The Cherry MX change is, arguably, one of the vital essential mechanical keyboard switches of all time. Some may argue it’s one of many finest mechanical switches ever. No different change has fairly the identical legacy. It’s been round for many years and is among the few switches that run the entire gamut of keyboards. You can discover it in every thing from point-of-sale systems, office cubicles, and police cars to gaming setups and even premium, limited-run custom keyboards.
Until just lately, almost each mechanical gaming keyboard shipped with MX Reds, Browns, or Blues. For a very long time, Cherry’s switches had been the most suitable choice—mechanical change or in any other case—for constructing a keyboard, and so they had a repute for his or her excellent typing really feel and longevity when in comparison with their rubber dome and scissor-switch contemporaries.
I’ve a love for the unique Cherry MX switches. They nonetheless have a persona and allure no different change has been in a position to replicate. I kind on them usually, nearly day-after-day, and all the time discover them a deal with to make use of, regardless of their shortcomings. So it got here as a shock when Cherry introduced a successor with the MX2A. How may one of the vital beloved and long-lasting mechanical switches abruptly change so drastically? Could these modifications make the MX higher?
Photograph: Henri Robbins
Cherry’s Legacy
The Cherry MX Black is the mechanical change. It’s a reasonably heavy linear change made totally of Cherry’s proprietary mix of plastics and has been in manufacturing since 1983 with solely minimal modifications till now. Cherry charges its MX switches for 100 million keypresses, and it’s not exceptional for MX Blacks to be in operation even after 20 years of near-constant use. They ultimately turned a signifier of high quality: If you noticed a keyboard with MX switches, you possibly can be fairly certain that it could be each dependable and fulfilling to kind on.
As the {custom} keyboard scene began to type within the early 2000s, individuals realized one thing fascinating—the longer you used MX switches, the smoother they had been to kind on. This was true for all of them however most noticeably for MX Blacks. They had been the most typical in high-use workplace and point-of-sale programs and had a heavier spring that required extra power to be pushed down, ensuing within the plastics seeing massive quantities of damage.
These “vintage” MX Blacks—which needed to be desoldered from older keyboards—turned extremely sought out by fans for his or her smoothness, and their shortage elevated demand even additional. At the time, Vintage MX Blacks had been the very best switches attainable for a custom-built keyboard package.
It’s value noting that these worn-in switches are pretty scratchy by right now’s requirements. Modern switches, produced from higher-end supplies and lubed from the manufacturing facility, are leagues forward of MX switches in smoothness. However, many keyboard hobbyists right now see the MX Black as having a “good” scratch in comparison with the scratchiness of different switches. It’s constant, delicate, and slightly charming so long as you don’t anticipate perfection. There are not any sudden bumps or catches, however as a substitute a constant friction that feels extra “real” and satisfying than one thing engineered for excellent smoothness.
Photograph: Henri Robbins
