Durock Black Lotus vs. Everglide Sakura Pink
An in-depth look at the Durock Black Lotus and the Everglide Sakura Pink switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
The Durock Black Lotus and the Everglide Sakura Pink are both popular choices among mechanical keyboard enthusiasts, offering unique features and characteristics. The Black Lotus is renowned for its silky smooth feel and unparalleled precision, ensuring maximum typing pleasure. With reduced housing and stem wobble, this linear switch guarantees a stable and satisfying typing experience. Its actuation weight of 55g strikes a balance between substantial force and effortless keystrokes. Additionally, the Black Lotus features a unique light column that provides in-switch lighting, which can be fully removed according to personal preference. On the other hand, the Sakura Pink switches stand out for their super light actuation force of 35g, making them perfect for delicate typists seeking a gentle touch. These linear switches offer a gliding typing experience, characterized by a frictionless operation that ensures a smooth and effortless typing experience. The Sakura Pinks also produce a delightfully poppy sound, akin to bubble wrap being popped, which adds a playful touch to every keyboarding session. Both switches offer their own set of advantages, and while these generalities can aid in your decision-making process, let's dive in a bit deeper so you can best determine the most suitable switch for your needs.
By the numbers
Technical specifications
Actuation force
55g
Actuation force
35g
Bottom-out force
63.5g
Bottom-out force
45g
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
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
Modified PC & UPE Blend
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
Stainless steel
Housing materials
The housing materials of the Durock Black Lotus and the Everglide Sakura Pink switches have several similarities and differences. Firstly, both switches feature a polycarbonate top housing. This material offers a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound profile, making it ideal for those seeking a more distinct typing experience. Additionally, the translucency of polycarbonate allows for compatibility with RGB lighting, enhancing the visual appeal of the switches. Therefore, users can expect similar results in terms of sound and aesthetics when using either switch.
However, the bottom housings of the two switches differ. The Black Lotus utilizes a nylon bottom housing, while the Sakura Pink features a polycarbonate bottom housing. Typing on switches with a nylon bottom housing elicits a deeper and fuller sound profile due to the relatively softer plastic, absorbing more sound and creating a duller and rounder sound. On the other hand, the polycarbonate bottom housing of the Sakura Pink contributes to a sharper and crisper sound profile, thanks to its stiffer nature. The choice between these two materials ultimately depends on individual preference, with the nylon bottom housing providing a more mellow typing experience and the polycarbonate bottom housing offering a more pronounced sound.
It's important to note that the bottom and top housings of a switch each play a role in determining its overall sound and feel. When pressing down on either the Black Lotus or the Sakura Pink, the qualities of the bottom housing will come into play, influencing the bottom-out sound and feel. Meanwhile, when releasing a key, the top housing will have a greater impact on the sound produced. This distinction highlights how the choices in housing materials allow users to tailor their typing experience to their preferences, whether they prioritize the bottom-out or the release sound and feel.
Weight
When comparing the actuation force and bottom out force of the Durock Black Lotus linear switch and the Everglide Sakura Pink linear switch, there are noticeable differences in weight. The Black Lotus has a medium-heavy actuation force of 55 grams and a bottom out force of 63.5 grams, providing a relatively heavier typing experience. On the other hand, the Sakura Pink offers a lighter feel with an actuation force of 35 grams and a bottom out force of 45 grams. This makes it a preferable option for those who value a lighter switch to type for extended periods or engage in prolonged gaming sessions. It is worth noting that while the actuation force of the Sakura Pink is significantly lighter, its bottom out force is also lighter compared to the Black Lotus, ensuring a consistent and comfortable typing experience. Overall, the Black Lotus provides a more substantial typing experience with its heavier forces, while the Sakura Pink offers a lighter and potentially more comfortable option for prolonged use.
Travel distance
Both the Durock Black Lotus linear switch and the Everglide Sakura Pink linear switch have a travel distance of 4 mm, making them equal in terms of the distance the switch travels from the top to the bottom. This means that when you press down on a key equipped with either switch, you will experience a consistent 4 mm travel distance. Therefore, you can expect similar results in terms of the tactile feedback and overall typing experience provided by these switches.
Price comparison
Which switch is more bang for your buck?
The Durock Black Lotus has an MSRP of $5.60 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Black Lotus for $4.57.
The Everglide Sakura Pink has an MSRP of $6.86 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Sakura Pink for $3.89.
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
In terms of sound, the Black Lotus switch is not explicitly described in the provided information. However, it can be inferred that the Black Lotus switch produces a regular or clacky sound based on its description of providing a smooth typing experience and reducing housing and stem wobble. On the other hand, the Sakura Pink switch is described as producing a muted sound, which means it offers a softer and quieter typing experience compared to regular switches. The Sakura Pink switch provides a delightful poppy sound similar to bubble wrap being popped, adding a playful touch to your typing sessions.
Regarding feel, the Black Lotus switch is described as silky, buttery, mild, and polished. This implies that the switch offers an exceptionally smooth typing experience, minimal resistance when pressing and releasing keys, and a refined finish resulting in reduced friction and smooth key travel. Similarly, the Sakura Pink switch is described as buttery, creamy, easy-to-press, and frictionless. This indicates that it offers a smooth and fluid keystroke experience, effortless and uniform typing sensation, low-impact typing feel, and minimal sense of resistance or friction when pressing the keys. Both switches provide an enjoyable and comfortable typing experience with their smooth and frictionless operation.
Taking all the available information into account, the Durock Black Lotus linear switch and the Everglide Sakura Pink linear switch offer distinct qualities for different preferences. The Black Lotus switch excels in its smooth and refined typing experience with reduced wobble and an actuation weight of 55g. While its sound characteristics are not explicitly mentioned, it can be assumed to produce a regular or clacky sound. On the other hand, the Sakura Pink switch stands out with its feather-light 35g actuation force, making it ideal for delicate typists. It offers a playful and poppy sound reminiscent of bubble wrap being popped. Both switches guarantee a smooth and effortless typing experience, but the Sakura Pink switch caters to those who prefer an even lighter actuation force and a more muted sound. Ultimately, the choice between the two switches will depend on individual preferences and typing style.
Conclusion
In conclusion, if you are someone who prefers a slightly heavier switch with a medium-heavy bottom out force and a substantial actuation weight, then the Durock Black Lotus linear switch is a great choice for you. These switches offer a silky smooth feel with unparalleled precision, reducing wobble for maximum typing pleasure. The unique light column provides in-switch lighting and can be fully removed. While the Black Lotus produces a sound that is not explicitly described, it can be assumed that it falls within the range of regular or clacky switches.
On the other hand, if you prefer a lighter switch with a light bottom out force and a feather-light actuation force, then the Everglide Sakura Pink linear switch is the way to go. These switches offer a gliding type feel with frictionless operation, providing a smooth and effortless typing experience. The Sakura Pink switches produce a delightful poppy sound, reminiscent of bubble wrap being popped, which adds a playful touch to your keyboarding sessions.
To summarize, if you prioritize a heavier switch with a medium-heavy bottom out force and a substantial actuation weight, the Black Lotus is the better choice. However, if you prefer a lighter switch with a light bottom out force and a feather-light actuation force, the Sakura Pink is the ideal option. Your decision ultimately depends on your personal preferences for typing feel, sound, and actuation force. Both switches offer unique features that can enhance your typing experience.
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