Huano Caramel Latte vs. Bsun Tomcat

Overview

When it comes to choosing the perfect mechanical keyboard switch, enthusiasts often find themselves torn between options like the Huano Caramel Latte and the Bsun Tomcat, both of which are linear switches known for their smooth performance. The Huano Caramel Latte offers a medium actuation force of 50g, delivering a bright, clacky sound that adds a pleasing acoustic element to typing sessions. This makes it an attractive choice for users seeking both tactile feedback and auditory satisfaction, ensuring that each keystroke feels rewarding. On the other hand, the Bsun Tomcat excels with its Ly stems, designed for an exceptionally smooth typing feel, complemented by a resonant sound profile that enhances the overall experience. While both switches promise a delightful typing journey, they each cater to different preferences in sound and feel. However, let's dive in a bit deeper beyond generalities so you can best decide on the best switch for you.

By the numbers

Huano Caramel Latte Linear

Bsun Tomcat Linear

$3.00

$2.75 per 10

$2.99 per 10

Learn moreLearn more

Housing materials

When comparing the housing materials of the Huano Caramel Latte and the Bsun Tomcat, notable differences and similarities emerge, particularly concerning the top housings. The Caramel Latte employs POK (polyketone) for its top housing, which is celebrated for its smoothness and durability. With a coefficient of friction of 0.04, it offers exceptional performance, being both stronger and more shock-resistant than other plastics such as POM and Nylon. On the contrary, the Tomcat's top housing is made from polycarbonate, a rigid plastic known for creating a sharper, more resonant sound profile. The translucency of polycarbonate enhances its suitability for RGB lighting, making it visually appealing and practical for key switches designed to feature backlighting. While the two materials differ in sound characteristics and aesthetics, utilizing superior materials in both cases assures players of high-quality tactile experiences.

Turning to the bottom housing, both switches utilize nylon, recognized as a classic and effective choice among switch manufacturers. Nylon’s inherent softness allows it to absorb sound, resulting in a deeper and fuller sound profile, which is a characteristic both switches share. Since the bottom housing significantly influences the bottom-out sound and feel when pressed, the nylon used in both the Caramel Latte and Tomcat guarantees a consistent experience regarding the tactile feedback provided. This shared material enables both switches to achieve a rounded and muted sound during keypresses, creating a satisfying touch that is essential for typists and gamers alike.

In conclusion, while the Huano Caramel Latte and Bsun Tomcat display contrasting properties in terms of their top housing materials—with POK providing smooth transactional qualities and polycarbonate ensuring clarity and aesthetic vibrancy—their bottom housings unify their designs through the use of nylon. This synergy allows both models to craft compelling auditory experiences while maintaining a distinctive character through their respective top materials. Therefore, despite their differences, the selected materials offer a balanced switch experience, ensuring these housings yield equally impressive results in their unique ways.

Weight

When comparing the Huano Caramel Latte linear switch to the Bsun Tomcat linear switch, both exhibit the same actuation force of 45 grams, indicating that users will experience a similarly light touch when triggering a keystroke. This shared characteristic makes both switches well-suited for prolonged typing sessions or extended gaming, appealing to those who prefer a lighter keyboard feel. However, the bottom out forces differ slightly; the Caramel Latte has a bottom out force of 55 grams while the Tomcat has a marginally lower bottom out force of 54 grams. This means that while both switches are medium-light overall, the Caramel Latte provides a slightly heavier feel at the bottoming out stage compared to the Tomcat. Thus, users who appreciate a very subtle distinction in feedback may prefer the Tomcat for its lighter bottom out force, while those looking for a marginally firmer finish might lean toward the Caramel Latte.

Travel distance

The Huano Caramel Latte linear switch and the Bsun Tomcat linear switch both exhibit a travel distance of 3.6 mm, making them equal in this regard. This means that users can expect a similar tactile experience when pressing down on these keys, as the distance traveled is the same for both switches. Consequently, whether one prefers the Caramel Latte or the Tomcat, the feedback and responsiveness during typing or gaming would likely feel consistent, reinforcing the notion that travel distance significantly contributes to overall switch performance.

Price comparison

Typing experience

The Huano Caramel Latte switch has a bright, clacky sound profile that contributes to its engaging auditory experience. This lively sound can make typing feel more dynamic and satisfying, especially in a lively environment. Meanwhile, the Bsun Tomcat switch produces a resonant sound profile, which offers a different acoustic experience that may be richer and more full-bodied compared to the Caramel Latte. It's important to note that the overall sound will depend on additional factors such as the keyboard itself and the keycaps used, but both switches promote unique auditory characteristics that can influence typing enjoyment.

When it comes to feel, the Caramel Latte switch boasts a medium weight of 50g at bottom out, providing a balance that appeals to many typists. Its super smooth typing experience ensures that each keystroke is effortless and responsive. Conversely, the Tomcat switch features Ly stems that also deliver a super smooth typing experience, indicating that users can expect a similarly enjoyable tactile journey. Although the specific weight of the Tomcat is not mentioned, the design suggests a comfortable feel that complements its smoothness.

In summary, both the Huano Caramel Latte and Bsun Tomcat switches emphasize smoothness in their typing experiences, making them excellent choices for anyone prioritizing a pleasant tactile feel. While their sound profiles differ—clacky versus resonant—this aspect can be tailored further by considering the keyboard and keycap choices employed. Ultimately, whether one prefers the Caramel Latte's lively sound or the Tomcat's distinct resonance, either switch offers an enjoyable and satisfying experience that newcomers to mechanical keyboards can appreciate.

Conclusion

To conclude, when deciding between the Huano Caramel Latte linear switch and the Bsun Tomcat linear switch, consider your personal preferences for both sound and feel. If you enjoy a bright, clacky sound profile combined with a smooth typing experience, the Caramel Latte may be the right choice for you. Its medium-light bottom-out force of 55 grams ensures that each keystroke feels satisfying without being overly heavy, making it suitable for both casual typing and gaming. On the other hand, if you prefer a resonant sound profile and are looking for a switch with a slightly lower bottom-out force of 54 grams, the Tomcat is an excellent option. Its Ly stems also provide a notably smooth typing experience, appealing to those who prioritize fluidity with each keystroke. Ultimately, both switches offer a delightful typing experience, so your choice should depend on the specific sound preferences and tactile feel you are seeking in your mechanical keyboard.

Mentioned in this article

Huano Caramel Latte Linear

$3.00

$2.75 per 10

Learn more

Bsun Tomcat Linear

$2.99 per 10

Learn more