Jump to page content

Cherry MX variants

This page documents the standard variants of Cherry MX as well as some of the known custom variants. MX Low Profile and MX Ultra Low Profile are nothing to do with MX and are documented separately.

Contents

Sources

Cherry drawing TS 00006, the original MX part number schema, first drawn in November 1982, lists MX1A-11xx (Black), MX1A-21xx (Linear Grey), MX1A-31xx (Lock), MX1A-A1xx (White) and MX1A-B1xx (Click Grey). The drawing was last modified in September 1983, which suggests but does not prove that these models were all available by that point. (Not all of those types were necessarily included when the drawing was originally created, either.)

The 1988 schema (drawing TS 00006-2) adds MX1A-C1xx (Clear), MX1A-D1xx (Tactile Grey), MX1A-E1xx (Blue) and MX1A-F1xx (Green).

Standard types

Although Cherry does now refer to switches by their colours, this is a recent change: Cherry adopted the enthusiast community’s names for their switches. These names are used below simply for clarity, because it is too much to expect most people to remember the different models by part numbers alone. Some of these names appear to have been defined by Cherry themselves when introducing new switch types for the gamer market.

MX1A-0NNN

According to Hirose, “German MX switch was based on Japan version”. MX1A-0NNN is the part number given in Hirose’s datasheet, with 50 cN actuation. No Hirose patent has been found for linear MX.

The Yamaha QX3 Digital Sequence Recorder service manual gives the keyboard switches in the machine as MX1A-0NNN. Correspondence between UncleFan and online sellers indicates that these switches are both orange and clear, and within the same QX3 unit there can be a random assortment of both colours. Examples depicted online show them as orange. Surplus parts obtained from Yamaha in 2019 (the last three available) had clear stems.

Part MX1A-0NNN
Introduced 1983?
Stem Orange, clear
Shell Black
Type Linear
Actuation force 50±17 gf
Preload ?
Terminal force ?

The example below is one of the last three NOS MX1A-0NNN stocked in the European parts centre for Yamaha. It has the “A” movable contact type. As expected, it is slightly lighter than MX Black.

View full-size image Opened, showing “A” type movable contact

MX Black

Cherry’s own diagram shows MX Black as being introduced in 1984 (following MX Linear in 1983), but it was given in the 1982–3 part number schema as “schwarz” (black).

Part MX1A-11xx
Introduced 1983?
Stem Black
Shell Black
Type Linear
Actuation force 60±20 cN
Preload 30 cN min. (2016)
Terminal force ca. 85 cN

The last-order date for MX1A-11DW was 31st October 2019.

MX Black datasheet (2016)

MX Linear Grey

In the 1982–3 part number schema, this type is given simply as “grau” (grey). In older keyboards, it was found as a pale grey with a subtle cream tint. In the 1988 part number schema the grey colour was formalised as “grey 37”. The plunger is currently a medium grey.

In US-made keyboards made around 1984, space bar used a black switch marked with a red spot of paint on the bottom for differentiation. It seems that Cherry US did not use standard German space bar switches.

The lack of illustrated examples from either factory makes it hard to be clear on what colours were used and when.

Part MX1A-21xx
Introduced 1983?
Last order date 31st October 2019
Stem Pale cream-grey, “grey 37”
Shell Black
Type Linear, for space bar
Actuation force 80±25 cN
Preload 30 cN min. (2015), depicted as ca. 50 cN
Terminal force ca. 110 cN

Parts MX1A-21DN and MX1A-21DW were discontinued as of 24th September 2019.

MX Linear Grey datasheet (2015)

MX Lock

MX Lock was found in a Xerox 1109 type 2 keyboard dated 1984. It was omitted from the German 1985 datasheet, but it was included in the 1982–3 part number schema. Although the aforementioned Xerox keyboard was made in Japan, the MX Lock switch was the one switch type with an 8 mm keystem intead of a Hirose keystem. MX Lock uses the same rotating-wheel latching mechanism as Cherry gold crosspoint, offering smooth operation without the detent feel associated with heart cam designs. This switch does appear in the 1985 EEM advertisement.

