Cherry MX Brown vs Outemu Brown
The Cherry MX Brown and the Outemu Brown are often cross-shopped. The main differences: the Outemu Brown is lighter to actuate (50g versus 55g); stock they sound different: muted, papery versus neutral, light tactile tick; the Outemu Brown costs less per switch ($0.12 versus $0.35).
- Cheaper per switchOutemu Brown$0.12 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 Outemu Brown if
- you want a switch popular for budget prebuilts.
- you want a switch popular for office.
- you want a lighter keystroke (50g).
- you want to spend less per switch.
Cherry MX Brown vs Outemu Brown, spec by spec
| Cherry MX Brown | Outemu Brown | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Tactile | Tactile |
| Compatibility | Standard MX sockets | Standard MX sockets |
| Actuation force | 55g | 50g |
| 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 | PC |
| Bottom housing | nylon | nylon |
| Spring | single-stage | n/a |
| Factory lube | none | none |
| Pins | 5-pin | 3-pin |
| Price / switch | $0.35 | $0.12 (stronger spec) |
| Sound profile | muted, papery | neutral, light tactile tick |
| Released | 1994 | n/a |
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 Fields marked n/a are unpublished by the maker; we list only verifiable numbers.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; 52% of the 198 switches tracked here actuate lighter than the Outemu 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 Outemu Brown.
30% of the 193 switches tracked here cost less per switch than the Cherry MX Brown; 0% of the 193 switches tracked here cost less per switch than the Outemu Brown.
Where to buy the Cherry MX Brown
Where to buy the Outemu Brown
No verified retailer link right now. Check the maker or your usual switch retailers.
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