Mechanical keyboards are a pretty big staple for PC gamers today. The keys are irresistible, sometimes very clicky, and work more reliably than nonmechanical types. This is all thanks to the switches under the keys, and there are many different types and brands of switches. When it comes to keyswitches, no brand is more well-known than Cherry MX.

Cherry MX Ergo Clear (opens in new tab), a quiet switch that came about thanks to the DIY efforts of the community, has now joined the official Cherry lineup. first appeared when a user named "mtl" showed off his mod on the Geekhack forum (opens in new tab).

The mod involved replacing the springs that came with the MX Clear board at the time with springs from the MX Black switch. You can still see the postings about how we came up with this combination (opens in new tab). The result is a smoother keystroke feel, a different bottom-out force, and a cross between MX Clear and MX Brown cherry switches. More importantly, it has generated a huge response in the keyboard community.

It is surprising that it took Cherry this long to get these fan-made switches into official rotation, but they are a special edition for enthusiasts. Furthermore, the modification process is quite labor intensive, making it easier for inexperienced users to obtain ergo-clear keys.

Of course, these official MX Ergo Clear switches have the professional Cherry MX tweaks that we love to sneak in for upgrades (opens in new tab). The original version used a PTFE lubricant coating, which at certain points has been replaced with a high-performance grease. This allows the Cherry MX to be guaranteed for more than 50 million actuations, perhaps a bit safer for the life of the switch.

Additionally, the Cherry MX Ergo Clear comes in a number of variations: the RGB version is for gamers who want their keyboards to shine as bright as their kill streaks. The tops of the keys are translucent, allowing the LEDs to show through. Alternatively, standard dark switches can be used for a more discreet appearance.

Both types are available in both 3-pin and 5-pin versions and will be built into future keyboard models. If they are well received by the community, they will provide a smooth and quiet typing experience, perfect for gaming and office use. I myself can't wait to try the official Cherry MX Ergo Clears and feel the difference.