Kailh Box Jade vs. Jerrzi Honey Bean
An in-depth look at the Kailh Box Jade and the Jerrzi Honey Bean switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When it comes to choosing between mechanical keyboard switches, the Kailh Box Jade and the Jerrzi Honey Bean offer distinct typing experiences. The Box Jade is perfect for those who crave a medium-heavy typing feel with a clicky sound profile and satisfying tactile feedback. On the other hand, the Honey Bean switches provide a lighter, linear action with silent operation, making them ideal for quiet environments such as offices. While the Box Jade offers invigorating clicks and crunchy tactile bumps, the Honey Bean delivers a smooth, easy-to-press feel with feathery key presses. 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
42g
Bottom-out force
60g
Bottom-out force
N/A
Pre-travel
1.80 mm
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Total travel
3.60 mm
Total travel
3.70 mm
Factory lubed
No
Factory lubed
Yes
Stem construction
Box
Stem construction
Partial box
Stem material
POM
Stem material
Ly
Top housing material
Polycarbonate
Top housing material
POM
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Bottom housing material
POM
Mount type
Plate (3-pin)
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Spring
Kailh Box spring
Spring
Stainless steel
Housing materials
The Kailh Box Jade and the Jerrzi Honey Bean differ in their housing materials, with the Box Jade featuring a polycarbonate top housing and a nylon bottom housing, while the Honey Bean has a POM top and bottom housing. The Box Jade's polycarbonate top housing offers a sharper, higher-pitched sound profile, ideal for those who prefer a crisper typing experience. In contrast, the Honey Bean's POM top housing creates a deeper and more muted sound, appealing to individuals looking for a more subdued typing sound.
When it comes to the bottom housing material, the Box Jade's nylon housing produces a deeper and fuller sound profile, thanks to its softer plastic composition that absorbs more sound. This provides a duller and rounder sound, which may be preferred by those seeking a quieter typing experience. Similarly, the Honey Bean's POM bottom housing contributes to a deeper and more muted sound profile, aligning with the overall sound signature of the switch and complementing the POM top housing.
While both switches offer unique sound profiles based on their housing materials, the differences between the polycarbonate and POM materials in the top housing create distinct typing experiences. However, the similarities in the nylon and POM materials used for the bottom housing of the Box Jade and Honey Bean result in comparable deep and muted sound profiles when bottoming out keys. Overall, the choice between the Kailh Box Jade and the Jerrzi Honey Bean ultimately depends on individual preference for the type of sound and feel they desire in their typing experience.
Weight
The Kailh Box Jade clicky switch and the Jerrzi Honey Bean linear switch differ in their actuation and bottom out forces. The Box Jade has an actuation force of 50 grams and a bottom out force of 60 grams, while the Honey Bean has an actuation force of 42 grams, with the bottom out force unknown. The Box Jade is heavier in both actuation and bottom out forces compared to the Honey Bean. The actuation force is crucial for triggering keystrokes, with some preferring a lighter touch for extended typing sessions, while others prefer a heavier force for a more substantial typing experience. Bottom out force is important for those who tend to press all the way down, with the heavier force providing more resistance. Ultimately, choosing between the two switches will depend on individual preferences for typing feel and weight.
Travel distance
The Kailh Box Jade clicky switch has a travel distance of 3.6 mm, while the Jerrzi Honey Bean linear switch has a slightly longer travel distance of 3.7 mm. Both switches fall within the range of shorter travel distances that are becoming more popular, especially among gamers looking for quicker response times. The slight difference in travel distance between the two switches may not be significantly noticeable to the average user, but for those who prefer a slightly deeper keystroke, the Honey Bean switch may provide a more satisfying typing experience. Ultimately, the choice between the two switches will come down to personal preference and typing style.
Price comparison
Which switch is more bang for your buck?
The Jerrzi Honey Bean has an MSRP of $4.00 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Honey Bean for $3.59.
The Kailh Box Jade comes in at $5.50 per 10 switches.
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 Kailh Box Jade clicky switch is characterized by its high-pitched and crunchy sound profile, with sharp and crisp clicks that resemble stepping on piles of autumn leaves. On the other hand, the Jerrzi Honey Bean linear switch offers a more muted and quieter typing experience, making it ideal for environments where noise reduction is important. The difference in sound between these two switches is quite substantial, with the Box Jade providing a more pronounced and clicky sound compared to the Honey Bean's softer and more discreet operation.
In terms of feel, the Box Jade switch is known for its accented and invigorating tactile feedback, offering a medium level of tactility that is not overwhelming but still prominent. This creates a satisfying typing sensation with moderate to firm actuation force. In contrast, the Honey Bean switch provides an easy-to-press and feathery typing experience, requiring minimal force to activate the keys and reducing finger fatigue during extended typing sessions. While the Box Jade switch emphasizes tactile feedback and actuation force, the Honey Bean switch focuses on light and effortless key presses for a comfortable typing feel.
Overall, if you prefer a medium-heavy typing experience with a clicky sound profile and tactile feedback, the Kailh Box Jade switch would be the ideal choice for you. On the other hand, if you prefer a lighter and quieter typing experience with minimal resistance and finger fatigue, the Jerrzi Honey Bean switch would suit your needs better. Both switches offer distinct qualities that cater to different preferences, so selecting the right switch ultimately depends on your personal typing style and environment requirements. Ultimately, choosing the switch that aligns with your preferences will result in a satisfying and efficient typing experience.
Conclusion
In closing, when deciding between the Kailh Box Jade clicky switch and the Jerrzi Honey Bean linear switch, consider your typing preferences and environment. If you enjoy a medium-heavy typing experience with crisp clicks and tactile bumps, the Box Jade is the perfect choice for you. On the other hand, if you prefer a light and linear action with silent operation, the Honey Bean switch is ideal, especially for office or shared environments where noise reduction is important. Ultimately, choose the switch that aligns with your typing style and needs to enhance your overall typing experience.
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