Cherry MX Black Clear-Top is a linear mechanical switch from Cherry released in November 2022 with a 63.5 gf operating force and 2 mm pre-travel and 4 mm total travel.
Three focused profiles from published switch specifications. No overall score is generated because feel and use case are personal.
Measures actuation, travel, and force. Shorter, lighter movement favors speed. Advanced input features add capability.
Measures bump or click intensity. It uses feel type and tactile-force rise. Higher scores mean stronger feedback.
Measures published lifespan evidence. It uses documented construction details. It does not predict real-world reliability.
Cherry MX Black Clear-Top
Cherry
Cherry
MX1A
Black Stem / Milky Clear Top / Black Bottom
November 2022
Mechanical
Linear
MX
PCB Mount
30 gf
63.5 gf
110 gf
2 mm
4 mm
No
No
No
Milky plastic polymer
Black plastic polymer / glass-fibre composite
Plastic polymer
Gold-colored precision coil spring
No
5
MX Gold Crosspoint
Commonly celebrated by the community as the official recreation of the legendary 1980s 'Nixdorf' (Nixie) switches, the MX Black Clear-Top combines a milky clear top housing with a classic black nylon bottom. Reviewers and sound-test creators praise its vintage acoustic resonance, which delivers a remarkably deeper, fuller thud than standard modern Cherry Blacks. The medium-heavy spring provides satisfying resistance that trains your fingers to float across keycaps without bottoming out violently, drastically reducing typing errors. Light factory lubrication on the gold-plated spring banishes ping while preserving the iconic, dry Cherry mechanical texture. It is a genuine collector-grade switch that custom keyboard builders celebrate for vintage-style builds.
A three-axis view of compatible-keyboard input capability, tactile profile, and published durability evidence. Missing evidence remains unavailable rather than being scored as zero.
Gaming capability, tactile intensity, and build durability (0 to 100)
Compare Cherry MX Black Clear-Top with another keyboard switch to see differences in feel, force, travel, and compatibility.
Explore switches with similar technology, feel, form factor, operating force, and travel.
The Cherry MX Black Clear-Top is a Mechanical switch from Cherry with a Linear feel, so its keypress character is primarily defined by that mechanism and feedback style.
The Cherry MX Black Clear-Top has an operating force of 63.5 gf. That is a heavier switch feel suited to users who prefer more resistance.
The Cherry MX Black Clear-Top has a pre-travel of 2 mm. Shorter actuation distances usually feel quicker because the key registers earlier in the press.
The Cherry MX Black Clear-Top has a total travel distance of 4 mm. Total travel describes the full stroke from rest to bottom-out.
The Cherry MX Black Clear-Top is listed as 5-pin, MX keycap compatibility is unknown, and hot-swap compatibility is unknown. Always match the switch pins and keyboard PCB/socket before buying.
No. The Cherry MX Black Clear-Top is listed as not factory lubed. Factory lubrication can affect out-of-box smoothness and sound, but its effect can vary with the keyboard build and keycaps.
The Cherry MX Black Clear-Top lists top housing: Milky plastic polymer, bottom housing: Black plastic polymer / glass-fibre composite, stem: Plastic polymer, contact: MX Gold Crosspoint. These parts influence feel, sound, wobble, and long-term switch consistency.
Disclaimer: Specs, pricing, and benchmarks are sourced from official manufacturer data and verified test results. While we strive for precision, product details and pricing may change. Comparigon may earn an affiliate commission on qualifying purchases.
