Cherry MX Red vs Kailh Box Red
The Cherry MX Red and the Kailh Box Red are often cross-shopped. The main differences: travel is 4 mm on the Cherry MX Red and 3.6 mm on the Kailh Box Red; stock they sound different: neutral, slightly scratchy versus clean, subdued; the Kailh Box Red costs less per switch ($0.30 versus $0.35).
- Cheaper per switchKailh Box Red$0.30 versus $0.35
Choose the Cherry MX Red if
- you want a switch popular for prebuilts.
Choose the Kailh Box Red if
- you want a switch popular for humid climates.
- you want to spend less per switch.
Cherry MX Red vs Kailh Box Red, spec by spec
| Cherry MX Red | Kailh Box 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 | 1.8 mm |
| Total travel | 4 mm | 3.6 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 | $0.30 (stronger spec) |
| Sound profile | neutral, slightly scratchy | clean, subdued |
| Released | 2008 | 2017 |
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 Fields marked n/a are unpublished by the maker; we list only verifiable numbers.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 Kailh Box Red.
57% of the 224 switches tracked here have shorter total travel than the Cherry MX Red; 34% of the 224 switches tracked here have shorter total travel than the Kailh Box Red.
30% of the 193 switches tracked here cost less per switch than the Cherry MX Red; 24% of the 193 switches tracked here cost less per switch than the Kailh Box Red.
Where to buy the Cherry MX Red
Where to buy the Kailh Box Red
No verified retailer link right now. Check the maker or your usual switch retailers.
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