TTC Bluish White vs. Gateron Ink Box Black
An in-depth look at the TTC Bluish White and the Gateron Ink Box Black switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When it comes to choosing the perfect mechanical keyboard switch, two popular options that offer distinct typing experiences are the TTC Bluish White and the Gateron Ink Box Black. The Bluish White is a tactile switch that provides a satisfyingly poppy typing experience. With its buttery, mild, stepped, and subtle keypress feel, it offers a polished and low-pitched sound profile. On the other hand, the Ink Box Black is a linear switch known for its incredibly smooth and creamy typing experience. It offers a clacky, high-pitched feel and a silky, polished sound signature reminiscent of a shaken spray paint can. Both switches have their unique advantages, but let's dive in a bit deeper beyond these generalities to help you make an informed decision on the best switch for your typing needs.
By the numbers
Technical specifications
Actuation force
42g
Actuation force
60g
Bottom-out force
50g
Bottom-out force
70g
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Pre-travel
1.80 mm
Total travel
3.50 mm
Total travel
3.60 mm
Factory lubed
Yes
Factory lubed
Yes
Stem construction
Partial box
Stem construction
Partial box
Stem material
POM
Stem material
POM
Top housing material
Polycarbonate
Top housing material
Proprietary INK blend
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Bottom housing material
Proprietary INK blend
Mount type
Plate (3-pin)
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Spring
Stainless steel
Spring
Stainless steel
Housing materials
The TTC Bluish White and the Gateron Ink Box Black switches have different housing materials that contribute to their unique sound profiles. The Bluish White features a polycarbonate top housing, which creates a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound. The polycarbonate is a stiffer plastic, resulting in a more clear and resonant sound. Additionally, the translucent nature of polycarbonate allows for the use of RGB lighting. On the other hand, the Ink Box Black utilizes Gateron's proprietary INK blend for its top housing, which produces a pointed and relatively high-pitched sound that is not overly sharp. This thin and clacky sound is often described as satisfying.
In terms of bottom housing materials, the Bluish White employs a nylon material. Typing on switches with nylon housing produces a deeper and fuller sound profile due to the softer plastic absorbing more sound. This creates a duller and rounder sound, contributing to a unique typing experience. Similarly, the Ink Box Black utilizes Gateron's proprietary INK blend for its bottom housing, resulting in a pointed and high-pitched yet not overly sharp sound. This adds to the overall clacky sound profile of the switch.
While the two switches differ slightly in their housing materials, both utilize unique materials to enhance their sound profiles. The TTC Bluish White's polycarbonate top housing and nylon bottom housing contribute to a sharper and crisper sound, while the Gateron Ink Box Black's proprietary INK blend top and bottom housings produce a pointed and relatively high-pitched sound. Of course, the specific characteristics and nuances may differ, but both switches aim to provide distinctive typing experiences. So, if you are looking for switches with similar sound profiles, either option can deliver satisfying results.
Weight
When comparing the TTC Bluish White tactile switch and the Gateron Ink Box Black linear switch, there are noticeable differences in their actuation and bottom out forces. The Bluish White switch has a relatively lighter actuation force of 42 grams, making it easier to trigger keystrokes with less effort. In contrast, the Ink Box Black switch requires a heavier actuation force of 60 grams, providing a more substantial push feel for those who prefer a stronger typing experience. Similarly, the bottom out force of the Bluish White is 50 grams, while the Ink Box Black has a higher bottom out force of 70 grams. This indicates that the Ink Box Black switch requires a more forceful press to fully engage the keystroke, resulting in a more pronounced tactile feedback. Overall, the Bluish White switch offers a lighter and slightly more responsive typing experience, while the Ink Box Black switch provides a heavier and more robust feel.
