Gateron Beer vs. Bsun Bumblebee Linear

Overview

When it comes to mechanical keyboard switches, personal preference plays a pivotal role in enhancing your typing experience. The Gateron Beer tactile switches stand out with their unique design evocative of a Tsingtao beer bottle, featuring a mesmerizing translucent green hue. These switches are not only lightweight but also offer a stepped tactility that provides a subtle feedback, making them a great choice for those who enjoy a gentle tactile response without the distraction of a pronounced bump. Coupled with their characteristic clacky sound, the Beer switches are ideal for users seeking a fun and engaging auditory experience while typing. On the other hand, the Bsun Bumblebee Linear switches promise an exceptionally smooth and uninterrupted keystroke, perfect for rapid typists and gamers who value speed and fluidity over tactile feedback. Their bright sound profile complements the seamless actuation, offering an efficient typing atmosphere. Ultimately, personal preferences in tactile sensations, sound, and typing style will dictate your choice between these two switches. However, let's dive in a bit deeper beyond generalities so you can best decide on the best switch for you.

By the numbers

Gateron Beer Tactile

Bsun Bumblebee Linear Linear

$6.00

$4.59 per 10

$2.99 per 10

Learn moreLearn more

Housing materials

The Gateron Beer and Bsun Bumblebee Linear switches showcase distinct characteristics in their housing materials that significantly influence their acoustic properties. The Gateron Beer employs polycarbonate for both the top and bottom housings, which contributes to a sound profile characterized by sharpness and clarity. This is due to polycarbonate's stiffer structure, which promotes a higher-pitched and more resonant sound when a key is depressed. Additionally, the translucent nature of polycarbonate enhances the aesthetic appeal of these switches, especially when RGB lighting is involved, as it allows light to diffuse more effectively. In contrast, the Bsun Bumblebee Linear features a POM top housing, which creates a deeper, more muted sound, providing a unique auditory experience. The POM material, known for its smoothness, allows for a softer impact sound compared to polycarbonate, thereby offering a different tactile feedback and auditory sensation.

The contradicting properties of the bottom housings also further define the unique sound profiles of both switches. While the Gateron Beer switches utilize polycarbonate for the bottom housing, reinforcing the sharpness and clarity in sound, the Bumblebee Linear opts for nylon. The nylon bottom housing tends to absorb more sound due to its relatively softer material, offering a full-bodied, rounded auditory experience. This distinction is particularly important, as the bottom housing plays a significant role in determining the bottom-out sound and feel when the keys are pressed down. The combination of polycarbonate in the Gateron Beer promotes a bright and resonant sound while the nylon bottom of the Bumblebee Linear allows for a more muted and subdued tone, providing a striking contrast in their acoustic outcomes.

Ultimately, when considering the top and bottom housing materials, both switches will yield different acoustic experiences as a result of their varied compositions. For the Gateron Beer, the uniform use of polycarbonate allows for consistency in sound quality throughout the key press, enhancing both the bottom-out and release sounds with a clear and high-pitched profile. Conversely, the Bumblebee Linear’s combination of POM and nylon creates a split sound signature; the POM top provides a smoother release sound while the nylon bottom deepens the impact. While these differences mean that users will likely prefer one switch over the other based on personal auditory preference, both switches offer unique and distinct sound profiles rooted in their respective housing materials.

Weight

When comparing the actuation force and bottom out force of the Gateron Beer tactile switch and the Bsun Bumblebee Linear switch, notable differences emerge. The Gateron Beer features an actuation force of 38 grams, making it lighter than the Bumblebee Linear, which has a higher actuation force of 45 grams. Both switches share the same bottom out force of 50 grams, indicating that regardless of their actuation forces, they will feel similar at the threshold of bottoming out. For users who prefer a lighter touch for prolonged typing or gaming sessions, the Gateron Beer would be the more suitable option, whereas those who enjoy a more substantial feel in their keystrokes may prefer the slightly heavier actuation of the Bumblebee Linear. Overall, the Beer's lighter actuation force allows for quicker typing with less effort, while the Bumblebee Linear offers a firmer response.

Travel distance

When comparing the travel distances of the Gateron Beer tactile switch and the Bsun Bumblebee Linear switch, we find that the Beer switch has a travel distance of 3.4 mm, while the Bumblebee Linear offers a slightly greater travel distance of 3.6 mm. This makes the Beer switch the shorter option between the two, appealing to those who value quicker response times, particularly gamers. On the other hand, the Bumblebee Linear’s longer travel distance may provide a more satisfying depth for users who prefer a hearty feel when typing, as it is closer to the traditional range. Ultimately, your choice will depend on whether you favor the speed and responsiveness of the shorter Beer switch or the more substantial experience afforded by the Bumblebee Linear.

Price comparison

Typing experience

When it comes to sound, the Gateron Beer tactile switch stands out with its distinct clacky tone, producing a sharp and snappy auditory feedback that many typists find satisfying. The clackiness of the Beer switch grants it a crisp and percussive quality, enhancing the auditory experience of typing. In contrast, the Bsun Bumblebee Linear switch is characterized by a bright sound profile that leans towards a smoother, less disruptive auditory experience. This difference in sound makes the Beer switch more engaging for those who appreciate an audible reaction while typing, while the Bumblebee linear caters to users who prefer a quieter operation, which can be more conducive for office environments or shared spaces.

In terms of feel, the Gateron Beer switch also shines with its lightweight and easy-to-press design. Its stepped tactility provides a nuanced typing experience, with gentle resistance and a mild tactile bump, making it feel less forceful than a traditional tactile switch. This not only enhances comfort but can also reduce finger fatigue during long typing sessions. The Beer offers a refined typing experience thanks to its dual-stage feel, allowing for both pre-travel and post-travel detection, which adds to the enjoyment of typing. Conversely, the Bumblebee Linear switch, being a linear switch, is known for its smooth keystrokes and lack of tactile feedback. The continuous actuation of linear switches creates a fluid motion that many users appreciate, especially gamers who prefer rapid key presses without distractions.

In conclusion, while the Gateron Beer tactile switch delivers a lively and clacky sound profile coupled with a nuanced, stepped tactile feedback, the Bsun Bumblebee Linear switch provides a whisper-soft yet smooth typing experience. Users can expect the Beer switch to enhance their typing enjoyment through its vibrant auditory and tactile qualities, whereas the Bumblebee Linear will offer a more subdued, streamlined experience. Both will effectively meet different user preferences, catering to those who seek a playful typing experience versus those who prioritize smoothness and quietness.

Conclusion

To conclude, selecting between the Gateron Beer tactile switch and the Bsun Bumblebee Linear switch hinges on your personal typing preferences and the type of experience you're seeking. If you appreciate a light and responsive feel with a bit of character, the Beer switch, with its unique stepped tactility and clacky sound, would be a delightful choice, especially suitable for playful typing sessions or casual gaming. It provides a gentle resistance that can help reduce finger fatigue, making it great for those longer typing marathons. On the other hand, if you desire a smooth and uninterrupted keystroke with minimal sound, the Bumblebee Linear switch would be ideal, offering a more streamlined experience perfect for focused work or gaming where noise might be a concern. Both switches feature a bottom-out force of 50 grams, keeping them light, but your choice will ultimately rely on whether you prefer the tactile feedback and sound of the Beer or the smooth, quiet consistency of the Bumblebee Linear.

Mentioned in this article

Gateron Beer Tactile

$6.00

$4.59 per 10

Learn more

Bsun Bumblebee Linear Linear

$2.99 per 10

Learn more