Durock Anubis vs. SP-Star Polaris Purple
An in-depth look at the Durock Anubis and the SP-Star Polaris Purple switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
The Durock Anubis and SP-Star Polaris Purple are two popular mechanical keyboard switches that offer satisfying tactile feedback with every keystroke. The Anubis is best known for its deep and resonant sound profile, making each keystroke feel assertive and intense. Its pronounced tactile bump brings a new level of sharp tactility, perfect for those who prefer a more distinct typing experience. On the other hand, the Polaris Purple features a big tactile bump that provides an exhilarating typing experience and a snappy sound profile. It offers a milder tactility compared to the Anubis but still delivers a satisfying feedback. Both switches fall under the 'Polished' category, ensuring a smooth and polished typing experience. However, let's dive in a bit deeper beyond these generalities so you can best decide on the perfect switch for you.
By the numbers
Technical specifications
Actuation force
N/A
Actuation force
N/A
Bottom-out force
65g
Bottom-out force
67g
Pre-travel
N/A
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Total travel
4.00 mm
Total travel
4.00 mm
Factory lubed
Yes
Factory lubed
Yes
Stem construction
Standard
Stem construction
Standard
Stem material
POM
Stem material
POM
Top housing material
Nylon
Top housing material
Polycarbonate
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Bottom housing material
Polycarbonate
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Spring
Gold-plated
Spring
Gold plated
Housing materials
The housing materials of the Durock Anubis and the SP-Star Polaris Purple differ significantly in terms of sound profile and aesthetic appeal. The Anubis features a nylon top housing, which creates a deeper and fuller sound due to its softer plastic and higher sound absorption. In contrast, the Polaris Purple utilizes a polycarbonate top housing, resulting in a sharper and crisper sound profile with its stiffer plastic composition. Additionally, the polycarbonate top housing is advantageous for those planning to use RGB lighting, thanks to its translucency. While the Anubis's nylon bottom housing maintains the same sound qualities as its top housing, the Polaris Purple's polycarbonate bottom housing reinforces the clear and resonant sound profile associated with it.
Despite their differences, the top and bottom housings of the Durock Anubis and SP-Star Polaris Purple play distinct roles in the overall sound and feel of the switches. When pressing down on either switch, the qualities of the bottom housing become more apparent, influencing the bottom-out sound and feel. In this aspect, the Anubis's nylon bottom housing and the Polaris Purple's polycarbonate bottom housing would have similar effects, creating a duller and rounder sound due to their respective softer and stiffer plastics. However, when releasing a key, the sound produced is mostly impacted by the top housing. Here, the Anubis's nylon top housing would elicit a deeper and fuller sound, while the Polaris Purple's polycarbonate top housing would lend a crisper and higher-pitched sound, enhancing the overall typing experience.
While the housing materials of the Durock Anubis and the SP-Star Polaris Purple have distinctive properties, it is evident that they were specifically chosen to complement the desired sound profiles of each switch. The nylon used in the Anubis's housing provides a classic switch experience with a deeper and fuller sound, emphasizing sound absorption. On the other hand, the polycarbonate employed in the Polaris Purple's housing aims for a more modern appeal, producing a clear and resonant sound that pairs well with RGB lighting. Ultimately, regardless of the differences in housing materials, both switches prioritize delivering a satisfying typing experience by utilizing materials that influence the sound and feel of the switch in their own unique ways.
Weight
When comparing the actuation force and bottom out force of the Durock Anubis tactile switch and the SP-Star Polaris Purple tactile switch, it is worth noting that the exact values for the actuation force are unavailable for both switches. However, for the bottom out force, the Anubis requires 65 grams, which can be considered medium-heavy, while the Polaris Purple requires 67 grams, which is also medium-heavy. Therefore, both switches have similar bottom out forces, providing a comparable typing experience in terms of the pressure required to fully press the keys.
Considering weight, the Anubis switch's actuation force and the Polaris Purple switch's actuation force are both unknown. This makes it difficult to accurately compare their lightness or heaviness. However, it is important to note that weight is a crucial factor for keyboard users. Some individuals prefer lighter switches as they allow for longer typing sessions, making them ideal for work or extended gaming sessions. Conversely, others may prefer switches with a stronger push feel, providing a more substantial typing experience. For these individuals, selecting switches with heavier forces would be more suitable.
