Kailh Box Jade vs. KTT Vanilla Ice Cream
An in-depth look at the Kailh Box Jade and the KTT Vanilla Ice Cream switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When it comes to choosing a mechanical keyboard switch, there are a plethora of options available on the market, each offering unique features and characteristics. Two popular choices that stand out are the Kailh Box Jade, a clicky switch, and the KTT Vanilla Ice Cream, a linear switch. The Box Jades are perfect for those who enjoy a medium-heavy typing experience with a clicky sound profile and tactility, providing crisp clicks and crunchy tactile bumps while typing. On the other hand, the Vanilla Ice Cream linear switch offers typists a remarkably smooth and creamy feel, thanks to its ingenious use of POK in both the stem and bottom housing. While the Box Jade is known for its high-pitched and invigorating sound profile, the Vanilla Ice Cream stands out with a buttery and creamy typing experience. Ultimately, the choice between these two switches will depend on your personal preferences and typing style; 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
43g
Bottom-out force
60g
Bottom-out force
48g
Pre-travel
1.80 mm
Pre-travel
1.90 mm
Total travel
3.60 mm
Total travel
3.50 mm
Factory lubed
No
Factory lubed
Yes
Stem construction
Box
Stem construction
Standard
Stem material
POM
Stem material
POK
Top housing material
Polycarbonate
Top housing material
Proprietary KTT blend
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Bottom housing material
POK
Mount type
Plate (3-pin)
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Spring
Kailh Box spring
Spring
Stainless steel 18mm spring
Housing materials
Both the Kailh Box Jade and KTT Vanilla Ice Cream switches feature unique housing materials that contribute to their distinctive sound profiles. The Box Jade utilizes a polycarbonate top housing, known for creating a sharp, high-pitched, and clear sound. This material is also ideal for RGB lighting due to its translucency. In contrast, the Vanilla Ice Cream switch boasts a proprietary KTT blend top housing that produces a high-pitched and clacky sound signature. While both switches offer unique sound properties, the polycarbonate top housing of the Box Jade may be preferred for those who value a crisper sound profile.
In terms of bottom housing materials, the Box Jade features a nylon bottom housing that elicits a deeper and fuller sound profile. The softer nature of nylon absorbs more sound, resulting in a duller and rounder sound. On the other hand, the Vanilla Ice Cream switch utilizes a POK bottom housing known for its smoothness and durability. The POK material offers exceptional strength and wear resistance, contributing to smooth, clacky, and durable switches. While both bottom housing materials offer unique sound characteristics, the POK bottom housing of the Vanilla Ice Cream switch may be favored for its smoothness and durability.
Overall, the choice of housing materials for switches significantly impacts the sound profile and feel of each key press. The split between top and bottom housing qualities means that the bottom housing material will influence the bottom-out sound and feel, while the top housing material will impact the sound when releasing a key. Whether you prefer the sharp and clear sound of the polycarbonate top housing in the Box Jade or the smooth and durable POK bottom housing in the Vanilla Ice Cream, both switches offer unique qualities that cater to different preferences in mechanical keyboards.
Weight
When comparing the actuation force and bottom out force of the Kailh Box Jade clicky switch and the KTT Vanilla Ice Cream linear switch, it is evident that the Vanilla Ice Cream switch is lighter in both aspects. The Box Jade has a medium actuation force of 50 grams and a bottom out force of 60 grams, while the Vanilla Ice Cream has a lighter actuation force of 43 grams and a bottom out force of 48 grams. The Box Jade provides a more substantial typing experience with its heavier forces, making it suitable for those who prefer a stronger push feel. On the other hand, the Vanilla Ice Cream offers a lighter typing experience, perfect for longer periods of typing or gaming sessions. Both switches provide unique advantages based on individual preferences, with lighter switches being ideal for longer typing sessions and heavier switches offering a more substantial typing experience. Ultimately, the choice between the two switches depends on the user's preference for actuation and bottom out forces.
Travel distance
The Kailh Box Jade clicky switch and the KTT Vanilla Ice Cream linear switch both offer relatively short travel distances compared to the traditional 4.0mm distance. The Box Jade has a slightly longer travel distance of 3.6mm, while the Vanilla Ice Cream has a slightly shorter travel distance of 3.5mm. Gamers looking for faster response times may prefer the Vanilla Ice Cream due to its slightly shorter travel distance, while those who enjoy a deeper key press may prefer the Box Jade. Overall, both switches provide similar results in terms of travel distance, with the slight variation in distance catering to different preferences for key feel.
Price comparison
Which switch is more bang for your buck?
The KTT Vanilla Ice Cream has an MSRP of $5.78 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Vanilla Ice Cream for $4.60.
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
In terms of sound, the Kailh Box Jade clicky switch offers a high-pitched and crunchy typing experience, creating sharp and crisp clicks reminiscent of stepping on crunchy autumn leaves. On the other hand, the KTT Vanilla Ice Cream linear switch produces a high-pitched, marbly, and resonant sound profile, delivering a clean and sharp auditory experience similar to tapping on marble or billiard balls colliding. Both switches provide unique and distinct sound profiles that cater to different preferences, allowing typists to choose based on their desired auditory feedback.
When it comes to feel, the Kailh Box Jade switch is characterized by its accented and invigorating tactile feedback, providing a medium-tactile typing sensation that is not overwhelming yet still offers a pronounced amount of tactility. In contrast, the KTT Vanilla Ice Cream linear switch offers a buttery and creamy typing experience, with smooth and fluid keystrokes that feel seamless, effortless, and uniform. Typists can enjoy a silky sensation and effortless keystrokes when typing on the Vanilla Ice Cream switch, while the Box Jade switch offers a more invigorating and tactile feedback for a different typing experience.
Overall, the Kailh Box Jade clicky switch and the KTT Vanilla Ice Cream linear switch offer unique and distinctive sound and feel profiles that cater to different preferences. The Box Jade switch provides a crisp and crunchy typing experience with medium-heavy tactile feedback, while the Vanilla Ice Cream switch offers a smooth and creamy typing sensation with remarkable smoothness and uniformity. Ultimately, the choice between these switches will depend on the typist's preference for sound, feel, and overall typing experience.
Conclusion
To wrap up, when deciding between the Kailh Box Jade clicky switch and the KTT Vanilla Ice Cream linear switch, it ultimately comes down to your preference for typing experience. If you enjoy a medium-heavy typing feel with a crisp clicky sound and tactile feedback, the Box Jade is the choice for you. On the other hand, if you prefer a smooth and creamy typing sensation with a high-pitched clacky sound, the Vanilla Ice Cream switch would be the perfect fit. Consider your personal preferences for bottom out force, sound profile, and typing feel to make the best decision for your mechanical keyboard setup. Ultimately, both switches offer unique qualities that can enhance your typing experience in different ways.
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