Comparisons · Mechanical keyboard

Mechanical Keyboard Switches: Red, Brown and Blue Force and Sound Compared, Plus Which Switches Fit a Hot-Swap Board

Choose a keyboard switch by feel type (linear, tactile or clicky), the force needed to register a press (operating force) and how deep the press registers (pre-travel). CHERRY's MX2A specifications list red as linear at 45 cN with 2.0 mm pre-travel, brown as tactile at 55 cN, blue at 60 cN with 2.2 mm pre-travel and an audible click, and silent red at 45 cN with a shorter 3.7 mm total travel and noise damping. If you may change switches later, confirm before buying that the keyboard is the hot-swappable version, which pin counts it accepts, and whether it takes standard-height MX-style or low-profile switches.

Published 2026-09-13 · Updated 2026-09-13 · FaultNote editorial policy

Mechanical Keyboard Switches: Red, Brown and Blue Force and Sound Compared, Plus Which Switches Fit a Hot-Swap Board overview: 1. Switch types and specification figures (CHERRY MX2A example), 2. Narrow the choice by how you use the keyboard, 3. What a switch needs to fit a hot-swap keyboard, 4. Checks before buying and after swapping — An overview of this guide’s steps and checks, not a screenshot of the app.

Who this guide is for and what to prepare

People comparing red, brown and blue switches who want to use specification figures rather than colour names to decide
People buying a hot-swappable keyboard who want to confirm before purchase that separately sold switches will fit

What you need

The model number of the candidate keyboard and a product page showing whether it is the hot-swappable version
The candidate switch specifications (feel type, operating force, pre-travel, total travel, pin count, standard height or low profile)

1. Switch types and specification figures (CHERRY MX2A example)

Switch feel falls into three types: linear, which presses straight down without a bump; tactile, which has a bump you can feel partway down; and clicky, which adds an audible click to the bump. Colour names differ between manufacturers, so check the feel type and figures in the specification rather than the colour alone.

The table lists four MX2A switches as specified on CHERRY product pages. Operating force is the force needed to register input, pre-travel is how far the key moves before input registers, and total travel is the distance to the bottom. These are this manufacturer's values; another brand's switch of the same colour may differ.

Scroll horizontally to see the full table →

1. Switch types and specification figures (CHERRY MX2A example)
Switch	Feel	Operating force	Pre-travel	Total travel	Rated keystrokes
MX2A RED	Linear, no click	45 cN	2.0 mm	4.0 mm	Over 100 million
MX2A SILENT RED	Linear, noise damping	45 cN	1.9 mm	3.7 mm	Over 50 million
MX2A BROWN	Tactile, no click	55 cN	2.0 mm	4.0 mm	Over 100 million
MX2A BLUE	Tactile, with click	60 cN	2.2 mm	4.0 mm	Over 50 million

2. Narrow the choice by how you use the keyboard

Preference for switch feel varies from person to person, and the figures alone cannot tell you what will feel right. This section maps where you type and what matters to you onto the specification items to check first.

CHERRY describes the silent red as reducing operating noise with patented damping, while the blue is presented as a switch with audible click feedback. If other people are nearby or you type during calls, check whether a switch clicks before anything else.

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2. Narrow the choice by how you use the keyboard
What matters	Characteristic to shortlist	Specification item to check
Keeping noise down at work or on calls	No click; a switch marketed as silent for further reduction	"No click" or "silent" in the specification
A lighter press for long typing sessions	Lower operating force (45 cN in the table)	Operating force (cN / gf)
Feeling where the key registers	Tactile	Feel type (tactile) and operating force
Both a bump and a sound	Clicky, accepting that others will hear it	"With click" in the specification
A shallower key press	Shorter total travel, or a low-profile keyboard	Total travel; for low profile also check compatibility in section 3

Decide from where you type (home, office, calls) whether clicky switches belong on the shortlist.
Compare the operating force and pre-travel of candidate switches in their specifications, using the same manufacturer's red, brown and other switches as reference points.
If the keyboard is hot-swappable you can change switches that do not suit you, so check compatibility in section 3 before choosing.

3. What a switch needs to fit a hot-swap keyboard

A hot-swappable keyboard has sockets on its circuit board, so switches can be pulled with a switch puller and replaced without soldering. Keychron states that changing a switch on its non-hot-swappable versions requires soldering. Some series are sold in both hot-swappable and non-hot-swappable versions, so confirm the model and version.