The following distinct types have been observed:

The all-black type may well be US-made, as it seems US-made MX switches were not colour-coded at their introduction. As Hirose was already importing M6 into Japan, they may have also imported the US-made alternate action switches, possibly out of a lack of need to create tooling for these domestically.

The grey colour scheme used in Germany was discontinued when supply of the pigment ended, and the colour arrangement was changed to black with a clear plunger.

Part MX1A-31xx
Introduced 1983?
Stem Black, colourless
Shell Black+grey, black
Type Alternate action (linear)
Actuation force 60±20 cN
Preload 30 cN min. (2015), depicted as 35 cN
Terminal force ca. 105 cN

MX Lock datasheet (2015)

MX White

“MX White” refers to the original tactile version of Cherry MX, which offered “movement differential” (hysteresis) as well as a subtle click sound. Originally unpigmented, in more recent times it gained white pigmentation.

The precise details of the origin of MX White are no longer clearly remembered. Günter Murmann’s accounts vary, owing to how many decades have passed since MX was introduced. The design was instigated at the behest of German typewriter manufacturer Olympia, who wished to transition from a more expensive Marquardt switch (likely the “Butterfly” type) to Cherry MX while retaining one or more of the characteristics of the outgoing switch type. This process appears to have taken place during the design of MX, as the end result was incorporated into the MX patent, US patent 4467160, “Low profile switch” (filed on 1983-07-12 with a priority date of 1982-08-06 and granted on 1984-08-21). Olympia declined to purchase the finished product, leaving Cherry to market the design as a general purpose switch.

In one account, Herr Murmann indicated that Olympia wished to retain the click feedback of the Marquardt type; the resulting design brought with it hysteresis, which Cherry found to be of more value to prospective customers. With the click feedback considered undesirable, it was then suppressed with lubrication.

In a more recent account, hysteresis is stated to have been the characteristic that Olympia sought to retain. This seems more likely on the basis that simpler click mechanisms exist, and that the MX design is very specific about ensuring that hysteresis occurs (although it does appear that the switch contacts can be teased if held at the release point). Herr Murmann explained that Olympia’s electronics expected the switch to have hysteresis, a limitation that would disappear in time as keyboard encoders became more advanced. Another significant advantage of snap-acting contacts or a mechanism of equivalent functionality is much greater control over the actuation point. Alps for example issued a patent for a revision to their SKCL/SKCM contact system specifically to tighten the tolerance on pretravel distance.

In either case, Cherry never considered the click feedback to be a marketable feature. Click feedback is never mentioned in the patent, and their sales material for MX switches and MX-based keyboards makes no mention of it either. An example of how MX White was marketed can be found in the G80-0928H brochure, which notes:

Einsatz der überlegenen MX Taste mit 4 mm Betätigungs-Hub und Gold-Crosspoint-Kontakten, in Linear- oder Druckpunkt-Version mit taktiler Rückmeldung ("Fühlbarer Click")

Further down, it also states:

Optionen:

Lineare Tastenmodulausführung mit akustischer Rückmeldung ("Hörbarer Click")

This brochure appears to be dated November 1986. At this point, the primary options were linear or tactile, although MX White is curiously described as “tactile click”. Additionally, you could select linear with “acoustic” feedback (“audible click”).

In the 1982–1983 version of the MX part number schema, MX1A-A1xx is listed as “natur”, meaning that it was originally unpigmented. This is not unexpected, as Cherry Germany tended to use black and clear as the two main colour options in switches; the use of additional pigments came at an increased cost over unpigmented plastic and the widely-used black-pigmented platstic. The white pigmentation was added by 1988, as in the 1988 part number schema it is given as white.

A few years later, there was cause to produce a version that did provide audible feedback, which was MX Blue.

