Durock Blue Lotus vs. Everglide Sakura Pink
An in-depth look at the Durock Blue Lotus and the Everglide Sakura Pink switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When it comes to mechanical keyboard switches, two options that stand out are the Durock Blue Lotus and the Everglide Sakura Pink. The Blue Lotus switches from Durock are well-known for their combination of tactile intensity and swift responsiveness. With a slightly reduced travel of 3.7mm, compared to the standard 4mm, these switches offer a marked tactile feel that enthusiasts appreciate. Additionally, the detachable light column allows for vibrant RGB illumination, making them visually captivating. On the other hand, the Sakura Pink switches from Everglide boast a feather-light 35g actuation force, making them perfect for delicate typists. These switches provide a smooth and effortless typing experience, thanks to their gliding type feel and frictionless operation. They also produce a delightful poppy sound, reminiscent of popping bubble wrap, which adds a playful touch to any keyboarding session. However, let's dive in a bit deeper beyond these generalities, so you can make an informed decision about the best switch for your needs.
By the numbers
Technical specifications
Actuation force
55g
Actuation force
35g
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
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 long spring
Spring
Stainless steel
Housing materials
The Durock Blue Lotus and the Everglide Sakura Pink differ in their housing materials. The Blue Lotus features a modified PC and UPE Blend top housing, while the Sakura Pink utilizes a polycarbonate top housing. The modified PC and UPE Blend of the Blue Lotus creates a unique and premium feel to the switch, making it stand out. In contrast, the polycarbonate top housing of the Sakura Pink offers a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound profile, creating a different auditory experience. However, if you are looking for a switch with RGB lighting, both switches utilize polycarbonate in their top housing, ensuring the best translucency for the lighting effects.
Moving on to the bottom housing, the Blue Lotus incorporates a nylon bottom housing, while the Sakura Pink features a polycarbonate bottom housing. Nylon, being a softer plastic, produces a deeper and fuller sound profile when typing on switches. This creates a more immersive typing experience for users. On the other hand, the polycarbonate bottom housing of the Sakura Pink contributes to a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound. Each housing material brings its own unique sound characteristics to the switch, allowing users to choose based on their sound preferences.
It is worth noting that the impact of the different housing materials is split between the top and bottom of the switch. The bottom housing primarily affects the bottom-out sound and feel when pressing down on the switch, while the top housing has a greater impact on the sound when releasing a key. Therefore, users can expect distinct sound profiles during both the pressing and releasing phases, enhancing the overall typing or gaming experience depending on the switch chosen.
Weight
When comparing the actuation force and bottom out force of the Durock Blue Lotus tactile switch and the Everglide Sakura Pink linear switch, it becomes clear that they offer different weight options to suit varying preferences. The Blue Lotus has a medium-heavy actuation force of 55 grams, meaning it requires a slightly heavier push to trigger a keystroke. Comparatively, the Sakura Pink offers a lighter actuation force of 35 grams, allowing for a more sensitive touch. Similarly, when it comes to bottoming out, the Blue Lotus requires a slightly heavier force of 65 grams, providing a more substantial typing experience. In contrast, the Sakura Pink has a bottom out force of 45 grams, making it a lighter option.
For those who enjoy a lighter typing experience, the Sakura Pink switch would be the preferable choice. Its lower actuation and bottom out forces allow for longer periods of comfortable typing, making it suitable for work or extended gaming sessions. On the other hand, individuals seeking a more pronounced and substantial typing feel may lean towards the Blue Lotus switch with its medium-heavy actuation and bottom out forces. This would provide a satisfying tactile response and a sense of durability during keystrokes. Ultimately, both switches offer unique characteristics, ensuring that users can find the weight that best suits their typing preferences.
Travel distance
When comparing the travel distance of the Durock Blue Lotus tactile switch and the Everglide Sakura Pink linear switch, it is evident that the Sakura Pink has a slightly longer travel distance of 4 mm, while the Blue Lotus has a travel distance of 3.7 mm. Both switches fall within the range of shorter travel distances, which have become increasingly popular, particularly among gamers who prioritize faster response times. If you prefer a highly responsive feel, the slightly shorter travel distance of the Blue Lotus may be the better option for you. However, those who enjoy a more substantial and immersive typing experience may prefer the longer travel distance provided by the Sakura Pink. Ultimately, the choice between the two switches will depend on personal preference for either a shorter, snappier feel or a longer, more satisfying key press.
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 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
The Durock Blue Lotus switches are renowned for their tactile intensity and swift responsiveness. With a slightly reduced travel distance of 3.7mm, these switches deliver a snappy and marked tactile feel. The sound produced by Blue Lotus switches can be described as bassy, with a deeper and richer sound profile during key presses. These switches also feature a detachable light column, providing vibrant and glowy RGB illumination for a visually captivating experience.
On the other hand, Everglide Sakura Pink switches are known for their super light actuation force of 35g, making them perfect for delicate typists. With a gliding type feel and frictionless operation, these switches offer a smooth and effortless typing experience. The sound produced by Sakura Pink switches is described as muted, providing a softer and quieter typing sound compared to regular switches. The sound of both switches may also vary based on factors such as the choice of keyboard and keycaps.
In terms of feel, the Blue Lotus switches can be characterized as accented, providing a prominent amount of tactility that is not overwhelming nor subtle. These switches are also snappy, thanks to longer or dual-staged springs, which make the typing experience feel more alive. Additionally, Blue Lotus switches can be described as having a stepped feel, with some pre-travel and/or post-travel sensations.
On the other hand, Sakura Pink switches offer a buttery and creamy typing experience. They provide a smooth and fluid keystroke sensation, as if gliding fingers across the keys effortlessly. Sakura Pink switches are easy to press, requiring minimal force to activate, enhancing the typing experience. They are also frictionless, offering an extremely smooth and effortless typing experience with no sense of resistance or friction.
In conclusion, the Durock Blue Lotus switches deliver a tactile intensity and snappy responsiveness, with a bassy sound profile. On the other hand, Everglide Sakura Pink switches provide a smooth and effortless typing experience, with a muted sound. While these switches have different qualities, such as feel and sound, both offer an enjoyable typing experience with their unique characteristics. Ultimately, the choice between the two will depend on personal preference and the desired typing experience.
Conclusion
To sum up, if you prioritize a tactile and snappy typing experience, with a slightly reduced travel distance, the Durock Blue Lotus switches would be an excellent choice for you. These switches deliver a marked tactile feel, perfect for those who enjoy a swift and intense response while typing. Additionally, the Blue Lotus switches offer vibrant RGB illumination, adding a visually appealing element to your keyboard setup. On the other hand, if you prefer a lighter and smoother typing experience, the Everglide Sakura Pink switches would be a better fit. With an actuation force of 45 grams, these switches are ideal for delicate typists who desire effortless and low-impact key presses. The Sakura Pink switches offer a gliding feel and produce a delightful poppy sound, adding a playful touch to your typing sessions. Ultimately, your choice between the Blue Lotus and Sakura Pink switches will depend on your preferences for tactile intensity, responsiveness, actuation force, and sound profile.
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