Cherry MX Low Profile
 |
This article requires photographic illustration |
| Manufacturer | Cherry |
|---|---|
| Product code |
MX1B-L2NA (MX Low Profile Red) MX1B-52NA (MX Low Profile Speed) |
| Switch type | Linear |
| Sense method | Metal contact |
| Rated lifetime | >100M |
| Pretravel | 1.0 mm or 1.2 mm |
| Total travel | 3.2 ± 0.25 mm |
| Keycap mount | Cherry MX mount (Short skirt only) |
| Switch mount | Plate mount |
| Website | www.cherry-world.com |
Cherry MX Low Profile RGB is a low-profile mechanical keyboard switch.
The switch has been designed to have a feel reminiscent of Cherry MX. It is only marginally compatible with its larger official name-sake.
Contents
Description
Cherry's goal when designing the switch family was to make a low-profile version of Cherry MX. The size was not reduced as much as it could have been, in order to retain an overall feel reminiscent of Cherry MX.[1]
To accommodate backlighting the bottom housing is translucent and the top is transparent with a crescent-shaped cavity for a surface-mounted LED to shine through. This is supposed to spread the light around the slider.[2]
Variants
| Name | Stem colour | Type | Total travel | Pretravel | Initial force | Tactile force | Actuation force | Bottom-out force |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low Profile Red | Red | Linear | 3.2±0.25 mm | 1.2±0.3 mm | 40 cN | 45±15 cN | 60 cN | |
| Low Profile Speed | Silver | Linear | 3.2±0.25 mm | 1.0±0.3 mm | 30 cN | 45±15 cN | 60 cN | |
| Low Profile Clear | Clear | Tactile | ||||||
| Low Profile Ivory | Linear |
A clicky Blue variant has also been reported to be in development[1].
In June 2024, Cherry announced a "Low Profile 2.0" with product code prefix MX2B, and two new varieties: tactile "Low Profile Clear", and linear "Low Profile Ivory". The Ivory variant has been described as being "for office keyboards" (whatever that means).[3]
Cherry has not published the datasheet with footprint publicly, but it has been sent to inquiring people by email that have since posted it. A KiCAD footprint has been published by Keebio in its Github repo.
Key feel
The starting force of the "Red" switch is 40 cN, which is 10 cN higher than Cherry MX Red but similar to Cherry MX Brown. The force curve is almost flat, with actuation happening at 1.2 mm when a weight of 45 cN is applied. This makes it similar to Cherry MX Speed Silver. The switch named Cherry MX Low Profile Speed, however, actuates even earlier.
Compatibility with Cherry MX
The switch is not pin-compatible with Cherry MX and the overall travel is lower, at 3.2 mm. It does however fit a 14×14 mm plate hole, at a different height over the PCB.
While it shares the same cross-pattern keycap mount of it's larger name-sake, the keycaps are not entirely compatible. Most keycaps for Cherry MX could mount and be used actuate the switch, but could impact into something when pressed further down:
- Thicker-walled keycaps (such Cherry/GMK doubleshots and thick PBT) or keycaps that narrow inside nearer the top would hit the switch housing which is wider on top than Cherry MX's.
- Thinner-walled keycaps (such as OEM profile and those of Cherry MX-Board 3.0) would hit the mounting plate (if there is one) because of the additional skirt height. Vortex opted to make PCB-mounted keyboards that avoids this issue.[4]
Availability
Both switch types are available to buy separately.
Keyboards
Current
- Cooler Master SK630, SK621, SK651 (Red)
- Corsair K70 MK.2. (Speed)
- Corsair K60 RGB Pro Low Profile (Speed)
- Filco Majestouch Stingray (Red)
- Alienware AW510K
Future
- Vortex Poker 3 V2, and Vortex 75 v2, with floating key design (PCB-level, plateless)[4]
The Speed switch was exclusive to Corsair during a limited time.[5]
Clones
- TTC KS32 series — with similar shape, keycap mount and footprint. Has clicky, tactile and linear variants.
- Kailh Choc V2 — with similar shape and keymap mount but with a different footprint more close to Kailh Choc (version 1). Has linear and clicky variants.
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Youtube — Cherry Finally Makes a New Switch: MX Red Low Profile by Gamers Nexus. Dated 2018-01-12. Retrieved 2024-06-29.
- ↑ Tom's Hardware — Cherry Joins The Low-Profile Switch Game by Seth Colaner. Dated 2018-01-13. Retrieved 2024-06-29.
- ↑ Untitled Blog — CHERRY unveils a raft of new MX switch innovations at Computex 2024. Dated 2024-06-04. Retrieved 2024-06-29.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Youtube — NEW POKER IV Keyboard! - Vortex by TaeKeyboards. Dated 2019-06-01. Retrieved 2024-06-29.
- ↑ SweClockers.com — Corsair släpper tangentbord i K70 MK.2-serien med Cherry MX-brytare i lågprofil (Swedish). Dated 2018-10-25. Retrieved 2024-06-29.
External links
- Cherry World — Datasheet for Cherry MX Low Profile RGB (MX1B-L2NA) Retrieved 2024-06-29.
- Deskthority — Cooler Master SK630: sexy meaningless keyboard — Review by matt3o. Posted 2019-01-14. Retrieved 2024-06-29.
- Youtube — POK3R V2 Low Profile Mechanical Keyboard - Unboxing & Review — Review by TaeKeyboards. Dated 2019-08-09. Retrieved 2024-06-29.