In conclusion, while the specific actuation forces of the Durock Anubis and SP-Star Polaris Purple switches are unknown, they both possess similar bottom out forces, providing a comparable typing experience in terms of the pressure required to fully press the keys. The decision between these switches may ultimately come down to individual preferences regarding weight, with lighter options favoring extended typing sessions and heavier options catering to those seeking a more forceful typing experience.
Travel distance
Both the Durock Anubis tactile switch and the SP-Star Polaris Purple tactile switch have the same travel distance of 4 mm. This means that when you press down on a key equipped with either of these switches, you will experience a consistent 4 mm of travel. Therefore, you can expect similar results in terms of the distance you feel when using either switch.
Price comparison
Which switch is more bang for your buck?
The SP-Star Polaris Purple has an MSRP of $5.60 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Polaris Purple for $5.00.
The Durock Anubis comes in at $8.00 per 10 switches.
Here at Milktooth, we offer the best prices on switches (on average, 27% lower the competition). In addition, we offer free shipping on orders over $49.00. We also offer free returns and exchanges, so you can shop with guaranteed satisfaction.
That said, while price is an important piece of the puzzle, our opinion is that you should ultimately pick the option that most suits your unique preferences since you’ll be using these switches for years to come. In other words, finding something perfect for you is, in our view, the most important criteria.
Typing experience
When it comes to sound, both the Durock Anubis and the SP-Star Polaris Purple switches fall under the category of neutral switches. This means that they have a moderate actuation force requirement and a moderate sound profile. These switches are suitable for various purposes, whether you are a beginner or advanced user, and whether you plan to use them at home or work. However, it's important to note that the sound of a switch is also influenced by other factors such as the keyboard board and keycaps you choose. Therefore, while the Anubis is known for its deep and resonant sound profile with a more pronounced bump, and the Polaris Purple is described as having a snappy sound profile, the overall sound experience may vary depending on your setup.
Moving on to feel, the Anubis switch can be described as an accented switch, meaning it offers a medium level of tactility that is neither overwhelming nor subtle. It provides a satisfying tactile feedback with every keystroke, making the bump more pronounced compared to most other tactile switches. Additionally, the Anubis switch is polished, resulting in a smooth and refined finish, which enhances the typing experience by reducing friction and ensuring smooth key travel.
On the other hand, the Polaris Purple switch is categorized as a mild switch, offering a more gentle typing experience compared to switches with more pronounced characteristics. It falls within a safe, middle-ground zone, making the sound and feel approachable to most users. Similar to the Anubis, the Polaris Purple switch is also polished, providing a sleek typing experience with reduced friction and smooth key travel.
In summary, both the Durock Anubis tactile switch and the SP-Star Polaris Purple tactile switch have their own unique qualities. The Anubis is known for its deep and resonant sound profile, as well as a more pronounced tactile bump. It offers a medium level of tactility and a polished finish for a smooth typing experience. On the other hand, the Polaris Purple provides an exhilarating tactile typing experience with a snappy sound profile. It offers a mild level of tactility and also features a polished finish. Both switches fall under the neutral category in terms of sound and require a moderate actuation force. However, individual results may vary depending on the specific keyboard and keycaps used.
Conclusion
To sum up, the Durock Anubis tactile switch would be a great choice for someone who prefers a sharp and intense tactile feedback with every keystroke. The pronounced bump of the Anubis switch provides a satisfying and assertive typing experience, perfect for those who enjoy a more prominent tactility. Additionally, the Anubis switch has a moderate actuation force requirement and a moderate sound profile, making it suitable for a wide range of users and environments.
On the other hand, the SP-Star Polaris Purple tactile switch would be ideal for someone looking for an exhilarating tactile typing experience. The big tactile bump of the Polaris Purple switch adds excitement and responsiveness to every keystroke. Similar to the Anubis switch, the Polaris Purple has a moderate actuation force requirement and a moderate sound profile, making it versatile for various typing needs.
In terms of feel, both switches offer a smooth and refined typing experience due to their polished finish. This results in reduced friction and smooth key travel, enhancing the overall typing feel for both switches.
Ultimately, the choice between the Durock Anubis tactile switch and the SP-Star Polaris Purple tactile switch depends on your preference for the level of tactility and typing experience you desire. If you enjoy a sharper and more intense tactile feedback, the Anubis switch would be a great fit. On the other hand, if you prefer an exhilarating typing experience with a big tactile bump, the Polaris Purple switch would be the way to go. Regardless of your choice, both switches offer a satisfying typing experience with their moderate actuation force requirement and moderate sound profile.
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