MX Ergo Clear RGB: Cherry introduces a new keyboard switch

With MX Ergo Clear and Ergo Clear RGB, Cherry is officially launching a former switch modification between MX Brown and MX Clear. It is therefore a classic mechanical switch – there are still no new designs with light barriers or Hall sensors in Cherry's portfolio.

The birth a new button

The story of the MX Ergo Clear begins in 2011. Enthusiasts from the mechanical keyboard scene, as Cherry calls them, were already bothered by the popular MX Brown back then: The officially tactile switch is said to be so little tactile that it is actually a disguised linear switch with scratchy tuning is still often blasphemed today. The MX Clear, which is equipped with an accentuated signal point, is too stiff to use comfortably in the long term. A solution was needed, which at the time was found in the combination of an MX Clear and the spring of a linear MX Black. In addition, PTFE-based lubricant on the springs and tappets provided a smoother typing experience.

Cherry MX Ergo Clear RGB (Image: Cherry)

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Cherry is now officially offering the Frankenstein switch and describes the button as “particularly tactile” with “comparatively light actuation force”. The manufacturer names “relaxed writing or playing for many hours” as the ideal area of application, without the fingers tiring. Thus, the official MX Clear also settles between the MX Brown and the MX Clear and is therefore not only aimed at the enthusiasts mentioned at the beginning, but also at less experienced users who would never have thought of buying two switches and them to combine into a new one at home.

With high-performance grease and refractive lenses

However, there is one difference compared to the original: Instead of the PTFE-based lubricant, Cherry uses “high-performance grease”, which is even less frictional and promises a longer service life and a more consistent typing experience. Interesting for enthusiasts: The manufacturer points out that the grease is precisely tailored to mimic the properties of Kryotex GPL 204 Grade 0 – one of the mechanical keyboard scene's favorite lubricants. The exact technical details of the switches can be found in the following table and graphic as well as the data sheet.

Cherry MX Clear Cherry MX Black Cherry MX Ergo Clear Cherry MX Brown Characteristics: tactile linear tactile Travel: 4.0 mm Signal point position: 2.0 mm Resistance at signal point: 55 g 60 g 40 g 45 g Resistance at pressure point: 65 g – 55g Lifetime (keystrokes): 50M

The MX Ergo Clear comes in a black housing as the standard variant as well as an RGB version with a transparent housing and lenses for active refraction; In addition, Cherry is promising a model with a 3-pin snap-on attachment and one with a 5-pin fixing pin. According to the manufacturer, the switch will be available through the usual sales partners and will also be found in future keyboard models. However, Cherry does not give a specific time frame. There is also no comment on the price. Unit costs of around EUR 0.60 for the standard version and EUR 1 for the RGB variant are common for MX switches in the end consumer market.