Travel distance
When comparing the travel distance of the TTC Bluish White tactile switch and the Gateron Ink Box Black linear switch, there is a slight difference between the two. The Bluish White has a travel distance of 3.5 mm, while the Ink Box Black has a travel distance of 3.6 mm. Although the difference may seem minor, it can potentially impact your typing experience. Both switches fall within the range of shorter travel distances, which have become increasingly popular, especially among gamers seeking faster response times. If you prioritize responsiveness, the Bluish White with its slightly shorter travel distance would be the preferred option. However, for those who find shorter travel distances too abrupt, the Ink Box Black may be a better choice with its slightly longer travel distance. Ultimately, the decision on which switch to choose would depend on personal preference and the desired typing experience.
Price comparison
Which switch is more bang for your buck?
The TTC Bluish White has an MSRP of $6.60 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Bluish White for $4.63.
The Gateron Ink Box Black has an MSRP of $8.50 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Ink Box Black for $7.65.
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
In terms of sound, the TTC Bluish White tactile switch is known for its low-pitched sound profile. Low-pitched switches tend to have a more bass-heavy and mellow tone compared to higher-pitched switches. On the other hand, the Gateron Ink Box Black linear switch is described as clacky and high-pitched. It produces a sharp and snappy sound when pressed, which can be described as crisp, bright, and percussive. It is important to note that the sound of a switch can also be influenced by factors such as the choice of keyboard board and keycaps. If you prefer a richer and bassier sound, the low-pitched Bluish White switch would be a suitable choice. On the other hand, if you prefer a sharper and crisper sound, the clacky and high-pitched Ink Box Black switch would be more ideal.
When it comes to feel, the TTC Bluish White switch offers a buttery, mild, stepped, subtle, and polished typing experience. A buttery switch implies a smooth and fluid keystroke, providing a seamless and effortless typing sensation. The mild characteristics of the switch ensure a gentle typing experience that most users will find approachable. The stepped design of the switch offers a more mild tactile feedback with some pre-travel or post-travel. The subtlety of the switch provides a gentle resistance while maintaining a light typing feel, making it suitable for shared spaces. Additionally, a polished finish enhances the smoothness of key travel and reduces friction, resulting in a sleek typing experience.
On the other hand, the Gateron Ink Box Black linear switch is described as silky and polished in terms of feel. A silky switch offers an exceptionally smooth typing experience, minimizing resistance when pressing and releasing keys. Similar to the TTC Bluish White switch, the polished finish of the Ink Box Black switch contributes to a smooth and refined typing experience, reducing friction and ensuring smooth key travel.
Overall, based on the available information, the TTC Bluish White tactile switch and the Gateron Ink Box Black linear switch have distinct sound and feel qualities. The Bluish White switch provides a low-pitched sound with a buttery, mild, stepped, subtle, and polished feel. On the other hand, the Ink Box Black switch offers a clacky, high-pitched sound with a silky and polished feel. Depending on personal preference, one can choose between a more bass-heavy and mellow typing experience with the Bluish White switch or a sharp and crisp typing experience with the Ink Box Black switch. However, both switches offer smooth and polished key travel, and the similarities in their polished finish ensure that users can expect reduced friction and enhanced overall smoothness in their typing experience.
Conclusion
To sum up, if you desire a satisfyingly poppy typing experience with a light bottom out force, the TTC Bluish White tactile switch is the ideal choice for you. These switches are known for their snappy sound profile, providing a low-pitched and mellow tone. Additionally, the Bluish Whites offer a buttery, mild, stepped, subtle, and polished feel, providing a smooth and effortless typing experience with reduced friction. On the other hand, if you prefer a medium-heavy bottom out force and incredibly smooth switches, the Gateron Ink Box Black linear switch is the way to go. These switches produce a clacky, high-pitched sound reminiscent of a shaken spray paint can. With a silky and polished feel, the Ink Box Blacks offer an exceptionally smooth typing experience with minimal resistance. Ultimately, the choice between the TTC Bluish White and Gateron Ink Box Black switches depends on your preferences for typing experience, sound, and overall feel.
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