Posted in: Switches

10 Best Red Switches in 2024

Last Updated on February 10, 2024

Red Switch is a very popular linear type switch in the market. The red switch is characterized by a red stem. The typing experience is provided by the smooth red switch with bumpy-free typing feedback. The red switch is perfect for those of you who want a soft and light switch. In general, the red switch is more often used to play games.

In this article, we would like to recommend the best red switches on the market today made by several different brands so that it will be easier for you to determine which red switch is the most appropriate for your preferences.

Here are the best Red Switch recommendations on the market today:

Best Red Switches for Your Keyboard

  • Cherry MX Red RGB
  • Cherry MX Red
  • NovelKeys Red Cream Switches
  • Gateron Ink Red
  • Gateron Red
  • Kailh BOX Red
  • Kailh Red Switch
  • OUTEMU (Gaote) Red Switches
  • Outemu SMD Red RGB
  • Outemu Red

1. Cherry MX Red RGB

Best Red Switches
Cherry MX Red RGB
Actuation TypeActuation ForceTravel DistancePrice
Linear45g4mm$1.60

Cherry MX Red RGB is a red linear switch that has a dedicated RGB lamp in the switch housing. Cherry MX Red RGB is a switch that is perfect for those of you who have a keyboard whose PCB does not have RGB lights.

Cherry MX Red RGB is a linear switch that can give you a very smooth typing experience. To operate Cherry MX Red RGB you only need 45 grams of actuation force with 4mm travel distance which makes this switch very light to operate. Cherry MX Red RGB is also very often used for gaming and includes a very smooth and responsive mechanical switch.

2. Cherry MX Red

Cherry MX Red
Cherry MX Red
Actuation TypeActuation ForceTravel DistancePrice
Linear45g4mm$1.50

Cherry MX Red is a linear switch that has a red stem design and a black switch housing. Cherry MX Red is one of the best-selling red switches on the market, this is because Cherry MX Red has proven and tested quality and durability so it is very popular with mechanical keyboard enthusiasts.

To operate Cherry MX Red you only need 45 grams of actuation force with 4mm travel distance. The typing experience using Cherry MX Red provides smooth and flat typing feedback without the bumpy effect. Cherry MX Red also feels very responsive and light so it is very easy to operate. Cherry MX Red is one of the best red switches which is very fun to use for gaming.

3. NovelKeys Red Cream Switches

NovelKeys Red Cream Switches
NovelKeys Red Cream Switches
Actuation TypeActuation ForceTravel DistancePrice
Linear35g4mm$0.55

NovelKeys Red Cream Switches are one of the lightest, smoothest, and most responsive red switches on the market today. NovelKeys Red Cream Switches have a red stem with a cream colored housing.

To operate NovelKeys Red Cream Switches, you only need 35 grams of actuation force with 4 mm travel distance. With only 35 grams of weight you can already operate NovelKeys Red Cream Switches to their lowest actuation, which means this switch is very light and easy to operate because it is very responsive.

The typing experience using NovelKeys Red Cream Switches is smooth and light. The resulting typing sound is also quite quiet. NovelKeys Red Cream Switches are one of the lightest red switches on the market today.

4. Gateron Ink Red

Gateron Ink Red
Gateron Ink Red
Actuation TypeActuation ForceTravel DistancePrice
Linear45g4mm$0.82

Gateron Ink Red is one of the most popular red switches among mechanical custom keyboard enthusiasts. Gateron Ink Red is perfect for building custom mechanical keyboards who want to have a switch with a unique design.

Gateron Ink Red has a red stem and a transparent red switch housing which will also give a slightly dim effect to the RGB or LED lights on your keyboard.

To operate Gateron Ink Red, you only need 45 grams of actuation force with a total of 4mm travel distance, which means this switch is light enough and easy to operate.

The typing experience provided by Gateron Ink Red is very smooth and the typing feedback given feels flat without any bumpy effects. If you want a red switch that can give you a smooth typing experience, Gateron Ink Red is one of the options you should consider.

5. Gateron Red

Gateron Red
Gateron Red
Actuation TypeActuation ForceTravel DistancePrice
Linear45g4mm$0.44

Gateron Red is a fairly popular red switch among mechanical keyboard enthusiasts. You can find Gateron Red used on prebuilt keyboards for sale at affordable prices.

Gateron Red is one of the best linear switches on the market and has an excellent reputation for being known for its smoothness. To operate Gateron Red, you only need 45 grams of actuation force with 4mm travel distance and Gateron Red is ideal for everyday use.

