Alright so today I actually sat down to figure out the real difference between Cherry MX Red and Brown switches. Like many folks I heard Reds are gaming kings while Browns are typing champs, but I wanted to test it myself. Here’s exactly how it went down.
Setting Up My Ghetto Test Lab
First I pulled out two identical barebones keyboard kits – same plastic case, same ABS keycaps – only difference being one had MX Reds soldered in and the other had MX Browns. Connected both to my crusty old laptop running a typing test website and some FPS game I play. Made sure my desk lamp was bright enough so I could stare at these switches like a detective.
Whacking The Keys Like A Madman
Started with typing tests on both boards back-to-back. Slammed my fingers on the Reds first – woah, they felt like sliding on buttered ice. Super smooth all the way down with zero bumps. But dang I kept making typos because the keys activated too easily. Then switched to Browns – instantly felt that little bump halfway down. It’s like a speed bump for your fingertips, barely noticeable but enough to stop accidental presses.
Did three rounds of typing tests:
- MX Reds: 62 WPM with 8 mistakes
- MX Browns: 58 WPM with 3 mistakes
So Browns slower but more accurate for me. Weird how that tiny bump changes everything.
Gaming Until My Wrist Hurt
Then fired up my shooter game – spammed WASD keys like crazy. With MX Reds it felt effortless holding down sprint, just floating on springs. But when panic-spamming keys during gunfights? Accidentally triggered grenade throws twice because the switches registered before I meant to. Browns felt more deliberate – that bump gave physical feedback when actions activated. Finished two matches:
- MX Reds: Higher kill count but died from misclicks
- MX Browns: Fewer kills but zero stupid grenade suicides
Surprise Late-Night Discovery
Around midnight I did something dumb – grabbed some Oreos mid-test. Crumbs inevitably fell into the Red keyboard. Few keys started sticking! Brown keyboard handled crumbs better – probably because that bump vibration shakes debris loose. Lesson: Brown switches survive snack attacks better.
After two days alternating boards here’s my final take:
- MX Reds feel slick and fast but too sensitive for my sausage fingers
- MX Browns give just enough bump to control chaos while gaming/typing
Ended up keeping the Browns on my desk. That subtle bump is like training wheels I didn’t know I needed. Maybe Reds work for feather-touch gamers, but Browns are my ugly reliable workhorses now.