Cherry MX Brown vs Kailh Box Brown
The Cherry MX Brown and the Kailh Box Brown are often cross-shopped. The main differences: the Kailh Box Brown is lighter to actuate (45g versus 55g); travel is 4 mm on the Cherry MX Brown and 3.6 mm on the Kailh Box Brown; stock they sound different: muted, papery versus subtle, muted.
- Cheaper per switchKailh Box Brown$0.30 versus $0.35
Choose the Cherry MX Brown if
- you want a switch popular for office boards.
- you want a switch popular for all-rounders.
- you want a heavier, more deliberate press (55g).
Choose the Kailh Box Brown if
- you want a switch popular for light tactiles.
- you want a switch popular for durability.
- you want a lighter keystroke (45g).
- you want to spend less per switch.
Cherry MX Brown vs Kailh Box Brown, spec by spec
| Cherry MX Brown | Kailh Box Brown | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Tactile | Tactile |
| Compatibility | Standard MX sockets | Standard MX sockets |
| Actuation force | 55g | 45g |
| 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 | muted, papery | subtle, muted |
| Released | 1994 | 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 Fields marked n/a are unpublished by the maker; we list only verifiable numbers.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
70% of the 198 switches tracked here actuate lighter than the Cherry MX Brown; 22% of the 198 switches tracked here actuate lighter than the Kailh Box Brown.
57% of the 224 switches tracked here have shorter total travel than the Cherry MX Brown; 34% of the 224 switches tracked here have shorter total travel than the Kailh Box Brown.
30% of the 193 switches tracked here cost less per switch than the Cherry MX Brown; 24% of the 193 switches tracked here cost less per switch than the Kailh Box Brown.
Where to buy the Cherry MX Brown
Where to buy the Kailh Box Brown
No verified retailer link right now. Check the maker or your usual switch retailers.
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