Gateron Baby Raccoon (V2) vs. Kailh Box Royal
An in-depth look at the Gateron Baby Raccoon (V2) and the Kailh Box Royal switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When it comes to mechanical keyboard switches, two popular options that stand out are the Gateron Baby Raccoon and the Kailh Box Royal. Each switch offers its own unique features and qualities that cater to different preferences. The Baby Raccoon is renowned for its bright sound signature and refreshingly crisp typing feel, thanks to its lengthened switch stems. These linear switches are characterized as resonant, marbly, high-pitched, creamy, bouncy, invigorating, and polished. On the other hand, the Box Royal is known for its highly tactile experience; it boasts a sharp, binary tactility that can be almost aggressive. These switches produce a relatively higher pitched sound. Both switches have their merits, making it important to dive deeper beyond generalities to determine the best choice for your specific needs and preferences.
By the numbers
Technical specifications
Actuation force
55g
Actuation force
45g
Bottom-out force
63g
Bottom-out force
70g
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Pre-travel
1.80 mm
Total travel
3.60 mm
Total travel
3.60 mm
Factory lubed
Yes
Factory lubed
No
Stem construction
Standard
Stem construction
Box
Stem material
POM
Stem material
POM
Top housing material
Polycarbonate
Top housing material
Nylon
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Mount type
Plate (3-pin)
Spring
20mm long spring
Spring
Stainless steel
Housing materials
The housing materials of the Gateron Baby Raccoon and the Kailh Box Royal have distinct differences. The Baby Raccoon features a polycarbonate top housing, which results in a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound profile. The stiffness of polycarbonate creates a clear and resonant sound, making it ideal for switches with RGB lighting. In contrast, the Box Royal utilizes a nylon top housing, which produces a deeper and fuller sound. The softer nature of nylon absorbs more sound, resulting in a duller and rounder sound profile. While both switches provide unique sound characteristics, the Baby Raccoon's polycarbonate top housing offers a more vibrant and clear sound, while the Box Royal's nylon top housing creates a deeper and fuller sound experience.
Moving on to the bottom housing, both switches utilize nylon as the material. Nylon is a classic switch housing material known for its ability to elicit a deeper and fuller sound profile. The softness of nylon enables it to absorb more sound compared to harder plastics, resulting in a duller and rounder sound. Therefore, both the Gateron Baby Raccoon and the Kailh Box Royal provide a similar sound experience when it comes to their nylon bottom housings.
It is important to note the impact of the top and bottom housing materials on the overall sound and feel of the switches. When pressing down on either switch, the qualities of the bottom housing become more prominent, affecting the bottom-out sound and feel. The bottom housing, being made of nylon in both switches, contributes to a deeper and fuller sound profile upon keypress. Conversely, the top housing plays a significant role in the sound produced when releasing a key. The polycarbonate top housing of the Baby Raccoon delivers a sharper and crisper sound, while the nylon top housing of the Box Royal provides a deeper and fuller sound upon key release. These distinctions demonstrate how different housing materials can influence the overall typing experience and sound characteristics of mechanical switches.
Weight
When comparing the actuation and bottom out forces of the Gateron Baby Raccoon linear switch and the Kailh Box Royal tactile switch, it becomes evident that there are notable differences between the two. The actuation force of the Baby Raccoon is 55 grams, while the Box Royal requires a slightly lighter touch with an actuation force of 45 grams. Both switches fall within the medium force category, but the Baby Raccoon is slightly heavier in this aspect.
Moving on to the bottom out force, the Baby Raccoon requires 63 grams of force to fully depress the key, offering a balanced typing experience. On the other hand, the Box Royal has a higher bottom out force of 70 grams, providing a more substantial and tactile feel. This makes the Box Royal slightly heavier in terms of bottom out force.
Considering weight as a factor, those who prefer a lighter typing experience may opt for the Box Royal due to its lower actuation force. This lighter actuation force allows for extended typing sessions, making it suitable for work or gaming purposes. However, individuals who enjoy a more pronounced push feel may lean towards the Baby Raccoon, as its heavier actuation force can provide a more solid typing experience.