The Keychron K2 (Hot-swappable) product page says its sockets are compatible with "almost all" MX-style 3-pin and 5-pin mechanical switches on the market (including Gateron, Cherry and Kailh). That wording is not a guarantee for every switch, so check the keyboard maker's compatibility list for unusual designs. Keychron also states that keyboards using low-profile Gateron mechanical switches are not compatible with conventional MX-style switches, and that its low-profile optical switch keyboard is not compatible with the Gateron Low Profile 2.0 mechanical switch.

Scroll horizontally to see the full table →

3. What a switch needs to fit a hot-swap keyboard
Check	Example of a compatible condition	If the condition is not met
Hot-swap support	Version named or specified as "Hot-swappable"	Changing switches requires soldering
Pin count	Both 3-pin and 5-pin stated (Keychron K2 hot-swappable example)	Ask the keyboard maker before buying switches with a different pin count
Switch height and form	Same standard as the keyboard (standard MX-style with standard MX-style; the specified low-profile type)	Keychron states its low-profile Gateron mechanical keyboards do not accept standard MX-style switches; check other brands' compatibility lists
Mechanism within low profile	The type in the keyboard's compatibility list (mechanical or optical)	Gateron Low Profile 2.0 mechanical switches do not fit the low-profile optical switch keyboard
Backlight visibility	SMD-LED compatible switches (Keychron says they show the backlight best)	The backlight may look different

4. Checks before buying and after swapping

You need one switch for every key you plan to change. Before buying a full set, confirm the keyboard model and version, the pin counts it accepts, and its switch height.

After swapping, a key may not respond if a switch is not fully seated or a pin is bent. Press every key to confirm input, and for any key that does not respond, pull the switch, inspect the pins and reseat it.

On the keyboard's product page, confirm it is the hot-swappable version, which pin counts (3-pin / 5-pin) it accepts, and whether it uses standard-height or low-profile switches.
In the replacement switch specification, confirm that pin count, height (MX-style or low profile) and mechanism (mechanical or optical) match what the keyboard supports.
Disconnect the keyboard from the PC and switch off wireless models, remove the keycap, then pull the switch straight up with the supplied or a compatible switch puller.
Check that the new switch's pins are straight, align it with the socket and press it straight in.
Reconnect the keyboard and, in Notepad or a similar app, confirm that every swapped key types one character per press. Pull and inspect any key that does not respond, then reseat it.

Limitations and requirements

Operating force and other figures are each manufacturer's own measurements and labels. Another brand's "red" switch can have different values, so compare using each maker's specification.
Hot-swap support does not mean every switch fits. Switches with a different design, such as low-profile or optical switches, should be chosen from the keyboard's compatibility list.
Pressing in a switch with a bent pin can damage the switch or socket. If a switch resists, do not force it; check pin alignment and straightness.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between red and silent red switches?

In CHERRY's MX2A specifications both are linear at 45 cN. The silent red has 1.9 mm pre-travel and 3.7 mm total travel, shorter than the red (2.0 mm / 4.0 mm), and uses damping to reduce operating noise. Rated keystrokes are over 100 million for the red and over 50 million for the silent red.

Does a hot-swappable keyboard accept switches from any brand?

Many accept standard-height MX-style switches, and Keychron says the K2 (Hot-swappable) fits almost all 3-pin and 5-pin switches on the market. However, Keychron states that its low-profile Gateron mechanical keyboards do not accept standard MX-style switches and its low-profile optical switch keyboard does not accept the Gateron Low Profile 2.0. "Almost all" is not a guarantee for every product, so check the keyboard maker's compatibility list.

Can I change switches on a keyboard that is not hot-swappable?

Keychron states that changing switches on its non-hot-swappable versions requires soldering. Soldering can damage the board or switches and means removing and refitting each switch one at a time, so choose the hot-swappable version if you plan to change switches.

When should I avoid blue switches?

CHERRY presents the MX2A BLUE as a switch with audible click feedback. In an office, on calls or online meetings, or with other people in the room, assume the sound will be heard; if you want to keep noise down, shortlist switches without a click.

Sources and verification date

Sources checked: 2026-09-13. These sources support the specifications, procedures or prices discussed here. Check each source for applicable conditions and current information.

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