Cherry MX Red vs Cherry MX2A Red
The Cherry MX Red and the Cherry MX2A Red are often cross-shopped. The main differences: stock they sound different: neutral, slightly scratchy versus smooth, muted.
- Lubed from the factoryCherry MX2A Redusable out of the box without lubing
Choose the Cherry MX Red if
- its character fits you: the cherry mx red is the industry's reference 45g linear, the default gaming switch in countless prebuilt keyboards since its 2008 reintroduction.
Choose the Cherry MX2A Red if
- you want a factory-lubed switch out of the box.
Cherry MX Red vs Cherry MX2A Red, spec by spec
| Cherry MX Red | 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 | none | light (stronger spec) |
| Pins | 5-pin | 5-pin |
| Price / switch | $0.35 | $0.35 |
| Sound profile | neutral, slightly scratchy | smooth, muted |
| Released | 2008 | 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 Fields marked n/a are unpublished by the maker; we list only verifiable numbers.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 Red; 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 Red; 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 MX Red; 30% of the 193 switches tracked here cost less per switch than the Cherry MX2A Red.
Where to buy the Cherry MX Red
Where to buy the Cherry MX2A Red
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