Durock Blue Lotus vs. Akko Botany
An in-depth look at the Durock Blue Lotus and the Akko Botany switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When it comes to selecting a mechanical keyboard switch, the choice between the Durock Blue Lotus and the Akko Botany can significantly influence your typing experience. The Durock Blue Lotus stands out for its tactile nature, offering a sharp and pronounced feedback with a reduced travel distance of 3.7mm, making it an excellent option for users who appreciate the satisfying “bump” of a tactile switch during each keystroke. This switch not only focuses on performance but also elevates your setup's aesthetic with its detachable light column that provides vibrant RGB illumination. In contrast, the Akko Botany features a smooth and linear design, delivering a quieter typing experience that is ideal for those who prefer a more subdued sound profile while engaging in high-speed typing or gaming sessions. The Botany switches are known for their crisp and lively clack, creating an engaging auditory feedback that some users find addictive. Ultimately, your choice between these two switches will depend on your personal preference for tactile feedback versus a linear performance. 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
55g
Actuation force
38g
Bottom-out force
65g
Bottom-out force
45g
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Total travel
3.70 mm
Total travel
3.60 mm
Factory lubed
Yes
Factory lubed
Yes
Stem construction
Standard
Stem construction
Standard
Stem material
POM
Stem material
Nylon Pro
Top housing material
Modified PC & UPE Blend
Top housing material
Nylon
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Spring
Gold-plated long spring
Spring
Stainless steel spring
Housing materials
When comparing the housing materials of the Durock Blue Lotus and the Akko Botany switches, both products embrace nylon for their bottom housings, leading to a similar acoustic experience during use. The nylon bottom housing in both switches cultivates a deeper and fuller sound profile due to its softer nature, which absorbs sound effectively and enhances the overall typing experience. This shared characteristic contributes to a duller, rounder sound when the key is bottomed out, making both switches feel more cushioned and muted compared to those crafted from harder plastics. Therefore, typists can expect a consistent auditory experience when pressing down on the keys of either switch.
The top housings, however, diverge in material choice, with the Blue Lotus featuring a modified PC and UPE blend, while the Botany utilizes traditional nylon. The modified PC and UPE blend of the Blue Lotus introduces a unique and premium feel to the switch, likely translating into a different sound response upon key release compared to the solely nylon-top housing of the Botany. This dichotomy reveals how variations in top housing material impact the overall sound signature when letting go of a key. While the Blue Lotus may offer a sharper and more pronounced release sound due to the properties of its materials, the Botany retains the rounded sound profile resulting from the use of pure nylon.
Ultimately, the combination of housing materials in the Blue Lotus and Botany switches results in distinct but complementary sound characters. While the nylon bottom housings provide a consistent acoustic benefit by softening the bottoming out experience in both switches, the variation in top housing material means that users will experience different textures and acoustic effects during key releases. For those seeking a coherent and muted typing experience anchored by the softer nylon bottoms, either switch presents a solid choice, but the modified PC and UPE blend of the Blue Lotus promises a premium tactile experience that may appeal to users who appreciate a slight deviation in sound quality upon key release.
Weight
When comparing the Durock Blue Lotus tactile switch and the Akko Botany linear switch, there are notable differences in their actuation and bottom out forces, which cater to distinct user preferences. The Blue Lotus requires a heavier actuation force of 55 grams and a bottom out force of 65 grams, making it a medium-heavy switch that may provide a more substantial typing experience. In contrast, the Akko Botany switch offers a lighter touch with an actuation force of 38 grams and a bottom out force of 45 grams, making it ideal for those who prefer ease of typing and potentially longer gaming or work sessions without fatigue. Overall, the Blue Lotus is the heavier switch, while the Botany is the lighter option, creating distinct tactile experiences suitable for different typing preferences.
Travel distance
When comparing the travel distance of the Durock Blue Lotus tactile switch and the Akko Botany linear switch, the Blue Lotus has a travel distance of 3.7 mm, while the Botany has a slightly shorter travel distance of 3.6 mm. This means that pressing the Blue Lotus switch will feel slightly deeper compared to the more responsive and slightly shallower Botany switch. For those who favor quicker response times, the Botany's travel distance may be more appealing. Conversely, if you prefer a more substantial feel with a bit more depth, the Blue Lotus is the better choice. Ultimately, the difference is marginal, but it highlights the preference variations among users looking for either responsiveness or a more pronounced keystroke.
Price comparison
Which switch is more bang for your buck?
The Durock Blue 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 Blue Lotus for $4.57.
The Akko Botany has an MSRP of $3.89 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Botany for $3.11.
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 sound profile of the Durock Blue Lotus switch is characterized as bassy, offering a deeper and richer auditory experience during key presses. This lower frequency tone provides a satisfying and full-bodied sound that complements the tactile feedback, making every stroke feel substantial and engaging. In contrast, the Akko Botany linear switch produces a crisp, lively clacky sound that tends to be more high-pitched and sharp. This distinction in sound can influence the overall typing experience, with the Blue Lotus appealing to those who enjoy a more resonant tone, while the Botany caters to users seeking a more spirited auditory feedback.
When it comes to feel, the Blue Lotus switches provide an accented tactile experience, which means they strike a balance between being not overly pronounced and not too subtle, delivering a moderate amount of tactility. The stepped nature of these switches adds complexity to the feel, allowing users to sense two distinct stages in the keystroke. This design makes the Blue Lotus versatile, lending itself well to both typing and gaming. On the other hand, the feel of the Akko Botany switch remains unspecified, leaving its tactile characteristics and responsiveness to the imagination and personal discovery of its users.
Considering the information on both switches, the Durock Blue Lotus and the Akko Botany offer distinct auditory and tactile experiences that cater to different preferences. The Blue Lotus is ideal for typists who appreciate a bassy sound coupled with a pleasant tactile feedback that isn't overwhelmingly pronounced, while the Botany may attract users looking for a brighter audio profile. Ultimately, both switches present unique qualities that make either option appealing depending on one’s personal preferences for sound and feel in a mechanical keyboard.
Conclusion
To conclude, the choice between the Durock Blue Lotus tactile switch and the Akko Botany linear switch largely depends on your personal preferences and typing habits. If you favor a distinctive tactile experience with a heavier feel, the Blue Lotus is ideal for you, especially if you enjoy the combination of responsive actuation and satisfying feedback. Its heavier bottom-out force of 65 grams, along with the deeper, bassy sound profile and the unique stepped tactile feel, offers a compelling option for both gaming and typing, especially if you appreciate a more pronounced tactile bump and you’re looking to enhance your RGB setup with its detachable light column. Conversely, if you prefer a smoother and lighter typing experience, the Akko Botany linear switch is the better choice. With its lighter 45 grams bottom-out force, you can enjoy faster actuation without the resistance of a tactile bump, making it a great option for rapid keyboard tasks like gaming or prolonged typing sessions where comfort is paramount. Overall, choosing between these two switches hinges on whether you prioritize tactile feedback and auditory depth, or if you lean towards smoothness and a lighter touch.
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