Kailh Box Jade vs. Cherry Nixie
An in-depth look at the Kailh Box Jade and the Cherry Nixie switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When it comes to mechanical keyboard switches, the Kailh Box Jade and the Cherry Nixie offer unique typing experiences that cater to different preferences. The Box Jade is perfect for those who enjoy a medium-heavy typing experience with a clicky sound profile and tactile feedback. Its crisp clicks and crunchy tactile bumps make typing a satisfying and invigorating experience. On the other hand, the Cherry Nixie is known for its substantial heft and textured typing experience. With updated materials and springs from Cherry's MX2A update, these switches offer a blend of tradition and modern innovation. While the Box Jade provides a high-pitched and accented typing experience, the Nixie offers a low-pitched and thocky feel. However, let's dive in a bit deeper beyond these generalities so you can best decide on the best switch for you.
By the numbers
Technical specifications
Actuation force
50g
Actuation force
63.5g
Bottom-out force
60g
Bottom-out force
80g
Pre-travel
1.80 mm
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Total travel
3.60 mm
Total travel
4.00 mm
Factory lubed
No
Factory lubed
Yes
Stem construction
Box
Stem construction
Standard
Stem material
POM
Stem material
POM
Top housing material
Polycarbonate
Top housing material
Nylon
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Mount type
Plate (3-pin)
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Spring
Kailh Box spring
Spring
Gold-plated
Housing materials
The housing materials of the Kailh Box Jade and the Cherry Nixie switches both play a significant role in the sound profile of the switches. The Box Jade features a polycarbonate top housing, which creates a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound profile. In contrast, the Nixie utilizes a nylon top housing, resulting in a deeper and fuller sound profile. Despite their differences, both materials have unique advantages. Polycarbonate's stiffness leads to a clear and resonant sound, while nylon's softness absorbs more sound for a duller and rounder tone.
Moving on to the bottom housings of the switches, both the Box Jade and the Nixie feature a nylon bottom housing. This choice of material contributes to a deeper and fuller sound profile during typing. The softer nature of nylon allows it to absorb more sound, creating a smooth and rounded tone. While the bottom housing may not have as much impact on the overall sound profile as the top housing, it still plays a vital role in determining the overall typing experience. The split between top and bottom housing materials ensures that each part of the switch contributes its unique characteristics to the overall sound and feel.
In conclusion, the differences in housing materials between the Kailh Box Jade and the Cherry Nixie switches result in distinct sound profiles. The polycarbonate top housing of the Box Jade produces a sharper and crisper sound, while the nylon top housing of the Nixie offers a deeper and fuller tone. Both switches utilize nylon for their bottom housing, allowing for a consistent typing experience in terms of sound depth and resonance. Ultimately, the choice of housing material plays a crucial role in shaping the overall sound profile and tactile experience of a mechanical switch.
Weight
The actuation force and bottom out force of the Kailh Box Jade clicky switch and the Cherry Nixie linear switch differ significantly. The Box Jade has a lighter actuation force of 50 grams and a bottom out force of 60 grams, making it a medium-weight switch. In contrast, the Nixie has a heavier actuation force of 63.5 grams and a bottom out force of 80 grams, making it a heavy-weight switch. This means that the Box Jade requires less force to trigger a keystroke compared to the Nixie, but it has a similar force needed to bottom out. Some may prefer the lighter actuation force of the Box Jade for longer typing sessions or gaming, while others may prefer the heavier push feel of the Nixie for a more substantial typing experience. Ultimately, the choice between the two switches depends on personal preference and typing style.
Travel distance
The Kailh Box Jade clicky switch has a travel distance of 3.6 mm, making it shorter than the Cherry Nixie linear switch, which has a travel distance of 4 mm. The Box Jade offers a slightly shallower feel when pressed compared to the Nixie, which provides a bit more depth. Gamers may prefer the Box Jade for its faster response time due to the shorter travel distance, while those who prefer a more substantial feel when typing may lean towards the Cherry Nixie. Ultimately, the decision between the two switches comes down to personal preference in terms of travel distance and the typing experience desired.
Price comparison
Which switch is more bang for your buck?
The Cherry Nixie has an MSRP of $6.00 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Nixie for $4.19.
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
The Box Jade clicky switch is known for its high-pitched and crunchy sound profile, which provides a sharp and crisp click with each press, reminiscent of stepping on crunchy autumn leaves. On the other hand, the Cherry Nixie linear switch offers a thocky and low-pitched sound, producing a deep and rich tone that is more mellow compared to the Box Jade. When it comes to feel, the Box Jade switch offers an accented and invigorating typing experience with a medium tactile feedback that is not overwhelming but still noticeable. In contrast, the Cherry Nixie switch is described as textured, potentially providing a bit of friction when pressed.
Overall, if you prefer a clicky switch with a high-pitched sound and crunchy tactile feedback, the Box Jade would be the ideal choice for you. However, if you prefer a linear switch with a thocky and low-pitched sound and a potentially textured feel, the Cherry Nixie might be more suitable. Ultimately, the decision between the two switches comes down to personal preference in sound profile and typing feel. Both switches offer unique characteristics that cater to different preferences, so choosing between them will depend on what qualities you prioritize in a mechanical keyboard switch.
Conclusion
To sum up, if you are looking for a medium-heavy typing experience with a clicky sound profile and tactile feedback, the Kailh Box Jade switches would be the ideal choice for you. The crisp clicks and crunchy tactile bumps of the Box Jade switches provide a satisfying typing experience. On the other hand, if you prefer a heavier bottom out force and a more textured typing experience, the Cherry Nixie linear switches would be more suitable for you. The Nixie switches are known for their substantial heft and deep thocky sound profile. Ultimately, your choice between the Box Jade and Nixie switches will depend on your preference for typing feel, sound profile, and bottom out force.
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