Cherry MX Brown vs Durock Blue Lotus
The Cherry MX Brown and the Durock Blue Lotus are often cross-shopped. The main differences: travel is 4 mm on the Cherry MX Brown and 3.7 mm on the Durock Blue Lotus; stock they sound different: muted, papery versus crisp, clacky tactile; the Cherry MX Brown costs less per switch ($0.35 versus $0.50).
- Cheaper per switchCherry MX Brown$0.35 versus $0.50
- Lubed from the factoryDurock Blue Lotususable out of the box without lubing
Choose the Cherry MX Brown if
- you want a switch popular for office boards.
- you want a switch popular for all-rounders.
- you want to spend less per switch.
Choose the Durock Blue Lotus if
- you want a switch popular for enthusiast tactile builds.
- you want a switch popular for typing.
- you want a factory-lubed switch out of the box.
Cherry MX Brown vs Durock Blue Lotus, spec by spec
| Cherry MX Brown | Durock Blue Lotus | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Tactile | Tactile |
| Compatibility | Standard MX sockets | Standard MX sockets |
| Actuation force | 55g | 55g |
| Bottom-out force | n/a | 65g |
| Pre-travel | 2 mm | 2 mm |
| Total travel | 4 mm | 3.7 mm |
| Stem | POM | POM |
| Top housing | nylon | PC/UPE blend |
| Bottom housing | nylon | nylon |
| Spring | single-stage | extended |
| Factory lube | none | light (stronger spec) |
| Pins | 5-pin | 5-pin |
| Price / switch | $0.35 (stronger spec) | $0.50 |
| Sound profile | muted, papery | crisp, clacky tactile |
| 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 Fields marked n/a are unpublished by the maker; we list only verifiable numbers.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 Durock Blue Lotus.
57% of the 224 switches tracked here have shorter total travel than the Cherry MX Brown; 46% of the 224 switches tracked here have shorter total travel than the Durock Blue Lotus.
30% of the 193 switches tracked here cost less per switch than the Cherry MX Brown; 63% of the 193 switches tracked here cost less per switch than the Durock Blue Lotus.
Where to buy the Cherry MX Brown
Where to buy the Durock Blue Lotus
No verified retailer link right now. Check the maker or your usual switch retailers.
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