Cherry's Low-Profile Keyboard Switches Feel Great

LAS VEGAS — Cherry, one of the leaders in mechanical keyboard switches, and often a must-have for keyboard enthusiasts, is releasing a new low-profile switch, the company announced here at CES 2018 today. The switch is called the Cherry MX Low Profile RGB, and it will come in the company’s Red variety. The first keyboards with the new switches will come in the second quarter of 2018.

Credit: Andrew E. Freedman/Tom's Guide

(Image credit: Andrew E. Freedman/Tom's Guide)

The switch is aimed at new, thinner keyboards and, potentially, upcoming gaming notebooks. In some hands-on time with prototype keyboard, it felt almost exactly the same as a keyboard at my desk with full-size Cherry Red switches, although these key had lower travel. The first version of the new switch is based on Cherry’s existing MX RGB Reds.

The switch is 11.9 millimeters thick, or 35 percent thinner than the existing 18.5 mm MX standard. A representative for Cherry told me that some gaming-laptop companies are looking into these new switches.

Making the switches was a challenge, I was told, because while some users wanted lower travel, they wanted the same classic feel. Unfortunately, that was hard to reproduce with science, they said, so Cherry had to keep making prototypes until they got it right.

But the new switch is not exactly the same as the old one. There are a few changes. For instance, the signature cross-shaped stem is now surrounded by a cylinder. This makes each switch tougher against water and dust, although it won't be 100 percent water- and dust-proof. (Getting that would require a rubber cap, I was told, which would mess with the feel.) The force curve is ever so slightly different, but very close to MX switches, and the actuation point, by necessity, is lower.

The RGB back lighting shines evenly across each key, thanks to a groove in the switch that allows more light, which will be great for gaming laptops that tend to offer a wide variety of colors.

Cherry didn’t say exactly when the first keyboards will come, but it was showing off its own prototypes as well as early prototype keyboards by companies like Ducky and Vortex.

TOPICS
Andrew E. Freedman

Andrew E. Freedman is an editor at Tom's Hardware focusing on laptops, desktops and gaming as well as keeping up with the latest news. He holds a M.S. in Journalism (Digital Media) from Columbia University. A lover of all things gaming and tech, his previous work has shown up in Kotaku, PCMag, Complex, Tom's Guide and Laptop Mag among others.

Latest in Computing Peripherals
The Logitech MX BRIO 705 pictured in front of a blue background
I just tested Logitech’s MX BRIO 705 webcam and my colleagues have never seen me this clearly before
A purple Chilkey ND75 LP mechanical keyboard
This low-profile keyboard is what I needed to get me into modding — and it stuns with its performance
A black Keychron K10 V2 mechanical custom keyboard
I just tested one of the most customizable keyboards of the year — and the price is just right
A white Glorious Model D2 wireless gaming mouse with a perforated design
I just tested this $99 mouse that’s great for gaming — but it’s left me with mixed feelings
A GravaStar Mercury K1 Lite mechanical keyboard with shine-through keycaps
I just tested a keyboard that's so bright it could help land planes — but its performance is killer
The NuPhy Kick75 on a wooden surface with a blue wall in the background
NuPhy Kick75 review: Modder’s delight
Latest in News
The Apple Watch Series 10 on a user's wrist showing a colorful orange and pink home screen
EU is ordering Apple to open up iOS even more — offering better access for headphones, smartwatches and other accessories
Qobuz
Qobuz reveals artist payouts for the first ever —here’s how much it pays artists per stream
Dee Wallace in "Cujo" (1983)
One of my favorite Stephen King novels is getting a Netflix remake — and I hope it has more bite than the original
NYTimes Connections
NYT Connections today hints and answers — Thursday, March 20 (#648)
A phone with the Plex logo in front of an out-of-focus background of movie posters
Yikes! Plex is getting a price hike and this key feature is going behind a pay wall
Richard Gere in Arbitrage
5 must-see mystery movies on Prime Video you (probably) missed I'd stream right now