Cherry MX Brown vs Blue: Differences (What’s Better?)

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Cherry MX Blue switches are loud and clicky, favored by typists, while Cherry MX Brown switches are quieter and require less force to actuate, making them versatile for both typing and gaming.

Cherry MX Brown vs Blue Switches

Cherry MX BrownCherry MX Blue
Switch TypeTactileClicky
Durability100 million actuation50 million actuation
Actuation Force55cN60cN
Pre Travel Distance2.0mm2.2mm
Total Travel Distance4mm4mm
Audible Sound on ClicksNot much soundLoud clicky sound
Variants availableMX Brown and MX RGB BrownMX Blue and MX RGB Blue
Cherry MX Brown Vs Blue

Cherry MX Brown Review

Cherry MX Brown is a tactile type of keyboard switch, and it is considered a “Gold Standard” tactile switch.

About Cherry MX Brown

Cherry MX Brown switches are tactile and non-clicky, only requiring a force of 55cN (55gf) to activate. They have a short pre-travel distance of 2.0 mm and a total travel distance of 4.0 mm to actuate it.

The MX Browns can be actuated more than 100 million times which is great.

Cherry MX Brown Actuation Graph, Credits: Cherry MX

Tactile switches provide feedback to the user when the key has been pressed. This allows the user to type more accurately.

Cherry MX Brown switches are ideal for people who want tactile feedback. Also, the switch will not make much noise like clicky switches.

Pros and Cons of Cherry MX Brown

Pros:

  • Cherry MX Browns are also quieter than Blue. So, they’re a good choice if you want to avoid making too much noise while you work or games.
  • Also, the tactile feel of the key is remarkably consistent across all keys.

Cons:

  • One downside of Cherry MX Brown switches is that they’re not as light as some other options. So, it may be difficult for some people to press down.

Overall Review

Cherry MX Brown switches are ideal for tactile feedback but don’t want the loud clicking noise that MX Blue switches make or have sensitive ears.

The Cherry MX Brown switch is very durable and will last for years of typing with no signs of wear.

Cherry MX Blue Review

Cherry MX Blue switches are the most popular clicky switch available on mechanical keyboards.

About Cherry MX Blue

Cherry MX Blue switches are tactile, clicky, and audible. They have a medium throw distance, actuation point at 2.2 mm, and require 60cN actuation force. The total travel distance of MX Blue is 4 mm.

You can actuate the MX Blues for about 50 million clicks.

Cherry MX Brown Actuation Graph, Credits: Cherry MX

They have a very loud, audible click that can be heard by everyone around you when you type.

The tactile feedback is quite good, so the switches are great for gaming and typing.

They have a medium to a low actuation force. The Cherry MX Blue Switch can be found in many popular keyboards.

Pros and Cons of Cherry MX Blue Switches

Pros:

  • Loud audible click characteristic.
  • Perfect for gaming and typing.
  • Good tactile feedback.

Cons:

  • It has a very loud click and will be heard by everyone around you.

Overall Review

The Cherry MX Blue Switch is a good choice if you want to buy a mechanical keyboard with a clicky switch.

The tactile feedback is also great, so the switches are great for gaming and typing.

Build Quality of Cherry MX Blue and Brown

The Cherry MX Blue and Brown switches are considered some of the best keyboard switches on the market.

They are both built with quality in mind, but there are some differences between them.

The Cherry MX Blue switch is a clicky switch that provides a noticeable bump when you press it down.

This makes it perfect for typing, as you can feel it when the key has been pressed.

The Cherry MX Brown switch is tactile, but it doesn’t provide as much of a bump as the Blue switch.

This makes it perfect for gamers who want to quickly press keys without having to worry about accidentally hitting another key.

Both of these switches are built with quality in mind, so you can be sure that they will last for years.

Durability

Cherry MX Blue and Brown switches are about the same when it comes to durability. Neither one is significantly more durable than the other.

Cherry claims the Cherry MX Browns to have 100 million actuation whereas the Cherry MX Blue to have 50 million actuation.

If you’re looking for a switch that will last a long time, you can consider Cherry MX Brown as it has double actuation than the MX Blue.

Sound

When it comes to sound, the Cherry MX Blue switch is much louder than the Brown.

