What Keyboards Use Cherry MX Switches?
DashanYuan
If a keyboard feels noticeably more solid and responsive than the one that came free with your PC, there is a decent chance it is running Cherry MX switches. This guide covers which keyboards and brands actually ship them, how to tell, and how to put Cherry switches into a board that did not come with them.
For what each Cherry colour feels like and which to pick, see our companion guide: Which Cherry MX Switch Is Right for You.
A Quick Definition
Cherry MX switches are mechanical keyboard switches made by Cherry GmbH in Germany. Introduced in the 1980s, they became the de facto industry standard — which is why so many other manufacturers adopted the same design once Cherry's patents lapsed.
They come colour-coded by feel: Red and Black are linear, Brown is tactile, Blue is clicky, and the Silent variants are dampened. Browse our Cherry MX switches collection for current stock.
Prebuilt Keyboards That Ship Cherry MX
Cherry MX turns up most in the mid-to-premium prebuilt tier. The list below is illustrative rather than exhaustive, and specific models change constantly — always check the listing rather than assuming.
Gaming-focused
- Corsair — K95 and K70 lines have long offered Cherry MX Red, Brown and Speed options.
- HyperX — the Alloy and Alloy Elite lines have used Cherry MX in some versions.
- Cooler Master — several models, including tenkeyless boards, have shipped with Cherry MX.
Typing and productivity
- Das Keyboard — professional models frequently use Cherry MX Brown for balanced typing feel.
- Ducky — the Ducky One line and its successors are enthusiast favourites, offered across a wide spread of Cherry MX options.
- Filco — traditional, well-built boards aimed squarely at typists, historically Cherry MX throughout.
How to Tell What Your Keyboard Uses
Three methods, in order of reliability:
- Read the product listing or box. Any manufacturer using genuine Cherry will say so prominently — it is a selling point they paid for.
- Pull a keycap. Cherry-branded switches have the Cherry name moulded into the top housing. This is definitive.
- Watch for vague marketing. "Mechanical switches" or "MX-style switches" with no manufacturer named usually means an MX-compatible switch from another maker rather than Cherry itself. That is not necessarily a downgrade — there are excellent MX-compatible switches — but it is worth knowing what you are actually paying for.
Putting Cherry MX in a Board That Didn't Come With It
This is where things get interesting, and it is the part most people overlook.
Because Cherry MX uses a standard stem and footprint, any hot-swappable keyboard will accept Cherry switches. Hot-swap boards have sockets rather than soldered joints, so you pull the old switch out with a puller and press the new one in. No soldering, no risk, reversible in seconds.
That means you are not limited to the switches your keyboard shipped with — and you are not limited to Cherry either. A hot-swap board plus a handful of switch samples is by far the cheapest way to find out what you actually like.
If your board is not hot-swap, changing switches means desoldering every one of them — a real project, and not a beginner's first job.
Buying the Board vs Buying the Switches
A useful way to approach this: buy the keyboard for its build quality, layout, and hot-swap support. Then choose the switches separately, on their own merits.
Cherry compatibility matters because it keeps your options open. Since almost every switch on the market follows the MX standard, a Cherry-compatible board lets you try a Cherry MX Red today and something quite different next month, without touching a soldering iron.
Cherry remains a dependable, consistent choice with a long track record. It is also worth sampling what else is available at similar prices — HMX, Keygeek and BSUN are popular with our customers, and generally arrive with more factory lubrication. Have a look across the full range of keyboard switches and decide by feel rather than by brand name.
FAQs
Which brands ship Cherry MX switches?
Corsair, Ducky, Das Keyboard, Filco, Cooler Master and some HyperX models commonly offer Cherry MX, typically in their higher-end lines. Availability varies by model and year — check the specific listing.
Are Cherry MX switches compatible with hot-swap keyboards and third-party keycaps?
Yes. Cherry MX defines the MX standard, so they fit MX hot-swap sockets and take standard MX keycaps. Compatibility is essentially universal, with the caveat that some boards only support 3-pin switches — covered in What Switches Are Compatible with Cherry?
How long do Cherry MX switches last?
Cherry rates them at 50–100 million keystrokes depending on the model. Keep the board clean and dry and they will comfortably outlast the keyboard around them.