Part MX1A-A1xx
Introduced 1983?
Last order date 31st October 2019
Stem Clear, white
Shell Black
Type Tactile with hysteresis
Actuation force 75±25 cN (1985), 70±20 cN (2016)
Preload 30 cN min. (2015), depicted as ca. 45 cN
Terminal force ca. 85 cN

MX White datasheet (2015)

MX Click Grey

“MX Click Grey” is something of a misnomer, because although MX White and MX Click Grey can click, this is seemingly not intentional. This should really be “MX Movement Differential Grey” but that is something of a fingerful.

In the 1982–3 schema, these are “dunkelgrau” (dark grey); in the 1988 schema they are given specifically as “grey 36”.

Part MX1A-B1xx
Introduced 1983?
Stem Grey (“grey 36” as of 1988)
Shell Black
Type Tactile with hysteresis, for space bar
Actuation force 95 cN

MX Clear

The introduction of MX Clear has never been discovered. German patent DE3713775, “Tastenschalter” (filed on 1987-04-24 with a priority date of 1987-04-24, disclosed on 1988-11-10 and granted on 1996-02-08), depicts a tactile version of Cherry MX with a fixed slider arrangement. This would tentatively suggest that MX Clear was introduced around 1987–1988, and it was listed in the 1988 part number schema.

It may forever remain a mystery why Cherry chose to apply pigment to the slider of the existing MX1A-A1xx type. It is possible that both MX1A-A1xx and MX1A-C1xx were unpigmented simultaneously, with the “cam” on the slider being the sole means of identification. That is, black may have denoted linear, and colourless, tactile. The use of white pigment for MX1A-A1xx may have been applied at a later date when the cam was not felt to be a sufficient clue, although even then, one would imagine that a pigment more obvious than white would have been chosen. The purpose of the cam itself remains a mystery.

Part MX1A-C1xx
Introduced ca. 1987
Stem Clear
Shell Black
Type Tactile
Actuation force 55±20 cN
Preload 40 cN (2015)
Terminal force ca. 95 cN

The last-order date for MX1A-C1DN was 31st October 2019.

MX Clear datasheet (2015)

MX Tactile Grey

This is the space bar counterpart to MX Clear. There was no 2015–6 datasheet available for it.

Part MX1A-D1xx
Introduced ca. 1987
Last order date 31st October 2019
Stem “Grey 39” (ca. 1988 onwards)
Shell Black
Type Tactile, for space bar

Unitron in Taiwan made an IBM layout keyboard for their U-2200 computer, Unitron model U-2235, that appears to be all MX Tactile Grey switches. The owner of the keyboard describes this keyboard as “quite nice to type on with reasonable travel and a soft tactile feedback”.

MX Blue

Cherry give MX Blue as being introduced in 1987. No further details are known about its introduction. This model, too, appears to have been introduced without slider pigment, in the form of “Type B” vintage MX White. This would suggest that the additional pigmentation was applied in 1988.

The existence of “pale blue” and “dark blue” switches remains unexplained.

Part MX1A-E1xx
Introduced ca. 1987
Stem Blue
Shell Black
Type Click with hysteresis
Actuation force 50±15 cN
Preload 25 cN min. (2015), depicted as ca. 37 cN
Terminal force ca. 60 cN

The last-order date for MX1A-E1DW was 31st October 2019.

MX Blue datasheet (2015)

MX Green

This is the space bar counterpart to MX Blue. Strangely, it was not assigned a grey shade.

Part MX1A-F1xx
Introduced ca. 1987?
Stem Green
Shell Black
Type Click with hysteresis, for space bar
Actuation force 70±20 cN
Preload 25 cN min. (2015), depicted as ca. 45 cN
Terminal force ca. 90 cN

The last-order date for MX1A-F1DW and MX1A-F1NW were 31st October 2019.

MX Green datasheet (2015)

MX Brown

This was a custom part introduced in 1992 for Kinesis, and made available from 1994 (according to the Deskthority wiki, unreferenced). Cherry generally do not use this in standard products.

