Cherry MX Silent Black vs Cherry MX Silent Red
The Cherry MX Silent Black and the Cherry MX Silent Red are often cross-shopped. The main differences: the Cherry MX Silent Red is lighter to actuate (45g versus 60g); stock they sound different: hushed, firm versus hushed, dampened.
Choose the Cherry MX Silent Black if
- you want a switch popular for heavy linear fans.
- you want a heavier, more deliberate press (60g).
Choose the Cherry MX Silent Red if
- you want a switch popular for shared spaces.
- you want a lighter keystroke (45g).
Cherry MX Silent Black vs Cherry MX Silent Red, spec by spec
| Cherry MX Silent Black | Cherry MX Silent Red | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Silent linear | Silent linear |
| Compatibility | Standard MX sockets | Standard MX sockets |
| Actuation force | 60g | 45g |
| Bottom-out force | n/a | n/a |
| Pre-travel | 1.9 mm | 1.9 mm |
| Total travel | 3.7 mm | 3.7 mm |
| Stem | POM with dampeners | POM with dampeners |
| Top housing | nylon | nylon |
| Bottom housing | nylon | nylon |
| Spring | single-stage | single-stage |
| Factory lube | none | none |
| Pins | 5-pin | 5-pin |
| Price / switch | $0.45 | $0.45 |
| Sound profile | hushed, firm | hushed, dampened |
| Released | 2016 | 2016 |
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 Fields marked n/a are unpublished by the maker; we list only verifiable numbers.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
82% of the 198 switches tracked here actuate lighter than the Cherry MX Silent Black; 22% of the 198 switches tracked here actuate lighter than the Cherry MX Silent Red.
46% of the 224 switches tracked here have shorter total travel than the Cherry MX Silent Black; 46% of the 224 switches tracked here have shorter total travel than the Cherry MX Silent Red.
56% of the 193 switches tracked here cost less per switch than the Cherry MX Silent Black; 56% of the 193 switches tracked here cost less per switch than the Cherry MX Silent Red.
Where to buy the Cherry MX Silent Black
No verified retailer link right now. Check the maker or your usual switch retailers.
Where to buy the Cherry MX Silent Red
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