Cherry's MX Ultra Low Profile (ULP) switches represent a significant, yet largely underappreciated, innovation in mechanical keyboard technology. Despite offering a compelling blend of slim design and satisfying tactile feedback, this switch type has failed to gain mainstream traction in the desktop market, a puzzling oversight given its quality.
The Corsair K100 Air Wireless, released in 2022, showcased the potential of MX ULP switches. While its premium price and other features were notable, the switches themselves were the standout component. Unlike standard low-profile switches that are simply a scaled-down version of full-height switches, MX ULP switches employ a different mechanism. They utilize metal "wings" that pivot downwards onto an actuator, enabling a total switch height of just 3.5mm and a key travel of 1.8mm. This design allowed the K100 Air Wireless to achieve a remarkably thin profile of 17mm.
On paper, the reduced travel might suggest a mushy typing experience, especially given that the ULP switches were primarily available in tactile variants. However, in practice, the MX ULP Tactile switches deliver a short, sharp, and satisfying bump. The actuation force, at 65cN, is comparable to a full-height MX Clear, but the reduced travel prevents the finger fatigue often associated with heavier switches. This engineering feat resulted in a typing experience that convinced many, including this publication, that ultra-low-profile was a significant feature worth championing.
The K100 Air Wireless itself was well-built, featuring an aluminum top plate that ensured stability despite its thinness, and offered around 50 hours of battery life, a reasonable compromise for its compact design.
Industry Trends Diverge from ULP Potential
The mechanical keyboard industry was at a crossroads around the time MX ULP switches emerged. While some manufacturers focused on integrating enthusiast features into gaming keyboards or doubling down on traditional mechanical designs, others pivoted towards optical and Hall effect switches, touting benefits like adjustable actuation points and rapid trigger functionality for competitive gaming. This latter path became particularly dominant in the gaming keyboard space.
Corsair's K100 Air Wireless stood out as a unique offering, opting for an entirely new product category rather than fitting into existing trends. Beyond Corsair, mainstream adoption of MX ULP switches has been minimal. Cherry offers its own office-centric KW X ULP and KW X ULP 2.0 MINI, while boutique manufacturers like Mistel continue to produce ULP keyboards such as the AirOne. However, these remain niche products.
The core issue appears to be market positioning. MX ULP switches effectively solved a problem for laptop manufacturers seeking to integrate a true mechanical typing feel into slim chassis. For the desktop market, particularly the enthusiast and gaming segments, the focus was on different innovations like hot-swappable sockets, form factors, or speed-enhancing switch technologies. MX ULP, while excellent, didn't align with the prevailing conversations or feature demands of these communities. Consequently, its presence has largely been confined to premium laptops from brands like Alienware and Medion, and the aforementioned boutique desktop offerings.
More recent innovations, such as NuPhy's Air60 HE featuring Gateron's Magnetic Jade low-profile Hall effect switches, demonstrate a continued push for low-profile performance, often with advanced customization. The industry is now also looking towards Transit Magnetic Resistance (TMR) switches for further improvements in precision and power efficiency. Amidst these developments, the distinct advantages of MX ULP switches seem to be overlooked.
A Path Forward for ULP
The primary obstacles for MX ULP switches have been limited aftermarket keycap support and the initial high price point of products like the K100 Air Wireless. The lack of keycap options restricts customization for enthusiasts, and broken keycaps can be difficult to replace. Furthermore, the K100 Air Wireless launched at a steep price during an economically challenging period, making its niche appeal even harder to justify.
However, a path to wider adoption exists. For keycaps, brands could prioritize shipping ULP keyboards with high-quality, first-party PBT double-shot keycaps, accepting that aftermarket customization might remain limited. This approach mirrors the strategy of many existing low-profile mechanical keyboards that already ask buyers to make similar trade-offs.
Regarding pricing, the Mistel AirOne has demonstrated that ULP keyboards can be produced and sold at significantly lower price points than Corsair's initial offering. A mid-range MX ULP keyboard, priced competitively with current Hall effect offerings around the £100-£150 mark, would be a much more accessible proposition for consumers wary of expensive experiments. This pricing strategy, combined with the democratization of features like wireless connectivity and sophisticated software by smaller manufacturers, could reduce the premium associated with a fully-featured keyboard.
Conclusion
The engineering behind Cherry MX ULP switches is not the issue; they offer an exceptional tactile typing experience that rivals any switch design. The challenge has been market timing and effective communication of its benefits. Unlike Hall effect and TMR switches, which found a clear selling point in speed and adjustability, MX ULP's primary advantage—a supremely satisfying typing feel in an ultra-slim form factor—is more experiential and harder to convey through spec sheets alone.
For ULP to find its footing, a mainstream brand, potentially Corsair itself, needs to revisit the concept with a more sensible price, improved keycap solutions, and a clear marketing strategy that emphasizes the tangible typing feel. The success of competing technologies like Hall effect and TMR proves an appetite for switch innovation exists when it is properly marketed. MX ULP has the engineering prowess; it simply needs a second chance and a more courageous push from the industry to bring its unique advantages to a wider audience beyond laptops and niche enthusiast boards.