Gateron CAP Anniversary vs. HMX Vintage Citrus
An in-depth look at the Gateron CAP Anniversary and the HMX Vintage Citrus switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When it comes to choosing the perfect mechanical keyboard switch, preferences often boil down to the unique characteristics each switch offers. The Gateron CAP Anniversary switch stands out with its innovative CAP structure, which provides a remarkably smooth typing experience thanks to its aerodynamically designed stem that reduces resistance and wobble. This switch is celebrated for its 'snappy', 'creamy', and 'polished' feel, making it a great option for users who prioritize stability and smooth keystrokes. In contrast, the HMX Vintage Citrus switch caters specifically to gamers, featuring a low actuation force of just 1mm, which facilitates quick, responsive actions essential for competitive play. Its bright, clacky sound adds an engaging auditory element, while its smooth push feel ensures rapid key presses are effortless. While both switches offer distinct advantages—be it the refined smoothness of the CAP Anniversary or the lightning-fast responsiveness of the Vintage Citrus—choosing between them often comes down to personal preference and intended use. However, let's dive in a bit deeper beyond generalities so you can best decide on the switch that suits your specific needs.
By the numbers
Technical specifications
Actuation force
50g
Actuation force
48g
Bottom-out force
65g
Bottom-out force
53g
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Pre-travel
1.00 mm
Total travel
4.00 mm
Total travel
3.00 mm
Factory lubed
Yes
Factory lubed
Yes
Stem construction
Standard
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
PCB (5-pin)
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Spring
Gold-plated 20mm spring
Spring
22mm single-staged spring
Housing materials
When comparing the housing materials of the Gateron CAP Anniversary and the HMX Vintage Citrus, distinct characteristics emerge, primarily stemming from the different materials used in their top housings. The CAP Anniversary showcases a polycarbonate top housing, which is known for its rigidity and translucency, resulting in a sharper, higher-pitched sound profile. This clarity is advantageous, especially for users who prioritize acoustic feedback in their typing experience. In contrast, the Vintage Citrus employs a nylon top housing that yields a deeper, fuller sound due to nylon's soft plastic properties that absorb sound waves. This fundamental difference in material leads to contrasting auditory experiences, with the CAP Anniversary providing a more resonant sound and the Vintage Citrus delivering a warmer, rounder acoustic signature.
Interestingly, both switches share the same material for their bottom housings, both utilizing nylon. This commonality means that regardless of the differences in top housing materials, users will experience similar depth and fullness in sound when pressing down on the keys. The nylon bottom housing dampens sound, contributing to a more muted bottom-out experience that many typists appreciate. Thus, while the top housings of the switches influence the initial sound upon key release, the nylon bottoms ensure that both switches promote a deep and rich audio profile during key presses. This component creates a degree of consistency in the overall sound performance between the two switches, despite their differing top housings.
Ultimately, the interplay between the top and bottom housings of the Gateron CAP Anniversary and the HMX Vintage Citrus effects how typists perceive the key actuation's auditory feedback. Since the CAP Anniversary's polycarbonate top produces a brighter sound contrasting with the Vintage Citrus's softer, rounder sound, the experience when typing will vary. However, due to having the same nylon material for the bottom housings, both switches will still maintain a fundamentally similar tactile feel when bottoming out. This symmetry underscores an essential aspect of switch design: while the materials used in different sections can create varied sound profiles, common materials can align characteristics that make a typing experience enjoyable and coherent across different switch models.
Weight
The Gateron CAP Anniversary linear switch and the HMX Vintage Citrus linear switch present a notable contrast in both actuation and bottom out forces. The CAP Anniversary has an actuation force of 50 grams and a bottom out force of 65 grams, classifying it as medium-heavy. In comparison, the Vintage Citrus features a lighter actuation force of 48 grams and a bottom out force of 53 grams, making it medium-light. This difference indicates that users who prefer a lighter switch for prolonged typing sessions or extended gaming might gravitate towards the Vintage Citrus, while those seeking a more substantial typing experience with a firmer push would likely favor the CAP Anniversary. Overall, while the Vintage Citrus is lighter in both actuation and bottom out forces, the CAP Anniversary requires a stronger push, appealing to a different preference in typing experience.
