Cherry MX Orange vs Cherry MX2A Red
The Cherry MX Orange and the Cherry MX2A Red are often cross-shopped. The main differences: stock they sound different: smooth, mellow versus smooth, muted.
Choose the Cherry MX Orange if
- you want a switch popular for retro revivals.
- you want a switch popular for smooth linears.
Choose the Cherry MX2A Red if
- you want a switch popular for prebuilts.
- you want a switch popular for gaming.
Cherry MX Orange vs Cherry MX2A Red, spec by spec
| Cherry MX Orange | Cherry MX2A Red | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Linear | Linear |
| Compatibility | Standard MX sockets | Standard MX sockets |
| Actuation force | 45g | 45g |
| 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 | light | light |
| Pins | 5-pin | 5-pin |
| Price / switch | n/a | $0.35 |
| Sound profile | smooth, mellow | smooth, muted |
| Released | 2024 | 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 Fields marked n/a are unpublished by the maker; we list only verifiable numbers.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
22% of the 198 switches tracked here actuate lighter than the Cherry MX Orange; 22% of the 198 switches tracked here actuate lighter than the Cherry MX2A Red.
57% of the 224 switches tracked here have shorter total travel than the Cherry MX Orange; 57% of the 224 switches tracked here have shorter total travel than the Cherry MX2A Red.
30% of the 193 switches tracked here cost less per switch than the Cherry MX2A Red.
Where to buy the Cherry MX Orange
No verified retailer link right now. Check the maker or your usual switch retailers.
Where to buy the Cherry MX2A Red
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