Cherry MX Blue vs Kailh Box White
The Cherry MX Blue and the Kailh Box White are often cross-shopped. The main differences: the Kailh Box White is lighter to actuate (45g versus 60g); travel is 4 mm on the Cherry MX Blue and 3.6 mm on the Kailh Box White; stock they sound different: sharp, jingly click versus crisp, clicky.
- Cheaper per switchKailh Box White$0.30 versus $0.35
Choose the Cherry MX Blue if
- you want a switch popular for typists.
- you want a heavier, more deliberate press (60g).
Choose the Kailh Box White if
- you want a switch popular for budget builds.
- you want a lighter keystroke (45g).
- you want to spend less per switch.
Cherry MX Blue vs Kailh Box White, spec by spec
| Cherry MX Blue | Kailh Box White | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Clicky | Clicky |
| Compatibility | Standard MX sockets | Standard MX sockets |
| Actuation force | 60g | 45g |
| Bottom-out force | n/a | n/a |
| Pre-travel | 2.2 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 | sharp, jingly click | crisp, clicky |
| Released | 1987 | 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 Fields marked n/a are unpublished by the maker; we list only verifiable numbers.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 Blue; 22% of the 198 switches tracked here actuate lighter than the Kailh Box White.
57% of the 224 switches tracked here have shorter total travel than the Cherry MX Blue; 34% of the 224 switches tracked here have shorter total travel than the Kailh Box White.
30% of the 193 switches tracked here cost less per switch than the Cherry MX Blue; 24% of the 193 switches tracked here cost less per switch than the Kailh Box White.
Where to buy the Cherry MX Blue
Where to buy the Kailh Box White
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