Cherry MX2A Keyswitch - Red

Product Overview

The Cherry MX2A Red is a linear mechanical keyswitch designed for custom and replacement keyboards, as well as embedded human-machine interfaces. Cherry MX switches are known for their precision, consistency, and long operating life, making them a standard choice for keyboard manufacturers, makers, and enthusiasts alike. The MX2A generation builds on the original MX design with factory-applied lubrication, an optimized spring, and refined housing geometry to provide smoother key travel, reduced spring noise, and improved typing feel while maintaining compatibility with standard MX keycaps and PCBs.

Smooth and Direct

The MX2A Red delivers a smooth, linear keypress with no tactile bump or audible click. Its consistent travel and low actuation force make it a popular choice for gaming, rapid repeated keystrokes, and users who prefer an uninterrupted keystroke from top to bottom. To achieve its 100-million actuation lifespan, the MX2A architecture introduces several upgrades:

• Upper Housing: CAD-engineered with sub-0.01mm tolerances to ensure precise switching-slide guidance.
• Linear Switching Slide/Stem: Engineered to control pre-travel and keystroke feel, featuring a straight TLS surface that delivers direct triggering and the signature linear characteristics of the MX Red.
• Gold Crosspoint Contact: Self-cleaning, gold-plated triangular cross-contacts meet at precise right angles to provide permanent corrosion protection.
• Precision Coil Spring: The high-density molecular structure of the spring’s metal alloy is individually calculated and optimized to provide consistent pressure resistance for the switch's specific actuation force.
• Dual-Functional Housing Base: Engineered from a plastic polymer/glass-fiber blend to serve as both the internal mount for the switching mechanism and the external mounting surface for the keyboard.

The Cherry MX2A housing also includes a built-in recess that accommodates a standard 3mm LED. This allows you to easily add your choice of illumination under a key cap. If you need an easy way to incorporate this switch into a prototype, be sure to grab our matching breakout board for simple wiring!