6. Kailh BOX Red

Kailh BOX Red
Kailh BOX Red
Actuation TypeActuation ForceTravel DistancePrice
Linear45g3.6mm$0.53

Kailh BOX Red is a red switch that has a unique design with a box-shaped stem. Kailh BOX Red is indeed made to be resistant to dust that will enter the switch housing so that this switch is known as one of the red switches that has excellent durability and safety against dust.

To operate Kailh BOX Red, you only need 45 grams of actuation force with 3.6 mm travel distance, which means this switch is light enough to operate and very responsive because of its relatively short travel distance of 3.6mm.

The typing feedback provided by Kailh BOX Red is quite smooth and very responsive without any bumpy feedback. Kailh BOX Red provides flat typing feedback with the resulting typing sound sounding quite quiet.

7. Kailh Red Switch

Kailh Red Switch
Kailh Red Switch
Actuation TypeActuation ForceTravel DistancePrice
Linear45g4mm$0.61

Kailh Red Switch is the same as Gateron red which is a clone of Cherry MX red so the specifications are the same as Cherry MX Red. However, Kailh Red Switch doesn’t have as good build quality as Cherry MX Red.

The Kailh Red Switch has a design with a red stem, a transparent top housing, and a black bottom housing.

To operate the Kailh Red Switch, you only need 45 grams of actuation force with 4mm travel distance. The feedback that the Kailh Red Switch can provide is quite smooth and responsive and the typing race with this switch feels flat without being bumpy.

8. OUTEMU (Gaote) Red Switches – Cheapest Red Switch

OUTEMU (Gaote) Red Switches
OUTEMU (Gaote) Red Switches
Actuation TypeActuation ForceTravel DistancePrice
Linear40g4mm$0.60

OUTEMU (Gaote) Red Switches is one of the newest red switches from Outemu which has a stem design like a box. The OUTEMU (Gaote) Red Switches are also designed to be dust and water resistant so they are one of the most secure red switches.

OUTEMU (Gaote) Red Switches require only 40 grams of actuation force to operate with 4mm travel distance. The typing experience using OUTEMU (Gaote) Red Switches is smooth and very light to operate. The typing feedback feels flat and responsive with a fairly quiet typing sound. In addition, OUTEMU (Gaote) Red Switches are one of the cheapest red switches on the market today with reliable quality.

9. Outemu SMD Red RGB

Outemu SMD Red RGB
Outemu SMD Red RGB
Actuation TypeActuation ForceTravel DistancePrice
Linear50g4mm

Outemu SMD Red RGB is a red switch from Outemu which is equipped with RGB lights in the switch housing. The Outemu SMD Red RGB has a red stem, a transparent top housing, and a cream colored bottom housing.

Outemu SMD Red RGB requires 50 grams of actuation force to operate with 4mm travel distance. If you have big hands, the Outemu SMD Red RGB is a red switch that is definitely for you.

Outemu SMD Red RGB can provide a smooth and fairly light typing experience with flat feedback without being bumpy. Outemu SMD Red RGB also feels responsive enough to be used for typing or playing games with the resulting typing sound quite quiet.

This is a switch that is perfect for those of you who have a keyboard that doesn’t have RGB or built-in LEDs because the Outemu SMD Red RGB has RGB in its housing that can light up your keycaps.

10. Outemu Red

Outemu Red
Outemu Red
Actuation TypeActuation ForceTravel DistancePrice
Linear50g4mm$0.80

Outemu Red is a red switch that you will usually find on prebuilt keyboards that are sold at low prices. Outemu Red has a design with a red stem, a transparent top housing, and a black bottom housing.

To operate the Outemu Red, it only requires 50 grams of actuation force with 4mm travel distance.

Outemu Red can provide a slightly tactile typing experience and is quite responsive with a fairly audible typing sound but not too loud. The Outemu Red is one of those red switches that are really fun to work with once it’s lubricated. The Outemu Red is also an inexpensive switch of decent quality.

Smoothest Red Switch

The following is a sequence of red switches that can provide a smooth typing experience:

  • Gateron Ink Red
  • Gateron Red
  • Cherry MX Red RGB
  • Cherry MX Red
  • NovelKeys Red Cream Switches

Lightest Red Switch

Here is a sequence of red switches that can provide the lightest and responsive typing experience:

  • NovelKeys Red Cream Switches
  • Kailh BOX Red

Best Sounding Red Switch

Here is the red switch sequence that can provide the best typing sound:

  • Cherry MX Red RGB
  • Cherry MX Red
  • NovelKeys Red Cream Switches
  • Kailh BOX Red
  • OUTEMU (Gaote) Red Switches
  • Gateron Ink Red
  • Outemu Red

Best Overal Red Switch

Cherry MX Red RGB and Cherry MX Red are 2 red switches that have the best quality and very great build quality. The durability of these two switches has been tested by European standards and can last up to 100 million keystrokes.

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