Kailh Choc Red V1
LinearThe low-profile standard of the ergonomic keyboard world. Choc V1 Red's slim housing and 3.0 mm travel power the vast majority of split and ultra-thin custom boards.
Sound & feel
Choc V1 is Kailh's own low-profile standard: a dramatically flattened switch with its own footprint, its own two-post keycap mount, and total travel of just 3.0 mm. The Red linear variant is the default choice across the ergo scene: Corne, Ferris, and countless other split boards are designed around it.
The feel is direct and immediate, with 50 g of resistance over the short stroke; the sound is a thin, shallow clack that suits the minimal boards it usually lives in. A thriving ecosystem of Choc-spaced keycaps (MBK and friends) has grown around the format. Kailh's CPG135001 datasheet rates every Choc V1 variant at 50 gf operating and publishes no bottom-out force, so the bottom-out row here is our estimate rather than a Kailh figure.
Its one hard limitation: nothing about Choc is MX-compatible, not the footprint, not the keycaps. It is its own world, and in ergonomic circles, the dominant one.
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
- Kailh Choc Red V1 vs Kailh Choc Brown V1 , or jump to Kailh Choc Brown V1
- Kailh Choc Red V1 vs Kailh Choc V2 Red , or jump to Kailh Choc V2 Red
- Kailh Choc Red V1 vs Gateron Low Profile Red (KS-33) , or jump to Gateron Low Profile Red (KS-33)
- Kailh Choc Red V1 vs Cherry MX Low Profile Red , or jump to Cherry MX Low Profile Red
Frequently asked questions
What does the Kailh Choc Red V1 sound like?
thin, shallow clack; the sound of ergo split boards everywhere. Use the player on this page to hear simulated press and release sounds derived from its real specifications.
Is the Kailh Choc Red V1 good for gaming or typing?
As a linear switch with 50g actuation force and 1.5mm 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 Kailh Choc Red V1?
50g actuation, 60g bottom-out (our estimate). Note that Kailh 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.