Gateron Beer vs. Durock Sea Glass
An in-depth look at the Gateron Beer and the Durock Sea Glass switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When it comes to selecting a mechanical keyboard switch, the Gateron Beer and Durock Sea Glass offer unique features and characteristics catering to different preferences. The Gateron Beer, with its translucent green color inspired by a Tsingtao beer bottle, is a tactile switch renowned for its lightweight and stepped tactility. It provides a subtle tactile feedback and emits a characteristic clacky sound, making it ideal for those who prefer an easy-to-press switch with a distinct feel. On the other hand, the Durock Sea Glass linear switch boasts a captivating pastel color scheme and a proprietary material blend that gives it a dry, wispiness, and airiness typing experience. Despite its 62g bottom-out force, the Sea Glass switch feels weightless and frictionless, with a smooth and mild keystroke. However, let's dive in a bit deeper beyond generalities so you can best decide on the best switch for you.
By the numbers
Technical specifications
Actuation force
38g
Actuation force
45g
Bottom-out force
50g
Bottom-out force
62g
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Total travel
3.40 mm
Total travel
3.80 mm
Factory lubed
Yes
Factory lubed
Yes
Stem construction
Standard
Stem construction
Standard
Stem material
POM
Stem material
P3+
Top housing material
Polycarbonate
Top housing material
Polymer nylon and UHMWPE blend
Bottom housing material
Polycarbonate
Bottom housing material
Polymer nylon and UHMWPE blend
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Spring
22mm lengthened gold-plated spring
Spring
Gold-plated
Housing materials
The housing materials of the Gateron Beer and the Durock Sea Glass switches offer unique sound profiles and aesthetics. The Beer features a polycarbonate top housing that creates a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound profile. This is due to polycarbonate being a relatively stiff plastic, leading to a clear and resonant sound. Additionally, the translucency of polycarbonate makes it ideal for switches with RGB lighting. On the other hand, the Sea Glass switch uses a blend of Polymer nylon and UHMWPE in its top housing, offering a sound profile that is bright but not particularly sharp. This unique blend provides a pleasant typing experience without the sharpness of polycarbonate.
In terms of the bottom housing, both the Beer and the Sea Glass switches provide unique qualities that impact the overall typing experience. The Beer's polycarbonate bottom housing contributes to a sharper, higher-pitched sound profile, similar to its top housing. This stiffness in the plastic enhances the resonant sound when pressing down on the switch. In contrast, the Sea Glass's Polymer nylon and UHMWPE blend bottom housing offers a different sound profile, described as pleasant and bright. The bottom housing plays a significant role in the bottom-out sound and feel of the switch, providing a tactile experience that complements the top housing materials.
Overall, the combination of different housing materials in the Gateron Beer and Durock Sea Glass switches result in distinct typing experiences. While the Beer's polycarbonate material creates a clearer and crisper sound, the Sea Glass's unique blend offers a pleasant and brighter sound profile. The qualities of each housing material are distributed between the top and bottom of the switch, impacting the sound when pressing and releasing a key. Whether using polycarbonate or a blend of Polymer nylon and UHMWPE, both switches provide a unique sound profile that caters to individual preferences in typing feel and sound.
Weight
When comparing the actuation force and bottom out force of the Gateron Beer tactile switch and the Durock Sea Glass linear switch, it is evident that the Beer is lighter in both categories. The Beer has an actuation force of 38 grams and a bottom out force of 50 grams, while the Sea Glass has an actuation force of 45 grams and a bottom out force of 62 grams. The Beer provides a lighter typing experience, making it ideal for extended typing sessions or gaming sessions where quick keystrokes are essential. On the other hand, the Sea Glass offers a slightly heavier typing experience, which may appeal to users who prefer a more substantial key press. In terms of actuation and bottom out forces, the Beer and Sea Glass offer different weight options to cater to the preferences of various users. Ultimately, the choice between the two switches will depend on whether a lighter or heavier typing experience is desired.
Travel distance
The Gateron Beer tactile switch has a travel distance of 3.4 mm, which is shorter than the Durock Sea Glass linear switch with a travel distance of 3.8 mm. The Beer switch offers a more responsive typing experience, favored by gamers for its faster response times. On the other hand, the Sea Glass switch provides a slightly deeper keypress, which may be preferred by those who enjoy a more substantial tactile feedback. Both switches fall within the range of modern travel distances, with the Sea Glass offering just a slightly longer press than the Beer. Ultimately, choosing between the two will depend on personal preference for typing feel and responsiveness.
Price comparison
Which switch is more bang for your buck?
The Gateron Beer has an MSRP of $6.00 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Beer for $4.59.
The Durock Sea Glass has an MSRP of $5.80 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Sea Glass for $4.87.
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 Beer tactile switch is known for its characteristic clacky sound signature, which produces a sharp and snappy sound when pressed, giving off a crisp, bright, and percussive sound. On the other hand, the Durock Sea Glass linear switch provides a uniquely hollow sound signature, adding a touch of airiness to the typing experience. While the Sea Glass sound is not fully described, the information suggests a lighter and more ethereal sound compared to the more pronounced clackiness of the Beer.
When it comes to feel, the Gateron Beer switch is easy-to-press and offers a subtle stepped tactility, providing a gentle resistance during key presses and a responsive typing feel. In contrast, the Durock Sea Glass switch emphasizes its frictionless nature, offering an extremely smooth and effortless typing experience. Additionally, the Sea Glass is described as mild, feathery, and easy-to-press, creating a typing feel that is gentle and approachable.
In conclusion, the Gateron Beer tactile switch and the Durock Sea Glass linear switch offer distinct qualities in terms of sound and feel. The Beer switch presents a clacky sound and easy-to-press feel with stepped tactility, while the Sea Glass switch provides a hollow sound and a frictionless, lightweight feel. Depending on your preferences, both switches cater to different typing experiences that can enhance your overall mechanical keyboard experience. Ultimately, choosing between the two would depend on whether you prefer a more tactile and clacky typing experience or a smoother and lighter feel.
Conclusion
To sum up, when considering whether to choose the Gateron Beer tactile switch or the Durock Sea Glass linear switch, your decision should be based on your preference for typing experience. If you prioritize a light and easy-to-press switch with a stepped tactility and a clacky sound signature, the Gateron Beer switch may be the perfect choice for you. On the other hand, if you prefer a smooth, frictionless, and feathery typing experience with a hollow sound signature, the Durock Sea Glass switch would be more suitable. Ultimately, your decision should be guided by your personal preference for the feel and sound of the switch during typing.
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