Keygeek Briny vs. Huano Elf

Overview

When it comes to enhancing your typing experience, choosing the right mechanical keyboard switch is essential, especially between popular options like the Keygeek Briny and the Huano Elf, both of which fall under the linear switch category. The Briny is distinguished by its UPE stem and pure PA66 bottom housing, delivering a balanced sound profile that appeals to users seeking a quiet yet responsive feel. In contrast, the Huano Elf features a POK top housing that enhances acoustics, resulting in a deep sound signature coupled with a medium-light feel that many find satisfying during extended typing sessions. While both switches provide a smooth keystroke experience, the Briny offers a more subtle auditory feedback, perfect for those who prioritize a more muted environment, while the Elf caters to users who appreciate a richer sound profile. However, let's dive in a bit deeper beyond generalities so you can best decide on the best switch for you.

By the numbers

Keygeek Briny Linear

Huano Elf Linear

$3.50

$3.29 per 10

$3.50

$3.29 per 10

Learn moreLearn more

Housing materials

When examining the housing materials of the Keygeek Briny and the Huano Elf, notable differences and similarities emerge that highlight their respective sound and performance characteristics. The Briny utilizes a nylon top housing, which is renowned for producing a deeper and fuller sound profile thanks to its softer texture, which effectively absorbs sound vibrations. This results in a more muted or rounded auditory experience, making it an appealing choice for typists seeking a classic feel. In contrast, the Huano Elf opts for a polyketone (POK) top housing, recognized for its superior smoothness and durability. While POK provides a distinctively clacky sound, its slightly higher coefficient of friction compared to nylon potentially contributes to a sharper auditory response, thereby creating a different typing experience even if both switches are designed to offer satisfactory feedback.

The bottom housings of both switches feature nylon, further aligning the sound characteristics. This commonality means that typing on both switches will benefit from the nylon's ability to absorb sound, contributing to that desirable deeper and fuller sound profile during key presses. This shared use of nylon in the bottom housing indicates that both switches will provide a similar tactile experience when bottoming out, reinforcing the softer sound that nylon is known for. However, while the Briny capitalizes on the duller sound profile of nylon in both its top and bottom housings, the Elf mitigates this with its POK top housing, which enhances brightness and clarity in sound upon release.

Ultimately, the contrast between the top materials of the Briny and Elf defines their overall typing experience, while the use of nylon in the bottom housing serves to bridge the two, offering a comforting consistency. The Briny is likely to appeal to those who favor a soft, rounded sound, maintaining that nostalgic typing feel, whereas the Huano Elf might attract users who seek a blend of smooth tactile feedback with a more pronounced auditory response during key release. As a result, despite the shared bottom housing material, the distinct compositions of the top housings lead to unique performances, catering to various typing preferences within the keyboard enthusiast community.

Weight

The Keygeek Briny linear switch and the Huano Elf linear switch exhibit differences in their actuation forces, which can impact user experience based on preferences for typing and gaming. The Briny features an actuation force of 50 grams, making it a medium-weight switch that provides a more substantial typing feel, which some users might prefer for its tactile feedback. In contrast, the Elf has a lighter actuation force of 42 grams, appealing to those who favor less resistance and the ability to type or game for longer periods without fatigue. Notably, while the Briny has a clearly defined bottom out force of 60 grams, the Elf's bottom out force is not available, leaving a gap in comparison for that specific metric. As such, the Briny is categorized as the heavier switch due to its higher actuation and bottom out forces. Overall, users seeking a softer touch might lean towards the Huano Elf, while those desiring a more robust feel might prefer the Keygeek Briny.

Travel distance

Both the Keygeek Briny linear switch and the Huano Elf linear switch feature an identical travel distance of 3.6 mm, which means that users can expect a similar experience when pressing down on keys equipped with either switch. This parity in travel distance ensures that both switches provide the same tactile feedback and actuation feel, making them equally responsive during use. Consequently, whether one chooses the Briny or the Elf, the typing experience will be consistently comparable in terms of travel distance, delivering an equally satisfying performance for keystrokes.

Price comparison

Typing experience

In terms of sound, the Keygeek Briny linear switch produces a balanced sound profile thanks to its UPE stem and pure PA66 bottom housing. This results in a tone that is neither too high nor too low, making it versatile for different typing environments. On the other hand, the Huano Elf switch features a POK top housing that enhances acoustics, resulting in a deep sound signature. This depth gives the Elf a more pronounced auditory character, which might appeal to those who prefer a richer sound while typing. It's important to note that the overall sound experience can be influenced by various factors such as the choice of keyboard and keycaps, so both switches may yield different sound qualities depending on their settings.

When considering feel, the Briny switch is regarded for its responsive linear action, which is likely complemented by its balanced design, making it fluid for fast-paced typing. Meanwhile, the Elf switch offers a medium-light feel, providing a different tactile experience that can feel satisfying without being overly heavy. While the Briny's feel emphasizes smoothness in linearity, the Elf's medium-light characteristic could potentially provide an enjoyable balance between resistance and ease of pressing.

In summary, both the Keygeek Briny and Huano Elf linear switches offer distinct auditory and tactile experiences. The Briny's balanced sound profile and smooth feel contrast with the Elf's deep acoustic signature and medium-light touch. Ultimately, choosing between them will depend on personal preferences regarding sound depth and switch resistance, though you can expect a generally satisfying typing experience with either option.

Conclusion

To conclude, if you're looking for a switch that provides a balanced sound profile and a medium bottom-out force, you may find the Keygeek Briny linear switch to be a great fit for your typing or gaming experience. With its UPE stem and PA66 bottom housing, the Briny is designed to deliver a smooth keystroke that can be pleasing for both extended typing sessions and gaming marathons. On the other hand, if you're drawn to a switch that emphasizes acoustics and offers a lighter feel, the Huano Elf linear switch may be more suitable for you. The Elf's POK top housing enhances its deep sound signature, providing an engaging auditory experience while maintaining a satisfying, medium-light actuation that can make typing feel effortless. Ultimately, your choice between these two switches will depend on your personal preferences for sound, feel, and the resistance you favor in your keystrokes, making these factors critical in determining which switch aligns best with your mechanical keyboard journey.

Mentioned in this article

Keygeek Briny Linear

$3.50

$3.29 per 10

Learn more

Huano Elf Linear

$3.50

$3.29 per 10

Learn more