Keyboard switches: Cherry jumps on the inductive bandwagon
The German manufacturer Cherry announces a wealth of new switches. Among them: particularly light and tactile switches.
From left to right: MX2A Blossom, MX2A Honey, MX Falcon and a red IK type.
(Image: Cherry)
The German keyboard specialist Cherry is taking a leaf out of the book of Asian competitors such as Kailh and is announcing numerous new switches in one go. The biggest innovations are the two switch types Cherry IK and Cherry MK for analog keyboards.
They use sensors and magnetic fields to detect how deeply a key is pressed. This allows the speed to be regulated in racing games, for example. Rapid triggers are also common, especially on keyboards with Hall-effect keys: many triggers in quick succession as soon as the key is dropped back slightly and then pressed again.
According to the press release, Cherry is initially taking a different approach: the lower half of the IK switch housing is made of metal. An inductive sensor is located under the switches, which is designed to detect the position of the plunger via the housing. According to Cherry, this design should be particularly energy-efficient compared to other analog variants.
The first IK switches are due to be released in fall 2025 –, presumably in various linear and tactile versions. According to a picture, the design is identical to the classic MX switches, but the IK switches require specially designed PCBs. For gaming keyboards, the magnetic Cherry MK will follow at an unknown date.
More MX selection
Cherry is launching three MX switches for classic mechanical PC keyboards, which will initially be available from June: MX2A Honey, MX2A Blossom and MX Falcon. For end customers, 36-key kits will follow soon after.
Videos by heise
MX2A Honey is Cherry's first tactile silent switch, which is said to be barely audible when actuated. It triggers with an actuating force of 45 grams, making it one of the lighter switches like the MX Red. A force of 110 g is required to press it down completely. Cherry has summarized some improvements to the cast elements and oil on the springs under the term MX2A.
The linear MX2A Blossom is even easier to trigger, with only 35 g or 50 g to push it down completely.
Neue Cherry-Switches (14 Bilder)
Cherry
)The tactile MX Falcon is said to have a particularly noticeable pressure point. The popular MX Brown in particular is only subtly tactile. The MX Falcon triggers with an actuation force of 50 g; 100 g is required to press it down. This makes it somewhat lighter than the equally tactile MX Clear. The MX Falcon also has a longer plunger (longpole), which changes the sound characteristics when tapped.
All three new MX types use polymer plastic housings. The plungers of the MX2A Honey and MX2A Blossom are also made of polymer. In the case of the MX Falcon, Cherry does not specify the tappet material. The different colors are purely cosmetic.
Empfohlener redaktioneller Inhalt
Mit Ihrer Zustimmung wird hier ein externer Preisvergleich (heise Preisvergleich) geladen.
Ich bin damit einverstanden, dass mir externe Inhalte angezeigt werden. Damit können personenbezogene Daten an Drittplattformen (heise Preisvergleich) übermittelt werden. Mehr dazu in unserer Datenschutzerklärung.
(mma)
