Mechanical Keyboards are the preferred choice of keyboards for gamers. The tactile feel of a good mechanical keyboard definitely helps competitive gamers with their key inputs. When we talk about mechanical keyboards, we have to discuss the switches beneath those keycaps. As it is the switch that are responsible for making the contact, “click” sound, and the spring-loaded tactile feedback. If you are familiar with mechanical keyboards, then you must have heard of Cherry MX lineup of switches. There are different colors in MX Series such as MX Red, MX Blue, MX Black, MX Brown, etc. Speaking of Cherry MX Blue, a popular question that many people have is “are blue switches good for gaming?”.
In this guide, we will try to answer this question. First, we will see some basic features of Cherry MX Blue Switches. After that, we will see if the Blue Switches are good for gaming or not.
Mechanical Keyboards
Are you a pro gamer? Then keyboard and mouse are very important to you (apart from the main system of course). Most professional and competitive gamers prefer mechanical keyboards.
Their iconic “click” sound is not the reason gamers prefer these keyboards (at least it is not the first priority). The Switch that makes this sound is more important. This Switch is the main thing that separates the mechanical keyboards from those boring membrane keyboards.
All mechanical keyboards are not the same. There are several types and grades of Switches that go underneath those keycaps. Some popular manufacturers are:
- Cherry
- Gateron
- Outemu
- Razer
Of these, Cherry Switches are very popular, particularly their MX Series of Switches. The Cherry MX Series consists of the following switches.
- Cherry MX Red
- Cherry MX Black
- Cherry MX Brown
- Cherry MX Blue
- Cherry MX Speed Silver
- And many more
Cherry MX Blue Switches
The Cherry MX Blue is a high-precision mechanical key switch. Each key stroke offers tactile and audible contact feedback.
Here are some basic characteristics of Cherry MX Blue Switches:
- Operating Force: 60 cN (Centi Newton)
- Pre-Travel: 2.2 mm
- Total Travel: 4 mm
- Contac Type: Single Pole Contact
- Bounce Time: < 5 ms
- Lighting: Optional (Single Color or RGB)
- Spring: Stainless Steel
Technical details aside, are Blue Switches good for gaming?
Are Blue Switches Good for Gaming?
Yes. Blue Switches are good for gaming. Are they the best switches for gaming? No. there are much better switches, especially from Cherry.
If you notice the above list of specifications for Cherry MX Blue Switches, you can see the operating force is 60 cN. This is the force we need to apply on the switch for the spring to move and make the contact. We call this the tactile bump.
This force is slightly more than other switches such as Cherry MX Silent Red, Cherry MX Silver, and Cherry MX Red.
The tactile feedback (the resistance we feel when we press a key) is an important feature of mechanical switches. It helps in avoiding accidental key presses. This and the audible feedback in the form loud click are very useful for gamers.
But if the resistance is more, then it can be difficult, especially if you playing games that require fast or rapid clicks. As you need slightly more pressure on the key, you will find very uncomfortable to make rapid keystrokes.
Another issue with Blue Switches is they are loud. In fact, they are one of the loudest switches in the whole MX Series of Switches. Even though the “click” feedback is good to have, such loud clicks can be distracting while you are seriously engaged in a gaming session.
Don’t get us wrong. Cherry MX Blue Switches are very good switches and you can use them for gaming or typing. But they are not the best available switches for competitive gaming.
We recommend Cherry MX Red or Cherry MX Speed Silver switches if you are a professional gamer. Their operating force is very less. This means the tactile resistance is significantly lower than the Cherry MX Blue counterparts.
Also, the audible feedback from the click is not at all distracting.
Advantages of Cherry MX Blue Switches
Here are some advantages of Blue Switches.
Decent Operating Force
The operating force of Cherry MX Blue Switches is 60 cN. This is a decent amount of force that doesn’t require too much pressure on the switch. Hence, Cherry MX Blue Switches are a good option for gaming as well as typing.
Good Travel Distance
With a pre-travel of 2.2 mm and a maximum travel of 4 mm, the Cherry MX Blue Switches have a good travel distance. These values are on par with or very close to the Cherry MX Red and Cherry MX Silent Red Switches.
But if you want even little travel, then you should probably look at the Cherry MX Speed Silver Switches.
Rated for 50 million Key Strokes
50 million is a large number. And the Cherry MX Blue Switches can serve you for a long duration. This with its unique self-cleaning contacts, Cherry MX Blue Switches are built for lasting long.
Note that the high-end Cherry MX Red and Cherry MX Speed Silver are rated for 100 million key strokes.
Disadvantages of Cherry MX Blue Switches
Once again, Operating Force
Yes. The operating force of the Blue Switches, which we put as an advantage, is also its disadvantage. This is of course when we compare to better switches such as the Cherry MX Red, Cherry MX Silent Red and Cherry MX Speed Silver.
They have slightly lower tactile resistance, which is very important for fast-paced gaming. For Cherry MX Blue Switches, you need to put slightly more pressure than those two. Hence, even though these switches are good for gaming, they are not the best option.
Loud Clicks
The main attraction of mechanical switches is its audible feedback. That “click” sound a switch makes is one reason many gamers use mechanical keyboards.
Coming to the Cherry MX Blue switches, they have slightly louder click sounds when we compare to other switches in the MX Series. This is because, they come under “Tactile with Clicky Sound” category. While some gamers like the clicks, louder clicks can be annoying if you are trying to engage in a serious game play.
Conclusion
So, are blue switches god for gaming? Cherry MX Blue Switches are decent for casual gaming. They are not the best switches out there for gaming. If you are a competitive or professional gamer, then you will find better switches in the form of Cherry MX Red, Cherry MX Silent Red, Cherry MX Speed Silver, etc.
