Cherry MX vs. Gateron vs. Kailh: Which Switch Brand Is Worth Your Money?

Walk into any mechanical keyboard community — whether it’s a Reddit thread, a Discord server, or the bustling forums over at Deskthority — and you’ll find one argument that never seems to get old: which switch brand is actually worth buying? Cherry MX, Gateron, and Kailh each have their passionate defenders, and for good reason. They all make genuinely good products. But “good” covers a lot of ground when you’re spending anywhere from £60 to £300 on a keyboard, and the differences between these three manufacturers can absolutely make or break your daily typing experience.

This guide cuts through the noise. We’ll look at what each brand actually offers, how they compare in real-world use, what you’ll pay in the UK market, and which type of typist or gamer is best served by each option. No fluff, no filler — just the information you need to make a decision you won’t regret.

A Brief History of the Three Giants

Understanding where these companies come from helps explain why their products differ so significantly in character and price.

Cherry is the original. The German company has been manufacturing mechanical keyboard switches since the 1980s, and their MX series became the industry standard for decades. If you used a mechanical keyboard at any point between 1990 and 2015, there’s a very strong chance it had Cherry MX switches inside. Their patents on the cross-stem design (the “+” shaped pole that holds keycaps) expired in 2014, and that single event changed everything.

Gateron is a Chinese manufacturer that stepped into the void left by Cherry’s expiring patents with remarkable speed. Founded in Huizhou, they initially built their reputation by producing switches that were — in the eyes of many enthusiasts — smoother than Cherry’s equivalents at a fraction of the price. They’ve since expanded their lineup considerably and now sit comfortably as the second most recognisable name in the hobby.

Kailh, also Chinese (based in Dongguan), took a slightly different route. Rather than simply cloning Cherry’s designs, Kailh invested heavily in developing their own switch architectures. Their Box switches, Choc low-profile switches, and speed-focused variants have given them a reputation for innovation that neither Cherry nor Gateron can quite match in terms of sheer variety.

Understanding Switch Types Before You Choose a Brand

Before comparing the brands head-to-head, it’s worth being clear about the three fundamental switch types, because your preferred type will narrow down your options considerably.

• Linear switches travel smoothly from top to bottom with no tactile feedback or audible click. They’re popular with gamers and fast typists who don’t want anything interrupting their keystrokes.
• Tactile switches have a noticeable bump partway through the keystroke that tells your fingers when the key has been registered, without any accompanying click sound. They’re widely considered the best all-rounder for office typing and coding.
• Clicky switches combine a tactile bump with an audible click. They’re satisfying to type on and deeply unpopular with anyone sitting within earshot of you in an open-plan office.

Each of our three brands produces all three types, but their execution of each varies in ways that genuinely matter.

Cherry MX: The Benchmark Everyone Measures Against

Build Quality and Feel

Cherry MX switches are built to a specification that the company is almost obsessive about maintaining. Their housing tolerances are tight, their stems are consistent batch to batch, and their rated lifespan of 100 million keystrokes is backed by decades of real-world evidence. If you buy a Cherry MX keyboard today, there is a reasonable argument that it will outlast every other piece of technology you currently own.

That said, “consistent” and “smooth” are not synonyms. Cherry MX linears — particularly the Red and Black variants — have always had a slightly scratchy feel compared to their competitors. It’s not offensive, but once you’ve tried a well-lubed Gateron switch, you’ll notice the difference. Cherry’s tactiles (the Brown and Clear) are similarly serviceable but have a reputation for a bump that feels vague and underwhelming to enthusiasts who have experienced sharper alternatives.

Where Cherry genuinely shines is in their clicky switches. The MX Blue and MX Green are wonderfully distinctive, with a click mechanism that produces a sharper, more precise sound than most competitors manage. Many writers and journalists swear by them for long typing sessions, even if their colleagues do not.

UK Pricing and Availability

Cherry MX switches are available everywhere in the UK. You’ll find them in keyboards at Currys, Amazon UK, Box.co.uk, and every specialist retailer from Mechkeys to Overclockers. Keyboards using Cherry switches typically start around £80 for entry-level options (such as the Ducky One 3 or Keychron V series with Cherry variants) and climb well past £200 for premium boards.

If you’re buying switches loose for a custom build, expect to pay roughly £35–£55 for a pack of 70 Cherry MX switches from UK suppliers, making them noticeably more expensive than their competitors at the component level.

Who Should Buy Cherry MX?

Cherry MX is the right choice if you prioritise longevity and consistency above all else, if you’re buying for a professional environment where reliability matters more than feel, or if you simply want the peace of mind that comes with 40 years of market leadership. They’re also an excellent choice for anyone who wants clicky switches — Cherry’s click mechanism remains one of the best available.

Gateron: The Smooth Operator

Build Quality and Feel

Gateron’s ascent in the keyboard community is almost entirely built on one word: smoothness. Their linear switches — particularly the Yellow, Red, and the higher-end Gateron Oil King — glide in a way that Cherry’s equivalents simply don’t. This isn’t subjective audiophile-style hand-waving; it’s a measurable difference in the friction between stem and housing that you’ll notice within minutes of switching between boards.

