Key Switch Activation Force vs Resistance Feel

Activation Force vs How Heavy the Key Feels

Activation force is not how heavy the key feels. e.g. Both Cherry MX BLUE and Cherry MX BLACK have “operating force” of 60 cN according to official Cherry MX spec, but BLUE is significantly lighter.

Look at the following diagram from cherry's official site. Both require 60g to reach “operating position”. But if you look at the red line, during most of the key travel, BLUE switch is about 10g lower than BLACK.

In the following diagrams from Cherry MX official site, notice how it highlights the “operating force”. This is misleading.

〔see Cherry MX Switches〕

Different Manufacture's Rating Are Not Comparable

Also, the rating of key resistance by different makers of a switch, may not be comparable.

• Some highlight the ACTIVATION FORCE, others highlight OPERATING FORCE.
• Some uses gram (g) as unit, Cherry MX uses centi Newton (cN) as unit (this is more technically accurate.).
• Also, the total key travel distance, and actuation travel, also matters when you judge how heavy a switch feels. (this is important because there are now many switches with shorter travel distance, and specifically low-profile, such as Kailh Choc Switch )

Better Metric: Measure Spring Resistance

A better measure of practical key feel is the rating of the spring resistance used for the switch.

Rank of Key Resistance

Here's a ranking of key resistance feel, based on my personal experience.

In particular, various Red switches by different makers all have spec of 45g activation force, but typing on them have different feel of heaviness, very noticeable.

Lighest. These have the same heaviness feel.

• Kailh BOX Silent Pink. (available on Ultimate Hacking Keyboard V2) 〔see Kailh BOX Switch〕
• Gateron Red. 〔see Gateron Switches〕
• Cherry MX Red. 〔see Cherry MX Switches〕

More resistance

• Cherry MX Silent Red. (notably heavier than Cherry MX Red, so much so i cannot use it due to Repetitive Strain Injury)

heavier, in this order, from lighter to heavier:

1. Kailh Choc Red. 〔see Kailh Choc Switch〕
2. Cherry MX Blue
3. Cherry MX Brown
4. Kailh Red (significantly heavier than Cherry MX Red.) 〔see Kaihua Kailh Switch〕