Part MX1A-G1xx
Introduced 1992
Stem Brown
Shell Black
Type Tactile
Actuation force 45±20 cN
Preload 30 cN min. (2015), depicted as 40 cN
Terminal force ca. 60 cN

MX Brown datasheet (2015)

MX Red

This was a custom part introduced in late 2008, as a limited run (according to the Deskthority wiki). However, a few years later it had been reintroduced as a permanent entry in the range. As a linear switch, this should have followed on from MX Lock as MX1A-41xx, but it was bizarrely placed some distance into the tactile range as MX1A-L1xx.

Part MX1A-L1xx
Introduced 2008
Stem Red
Shell Black
Type Linear
Actuation force 45±15 cN
Preload 30 cN min. (2015)
Terminal force ca. 58 cN

MX Red datasheet (2015)

MX RGB Black

The part numbers are the same as MX Black, except that N and W in the final position are replaced with A and B.

Part MX1A-11Nx
Introduced 2014
Stem Black
Shell Translucent base, clear top with lens
Type Linear
Actuation force 60±20 cN
Preload 30 cN min. (2015), depicted as 35 cN
Terminal force ca. 85 cN

MX RGB Black datasheet (2015)

MX RGB Blue

The part numbers are the same as MX Blue, except that N and W in the final position are replaced with A and B.

Part MX1A-E1Nx
Introduced 2014
Stem Blue
Shell Translucent base, clear top with lens
Type Click with hysteresis
Actuation force 50±15 cN
Preload 25 cN min. (2015), depicted as ca. 37 cN
Terminal force ca. 60 cN

MX RGB Blue datasheet (2015)

MX RGB Brown

The part numbers are the same as MX Brown, except that N and W in the final position are replaced with A and B.

Part MX1A-G1Nx
Introduced 2014
Stem Brown
Shell Translucent base, clear top with lens
Type Tactile
Actuation force 45±20 cN
Preload 30 cN min. (2015), depicted as 40 cN
Terminal force ca. 60 cN

MX RGB Brown datasheet (2015)

MX RGB Red

The part numbers are the same as MX Red, except that N and W in the final position are replaced with A and B.

Part MX1A-L1Nx
Introduced 2014
Stem Red
Shell Translucent base, clear top with lens
Type Linear
Actuation force 45±15 cN
Preload 30 cN min. (2015)
Terminal force ca. 58 cN

MX RGB Red datasheet (2015)

MX Silent Red

MX Silent Red introduced a damping mechanism to the switch, that softens both the upstroke and downstroke impacts of the plunger. The term “silent” is a widespread misnomer, as silent physical keyboards are fundamentally impossible. Further, “silent” was also applied by Metadot to their MX Brown keyboards, which are loud compared to standard rubber dome keyboards, and extremely loud compared to notebook keyboards.

“Silent” switches adopted the prefix “MX3A”.

The last-order dates for models MX3A-L1DN and MX3A-L1JW was 31st October 2019.

Part MX3A-L1xx
Introduced 2015
Stem Pink (soft red)
Shell Black
Type Damped linear
Pretravel 1.9±0.6 mm
Total travel 3.7−0.4 mm
Actuation force 45±15 cN
Preload 30 cN min. (2015)
Terminal force ca. 60 cN

MX Silent Red datasheet (2015)

MX Silent RGB Red

Part MX3A-L1Nx
Introduced 2015
Stem Pink (soft red)
Shell Translucent base, clear top with lens
Type Damped linear
Pretravel 1.9±0.6 mm
Total travel 3.7−0.4 mm
Actuation force 45±15 cN
Preload 30 cN min. (2015)
Terminal force ca. 60 cN

MX Silent RGB Red datasheet (2015)

MX Silent Black

Part MX3A-11xx
Introduced 2016
Stem Dark grey (soft black)
Shell Black
Type Damped linear
Pretravel 1.9±0.6 mm
Total travel 3.7−0.4 mm
Actuation force 60±20 cN
Preload 30 cN min. (2015)
Terminal force ca. 85 cN

MX Silent Black datasheet (2015)

