Cherry MX2A Brown vs Gateron Low Profile 2.0 Brown
The Cherry MX2A Brown and the Gateron Low Profile 2.0 Brown are often cross-shopped. The main differences: they are not interchangeable: the Gateron Low Profile 2.0 Brown is a Gateron low-profile switch that only fits keyboards built for it, not the standard MX hot-swap sockets the Cherry MX2A Brown uses; travel is 4 mm on the Cherry MX2A Brown and 3 mm on the Gateron Low Profile 2.0 Brown; stock they sound different: soft, rounded versus muted tactile thud.
- Cheaper per switchGateron Low Profile 2.0 Brown$0.28 versus $0.35
Choose the Cherry MX2A Brown if
- you want a switch popular for office boards.
- you want a switch popular for prebuilts.
Choose the Gateron Low Profile 2.0 Brown if
- you want a switch popular for low-profile typing.
- you want to spend less per switch.
Cherry MX2A Brown vs Gateron Low Profile 2.0 Brown, spec by spec
| Cherry MX2A Brown | Gateron Low Profile 2.0 Brown | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Tactile | Tactile |
| Compatibility | Standard MX sockets | Gateron low-profile boards only |
| Actuation force | 55g | 55g |
| Bottom-out force | n/a | n/a |
| Pre-travel | 2 mm | 1.7 mm |
| Total travel | 4 mm | 3 mm |
| Stem | POM | POM |
| Top housing | nylon | PC |
| Bottom housing | nylon | PA66 |
| Spring | single-stage | 13.5mm double-stage steel |
| Factory lube | light | yes |
| Pins | 5-pin | 3-pin |
| Price / switch | $0.35 | $0.28 (stronger spec) |
| Sound profile | soft, rounded | muted tactile thud |
| Released | 2023 | 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 Fields marked n/a are unpublished by the maker; we list only verifiable numbers.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
70% of the 198 switches tracked here actuate lighter than the Cherry MX2A Brown; 70% of the 198 switches tracked here actuate lighter than the Gateron Low Profile 2.0 Brown.
57% of the 224 switches tracked here have shorter total travel than the Cherry MX2A Brown; 2% of the 224 switches tracked here have shorter total travel than the Gateron Low Profile 2.0 Brown.
30% of the 193 switches tracked here cost less per switch than the Cherry MX2A Brown; 22% of the 193 switches tracked here cost less per switch than the Gateron Low Profile 2.0 Brown.
Where to buy the Cherry MX2A Brown
Where to buy the Gateron Low Profile 2.0 Brown
No verified retailer link right now. Check the maker or your usual switch retailers.
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