Some of the best-known and most commonly used switches for mechanical keyboards worldwide are getting a major redesign, German company Cherry said Thursday.

Known for its popular Cherry MX mechanical switches, it now debuts Cherry MX2A switches. And they come with the company’s new XTRFY K5V2 mechanical keyboard, but they may be everywhere soon enough.

Cherry MX2A switches and XTRFY K5V2 mechanical keyboard

Cherry has been a leading mechanical keyboard and switch maker for years. But recently other makers have introduced switches and keyboards with innovations many users appreciate.

“Hot swappable” mechanical keyboards, where a user can swap out the switches and key caps without needing a soldering iron, have become all the rage. If someone doesn’t like the keys’ sound or feel, they can try other switches and/or key caps, like those of Cherry’s competitors.

Smoother, quieter and double the lifespan

Cherry said its new MX2A switches are quieter and smoother than its originals, yet they have a longer lifespan — over 100 million clicks. Cherry MX and many other makers’ designs can only claim 50 million clicks.

All told, changes in the new switches should improve their operation, noise, actuation, debounce and endurance, Cherry said.

Changes include a more stable barrel-spring design, high-precision ring lubrication, updated stem geometry for more precision and optimized sliding surfaces to reduce “scratchy” type feel. Some users complained about “scratchiness” with Cherry MX switches.

New 65% mechanical keeb

Showing off the new Red switches as an preinstalled option — although of course they’ll be concealed under the key caps — is the new XTRFY K5V2 Mechanical Keyboard.

The 65% mechanical keyboard features RGB LED backlighting and a double layer of foam sound dampening. And while you can get the new Red switches preinstalled, you can also change them out easily, because they’re hot-swappable.

Alternatively, you can choose to add MX2A Blue (click), Brown (tactile) or Black (linear) switches to the keyboard, listed as “coming soon” at a price of $149. Business customers can buy the new switches separately now. Cherry will sell them directly to consumers at a later date.

Meanwhile, the older Cherry MX switches will remain available at a slightly lower cost.

Source: Cherry