Cherry MX White
| Cherry MX White | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Manufacturer | Cherry |
| Family | Cherry MX |
| Product code | MX1A-A1xx (later type) |
| Introduced | 1987 |
| Switch type | Clicky |
| Contact mechanism | Metal leaf |
| Actuation force | 55 cN, 80 cN |
The Cherry MX White switch is a medium stiff, tactile, soft click mechanical keyboard switch in the Cherry MX family.
Contents |
Variations
- Vintage Type A: 80 cN, translucent white stem, black click-slider — 1987–?
- Vintage Type B: 50 cN, translucent white stem, translucent white click-slider — 1989–?
- Modern: 80 cN, white stem, black-slider — 2007–2012+?
The Type B has been reported to feel identical to modern Cherry MX Blue. Because of the harder types' similarity to Cherry MX Green, it has sometimes been nicknamed "albino green".
The sliders in the newer switches are proper white, while the older ones are translucent. The slider construction is a bit different. The spring is identical to the one in the vintage Type-A clicky switch and feels identical.
The switch is not to be confused with the Cherry MX Clear which also has translucent white sliders. Modern switches can be told apart more easily because their sliders are opaque, but vintage switches are visually almost indistinguishable to Clears.
Availability
The Cherry MX White/translucent slider were available in a number of very early (around 1987, 1988) Cherry keyboards such as G80-1000HFD and G80-1800HFD. They were quickly replaced with the blue switch. A few early OEM keyboards such as various Chicony keyboards have also been using Cherry whites.
The Cherry MX White/solid white slider are rare in keyboards but can be found at component retailers.
As of 2012, the later version is available directly from the manufacturer and some suppliers. There have been group orders among enthusiasts. Individual key switches can be purchased from QWERKeys.
Clones
Some keyboards from Chicony contain a clone of the Cherry white switch, the Aristotle Cherry MX clone. The slider is also translucent white, but the switch housing does not have a Cherry logo and is a simpler shape. The housing is made in a more brittle plastic and the switch has been described as being slightly more tactile. The inner slider is different from Cherry MX White. Most of Cherry's keycaps sit very loosely on the clone switches' sliders.
Esoterica
In Chinese keyboard forums this switch has become known as the "Milk switch" because they already called the MX Clear switch the "White switch".
Gallery
Cherry MX Clear and Cherry MX White
Cherry MX White in G80-1000
MX white switches in shipping box
