ASUS ROG RX vs Cherry MX Red
The ASUS ROG RX and the Cherry MX Red are often cross-shopped. The main differences: they are not interchangeable: the ASUS ROG RX is a proprietary ASUS ROG optical switch that only fits keyboards built for it, not the standard MX hot-swap sockets the Cherry MX Red uses; stock they sound different: optical rog linear versus neutral, slightly scratchy.
Choose the ASUS ROG RX if
- you want a switch popular for ROG keyboards.
- you want a switch popular for optical gaming.
Choose the Cherry MX Red if
- you want a switch popular for gaming.
- you want a switch popular for prebuilts.
ASUS ROG RX vs Cherry MX Red, spec by spec
| ASUS ROG RX | Cherry MX Red | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Linear | Linear |
| Compatibility | ASUS ROG optical boards only | Standard MX sockets |
| Actuation force | 45g | 45g |
| Bottom-out force | n/a | n/a |
| Pre-travel | 1.5 mm | 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 | n/a | none |
| Pins | n/a | 5-pin |
| Price / switch | n/a | $0.35 |
| Sound profile | optical ROG 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 Fields marked n/a are unpublished by the maker; we list only verifiable numbers.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
22% of the 198 switches tracked here actuate lighter than the ASUS ROG RX; 22% of the 198 switches tracked here actuate lighter than the Cherry MX Red.
57% of the 224 switches tracked here have shorter total travel than the ASUS ROG RX; 57% of the 224 switches tracked here have shorter total travel than the Cherry MX Red.
30% of the 193 switches tracked here cost less per switch than the Cherry MX Red.
Where to buy the ASUS ROG RX
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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