual switch retailers.

Where to buy the Cherry MX Red

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