In conclusion, the Gateron Baby Raccoon linear switch has a slightly higher actuation force and a lighter bottom out force compared to the Kailh Box Royal tactile switch. While both fall within the medium force range, the Baby Raccoon provides a slightly heavier actuation force, while the Box Royal offers a heavier bottom out force. Ultimately, the choice between the two switches will depend on personal preference and the desired typing experience.
Travel distance
Both the Gateron Baby Raccoon linear switch and the Kailh Box Royal tactile switch have the same travel distance of 3.6 mm. This means that when you press down on a key, you will feel the same distance of travel for both switches, resulting in similar typing experiences.
Price comparison
Which switch is more bang for your buck?
For 10 switches, the Gateron Baby Raccoon (V2) comes in at $5.50, whereas the Kailh Box Royal comes in at $6.25.
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
The Gateron Baby Raccoon linear switch is known for its bright sound signature and refreshingly crisp typ feel. These switches have a lengthened switch stem, making them 0.64mm longer than typical stems, resulting in a "marbley" sensation. When typing on the Baby Raccoon, one can expect a resonant, high-pitched sound profile that is clean and sharp. This creates an immersive auditory experience, similar to tapping on a rock-solid piece of marble or the sound of two billiard balls colliding.
On the other hand, the Kailh Box Royal tactile switch is highly tactile with a sharp, binary tactility. This means that the tactile bump is strong and crisp, providing a pronounced feedback intensity with each keypress. The sound profile of the Box Royal is relatively higher pitched, similar to the Baby Raccoon. It produces a sharp and crisp sound when pressed, making it a good choice for those who prefer higher-pitched switches.
In terms of feel, the Baby Raccoon offers a creamy and bouncy typing experience. These switches are described as creamy because they provide a smooth and buttery sensation, similar to gliding your fingers effortlessly across the keys. They also have a bouncy feel, offering a spring-like or elastic feedback sensation that gives a lively and rebound effect when pressed. The Baby Raccoon is an invigorating switch with pronounced feedback, moderate to firm actuation force, and a snappy and reactive feel, creating an immersive typing sensation.
In contrast, the Box Royal offers a sharp tactile experience with a strong and crisp tactile bump. This gives a distinctive feel with each keypress. Other subjective qualities of the Box Royal's feel are unknown.
In summary, the Gateron Baby Raccoon linear switch and the Kailh Box Royal tactile switch have different subjective qualities in terms of sound and feel. The Baby Raccoon offers a resonant, high-pitched sound profile with a creamy and bouncy typing experience. On the other hand, the Box Royal has a relatively higher-pitched sound profile and a sharp, binary tactility. Despite these differences, both switches provide unique and immersive typing sensations. Ultimately, the choice between the two will depend on personal preferences in terms of sound and feel.
Conclusion
To sum up, if you are looking for a switch with a medium bottom out force and a bright sound signature, the Gateron Baby Raccoon linear switch would be a great choice. With its lengthened switch stems, these switches provide a refreshingly crisp typing feel. The sound profile of the Baby Raccoon is resonant and high-pitched, offering a clean and sharp auditory experience. In terms of feel, the Baby Raccoon switch is described as creamy, bouncy, invigorating, and polished, providing a smooth and buttery typing experience with a spring-like feedback sensation.
On the other hand, if you prefer a switch with a medium-heavy bottom out force and a sharp, binary tactility, the Kailh Box Royal tactile switch is the one for you. These switches offer a nearly aggressive tactile feedback, making them perfect for those who crave that distinct tactile bump with every keypress. The sound profile of the Box Royal is high-pitched, producing a sharp and crisp sound when pressed.
Ultimately, the choice between the Gateron Baby Raccoon linear switch and the Kailh Box Royal tactile switch depends on your personal preference for the bottom out force, sound profile, and typing feel. Whether you prioritize a bright and resonant sound or a sharp and crisp tactility, both switches have their unique characteristics to cater to your needs.
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