Cherry MX Silent Red vs Gateron Silent Yellow
The Cherry MX Silent Red and the Gateron Silent Yellow are often cross-shopped. The main differences: the Cherry MX Silent Red is lighter to actuate (45g versus 50g); travel is 3.7 mm on the Cherry MX Silent Red and 3.5 mm on the Gateron Silent Yellow; stock they sound different: hushed, dampened versus silent mid linear.
Choose the Cherry MX Silent Red if
- you want a switch popular for quiet offices.
- you want a switch popular for shared spaces.
- you want a lighter keystroke (45g).
Choose the Gateron Silent Yellow if
- you want a switch popular for office.
- you want a switch popular for quiet boards.
- you want a heavier, more deliberate press (50g).
Cherry MX Silent Red vs Gateron Silent Yellow, spec by spec
| Cherry MX Silent Red | Gateron Silent Yellow | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Silent linear | Silent linear |
| Compatibility | Standard MX sockets | Standard MX sockets |
| Actuation force | 45g | 50g |
| Bottom-out force | n/a | n/a |
| Pre-travel | 1.9 mm | n/a |
| Total travel | 3.7 mm | 3.5 mm |
| Stem | POM with dampeners | n/a |
| Top housing | nylon | n/a |
| Bottom housing | nylon | n/a |
| Spring | single-stage | n/a |
| Factory lube | none | n/a |
| Pins | 5-pin | 5-pin |
| Price / switch | $0.45 | $0.45 |
| Sound profile | hushed, dampened | silent mid linear |
| Released | 2016 | 2020 |
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 Fields marked n/a are unpublished by the maker; we list only verifiable numbers.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 Silent Red; 52% of the 198 switches tracked here actuate lighter than the Gateron Silent Yellow.
46% of the 224 switches tracked here have shorter total travel than the Cherry MX Silent Red; 16% of the 224 switches tracked here have shorter total travel than the Gateron Silent Yellow.
56% of the 193 switches tracked here cost less per switch than the Cherry MX Silent Red; 56% of the 193 switches tracked here cost less per switch than the Gateron Silent Yellow.
Where to buy the Cherry MX Silent Red
Where to buy the Gateron Silent Yellow
No verified retailer link right now. Check the maker or your usual switch retailers.
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