Cherry MX Red MX2A
LinearThe default gaming linear for two decades: a light 45 g spring, no bump, no click. Legacy stock was famously scratchy, but the MX2A revision adds factory lube and a barrel spring that finally smooth it out.
Sound & feel
MX Red is the switch most people mean when they say "mechanical gaming keyboard." A 45 g linear with 2.0 mm pre-travel and full 4.0 mm travel, it asks almost nothing of your fingers, which is why prebuilt makers have shipped it by the million since the mid-2000s.
Older Reds had a dry, sandy slide that enthusiasts loved to mock next to Gateron's smoother clones. The 2023+ MX2A revision answers that directly: factory lube, a redesigned barrel spring, and revised rails give modern retail Reds a much cleaner stroke and a quieter, more neutral clack.
It remains the safe pick for fast gaming and long sessions where fatigue matters. Typists who want feedback usually step to MX Brown, while sound chasers move to deeper-voiced linears like Gateron Oil King.
Sound on this page is synthesized from the switch's published specs and community-documented character: an honest simulation, not a recording. We're progressively replacing simulations with our own studio recordings. How our sounds are made
Compare it
- Cherry MX Red MX2A vs Gateron Red , or jump to Gateron Red
- Cherry MX Red MX2A vs Gateron Yellow , or jump to Gateron Yellow
- Cherry MX Red MX2A vs Kailh BOX Red , or jump to Kailh BOX Red
- Cherry MX Red MX2A vs Cherry MX Silent Red MX2A , or jump to Cherry MX Silent Red MX2A
- Cherry MX Red MX2A vs TTC Gold Pink V2 , or jump to TTC Gold Pink V2
Frequently asked questions
What does the Cherry MX Red MX2A sound like?
neutral mid-pitched clack with a faint scratch on the slide. Use the player on this page to hear simulated press and release sounds derived from its real specifications.
Is the Cherry MX Red MX2A good for gaming or typing?
As a linear switch with 45g actuation force and 2mm pre-travel, it suits fast, repeated presses, which is why linears are a common gaming pick. It types perfectly well too if you like a smooth, uninterrupted keystroke.
How heavy is the Cherry MX Red MX2A?
45g actuation, 60g bottom-out (our estimate). Note that Cherry officially rates actuation force and publishes no bottom-out, so the bottom-out above is our derivation. Brands differ, so check the basis when comparing switches.