Cherry MX Red vs Gateron Jupiter Red
The Cherry MX Red and the Gateron Jupiter Red are often cross-shopped. The main differences: stock they sound different: neutral, slightly scratchy versus smooth, mellow; the Gateron Jupiter Red costs less per switch ($0.20 versus $0.35).
- Cheaper per switchGateron Jupiter Red$0.20 versus $0.35
- Lubed from the factoryGateron Jupiter Redusable out of the box without lubing
Choose the Cherry MX Red if
- you want a switch popular for gaming.
- you want a switch popular for prebuilts.
Choose the Gateron Jupiter Red if
- you want a switch popular for Keychron boards.
- you want a switch popular for budget builds.
- you want to spend less per switch.
- you want a factory-lubed switch out of the box.
Cherry MX Red vs Gateron Jupiter Red, spec by spec
| Cherry MX Red | Gateron Jupiter 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 | PC |
| Bottom housing | nylon | nylon |
| Spring | single-stage | single-stage |
| Factory lube | none | light (stronger spec) |
| Pins | 5-pin | 5-pin |
| Price / switch | $0.35 | $0.20 (stronger spec) |
| Sound profile | neutral, slightly scratchy | smooth, mellow |
| 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 Fields marked n/a are unpublished by the maker; we list only verifiable numbers.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 Gateron Jupiter 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 Gateron Jupiter Red.
30% of the 193 switches tracked here cost less per switch than the Cherry MX Red; 5% of the 193 switches tracked here cost less per switch than the Gateron Jupiter Red.
Where to buy the Cherry MX Red
Where to buy the Gateron Jupiter Red
No verified retailer link right now. Check the maker or your usual switch retailers.
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