MX Silent RGB Black

Part MX3A-11Nx
Introduced 2016
Stem Dark grey (soft black)
Shell Translucent base, clear top with lens
Type Damped linear
Pretravel 1.9±0.6 mm
Total travel 3.7−0.4 mm
Actuation force 60±20 cN
Preload 30 cN min. (2015)
Terminal force ca. 85 cN

MX Silent RGB Black datasheet (2015)

MX RGB Nature White

MX RGB Nature White was a short-lived model that aimed to bridge the gap between MX Red—held by some to be too light and too easy to accidentally press—and MX Black, which many people find too stiff to type on for long periods. In practice, it ended up virtually indistinguisable from MX Black. Unusually it was offered as a single part—MX1A-41NA—with no options for diodes, jumpers or fixing pins.

Part MX1A-41NA
Introduced 2016
Last order date 24th September 2019
Stem Colourless
Shell Translucent base, clear top with lens
Type Linear
Actuation force 52±15 cN
Preload 30 cN min. (2015), depicted as 38 cN
Terminal force ca. 65 cN

MX RGB Nature White datasheet (2015)

MX Speed Silver

MX Speed Silver was introduced for gamers. The pretravel distance is reduced, making the switch “faster” as it does not need to be pressed as far (and thus not pressed for as much time) before it actuates. The total travel distance is also reduced. Operating force is 45±15 cN as per MX Red, but the force gradient is steeper.

Part MX1A-51Nx
Introduced 2016
Stem Metallic grey
Shell Black
Type Linear
Pretravel 1.2±0.4 mm
Total travel 3.4−0.4 mm
Actuation force 45±15 cN
Preload 30 cN min. (2016)
Terminal force ca. 70 cN

MX Speed Silver datasheet (2016)

MX Speed RGB Silver

The part numbers are the same as MX Speed Silver, except that N and W in the final position are replaced with A and B.

Part MX1A-51Nx
Introduced 2016
Stem Metallic grey
Shell Translucent base, clear top with lens
Type Linear
Pretravel 1.2±0.4 mm
Total travel 3.4−0.4 mm
Actuation force 45±15 cN
Preload 30 cN min. (2016)
Terminal force ca. 70 cN

MX Speed RGB Silver datasheet (2016)

MX Ergo Clear

“Ergo Clear” is an idea that dates back a number of years. “Ergo Clear” refers to the idea of reducing the force of MX Clear, a switch that many people feel is somewhat too stiff. This idea was put to Cherry but did not enter production, thought in part to be because the lighter return spring could not reliably push the plunger back through the tactile bump. Various community and Far East commercial efforts resulted instead, in particular the famous Zealio switches manufactured for ZealPC by Gateron. In 2022, Cherry announced an official Ergo Clear switch using the original community moniker.

Part MX1A-H1Nx
Announced October 2022
Introduced 2022
Stem Clear
Shell Black
Type Tactile
Pretravel 2 mm
Total travel 4 mm
Tactile force 55 cN
Actuation force 40 cN
Preload 35 cN
Terminal force ca. 60–75 cN (unspecified)

MX Ergo Clear and Ergo Clear RGB datasheet (2022)

MX Ergo Clear RGB

The part numbers are the same as MX Ergo Clear, except that N and W in the final position are replaced with A and B.

Part MX1A-H1Nx
Announced October 2022
Introduced 2022
Stem Clear
Shell Black
Type Tactile
Pretravel 2 mm
Total travel 4 mm
Tactile force 55 cN
Actuation force 40 cN
Preload 35 cN
Terminal force ca. 60–75 cN (unspecified)

MX Ergo Clear and Ergo Clear RGB datasheet (2022)

MX Black Clear-Top

MX Black Clear-Top is a semi-faithful recreation of the popular “Nixie” switch historically custom-manufactured by Cherry for Nixdorf. Actuation force has been increased from 60 to 63.5 cN and optional contact lubrication is available in a formulation chose to correspond with Krytox GPL 205 Grade 0. The upper shell seems to be less translucent than the original Nixie (although this remains to be confirmed) and the replacement switches do not come with a diode fitted. There is no sign of the corresponding space bar type either.

