Huano Caramel Latte vs. Jwick Ginger Milk
An in-depth look at the Huano Caramel Latte and the Jwick Ginger Milk switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When exploring the world of mechanical keyboard switches, the Huano Caramel Latte and the Jwick Ginger Milk stand out as two distinctive linear options, each offering a unique typing experience. The Huano Caramel Latte is characterized by its medium weight of 50g bottom-out force and a bright, clacky sound profile, making it an excellent choice for those who enjoy an engaging auditory feedback and a silky smooth keystroke. Its high-pitched and clacky nature provides an exhilarating sensation with every type, perfect for users who appreciate a lively typing experience. Conversely, the Jwick Ginger Milk is known for its soft, pastel-like feel, delivering a muted yet snappy auditory profile that is both approachable and understated. With its buttery smooth push feel, the Ginger Milk is ideal for those who prefer a more subdued and comforting typing experience. Both switches cater to different preferences and styles, offering unique advantages that can significantly enhance your typing satisfaction. However, let’s dive in a bit deeper beyond generalities so you can best decide on the switch that suits your needs.
By the numbers
Technical specifications
Actuation force
45g
Actuation force
50g
Bottom-out force
55g
Bottom-out force
63.5g
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Total travel
3.60 mm
Total travel
3.70 mm
Factory lubed
Yes
Factory lubed
No
Stem construction
Standard
Stem construction
Partial box
Stem material
POM
Stem material
POM
Top housing material
POK
Top housing material
Polycarbonate
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Spring
22mm single-staged spring
Spring
Stainless steel
Housing materials
The housing materials of the Huano Caramel Latte and the Jwick Ginger Milk switches reveal both similarities and contrasts that contribute to their distinct auditory and tactile experiences. Both switches utilize nylon for their bottom housings, making them share a classic and cherished material known for delivering a deeper, fuller sound profile. This softness in nylon absorbs sound more effectively, resulting in a rounder auditory experience that typists often find pleasing. As such, the similarities in their bottom housing suggest that users can expect a consistent bottom-out feel and sound across both switches, ensuring a satisfying typing experience that is rich and muffled rather than sharp or harsh.
On the other hand, the top housing materials for the two switches are markedly different. The Caramel Latte features a polyketone (POK) top housing, which is lauded for its smoothness and durability, providing a clicking sound that’s both pronounced and clacky due to its low coefficient of friction. In contrast, the Ginger Milk employs polycarbonate, a stiffer plastic that enhances the sharpness and clarity of the sound profile, resulting in a crisper auditory experience. This distinction in materials means that while both switches may resonate similarly through their nylon bottoms, the characteristics of their top housings will lead to divergent sound profiles when the switches are engaged and released.
In conclusion, users can expect both switches to deliver a fundamentally rich sound due to their nylon bottom housings, while the top housings will create contrasting auditory sensations. The Caramel Latte, with its POK material, emphasizes smoothness and a strong clack, whereas the Ginger Milk’s polycarbonate allows for greater resonance and brightness. Therefore, the choice between the two comes down to personal preference in sound and feel, as the bottom housing ensures a shared quality that accentuates the strengths of both top housing materials. Ultimately, while the bottom layers guarantee some degree of commonality, the top layers provide a unique twist in auditory experience that can significantly affect typist satisfaction.
Weight
The Huano Caramel Latte linear switch and the Jwick Ginger Milk linear switch offer distinct experiences when it comes to actuation and bottom out forces. The Caramel Latte features an actuation force of 45 grams and a bottom out force of 55 grams, categorizing it as a medium-light switch. In contrast, the Ginger Milk switch has a higher actuation force of 50 grams and a bottom out force of 63.5 grams, placing it in the medium-heavy range. This difference means that the Caramel Latte is the lighter option, making it suitable for those who prefer a more effortless typing experience during long sessions, whether for work or gaming. On the other hand, the Ginger Milk, with its heavier forces, caters to users who appreciate a more substantial push feel that can enhance their typing experience. Overall, while both switches are designed for different preferences, they provide unique tactile feedback that reflects their respective force characteristics.
Travel distance
The Huano Caramel Latte linear switch features a travel distance of 3.6 mm, while the Jwick Ginger Milk linear switch has a slightly longer travel distance of 3.7 mm. The difference in travel distance is minimal, with the Caramel Latte offering a more responsive feel due to its shorter travel distance, which can benefit gamers seeking quicker response times. On the other hand, the Ginger Milk's longer travel distance may appeal to users who prefer a more pronounced feedback, providing a sense of depth when pressing the keys. In this comparison, the Caramel Latte is the shorter option, whereas the Ginger Milk is the longer switch, making both suitable for different typing preferences.
Price comparison
Which switch is more bang for your buck?
The Huano Caramel Latte has an MSRP of $3.00 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Caramel Latte for $2.75.
The Jwick Ginger Milk has an MSRP of $5.50 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Ginger Milk for $4.25.
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 comparing the sound profiles of the Huano Caramel Latte and the Jwick Ginger Milk linear switches, it is evident that they cater to different auditory preferences. The Caramel Latte produces a bright and clacky sound that is characterized by high-pitched notes, making each keystroke sharp and percussive. This clackiness can be particularly appealing for those who enjoy a more pronounced auditory feedback during typing. On the other hand, the Ginger Milk offers a more muted and neutral sound profile, which may be less intrusive, making it suitable for both work and home environments. While the Caramel Latte engages with a lively sound, the Ginger Milk embraces a more subdued auditory experience, which can be a consideration based on your workspace and personal taste.
In terms of tactile feedback, the Caramel Latte delivers a silky smooth experience that minimizes resistance, allowing for a pleasant typing sensation. This silkiness enhances the overall fluidity of keystrokes, making every press feel effortless. Conversely, the Ginger Milk provides a buttery feel, which, while also smooth, emphasizes a slightly more fluid and uniform typing experience. Both switches aim at delivering comfort but approach it with nuanced differences: the Caramel Latte focuses on minimizing friction for a seamless feel, while the Ginger Milk aims to create a soft and seamless transition in the keystrokes.
In conclusion, both the Huano Caramel Latte and Jwick Ginger Milk linear switches provide admirable typing experiences, but they cater to different preferences in sound and feel. If you enjoy a high-pitched, clacky sound with an exceptionally smooth typing experience, the Caramel Latte would be a great choice. Alternatively, if you favor a more muted sound and a silky yet buttery keystroke, the Ginger Milk will serve you well. Ultimately, your choice will hinge on your personal preferences for auditory feedback and tactile sensation, allowing you to enjoy a satisfying typing experience tailored to your needs.
Conclusion
To conclude, when deciding between the Huano Caramel Latte and the Jwick Ginger Milk linear switches, consider your personal typing preferences and the environment in which you'll be using your keyboard. If you enjoy a lighter, more responsive keystroke that delivers a clacky and bright sound profile, the Caramel Latte switches are an excellent choice. Their medium-light bottom-out force of 55 grams makes them particularly suitable for those who favor speed and agility in their typing, perhaps for gaming or fast-paced work scenarios. On the other hand, if you prefer a slightly heavier feel and a more muted, neutral sound, the Ginger Milk switches would be a better fit. With a bottom-out force of 63.5 grams, they provide a silky smooth typing experience that’s comfortable for prolonged use, making them suitable for both casual and professional settings. Ultimately, your selection should align with whether you prioritize a lively sound and lighter actuation or a more substantial feel with a quieter auditory experience.
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