Cheap (but decent) Brown Switch Mechanical Keyboard

Last Updated:
Aug 5th, 2017 12:24 pm

Tags:

SCORE

Reply to ThreadReply

Search this thread

Search this thread

Aug 5th, 2017 7:49 am

Ah1800 [OP]: Member; Feb 11, 2017; 402 posts; 484 upvotes; Ottawa

Aug 5th, 2017 7:49 am

Cheap (but decent) Brown Switch Mechanical Keyboard

I've been looking into trying out mechanical keyboards. I typed a little bit on Brown, Red and Blue at the store and I think the brown switch felt good.

I want to try out a keyboard with brown switches for an extended period of time but the prices are too high for a test run.

Is there anything decent enough with brown switches that is around the $50 mark? Wouldn't mind shelling out more for something like a filco in the long run if I like mechs but finding it hard to justify paying a lot for something I might not even like.

Thanks

7 replies

Aug 5th, 2017 8:02 am

Gee: Deal Expert; Aug 2, 2004; 36399 posts; 9629 upvotes; East Gwillimbury

Aug 5th, 2017 8:02 am

The brown is too mushy. If you like mechanical keyboards, go with Blue unless he noise bothers you.

For me, the blue still doesn't have enough feedback. But it is better than brown.

Home Automation Thread

Heatware

+1

Aug 5th, 2017 10:09 am

Ah1800 [OP]: Member; Feb 11, 2017; 402 posts; 484 upvotes; Ottawa

Aug 5th, 2017 10:09 am

Gee wrote: ↑ The brown is too mushy. If you like mechanical keyboards, go with Blue unless he noise bothers you.

For me, the blue still doesn't have enough feedback. But it is better than brown.

I loved the feel of the blue switch but I share my office space with the wife at home, and at work I have a short cubicle thing (everyone will hear me typing). Browns seemed to be a bit quiter.

I didn't like the reds all that much.

Aug 5th, 2017 10:17 am

LegiT: Deal Addict; Mar 19, 2005; 3253 posts; 293 upvotes; Toronto

Aug 5th, 2017 10:17 am

At $50 CAD, you're only going to get Chinese MX Brown clones from Chinese off-brands from eBay/Amazon/AliExpress. Best to just search those sites by typing in "Brown switch keyboard" and looking up reviews at https://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicalKeyboards/ to see if anyone has any comments.

+1

Aug 5th, 2017 10:29 am

Ah1800 [OP]: Member; Feb 11, 2017; 402 posts; 484 upvotes; Ottawa

Aug 5th, 2017 10:29 am

LegiT wrote: ↑ At $50 CAD, you're only going to get Chinese MX Brown clones from Chinese off-brands from eBay/Amazon/AliExpress. Best to just search those sites by typing in "Brown switch keyboard" and looking up reviews at https://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicalKeyboards/ to see if anyone has any comments.

Thanks. Will ask there. Do you happen to know what's the closest of the clones?

Aug 5th, 2017 11:02 am

clee290: Deal Addict; Dec 17, 2011; 2104 posts; 1582 upvotes; Montreal

Aug 5th, 2017 11:02 am

Gateron switches are quite good. I have a few keyboards with them. Kailh's newer switches (Box and Speed) have been getting some high praise.

Closest to Cherry MX Brown would probably be Gateron Brown or Kailh BOX Brown switches.

+1

Aug 5th, 2017 11:56 am

Ah1800 [OP]: Member; Feb 11, 2017; 402 posts; 484 upvotes; Ottawa

Aug 5th, 2017 11:56 am

clee290 wrote: ↑ Gateron switches are quite good. I have a few keyboards with them. Kailh's newer switches (Box and Speed) have been getting some high praise.

Closest to Cherry MX Brown would probably be Gateron Brown or Kailh BOX Brown switches.

Thanks. This is very helpful. Is there a Gateron brown in your collection that you can recommend?

Aug 5th, 2017 12:24 pm

clee290: Deal Addict; Dec 17, 2011; 2104 posts; 1582 upvotes; Montreal

Aug 5th, 2017 12:24 pm

I don't have any keyboards with Gateron Brown switches actually :P At your budget, it might be a bit hard to get keyboards with Gateron switches. You'll have to go with something like the Velocifire TKL01 or VM01. They come with either Zorro or Outemu Brown switches (they changed switches at some point).

Reply to Thread

Top