CHERRY has launched the MX EMERALD REEF, a mechanical keyboard switch combining a distinct tactile bump with silent keystroke dampening. Built on the MX ILLUMA platform, the component features an oceanic aesthetic with an emerald green stem and an integrated light pipe for RGB illumination. The switch targets custom keyboard builders seeking quiet operation without losing tactile feedback.
CHERRY built the switch around a patented internal structure designed to minimize vibration during keystroke descent and rebound. The mechanism provides a noticeable tactile bump, a soft landing when bottoming out, and a quiet return stroke. An emerald green stem sits inside a translucent cyan blue housing, paired with an integrated light column to channel backlighting directly through keycaps. The revised stem guidance system minimizes key wobble across every stroke.
The hardware uses a 5 pin base compatible with standard hot swap circuit boards. Durability testing rates the mechanical contacts for over 50,000,000 keystrokes. Total travel distance measures 3.8 millimeters, while actuation triggers at a pre travel distance of 2.0 millimeters. The tactile bump peaks at 60 cN of tactile force, followed by an actuation force of 41 cN to complete the electrical circuit.
