Cherry MX Black vs Kailh Box Black
The Cherry MX Black and the Kailh Box Black are often cross-shopped. The main differences: travel is 4 mm on the Cherry MX Black and 3.6 mm on the Kailh Box Black; stock they sound different: deep, muted versus firm, muted; the Kailh Box Black costs less per switch ($0.30 versus $0.35).
- Cheaper per switchKailh Box Black$0.30 versus $0.35
Choose the Cherry MX Black if
- you want a switch popular for vintage feel.
- you want a switch popular for spring swaps.
Choose the Kailh Box Black if
- you want a switch popular for durability.
- you want to spend less per switch.
Cherry MX Black vs Kailh Box Black, spec by spec
| Cherry MX Black | Kailh Box Black | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Linear | Linear |
| Compatibility | Standard MX sockets | Standard MX sockets |
| Actuation force | 60g | 60g |
| Bottom-out force | n/a | n/a |
| Pre-travel | 2 mm | 1.8 mm |
| Total travel | 4 mm | 3.6 mm |
| Stem | POM | POM |
| Top housing | nylon | PC |
| Bottom housing | nylon | nylon |
| Spring | single-stage | single-stage |
| Factory lube | none | none |
| Pins | 5-pin | 3-pin |
| Price / switch | $0.35 | $0.30 (stronger spec) |
| Sound profile | deep, muted | firm, muted |
| Released | 1984 | 2017 |
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 Fields marked n/a are unpublished by the maker; we list only verifiable numbers.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
82% of the 198 switches tracked here actuate lighter than the Cherry MX Black; 82% of the 198 switches tracked here actuate lighter than the Kailh Box Black.
57% of the 224 switches tracked here have shorter total travel than the Cherry MX Black; 34% of the 224 switches tracked here have shorter total travel than the Kailh Box Black.
30% of the 193 switches tracked here cost less per switch than the Cherry MX Black; 24% of the 193 switches tracked here cost less per switch than the Kailh Box Black.
Where to buy the Cherry MX Black
Where to buy the Kailh Box Black
No verified retailer link right now. Check the maker or your usual switch retailers.
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