Gateron Red
LinearThe budget linear that embarrassed Cherry on smoothness. Same 45 g weight as MX Red, noticeably slicker slide, a fraction of the price: the default switch of countless entry-level customs.
Sound & feel
Gateron Red is where the phrase "smoother than Cherry" entered common keyboard vocabulary. With looser housing tolerances that happened to slide beautifully, Gateron's basic 45 g linear consistently beat legacy MX Reds in blind feel tests while costing far less.
The stroke is light and easy with a clean, mid-bright clack at the bottom. Stock units still benefit from lube (spring ping is audible on some batches), but the baseline is genuinely good rather than merely tolerable.
For a first custom build or a budget prebuilt, Gateron Red remains one of the easiest recommendations in the hobby. Step up to Yellow if you want a slightly fuller weight and sound.
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
- Gateron Red vs Cherry MX Red MX2A , or jump to Cherry MX Red MX2A
- Gateron Red vs Gateron Yellow , or jump to Gateron Yellow
- Gateron Red vs Kailh BOX Red , or jump to Kailh BOX Red
- Gateron Red vs Gateron G Pro Red 3.0 , or jump to Gateron G Pro Red 3.0
Frequently asked questions
What does the Gateron Red sound like?
smooth, light clack with minimal scratch. Use the player on this page to hear simulated press and release sounds derived from its real specifications.
Is the Gateron Red 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 Gateron Red?
45g actuation, 55g bottom-out (our estimate). Note that Gateron 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.