Aflion Blue Sky vs. Huano Strawberry Latte

Overview

When it comes to choosing the right mechanical keyboard switch, the Aflion Blue Sky and the Huano Strawberry Latte are two exceptional options that cater to different preferences while both embracing a linear feel. The Aflion Blue Sky stands out with its long pole stem, delivering a crisp and polished typing experience marked by a sparkling sound profile that many typists cherish. This switch is characterized as high-pitched and neutral, appealing to those who appreciate clarity in their keystrokes. In contrast, the Huano Strawberry Latte offers a super smooth actuation with the benefit of the latest mold technology from Huano, resulting in a balanced sound profile that strikes a harmonious medium—not too quiet, yet not overly resonant—making it ideal for users seeking a more subdued auditory experience. Each switch has its unique appeal: the Blue Sky entices with its clear sound and smooth actuation, while the Strawberry Latte boasts a well-rounded auditory presence. However, let’s dive in a bit deeper beyond generalities so you can best decide on the best switch for you.

By the numbers

Aflion Blue Sky Linear

Huano Strawberry Latte Linear

$6.00

$4.07 per 10

$3.50

$3.29 per 10

Learn moreLearn more

Housing materials

The Aflion Blue Sky and the Huano Strawberry Latte switches exhibit distinct characteristics in their top housing materials, which play a crucial role in shaping the overall sound and performance. The Blue Sky utilizes polycarbonate for its top housing, known for creating a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound profile due to its relative stiffness. This material's translucency makes it particularly advantageous for RGB lighting applications, as it allows for vibrant light diffusion. In contrast, the Strawberry Latte employs POK, or polyketone, in its top housing, which also aims to enhance sound quality but does so in a different way. While POK contributes to a smooth and clacky feel during typing, its primary advantage lies in its exceptional durability, being significantly stronger than many other materials. Therefore, while both materials are effective in producing distinctive sound profiles, they achieve their results through different attributes: polycarbonate through clarity and resonance, and POK through smoothness and durability.

When it comes to the bottom housing, both the Aflion Blue Sky and Huano Strawberry Latte make use of nylon, a classic material revered for its soft properties. This shared choice means that both switches will elicit a deeper, fuller sound profile during typing interactions. Nylon's sound-absorbing qualities contribute to a duller and rounder sound, creating a smoother keystroke experience that users often prefer for a quieter, more engaging typing environment. As the bottom housing significantly influences the key feel and bottom-out sound, the synergy between the nylon used in both switches ensures they share similar tactile responses when pressed, even if their top housings offer divergent acoustic properties.

Ultimately, the combination of materials in each switch creates unique sound signatures and typing experiences. The collaboration of polycarbonate and nylon in the Blue Sky results in a clear, resonant sound profile complemented by the deeper timbre of the nylon. Conversely, the Strawberry Latte's distinct POK top combined with nylon offers an interesting interplay of smoothness and durability, contributing to a slightly different auditory and tactile experience. Users can, therefore, expect that while both switches will produce a satisfying sound when pressed, the breakout of materials creates nuances that affect how each switch feels upon release and when bottoming out. This duality of materials provides a compelling choice for enthusiasts looking to balance clarity with depth in their typing experience.

Weight

The Aflion Blue Sky linear switch and the Huano Strawberry Latte linear switch exhibit notable differences in their actuation and bottom out forces. The Blue Sky features an actuation force of 50 grams and a bottom out force of 60 grams, categorizing it as a medium-weight switch. In contrast, the Strawberry Latte is lighter, with an actuation force of 40 grams and a bottom out force of 45 grams, making it suitable for users who prefer a softer touch for extended typing or gaming sessions. Thus, if you favor a more substantial push feel, the Blue Sky is the better choice, while the Strawberry Latte provides a more effortless experience. The variance in bottom out forces also reinforces this distinction, with the Blue Sky requiring more force both to actuate and bottom out compared to the lighter Strawberry Latte.

Travel distance

The Aflion Blue Sky linear switch and the Huano Strawberry Latte linear switch differ in their travel distances, with the Blue Sky measuring 4 mm and the Strawberry Latte at 3.6 mm. This makes the Blue Sky the longer of the two, providing a more substantial keystroke that may appeal to users who enjoy a deeper, more tactile feel when typing. In contrast, the shorter 3.6 mm travel distance of the Strawberry Latte is likely to favor those who prioritize quick response times and prefer a more immediate actuation, which is often preferred by gamers. While both switches can provide satisfactory typing experiences, potential users should consider whether they value depth in their keystrokes or the speed and responsiveness of shorter travel distances.

Price comparison

Typing experience

The sound profile of the Aflion Blue Sky linear switch is characterized by a sharp and crisp high-pitched tone, providing a distinctly clear auditory feedback with each keystroke. This makes it an appealing choice for those who prefer a more vibrant sound when typing, without the deeper or bass-heavy tones associated with some other switches. In contrast, the Huano Strawberry Latte switch features a balanced sound profile that is neither too quiet nor overly resonant, striking a middle ground that may appeal to those who prefer a more subdued auditory experience. While both switches offer unique sound qualities, the Blue Sky leans toward a more pronounced sparkle, whereas the Strawberry Latte remains level and moderate, leading to potentially different typing environments depending on user preference.

When assessing the feel of these switches, the Aflion Blue Sky stands out with its mild and polished characteristics. The mild nature contributes to a gentle typing experience, making it accessible for both beginners and seasoned typists. Its polished finish suggests attention to detail, resulting in reduced friction and a smooth key travel that enhances overall enjoyment while typing. On the other hand, the feel of the Huano Strawberry Latte remains unspecified. Given that the Blue Sky offers a smooth and user-friendly experience, typists who value a comfortable and refined touch may gravitate towards it, although with the Strawberry Latte, unknown factors may leave room for surprise.

In summary, typists seeking a high-pitched, sharp sound may prefer the Aflion Blue Sky switch for its clarity and vibrant feedback, while those desiring a more balanced auditory experience might opt for the Huano Strawberry Latte. Furthermore, the Blue Sky's mild and polished feel offers a smooth and approachable typing environment, making it suitable for a broad range of users. Ultimately, while the two switches present distinct sound profiles, their subjective qualities can cater to different typing styles, ensuring that there is an option for every preference among mechanical keyboard enthusiasts.

Conclusion

To sum up, choosing between the Aflion Blue Sky linear switch and the Huano Strawberry Latte linear switch ultimately depends on your specific typing preferences and usage scenarios. If you prefer a medium bottom-out force of 60 grams that offers a crisp and clear typing experience, the Blue Sky switches may be ideal for you, especially if you enjoy a slightly high-pitched and polished auditory feedback while typing. Their smooth push feel makes them a solid option for both typing and gaming, catering to those who appreciate a gentle yet invigorating typing experience. On the other hand, if you favor a lighter touch with a bottom-out force of 45 grams and seek a balanced sound profile that strikes a harmonious blend between not too quiet and not overly resonant, the Strawberry Latte switches would be more suitable. Their super smooth action is particularly appealing if you value effortless key presses, making them a great choice for extended typing sessions or casual gaming where comfort takes precedence. Ultimately, consider what matters most to you in a switch, whether it’s the tactile feedback, sound quality, or actuation force, to make the best choice for your mechanical keyboard setup.

Mentioned in this article

Aflion Blue Sky Linear

$6.00

$4.07 per 10

Learn more

Huano Strawberry Latte Linear

$3.50

$3.29 per 10

Learn more