Here is the sound comparison of the Cherry MX Blue (Clicky type) and the Cherry MX Brown(The Tactile type).

Some people prefer the quieter switches, while others like the louder switches.

Feel

There’s a big difference in how these two switch types feel. The Cherry MX Blue feels more like a standard typewriter.

If you’re used to mechanical switches, it will feel very natural.

The Brown switch feels more like a rubber dome. While it has some tactile feedback, you won’t get quite as much as with a mechanical switch.

Typing Experience

The MX Blues would give you more feedback from its output than the Browns during typing.

Yet, I would prefer Cherry MX Browns because the sound is significantly less than the clicky blue.

If you use a quiet workspace in the office, your colleague may get annoyed.

In that case, it is better to choose a Cherry MX Brown switch. The tactile feedback they give feels great during typing.

Gaming Experience

The Cherry MX Blues can give a better gaming experience.

It is a more traditional gaming switch which can be said like the actual feel mechanical switch.

You would enjoy the sharp hitting clicks using the Cherry MX Blues.

I like the sound of MX blues during gaming.

But, not all gamers would prefer a clicky Blue switch as a noisy switch keyboard may annoy them during the gameplay.

If you are not used to the clicky Blues, you may also get distracted by the clicky noise emitted by your clicks.

So, it would depend on your preference whether you choose the Blue switch or the Brown switch for your gaming.

Is Cherry MX Brown or Blue better?

In terms of Gaming, The Cherry MX Blue Switch is better than the Cherry MX Brown Switch.

In terms of typing, the Cherry MX Blue Switch is better than the Cherry MX Brown Switch.

The tactile feedback on both switches is great, but the Cherry MX Blue Switch is louder and more audible than the Cherry MX Brown Switches.

Which one Should you Choose between MX Blue and Cherry MX Browns?

Cherry MX Blue and Brown switches are both great options for a mechanical keyboard.

However, it ultimately depends on what you want out of your keyboard.

If you want a loud keyboard that provides a lot of feedback, the Blue switch is the best option.

If you are looking for a quieter option with less feedback, the Brown switch is better.

Ultimately, it is up to the individual to decide which switch they prefer.

Here is an excellent Brown switch keyboard Corsair K95 available at Amazon. There is also a Blue switch variant of it which you can select if you would like to have a blue switch one.

Corsair K95 RGB Platinum XT Mechanical Wired Gaming Keyboard, Backlit RGB LED, Cherry MX RGB Blue, Black
  • Per-key RGB backlighting and a 19-zone LightEdge...
  • Precision-molded 1. 5mm thick 104/105-key PBT...
  • Gain an in-game advantage with six dedicated macro...

Last update on 2024-12-20 / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Cherry MX Brown vs Blue FAQs

Q. Do Cherry MX blue and Brown feel the same?

The Cherry MX blue and brown switches are designed to feel different. The blue switch is designed to be clicked, while the Brown is a tactile switch.
This means that the brown switch will have a noticeable bump when it is actuated, giving the user feedback that they have pressed the key.

Q. Do Cherry Browns feel like a membrane?

Cherry Brown switches are tactile, meaning that they provide feedback to the user as they are being used.

This feedback is a pronounced bump from the switch, making them feel different from membrane switches, which provide no tactile feedback.

Q. Why do people not like Cherry MX blue?

People don’t typically like Cherry MX Blue switches because they are very loud and feel distracting due to the click noise.
The clicking noise that the switch makes can be pretty annoying to others in close vicinity.

Q. Are Cherry MX Browns clicky?

Cherry MX Brown switches are tactile, non-clicky switches. This means that they provide a physical bumpy (tactile feedback) when you press down on them, but they do not make a clicking sound.

Q. Is Cherry Blue good for gaming?

Cherry Blue switches are considered by many to be one of the best types of switches for gaming. They are clicky, responsive, and have a fast actuation.

Conclusion

Here I conclude the post on Cherry MX Brown Vs Blue!

Cherry MX Blue switches are louder and give more feedback than Brown switches.

They are best suited for people who want to feel a difference in their keystrokes and don’t mind the extra noise.

Browns are better for people who want a quieter keyboard and don’t mind not feeling as much of a difference in their keystrokes.

I hope this article has helped you know the difference between the Cherry MX Blue and Brown switches.