Cherry MX Brown vs Kailh Speed Copper
The Cherry MX Brown and the Kailh Speed Copper are often cross-shopped. The main differences: the Kailh Speed Copper is lighter to actuate (40g versus 55g); travel is 4 mm on the Cherry MX Brown and 3.5 mm on the Kailh Speed Copper; stock they sound different: muted, papery versus light, tappy.
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 Speed Copper if
- you want a switch popular for fast tactiles.
- you want a switch popular for gaming plus typing.
- you want a lighter keystroke (40g).
Cherry MX Brown vs Kailh Speed Copper, spec by spec
| Cherry MX Brown | Kailh Speed Copper | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Tactile | Tactile |
| Compatibility | Standard MX sockets | Standard MX sockets |
| Actuation force | 55g | 40g |
| Bottom-out force | n/a | n/a |
| Pre-travel | 2 mm | 1.1 mm |
| Total travel | 4 mm | 3.5 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 | $0.35 |
| Sound profile | muted, papery | light, tappy |
| Released | 1994 | 2016 |
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 Fields marked n/a are unpublished by the maker; we list only verifiable numbers.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; 7% of the 198 switches tracked here actuate lighter than the Kailh Speed Copper.
57% of the 224 switches tracked here have shorter total travel than the Cherry MX Brown; 16% of the 224 switches tracked here have shorter total travel than the Kailh Speed Copper.
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 Kailh Speed Copper.
Where to buy the Cherry MX Brown
Where to buy the Kailh Speed Copper
No verified retailer link right now. Check the maker or your usual switch retailers.
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