Part MX2A-61NW (factory lubricated)
MX1A-61NW (unlubricated)
Announced November 2022
Introduced 2023
Stem Black
Shell Black base, colourless translucent top
Type Linear
Pretravel 2 mm
Total travel 4 mm
Actuation force 63.5 cN
Preload 40 cN minimum
Terminal force ca. 80 cN (unspecified)

MX Black Clear-Top datasheet (2022)

Custom types

Custom types have a letter instead of a number in position 6 of the part number (see MX part number schema). Although “N” for Hirose types is a customisation, these are classified as standard switches, above. “G” types denoting German-made customisations are covered below, along with types with no known part number.

Quoted descriptions are per Cherry.

Part Type Source Last order date
MX1A-1GAP No details recorded Cherry internal database
MX1A-1GBR MX Black, PCB mount, “179 CN PCB MOUNT N/O” Cherry US
MX1A-1GCL MX Black, PCB mount, marked “lowest force possible” (bag dated 8-26-94) Cherry US
MX1A-1GCX “350CN W/PINS” Cherry internal database
MX1A-1GER “like MX1A-11NW; but with special packaging” Surplus sites; Cherry
MX1A-1GFD “like MX1A-11RW; but customer-specific sticker” Surplus sites; Cherry
MX1A-1GFK “like MX1A-11NN-2; but with profile contact” Cherry
MX1A-1GRE Unknown; has red LED Surplus sites
MX1A-EGEQ MX Blue, PCB mount, 180 cN Cherry US 31st October 2019
MX1A-FGFB “like MX1A-F1NW; but with other spring”; also said by Cherry to be “Linear” and “RGB with Pins” Surplus sites; Cherry

The term “MX Super Black” refers to one or more models of MX Black with a heavier spring. Discovery of the variety of custom types indicates that there are multiple weightings applied to MX Black switches, and the various “super black” types are likely to be custom types.

Nixie

In Cherry’s press release for Cherry MX Black Clear-Top—their modern recreation of the “Nixie” switch, they define the “Nixie” as follows:

The community name “Nixie” originates from a variant of the classic MX Black, which was specially adapted to the wishes of the former German company Nixdorf Computer AG: The requirement was a milky upper part of the housing, an increase in the actuating force from 60 to 63.5 centinewtons, as well as the relatively rare solution at the time of having a diode integrated into the switch for n-key rollover, or NKRO for short.

Cherry have not stated what actual material has been uncovered and how much is simply guesswork, as on Instagram in particular they have made some categorically false statements about their own product history.

MX1A-1GCX

This is a heavy version of MX Black. According to Cherry, as of May 2018, these were last in production in January 2016, with an order for 240,000 pieces. They had been available for sale at Arrow, who denied all knowledge of them, although the entry remains on their site as an “Unclassified” “Desktop profile keyswitch”. SwitchMod purchased these from Arrow and resold them as “Mega Black”, and there is a force curve for one of these.

The purpose of these switches remains unknown.

Part MX1A-1GCX
Stem Black
Shell Black
Type Linear
Actuation force 350 cN
Preload ca. 200 cN (per the force curve)
Terminal force ca. 510 cN (per the force curve)

Olympia linear clear

Olympia linear clear” is a custom type found in some AEG Olympia typewriters. The stem shape and keycap mount differ, and the PCB–plate distance is 1 mm greater while the shell overall remains the same height. Due to the dearth of typewriter repair manuals (unlike IT equipment service manuals, typewriter service manuals are not generally available) it may prove impossible to find the part number for this type.

“Olympia linear clear” appears to be designed to allow Cherry MX to substitute for Marquardt Series 6180 in their typewriters, which has the same above- and below-plate dimensions.

Part ?
Stem Clear
Shell Black
Type Linear
Actuation force 60 cN?
Preload ?
Terminal force ?