Cherry MX Brown vs Cherry MX2A Brown
The Cherry MX Brown and the Cherry MX2A Brown are often cross-shopped. The main differences: stock they sound different: muted, papery versus soft, rounded.
- Lubed from the factoryCherry MX2A Brownusable out of the box without lubing
Choose the Cherry MX Brown if
- you want a switch popular for all-rounders.
Choose the Cherry MX2A Brown if
- you want a switch popular for prebuilts.
- you want a factory-lubed switch out of the box.
Cherry MX Brown vs Cherry MX2A Brown, spec by spec
| Cherry MX Brown | Cherry MX2A Brown | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Tactile | Tactile |
| Compatibility | Standard MX sockets | Standard MX sockets |
| Actuation force | 55g | 55g |
| Bottom-out force | n/a | n/a |
| Pre-travel | 2 mm | 2 mm |
| Total travel | 4 mm | 4 mm |
| Stem | POM | POM |
| Top housing | nylon | nylon |
| Bottom housing | nylon | nylon |
| Spring | single-stage | single-stage |
| Factory lube | none | light (stronger spec) |
| Pins | 5-pin | 5-pin |
| Price / switch | $0.35 | $0.35 |
| Sound profile | muted, papery | soft, rounded |
| Released | 1994 | 2023 |
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 Fields marked n/a are unpublished by the maker; we list only verifiable numbers.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
70% of the 198 switches tracked here actuate lighter than the Cherry MX Brown; 70% of the 198 switches tracked here actuate lighter than the Cherry MX2A Brown.
57% of the 224 switches tracked here have shorter total travel than the Cherry MX Brown; 57% of the 224 switches tracked here have shorter total travel than the Cherry MX2A Brown.
30% of the 193 switches tracked here cost less per switch than the Cherry MX Brown; 30% of the 193 switches tracked here cost less per switch than the Cherry MX2A Brown.
Where to buy the Cherry MX Brown
Where to buy the Cherry MX2A Brown
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