Cherry makes silent keyswitches available to all manufacturers

Cherry has made its silent MX switches available to all manufacturers. The switches are similar to the existing red and black switches, but make less noise. Until now, the switches were only available in one keyboard model from Corsair.

The silent switches are available in four variants. A red one, which just like the regular MX Red switch needs 45 centinewtons to be pressed and a black one, which just like the normal MX Black switch can be pressed with a force of 60 centinewtons. There is also a transparent version of both versions, with space for LED lighting.

Like the regular red and black switches, the silent switches have a linear force curve. This makes it impossible to feel when the switches are activated and they do not make a clicking sound, as is the case with blue variants. According to Cherry, the switches are quieter than existing methods of adding o-rings, as the switches also muffle the sound of the key rising.

Cherry first introduced the silent switches in the Corsair Strafe keyboards. Corsair had an exclusive deal with Cherry for use of the switches, but it expired after a year. No new keyboards that use the MX Silent variants have been announced yet.