Aflion Blue Sky vs. Kailh Box White

Overview

When it comes to mechanical keyboard switches, two popular options to consider are the Aflion Blue Sky and the Kailh Box White. The Blue Sky, a linear switch, is renowned for its long pole stem, providing users with a clear and smooth typing experience. Additionally, its high-pitched, neutral sound profile and polished feel add a touch of elegance to each keystroke. On the other hand, the Box White is a clicky switch that offers maximum audio feedback, emitting a satisfying "stepping on autumn leaves"-like crunch. It also boasts an enhanced tactility, allowing for a more pronounced typing experience. While these generalities provide a glimpse into the characteristics of each switch, diving deeper into their specifics will help you make the best choice suited to your preferences and needs.

By the numbers

Aflion Blue Sky Linear

Kailh Box White Clicky

$6.00

$4.07 per 10

$2.76 per 10

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Housing materials

The Aflion Blue Sky and the Kailh Box White have similar housing materials, both utilizing polycarbonate for the top housing. Polycarbonate, being a stiffer plastic, produces a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound profile. This is advantageous if you plan to use RGB lighting, as polycarbonate's translucency allows for better light diffusion. Both switches offer these benefits, ensuring a clear and resonant sound experience.

Where the two switches differ is in the material used for the bottom housing. The Blue Sky employs nylon, which creates a deeper and fuller sound profile. Due to nylon being a softer plastic, it absorbs more sound, resulting in a duller and rounder sound. This can provide a more satisfying typing experience for those who prefer a deeper sound when pressing down on the keys.

Similarly, the Kailh Box White also incorporates a nylon bottom housing. As with the Blue Sky, this material contributes to a deeper and fuller sound profile, enhancing the typing experience by absorbing more sound. The use of nylon for the bottom housing allows for a more cushioned and satisfying bottom-out sound and feel when pressing the keys.

In summary, while both switches share the benefits of a polycarbonate top housing, their different bottom housing materials result in distinct sound profiles. The Aflion Blue Sky's nylon bottom housing elicits a deeper and fuller sound, while the Kailh Box White's nylon bottom housing provides a cushioned and satisfying bottom-out sound and feel. Depending on personal preference and desired typing experience, either switch offers unique qualities to enhance the overall sound and feel of typing.

Weight

When comparing the actuation force and bottom out force of the Aflion Blue Sky linear switch and the Kailh Box White clicky switch, both switches have the same actuation force of 50 grams and bottom out force of 60 grams, making them have a similar feel when typing. This means that regardless of which switch is chosen, the typing experience in terms of force required for keystrokes will be equivalent. The medium weight of these switches provides a balance between a lighter typing experience for longer periods of use and a stronger push feel for a more substantial typing experience. Therefore, whether one prefers a lighter or heavier switch, both the Aflion Blue Sky and Kailh Box White switches offer similar results in terms of actuation and bottom out forces.

Travel distance

The Aflion Blue Sky linear switch and the Kailh Box White clicky switch have different travel distances. The Blue Sky has a travel distance of 4 mm, which is considered to be the more traditional travel distance. On the other hand, the Box White has a slightly shorter travel distance of 3.6 mm. This makes the Box White switch more suitable for gamers who prioritize faster response times, as the shorter travel distance allows for quicker key presses. However, some may find the shorter travel distance to feel too abrupt. If you prefer a switch with a more hearty depth, then the Blue Sky switch with its longer travel distance would be a better option. Ultimately, the choice between the two switches depends on personal preference and the desired level of responsiveness.

Price comparison

Typing experience

In terms of sound, the Blue Sky linear switch offers a high-pitched sound profile. This means that when these switches are pressed, they produce a sharp and crisp sound. If you prefer switches with a more rich and bassy sound, the Blue Sky may not be the best choice for you. On the other hand, the Box White clicky switch provides a resonant and high-pitched sound profile. This means that when typing on these switches, you can expect a clean and sharp sound. Additionally, the Box White switches have a crunchy sound similar to stepping on piles of autumn leaves. It is important to note that the sound of a switch also depends on other factors such as the keyboard board and keycaps used.

When it comes to feel, both the Blue Sky and Box White switches offer a polished typing experience. This means that these switches have a smooth and refined finish, resulting in a sleek typing feel. The use of high-quality materials and factory lubing contribute to reduced friction and smooth key travel with both switches. The Blue Sky switches provide a mild typing experience, which means they offer a more gentle feel compared to switches with more pronounced characteristics. The Box White switches provide an accented tactility, giving them a slightly more distinct feel. Overall, both switches offer a comfortable typing experience with smooth key travel.

Taking all the available information into consideration, the Blue Sky linear switch and the Kailh Box White clicky switch offer different subjective qualities. The Blue Sky switches have a high-pitched sound profile and a mild, polished feel, providing a crystal clear linear typing experience. On the other hand, the Box White switches have a resonant, high-pitched sound profile with an accented tactility and a polished feel. When it comes to sound, if you prefer a sharp and crisp sound, you can get similar results from both switches. In terms of feel, both switches offer a smooth key travel experience. Ultimately, the choice between the Blue Sky and Box White switches will depend on your personal preferences and typing style.

Conclusion

To sum up, if you are looking for a linear typing experience with a sparkling sound profile and smooth push feel, the Aflion Blue Sky switch would be a great choice. Its medium bottom out force of 60 grams ensures a comfortable typing experience, and its high-pitched sound profile adds a sharp and crisp sound when pressed. Additionally, the Blue Sky switch offers a mild and polished feel, providing a gentle and refined typing experience.

On the other hand, if you desire maximum audio feedback and enjoy the sensation of typing on crunchy autumn leaves, the Kailh Box White switch is the way to go. With its medium bottom out force of 60 grams, this clicky switch offers an accented tactility and a resonant and high-pitched sound profile that is clean and sharp. The Box White switch also delivers a polished feel with reduced friction and smooth key travel.

Ultimately, your choice between the Aflion Blue Sky and Kailh Box White switches will depend on your preferences for sound and feel. If you prefer a linear typing experience with a sparkling sound and smooth push, the Blue Sky switch is ideal. On the other hand, if you enjoy maximum audio feedback with a crunchy and resonant sound, along with a polished feel, the Box White switch is the perfect choice. Consider your typing style and the environment in which you will be using the keyboard, and select the switch that best suits your needs.

Mentioned in this article

Aflion Blue Sky Linear

$6.00

$4.07 per 10

Learn more

Kailh Box White Clicky

$2.76 per 10

Learn more