HMX Blue Topaz vs. Akko Botany

Overview

When it comes to mechanical keyboard switches, the HMX Blue Topaz and the Akko Botany present two appealing options for enthusiasts seeking linear experiences. The HMX Blue Topaz is best known for its exceptional smooth actuation and lightweight feel, allowing for effortless typing with every keystroke. Its striking glittery housing not only adds a touch of flair but also contributes to its clacky sound signature, providing an attractive blend of visual and auditory satisfaction. In contrast, the Akko Botany switches stand out with their lively and crisp clacky sound right out of the box, ensuring a more engaging and responsive typing experience. While both switches cater to linear enthusiasts with their distinct personalities, the choice ultimately depends on whether one prefers the Blue Topaz's smoothness and aesthetic charm or the Botany's vibrant auditory feedback. However, let's dive in a bit deeper beyond generalities so you can best decide on the best switch for you.

By the numbers

HMX Blue Topaz Linear

Akko Botany Linear

$4.00

$3.49 per 10

$3.89

$3.11 per 10

Learn moreLearn more

Housing materials

The HMX Blue Topaz and the Akko Botany keyboards feature distinct materials in their switch housing that significantly influence their sound profiles. The Blue Topaz employs a polycarbonate top housing, a stiffer plastic known to produce a sharper and crisper sound. This material enhances the clarity of the audio feedback, making it particularly advantageous for users who favor a more pronounced and high-pitched typing experience. Additionally, the translucency of polycarbonate allows for excellent RGB lighting effects, creating vibrant visual displays that enhance the keyboard's aesthetic appeal. In contrast, the Akko Botany relies on a nylon top housing, which is recognized for its ability to generate a deeper and rounder sound. The softer nature of nylon absorbs sound more effectively than harder plastics, resulting in a typing experience that emphasizes more muted tones while also contributing to a cozy, tactile feel.

Regarding the bottom housings, both the Blue Topaz and the Botany utilize nylon, which aligns their sound profiles more closely as it contributes to a fuller audio response. Given that nylon's properties are consistent across both keyboards, users will experience a similar depth in bottom-out sound, regardless of the upper housing material. The softness of nylon dampens the sound and leads to a warmer auditory experience in both switches, emphasizing the lower frequencies. This aspect creates a cohesive transition between the two keyboards, ensuring that the experience remains enjoyable in both cases.

Ultimately, the combination of a polycarbonate top in the Blue Topaz and a nylon top in the Botany results in a distinct duality in sound perception. Where the Blue Topaz shines with its sharper and brighter acoustic qualities, the Botany provides a more rounded and soft touch. However, the similarity in their nylon bottom housing means that users can still expect a robust and fulfilling typing experience. While the Blue Topaz may cater to those wanting a crisper sound profile enhanced by RGB features, the Akko Botany appeals to those prioritizing a warm and softer sound with equal depth, making them suitable choices based on individual preferences for auditory feedback.

Weight

The HMX Blue Topaz linear switch and the Akko Botany linear switch both exhibit light actuation and bottom out forces, making them suitable for users who prefer a lighter typing experience. The Blue Topaz has an actuation force of 40 grams and a bottom out force of 48 grams, while the Akko Botany is slightly lighter with an actuation force of 38 grams and a bottom out force of 45 grams. This difference indicates that the Botany switch allows for a marginally lighter keypress, making it potentially more comfortable for extended typing sessions. In contrast, the Blue Topaz, with its slightly heavier forces, might provide a more substantial feel for those who appreciate a stronger push. Overall, while both switches are designed for light use, the Botany is the lighter option, catering best to users who value a reduced force for prolonged use.

Travel distance

When comparing the travel distances of the HMX Blue Topaz linear switch and the Akko Botany linear switch, we find a noticeable difference: the Blue Topaz has a travel distance of 3.9 mm, while the Botany measures at 3.6 mm. This makes the Akko Botany the shorter option, which may appeal to gamers seeking quicker response times. On the other hand, the HMX Blue Topaz offers a slightly deeper experience, which might be more satisfying for those who prefer a full key travel feel. While both switches fall within the modern range of travel distances, the Blue Topaz provides a more pronounced depth compared to the more responsive but shallower Botany switch.

Price comparison

Typing experience

The sound profile of the HMX Blue Topaz linear switch is characterized by its clacky signature, which delivers a sharp, crisp auditory feedback that is both bright and percussive. This distinct sound adds to the overall typing experience, making every keystroke feel rewarding and engaging. In contrast, the Akko Botany linear switch also produces a lively clacky sound, matching that vibrant acoustic quality seamlessly right out of the box. Both switches exhibit sound qualities that can vary slightly depending on the keyboard construction and keycap choice, but users can expect a similarly gratifying soundscape with either option.

When it comes to feel, the Blue Topaz linear switch is praised for its super smooth actuation and lightweight design. This easy-to-press characteristic means that the switches require minimal force to engage, offering a gentle resistance that makes typing feel effortless and comfortable. This can significantly reduce finger fatigue, especially during long sessions of use. While specific details about the feel of the Akko Botany switch are not provided, the emphasis on its sound suggests that it may provide a similarly engaging tactile experience, leaning towards a responsive and enjoyable typing dynamic.

In conclusion, both the HMX Blue Topaz and Akko Botany linear switches are celebrated for their clacky sound profiles that enhance the auditory pleasure of typing. The Blue Topaz offers an effortless and comfortable feel, encouraging prolonged use without discomfort, while the Botany also holds the promise of a lively and exciting typing experience. Although specific details about the Botany's feel remain unknown, users can anticipate that both switches will deliver an enjoyable and satisfying typing experience characterized by their distinctive sounds and responsive nature.

Conclusion

To conclude, choosing between the HMX Blue Topaz linear switch and the Akko Botany linear switch ultimately depends on your personal preferences and typing style. If you are looking for a switch that provides a super smooth actuation with an effortless feel, the Blue Topaz is an excellent choice. Its lightweight bottom-out force of 48 grams makes every keystroke comfortable, especially during long typing sessions, while the distinctive glittery housing adds an aesthetic flair. The clacky sound signature also appeals if you enjoy auditory feedback as you type. On the other hand, if you prefer a lighter touch and a crisp, lively sound that enhances your overall typing experience, the Botany switch with its 45-gram actuation force can be ideal for you. Its straightforward clacky sound right out of the box can add a refreshing auditory element to your keystrokes. In summary, your choice should reflect whether you value a visually striking design with a smooth feel (Blue Topaz) or a more traditional, crisp auditory experience (Botany).

Mentioned in this article

HMX Blue Topaz Linear

$4.00

$3.49 per 10

Learn more

Akko Botany Linear

$3.89

$3.11 per 10

Learn more