Their tactile options have improved dramatically in recent years. The Gateron Brown has long been considered a step up from the Cherry Brown — not because the bump is dramatically different, but because the overall smoothness of the switch makes the tactile event feel crisper. More importantly, Gateron’s premium tactile lines, such as the Gateron G Pro 3.0 and the popular Gateron Kangaroo (a heavier tactile with a sharp pre-travel bump), have given enthusiasts genuinely exciting options at mid-range prices.

One area where Gateron falls slightly short of Cherry is long-term consistency. Their quality control, while much improved over the years, can still vary between production batches in a way that Cherry’s rarely does. It’s a minor caveat for most users, but worth knowing if you’re building a keyboard and plan to mix switch batches.

UK Pricing and Availability

Gateron switches are widely available in the UK, though slightly less omnipresent in high-street retail than Cherry. You’ll find Gateron-equipped keyboards from brands like Keychron (the K and C series use Gateron extensively), Glorious, and various budget-friendly options on Amazon UK.

Loose Gateron switches are excellent value. A pack of 70 standard Gateron switches (Yellow, Red, Brown) typically runs £15–£25 from suppliers like Mechkeys or Amazon UK, making them roughly half the price of Cherry equivalents. Even their premium lines — the Gateron Oil King retails around £30–£40 per 70 — undercut Cherry’s standard pricing.

Keyboards featuring Gateron switches span a wide price range. The Keychron K2 with Gateron switches can be found for around £75, while top-end custom board builds using Gateron’s premium variants can reach similar heights to any other premium board.

Who Should Buy Gateron?

Gateron is arguably the best starting point for anyone new to mechanical keyboards. The price-to-performance ratio is exceptional, the smoothness of their linears is genuinely impressive, and the sheer number of Gateron-equipped keyboards available in the UK means you’ll have no shortage of options. If you’re a gamer who wants fast, smooth linears without spending Cherry prices, Gateron Yellow or Red is probably your first stop. If you’re a typist who wants a smooth tactile, Gateron’s mid-range options are strong contenders.

Kailh: The Innovator With Niche Appeal

Build Quality and Feel

Kailh is the most interesting of the three brands from a pure engineering standpoint. Where Cherry refined and Cherry improved incrementally, and Gateron focused on making Cherry’s designs feel better, Kailh went in a different direction: they started building things nobody else had built.

Their Box switch design is a particular highlight. Rather than using an open housing like Cherry or Gateron, Kailh Box switches use a closed housing with a cross-shaped box surrounding the stem. This design makes them significantly more resistant to dust and moisture — a genuinely useful trait if you type for long hours or work in environments where keyboards take a beating. Box switches also tend to feel more stable and wobble-free than standard designs.

The Kailh Speed switches are another departure from convention. Designed with shorter actuation distances and pre-travel, they’re aimed squarely at competitive gamers who want the fastest possible response time. The Speed Bronze (a clicky speed switch) and Speed Silver (a linear speed switch) have their devoted following among esports-inclined users.

Kailh’s Choc low-profile switches deserve a special mention. If you want a mechanical keyboard that’s slim enough to travel with or to use alongside a thin laptop, Kailh Choc is essentially the only serious option on the market. The Choc V2 in particular has a distinctive feel that’s grown considerably in popularity.

Where Kailh is less convincing is in their standard switches — the equivalents to Cherry MX Red, Brown, and Blue. These are perfectly functional, but they don’t have the smoothness of Gateron or the proven track record of Cherry, and in that middle ground they can feel like a slightly awkward compromise.

UK Pricing and Availability

Kailh switches are the least widely available of the three brands in mainstream UK retail. You won’t find many Kailh-equipped keyboards in Currys, and the selection on Amazon UK is thinner than Cherry or Gateron. However, specialist UK retailers like Mechkeys, Proto[Typist], and various
keyboard enthusiast sites stock Kailh switches and pre-built boards. If you’re willing to order from AliExpress or Banggood, Kailh switches are extremely affordable — often £15-20 for a pack of 90, compared to £25-35 for Cherry or Gateron equivalents.

The Verdict: Which Brand Should You Choose?

There’s no single “best” switch brand — it depends entirely on your priorities and budget.

Choose Cherry MX if: You want the most reliable, time-tested switches with excellent build quality and the widest compatibility. Cherry switches are the safe choice, particularly if you’re buying a pre-built keyboard from a major manufacturer. Yes, you’ll pay more, but you’re getting proven consistency and longevity. For office use or professional environments where reliability matters most, Cherry remains the gold standard.

Choose Gateron if: You’re after smooth, enjoyable typing at a lower price point. Gateron switches offer excellent value and have become the enthusiast community’s favourite for custom builds. The Gateron Pro and Oil King ranges compete directly with premium switches at mid-range prices. If you’re building your first mechanical keyboard or want smooth linears without breaking the bank, Gateron is your best bet.

Choose Kailh if: You’re an enthusiast looking for something different, or you want specific features like Box switches for dust resistance or Speed switches for gaming. Kailh’s innovation makes them ideal for custom builds where you know exactly what you want. They’re also brilliant if you’re on a tight budget and ordering directly from Chinese retailers.

Ultimately, the differences between these brands are smaller than the marketing suggests. A Cherry MX Red, Gateron Red, and Kailh Red will all give you a linear typing experience — the variations in smoothness, sound, and feel are noticeable but not dramatic. For most users, the keyboard’s build quality, keycaps, and stabilisers matter more than the switch brand. Try before you buy if possible, and remember: the “best” switch is simply the one that feels right under your fingers.