Huano Caramel Latte vs. Huano Grape Orange
An in-depth look at the Huano Caramel Latte and the Huano Grape Orange switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When it comes to mechanical keyboard switches, the choice can significantly impact your typing experience, and both the Huano Caramel Latte and Huano Grape Orange offer distinct advantages. The Caramel Latte, with its medium weight of 50g bottom out and bright, clacky sound profile, is known for providing a super smooth and engaging typing experience, making each keystroke feel delightful. This switch is ideal for those who enjoy a tactile response and a more pronounced auditory feedback, enhancing the overall satisfaction with each press. In contrast, the Grape Orange boasts an ultra-light actuation force of just 40g, enabling a remarkably effortless typing experience that appeals to users who favor speed and comfort, especially during extended typing sessions. While the Caramel Latte caters to those who appreciate a high-pitched, clacky sound and a solid feel, the Grape Orange prioritizes ease of use and a lightweight touch. However, let's dive in a bit deeper beyond generalities so you can best decide on the right switch for you.
By the numbers
Technical specifications
Actuation force
45g
Actuation force
40g
Bottom-out force
55g
Bottom-out force
50g
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Total travel
3.60 mm
Total travel
3.60 mm
Factory lubed
Yes
Factory lubed
Yes
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
22mm single-stage spring
Housing materials
When comparing the Huano Caramel Latte and Huano Grape Orange, the primary distinction lies in their top housing materials. The Caramel Latte utilizes POK (polyketone) for its top housing, while the Grape Orange employs polycarbonate. POK stands out for its exceptional strength and smoothness, offering a low coefficient of friction compared to other materials. This contributes to a tactile experience that is smooth and clacky, making it particularly desirable for users seeking a fluid typing experience. In contrast, the Grape Orange’s polycarbonate top housing produces a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound profile. The material's stiffness enhances the clarity of the sound, playing a vital role in the overall auditory experience, particularly benefitting setups that incorporate RGB lighting due to its translucency.
Both switches feature nylon as their bottom housing, which provides a uniform auditory signature between the two models. As a classic material for switch bases, nylon absorbs sound effectively, resulting in a deeper and fuller sound profile. This similarity means that, regardless of the distinctions in the top housings, the Grape Orange and Caramel Latte will still deliver a satisfying auditory feedback when bottomed out. The nylon bottom in both models emphasizes this commonality, as it contributes to the overall sound dampening, creating a duller and rounder experience during keypresses. Thus, while the top housings bring different qualities, the nylon bottom housing acts as a consistent element in both switches.
Ultimately, the interaction between the top and bottom housing materials defines the overall performance of the switches. The POK top housing of the Caramel Latte complements its durable and smooth characteristics, affecting the sound and feel during key release. Conversely, the polycarbonate top of the Grape Orange provides a distinct auditory experience that enhances clarity. However, both benefit from the nylon bottom housing, which ensures that the deep and resonant quality remains a shared trait. Therefore, users can expect an overall satisfying experience, albeit with unique nuances attributed to the differences in the top housing materials.
Weight
When comparing the Huano Caramel Latte linear switch and the Huano Grape Orange linear switch, we find notable differences in their actuation and bottom out forces that cater to varying preferences. The Caramel Latte features an actuation force of 45 grams and a bottom out force of 55 grams, positioning it in the medium-light category. In contrast, the Grape Orange offers a lighter typing experience with an actuation force of 40 grams and a bottom out force of 50 grams. This means that the Grape Orange is the lighter switch, making it potentially more suitable for prolonged typing sessions or gaming, as it requires less force to register keystrokes. Conversely, the Caramel Latte, being the heavier option, may appeal to users who prefer a more substantial push feel while typing. Overall, if you're looking for a lighter switch, the Grape Orange would be the better choice, while the Caramel Latte provides a firmer response for those who like a bit more resistance.
Travel distance
The travel distance of both the Huano Caramel Latte linear switch and the Huano Grape Orange linear switch is identical, measuring 3.6 mm each. This similarity means that users can expect comparable feedback and actuation depth when pressing down on the keys equipped with either switch. Since both switches have the same travel distance, it follows that they will provide a similar typing experience in terms of how far the key travels before actuating, making them equally effective for users who prioritize key travel consistency.
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 Huano Grape Orange has an MSRP of $3.00 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Grape Orange 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
When it comes to sound, the Huano Caramel Latte linear switch stands out with its bright, clacky profile that delivers a high-pitched, sharp tone. This sound adds a lively character to each keystroke, making it especially appealing for users who prefer a more pronounced auditory feedback. On the other hand, the specifications for the Huano Grape Orange linear switch do not provide specific details about its sound profile, leaving some uncertainty. However, the Grape Orange's lighter nature could suggest a more subdued sound compared to the Caramel Latte, though this is speculative and influenced by factors like keycap choice and keyboard construction.
In terms of feel, the Caramel Latte switch excels with its silky smooth typing experience, which enhances the overall performance and minimizes any resistance during key presses. This smoothness ensures that typists can enjoy seamless transitions between keystrokes, reducing finger fatigue over time. The Grape Orange linear switch, however, lacks detailed information regarding its tactile feedback and smoothness, leaving an open question regarding how it compares in feel. Given its lower actuation force of 40g, though, one might infer that it could still offer a pleasant typing experience, likely with less resistance than the Caramel Latte.
In conclusion, while the Huano Caramel Latte linear switch is characterized by its clacky sound and silky smooth feel, the Grape Orange presents a lighter option that could provide its own unique advantages, though it lacks specific descriptions in sound and feel. For those seeking a more pronounced auditory feedback and a buttery typing experience, the Caramel Latte is an excellent choice. However, if a lighter touch is preferred for extended typing sessions, the Grape Orange could still prove to be a worthwhile option, even if its qualities remain somewhat undefined in comparison. Ultimately, both switches cater to different preferences and typing styles, allowing users to choose based on their priorities.
Conclusion
To sum up, your choice between the Huano Caramel Latte and Huano Grape Orange switches ultimately hinges on your personal typing preferences and the type of experience you're seeking. If you appreciate a medium-light actuation with a snappy and bright sound, the Caramel Latte is an excellent choice. Its 55g bottom-out force provides a satisfying tactile resistance that many typists and gamers enjoy, especially if you prefer a smoother, silkier feel during your typing sessions. Conversely, if you're looking for something lighter and more effortless, especially for long periods of use, the Grape Orange may be the better option with its 50g bottom-out force and ultra-low actuation weight of 40g. This can help reduce fatigue during extended typing or gaming marathons. Ultimately, both switches have unique characteristics that cater to different preferences—whether you need that satisfying clack and smooth feel of the Caramel Latte or the almost weightless touch of the Grape Orange, your ideal switch will reflect your typing style and comfort needs.
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