Cherry MX Red vs Outemu Red
The Cherry MX Red and the Outemu Red are often cross-shopped. The main differences: the Outemu Red costs less per switch ($0.12 versus $0.35).
- Cheaper per switchOutemu Red$0.12 versus $0.35
Choose the Cherry MX Red if
- you want a switch popular for prebuilts.
Choose the Outemu Red if
- you want a switch popular for budget prebuilts.
- you want to spend less per switch.
Cherry MX Red vs Outemu Red, spec by spec
| Cherry MX Red | Outemu 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 | n/a |
| Factory lube | none | none |
| Pins | 5-pin | 3-pin |
| Price / switch | $0.35 | $0.12 (stronger spec) |
| Sound profile | neutral, slightly scratchy | neutral, slightly scratchy |
| Released | 2008 | 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 Fields marked n/a are unpublished by the maker; we list only verifiable numbers.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
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 Outemu 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 Outemu Red.
30% of the 193 switches tracked here cost less per switch than the Cherry MX Red; 0% of the 193 switches tracked here cost less per switch than the Outemu Red.
Where to buy the Cherry MX Red
Where to buy the Outemu Red
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