Travel distance
When comparing the travel distances of the Gateron CAP Anniversary linear switch and the HMX Vintage Citrus linear switch, there's a notable difference. The CAP Anniversary features a travel distance of 4 mm, making it the longer option and providing a traditional feel preferred by some users who enjoy a more substantial key press. In contrast, the Vintage Citrus has a shorter travel distance of 3 mm, appealing to those who favor quicker response times, often favored by gamers. While both switches offer distinct tactile experiences, the shorter travel distance of the Vintage Citrus may feel more abrupt to some users. Ultimately, the choice between these two switches will depend on personal preference for either a deeper, more robust keystroke or a quicker, more responsive action.
Price comparison
Which switch is more bang for your buck?
The Gateron CAP Anniversary has an MSRP of $4.90 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the CAP Anniversary for $4.10.
The HMX Vintage Citrus has an MSRP of $3.49 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Vintage Citrus for $2.79.
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 Gateron CAP Anniversary switch offers a discreet auditory profile that is less pronounced, making it suitable for quieter environments. It emphasizes a smooth key press without much bottoming out noise, benefiting those who prefer a subtle experience while typing or gaming. In contrast, the HMX Vintage Citrus switch stands out with its bright, clacky sound profile, which is particularly satisfying during rapid inputs and fast-paced gaming scenarios. This distinct auditory feedback can enhance the thrill of gameplay, while the noise it produces may be more partitioned, providing a lively typing atmosphere.
When it comes to the feel of these switches, the CAP Anniversary excels with its combination of snappy, creamy, and polished characteristics, creating an exceptionally smooth and responsive keystroke experience. The snappy nature ensures an immediate response, the creamy texture provides a silky sensation as fingers glide effortlessly over the keys, and the polished finish reduces friction for seamless key travel. In contrast, the Vintage Citrus is tailored for speed, featuring an extremely low actuation force that facilitates rapid-fire inputs. However, the specific responses of the Vintage Citrus switch in terms of tactile feedback and overall feel have not been specified.
In conclusion, both the Gateron CAP Anniversary and HMX Vintage Citrus linear switches appeal to distinct types of users with their unique qualities. The CAP Anniversary focuses on a smooth, refined typing experience that minimizes sound and emphasizes a polished feel, making it excellent for both typing and more subdued gaming sessions. Meanwhile, the Vintage Citrus is designed for gamers seeking a bright auditory response and ultra-quick actuation for fast-paced action. Ultimately, both switches aim to deliver enjoyable typing experiences, albeit with different tuning catered to their intended uses.
Conclusion
To conclude, choosing between the Gateron CAP Anniversary linear switch and the HMX Vintage Citrus linear switch ultimately depends on your typing preferences and usage scenarios. If you favor a typing experience characterized by stability and smoothness, the CAP Anniversary is an excellent choice. With its medium-heavy 65-gram bottom-out force, this switch is ideal for those who appreciate a more tactile feedback and enjoy an engaging typing experience. It's particularly well-suited for productivity tasks like coding or writing, where you’ll benefit from its snappy and creamy feel, promoting a refined keystroke with minimal wobble. On the other hand, if you are a gamer seeking rapid input responsiveness, the Vintage Citrus switch may be the better option. Its lighter 53-gram bottom-out force and low actuation at 1mm cater to quick reflexes, making it perfect for gaming scenarios where every millisecond counts. Additionally, the bright, clacky sound profile adds an auditory satisfaction that many players find appealing. In summary, if you prioritize precision and smooth keystrokes in general typing and office tasks, go for the CAP Anniversary; however, if you're focused on fast-paced gaming and require swift actuation, the Vintage Citrus will serve you well.
Mentioned in this article
