Aflion Blue Sky vs. Invyr Holy Panda
An in-depth look at the Aflion Blue Sky and the Invyr Holy Panda switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When choosing between mechanical keyboard switches, the Aflion Blue Sky and the Invyr Holy Panda stand out as popular options with distinctive characteristics. The Blue Sky is a linear switch that boasts a crystal clear typing experience thanks to its long pole stem, offering a high-pitched and polished sound profile with a neutral and mild feel. On the other hand, the Holy Panda is a tactile switch known for its sharp tactility, providing a satisfyingly bright "clack" with each keystroke. It is categorized as accented, invigorating, sharp, and snappy. Both switches have their own unique selling points, making them appealing choices for different preferences. 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
50g
Actuation force
N/A
Bottom-out force
60g
Bottom-out force
67g
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
Polycarbonate
Top housing material
Polycarbonate
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Spring
15mm spring
Spring
Stainless steel
Housing materials
The housing materials of the Aflion Blue Sky and the Invyr Holy Panda share similarities in their use of polycarbonate for the top housing. Both switches benefit from the sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound profile that polycarbonate provides. Additionally, the translucency of polycarbonate makes it ideal for switches designed with RGB lighting in mind. However, when it comes to the nylon bottom housing, the Blue Sky and Holy Panda differ slightly. While both switches utilize nylon for the bottom housing, the Blue Sky elicits a deeper and fuller sound profile due to nylon's softer nature, absorbing more sound and creating a duller and rounder sound compared to the Holy Panda.
The split between the top and bottom housings of a switch can affect the overall sound profile and feel of typing on the keyboard. With the Blue Sky and Holy Panda, the qualities of the nylon bottom housing will be more prominent when pressing down on the switch, impacting the bottom-out sound and feel. The softer nature of nylon in the bottom housing creates a deeper and fuller sound experience. Conversely, the polycarbonate top housing will have a greater influence on the sound when releasing a key, contributing to the sharper and crisper sound profile associated with polycarbonate. This division of housing materials allows for a dynamic typing experience that balances the impact of each material throughout the keystroke.
Overall, both the Aflion Blue Sky and the Invyr Holy Panda showcase the importance of housing materials in creating a unique typing experience. While they both benefit from polycarbonate top housings for a sharper sound profile, the differences in their nylon bottom housings provide distinct characteristics in sound and feel. Whether it be the deeper and fuller sound of the Blue Sky's nylon bottom housing or the rounder sound of the Holy Panda's nylon bottom housing, these switches offer users a variety of experiences based on the combination of housing materials used. By understanding the impact of different housing materials, keyboard enthusiasts can tailor their typing experience to suit their preferences.
Weight
The Aflion Blue Sky linear switch is lighter in actuation force compared to the Invyr Holy Panda tactile switch. The Blue Sky requires 50 grams of force to actuate, while the Holy Panda's actuation force is unknown. However, in terms of bottom out force, the Blue Sky requires 60 grams, while the Holy Panda has a bottom out force of 67 grams. Both switches fall into the medium range of actuation force, but the Holy Panda is slightly heavier in terms of bottom out force. For those who prefer a lighter typing experience that allows for longer typing sessions, the Blue Sky may be the better option. However, for those who prefer a more substantial and tactile typing experience, the Holy Panda with its heavier bottom out force may be more suitable. Ultimately, the choice between the two switches will depend on personal preference for typing feel and force requirement.
Travel distance
The travel distance of the Aflion Blue Sky linear switch and the Invyr Holy Panda tactile switch is the same, with both switches having a travel distance of 4mm. This means that when pressing down on a key equipped with either of these switches, the distance traveled from the top to the bottom is consistent. Consequently, users can expect similar tactile feedback and typing experience from both switches in terms of travel distance. Therefore, there is no significant difference in travel distance between the Aflion Blue Sky linear switch and the Invyr Holy Panda tactile switch.
Price comparison
Which switch is more bang for your buck?
The Aflion Blue Sky has an MSRP of $6.00 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Blue Sky for $4.07.
The Invyr Holy Panda has an MSRP of $12.00 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Holy Panda for $7.17.
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
When it comes to sound, the Aflion Blue Sky linear switch offers a high-pitched and neutral sound profile, producing a sharp and crisp sound when pressed. This can be appealing for those who prefer a brighter and more distinct typing experience. On the other hand, the Invyr Holy Panda tactile switch's sound profile is not specified, which leaves room for interpretation based on personal preferences and setup choices such as the keyboard and keycaps used.
Moving on to the feel of the switches, the Blue Sky linear switch provides a mild and polished typing experience. The switch is gentle and approachable, offering a smooth and refined finish that reduces friction and ensures a sleek typing feel. In comparison, the Holy Panda tactile switch is described as accented, invigorating, sharp, and snappy. This indicates a medium amount of tactility with pronounced feedback and a snappy, responsive feel that can make typing more immersive and engaging.
In conclusion, the Aflion Blue Sky linear switch and Invyr Holy Panda tactile switch offer contrasting characteristics in terms of sound and feel. The Blue Sky switch provides a bright and crisp sound with a gentle and polished typing feel, while the Holy Panda switch delivers a more pronounced feedback, sharp tactility, and responsive typing experience. Depending on personal preferences for sound and feel, both switches can provide a satisfying typing experience, each catering to different preferences within the mechanical keyboard community. Ultimately, trying both switches in different setups may be the best way to determine which one suits individual preferences.
Conclusion
To sum up, when deciding between the Aflion Blue Sky linear switch and the Invyr Holy Panda tactile switch, it really comes down to your personal preferences. If you prefer a smooth and linear typing experience with a high-pitched sound profile and a polished feel, then the Blue Sky switch would be a great choice for you. On the other hand, if you enjoy a tactile typing experience with sharp tactility, pronounced feedback, and a snappy feel, then the Holy Panda switch would be more suitable for your preferences. Ultimately, choosing between these two switches will depend on whether you prioritize smoothness and linear feedback or sharp tactility and pronounced feedback in your mechanical keyboard typing experience.
Mentioned in this article
