CHERRY MX LOW PROFILE RGB: NOW OVER 100 MILLION ACTUATIONS AND LESS THAN 1 MILLISECOND BOUNCE TIME
02/2022 by HOLGER DASSLER - Back to overview
CHERRY extends the lifetime of the MX Low Profile RGB from 50 to more than 100 million actuations without loss of input quality. This extension already applies to all switches in the low-profile format that have been shipped since mid-2021. Therefore, new and existing customers benefit from a doubled guaranteed lifetime of the MX Low Profile RGB. Thanks to this unrivaled durability, CHERRY MX now solidifies its position as the industry leader in the field of low-profile mechanical switches. Extensive internal and external testing validates the new durability claims. The more than 100 million actuations are achieved by optimizing the world-exclusive and technically superior Gold Crosspoint contact system and the unique selection of materials, guaranteeing the switch's permanently consistent quality over many decades.
Uncompromisingly thin design
Introduced in 2018, the entirely newly developed CHERRY MX Low Profile RGB switch now positions itself between the MX Standard and the MX Ultra Low Profile in terms of dimensions. Thanks to an overall height of only 11.9 millimeters, modern slim, mechanical keyboard designs for desktop applications can be implemented without compromising switching characteristics and feel. The MX Low Profile RGB is around 35 percent thinner than the standard version but still offers the inimitable typing feel with which the conventional MX switches have already established themselves as the gold standard on the market.
Over 100 million actuations thanks to continuous product improvements
After introducing the MX Low Profile RGB, the focus was placed on the brand-new innovations CHERRY MV and MX Ultra Low Profile. But even existing products undergo a continuous optimization process. For example, the "Hyperglide" improvement was integrated into the MX standard switches. In August 2021, the MX Low Profile RGB also received an update: Previously, CHERRY MX guaranteed more than 50 million actuations for this switch type, but through ongoing, elaborate analyses and quality improvements, the lifetime could be doubled.
The Gold Crosspoint contactor, in particular, benefits from this: to achieve the 100 million actuations, various preparation and production steps were optimized, resulting in the two contact points being welded onto the carrier material even more gently and precisely. The outcome is a significantly improved Gold Crosspoint contact with maximum switching point consistency and accuracy. In addition, the bounce time has been reduced to typically less than one millisecond, making it a first-class level. This means that inputs are registered much faster. On the other hand, competitors’ range between five and ten milliseconds, which results in a delay during input. In the world of fast-paced competitive gaming where every second matters, these advantages often make a difference.
Gold Crosspoint: unbeatable contact system as the heart of the system
The world-exclusive, high-precision, robust Gold Crosspoint technology is mainly responsible for extremely long service life. This unique contact point system is self-cleaning and resistant to corrosion and offers perfect processing quality and unrivaled manufacturing know-how after the update.
CHERRY MX is, among other things, the only switch manufacturer in the world to use a particularly thick gold top layer for its contact system. The two contact elements are gently but absolutely stably applied to the contact carrier by a high-precision process using a particular welding diode. As a result, the Gold Crosspoint remains permanently intact and contributes to long-term durability, flawless operation, and absolutely reliable contacting at low voltages even under the most adverse conditions.
For cost reasons, competitors currently rely on fragile gold coatings for their contact systems, some of which are already destroyed during manufacturing. In addition, the welding quality varies considerably, resulting in poor mechanical and electrical connections. The contacts of the competitors are often also only pressed with the carrier, which again results in significantly poorer properties in terms of function and contact. As a leading manufacturer with the best and unrivaled processing quality compared to the competition, CHERRY MX guarantees consistent and significantly higher quality over decades.
The optimal choice of materials for maximum lifetime
Of course, the choice of materials also contributes to the long lifetime: CHERRY MX opted for selected materials that meet the upscale requirements and give the switch the desired characteristics in terms of reliability and durability. The switch retains its integrity even under high temperatures during soldering, ensuring seamless operation even in the event of production fluctuations during keyboard manufacturing. In addition, the material shows zero to insignificant changes over the years or even decades and under the most adverse conditions during storage or transport, for example, on the sea container. This guarantees the tight tolerances even under the most unfavorable conditions. Each MX switch is characterized by the fact that the best properties are always maintained during further processing.
Extensive internal and external tests
In2021, the available capacities were then used to subject the MX Low Profile RGB once again to extended quality tests in the in-house laboratory at the company headquarters in Auerbach (Oberpfalz). In the process, the switch was tested far beyond the standard specifications to determine the maximum lifetime under various conditions. External testing institutes also examined the switch extensively concerning durability and quality. Now that the extensive and highly time-consuming tests have been completed from all sides, it is clear: The MX Low Profile RGB guarantees an extended service life of far more than 100 million actuations without any loss of input quality or change in specifications! CHERRY MX thus once again sets an industry-leading benchmark in the low-profile segment in the field of mechanical key switches and offers massive added value compared to the competition.
Benefit for end customers and keyboard manufacturers
What's remarkable: The more than 100 million guaranteed actuations apply to all MX Low Profile RGB switches produced since mid-2021. So anyone who has recently bought a keyboard with CHERRY MX Low Profile RGB will benefit from the doubled lifetime. This extended durability also allows keyboard manufacturers to rely on an absolutely top-notch, high-quality switch that offers the end-user maximum benefits in terms of durability, typing feel, and reliability. Anyone who buys a keyboard with CHERRY MX Low Profile RGB will get a product for gaming and demanding everyday office use that will provide strict confidence for decades to come.
Housing optimized for RGB lighting
The CHERRY MX Low Profile RGB is based on a transparent housing designed for use with SMD LEDs. The compact LEDs are located directly on the PCB, which benefits a low-profile keyboard design. The optimized housing design of the low-profile switch with its integrated light guide system ensures uniform illumination of the entire keycap. It allows a luminous display of all 16.8 million colors of the RGB spectrum.
100 million for CHERRY MX Low Profile RGB Red and Speed
Both currently available switch variants of the CHERRY MX Low Profile RGB offer a lifetime of more than 100 million actuations without loss of input quality. The characteristics correspond to those of the standard models with the same color-coding. For example, the CHERRY MX Low Profile RGB Red is designed as a linear switch that offers a pre-travel of 1.2 millimeters and requires an operating force of 45 centinewtons. The CHERRY MX Low Profile RGB Speed also offers similar specifications: This variant also features a linear design that requires an operating force of 45 centinewtons, but its pre-travel is reduced to 1.0 millimeters.
All CHERRY MX switches bear the "Made in Germany" seal, which clearly stands for best product quality and highest manufacturing precision.