Akko Botany vs. Jerrzi Coral
An in-depth look at the Akko Botany and the Jerrzi Coral switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When it comes to choosing the perfect mechanical keyboard switch, the Akko Botany and Jerrzi Coral offer distinct yet appealing options for typists and gamers alike, both classified as linear switches. The Botany is celebrated for its lively and crisp clacky sound, providing an engaging auditory experience that appeals to those who enjoy a bit of acoustic feedback while typing. In contrast, the Jerrzi Coral is designed with a low-pitched resonance and a silky feel, delivering a more understated yet sophisticated experience that enhances every keystroke with smooth precision. While the Botany may attract those who appreciate a more pronounced sound profile, the Coral caters to those who prefer a refined touch and a quieter typing environment. 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
38g
Actuation force
40g
Bottom-out force
45g
Bottom-out force
N/A
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Total travel
3.60 mm
Total travel
3.70 mm
Factory lubed
Yes
Factory lubed
Yes
Stem construction
Standard
Stem construction
Partial box
Stem material
Nylon Pro
Stem material
POM
Top housing material
Nylon
Top housing material
Polycarbonate
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Spring
Stainless steel spring
Spring
Stainless steel
Housing materials
When comparing the housing materials of the Akko Botany and the Jerrzi Coral, it's important to note that they feature distinct materials for their top housings, which significantly influences their sound profiles. The Botany utilizes nylon for its top housing, a classic choice that contributes to a deeper and fuller sound. This is due to nylon's relatively soft nature, which allows it to absorb sound more effectively than harder plastics, resulting in a duller and more rounded audio experience. In stark contrast, the Coral employs polycarbonate for its top housing, known for its stiffness and ability to provide a sharper, higher-pitched sound profile. The clarity that polycarbonate brings gives switches a more resonant quality, making it an ideal choice when aesthetics like RGB lighting are also a consideration due to the material's translucency.
In examining the bottom housings, both the Akko Botany and the Jerrzi Coral utilize nylon, creating a shared characteristic that deeply influences their typing experience. As with the top housing of the Botany, the nylon bottom housing contributes to the overall deeper and fuller sound profile, enhancing the typing experience with its soft texture. This material choice holds true for the Coral as well, ensuring that the feel and sound of bottoming out on the switch share a similar warmth and resonance, despite the differing materials of the top housings. The result is that while the sound profile for the overall switch is informed by both housings, the similarities in bottom housing materials ensure a consistent feel across both models.
Combining the effects of differing top housing materials with the consistent use of nylon in the bottom allows for a diverse experience when using each switch. The tactile sensations and sound qualities shared through the nylon bottom housing create a familiar ground for typists, but the distinct characteristics introduced by the top housings lead to two unique auditory experiences. For the Botany, the softer nylon dampens and rounds the sound, while the Coral's polycarbonate presents a clearer, more piercing audio profile. This variation emphasizes that even within shared material choices, the varying combinations can lead to nuanced differences in user perception and sensory response, showcasing the intricate relationship between switch design and material selection.
Weight
When comparing the Akko Botany linear switch and the Jerrzi Coral linear switch, there are notable differences in their actuation forces. The Botany switch features a lighter actuation force of 38 grams, making it ideal for users who prefer a less strenuous typing experience, especially during extended periods of use or gaming sessions. In contrast, the Coral switch has a slightly heavier actuation force of 40 grams, which may appeal to those who favor a more substantial push feel while typing. However, the bottom out force for the Coral switch remains unknown, which leaves an ambiguity in its overall force profile compared to the Botany switch, which has a definitive bottom out force of 45 grams. As a result, users seeking a lighter switch would find the Akko Botany more suited to their needs, while those who enjoy a marginally heavier touch may prefer the Jerrzi Coral, contingent on discovering its bottom out characteristics.
Travel distance
The Akko Botany linear switch features a travel distance of 3.6 mm, while the Jerrzi Coral linear switch has a slightly longer travel distance of 3.7 mm. This means that the Botany switch provides a marginally shorter distance when pressed compared to the Coral, making it potentially more responsive for those who prefer quicker actuation, such as gamers. In contrast, the Coral's travel distance, being the longer option, may appeal to users who favor a more pronounced tactile experience and find a deeper travel distance to be more comfortable for typing. Ultimately, the choice between the two might come down to personal preference, with the Botany being ideal for those seeking rapid response times and the Coral suited for users who enjoy a little more depth in their keystrokes.
Price comparison
Which switch is more bang for your buck?
The Akko Botany has an MSRP of $3.89 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Botany for $3.11.
The Jerrzi Coral has an MSRP of $2.79 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Coral for $2.30.
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 Akko Botany switch produces a crisp, lively clacky sound that enhances the auditory feedback of each keystroke, making it pleasing in a more vibrant way. In contrast, the Jerrzi Coral switch features a low-pitched resonance that offers a more bass-heavy and mellow tone. This difference in pitch may create a more nuanced typing experience with the Coral, as its sound profile is more sophisticated, yet it may not provide the same level of auditory excitement as the Botany. It's important to note that the overall acoustics can be influenced by the keyboard build and keycap selection, so the sound experience can vary depending on the setup.
In terms of feel, the Akko Botany switch lacks specific descriptive elements in the provided information, but it can be assumed that its lively sound might correlate to a responsive yet potentially less smooth typing experience. On the other hand, the Jerrzi Coral switch is specifically noted for its silky feel, allowing for an exceptionally smooth typing experience. This silky quality minimizes resistance when pressing and releasing keys, providing a more fluid motion which can enhance speed and comfort during prolonged typing sessions.
Overall, the Akko Botany and Jerrzi Coral linear switches offer distinct auditory and tactile experiences. While the Botany is characterized by its lively, clacky sound and potentially less defined feel, the Coral excels with its sophisticated low-pitched tone and silky smoothness that enhances typing comfort. Ultimately, your choice between these switches will hinge on whether you prefer a more vibrant auditory experience or a refined, smooth feel that makes typing enjoyable. Both options can deliver a satisfying performance, but their differences in sound and feel cater to varying preferences within the mechanical keyboard community.
Conclusion
To conclude, the choice between the Akko Botany linear switch and the Jerrzi Coral linear switch ultimately depends on your typing preferences and desired experience. If you favor a lighter touch with a lively, clacky sound signature, the Botany switch could be the right fit for you, especially if you enjoy a more pronounced auditory feedback while you type. On the other hand, if you seek a refined typing experience characterized by smoothness and a lower-pitched, more sophisticated sound, you may find the Coral switch to be more appealing. Its silky feel enhances the overall typing experience, minimizing resistance and allowing for a more seamless keystroke. In the end, consider what aspects of a switch resonate with you—be it the tactile feedback, sound profile, or overall typing feel—to make an informed decision that enhances your mechanical keyboard journey.
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