Aflion Carrot vs. HMX Cloud - 50g

Overview

When it comes to mechanical keyboard switches, the choice often boils down to personal preference and typing style, making the comparison between the Aflion Carrot and HMX Cloud - 50g particularly noteworthy. The Carrot, a tactile switch, excels with its long, two-stage spring, delivering a uniquely bouncy experience combined with a mid-pitched and firm sound profile that enhances the tactile feedback users seek, making it ideal for those who enjoy a more pronounced tactile response while typing. On the other hand, the HMX Cloud - 50g, a linear switch, offers a lighter, silky smooth feel that appeals to enthusiasts in search of a bright and crisp typist experience, characterized by a clacky sound profile that adds an element of auditory satisfaction. Both switches cater to different preferences—whether you prioritize tactile feedback or a smooth, uninterrupted keystroke. However, let's dive in a bit deeper beyond generalities so you can best decide on the perfect switch for you.

By the numbers

Aflion Carrot Tactile

HMX Cloud - 50g Linear

$4.60

$3.57 per 10

$3.50

$2.99 per 10

Learn moreLearn more

Housing materials

The Aflion Carrot and the HMX Cloud - 50g utilize distinct materials for their top housings, which leads to notable differences in sound profiles. The Carrot features a polycarbonate top housing, resulting in a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound output. This enhanced clarity is due to polycarbonate's rigidity, which allows sound waves to resonate more effectively. In contrast, the Cloud - 50g is equipped with a nylon top housing, which contributes to a deeper and fuller sound profile. The softer nature of nylon absorbs sound more than polycarbonate does, leading to a rounder and more muted auditory experience. Consequently, while both switches offer engaging sound experiences, they resonate differently based on the materials' intrinsic properties.

Both switches, however, employ nylon for their bottom housings, which results in a consistent characteristic in terms of sound dampening and acoustic response. The nylon material in the Carrot and the Cloud - 50g ensures a smoother, richer feel when typing, creating a bottom-out sound that is notably deeper and less jarring. This shared material helps to bridge the differences presented by the top housings; therefore, while the Carrot has a sharper tonal quality due to its polycarbonate top, the nylon bottoms ensure that the overall experience remains pleasantly rounded. This allows users to achieve satisfying auditory feedback, regardless of the switch they choose.

By having differing materials in their top housings yet a commonality in their bottom housings, both the Aflion Carrot and the HMX Cloud - 50g manage to balance sound characteristics in unique ways. Users can expect different auditory experiences when pressing and releasing the keys: the Carrot will deliver a brighter sound when releasing a key due to the polycarbonate top, whereas the Cloud - 50g will produce a softer sound profile that is more subdued. However, when bottoming out, the nylon arrangement in both switches assures that the overall typing experience is rich and fulfilling, allowing for a more nuanced approach to sound and feel. Ultimately, if you're looking for a specific auditory engagement, both switches have high adaptability thanks to their combined material characteristics.

Weight

When comparing the Aflion Carrot tactile switch and the HMX Cloud - 50g linear switch, there are notable differences in actuation and bottom out forces. The Aflion Carrot has a lighter actuation force of 37 grams compared to the HMX Cloud's 42 grams, making it more suitable for prolonged typing sessions or extensive gaming due to less strain on the fingers. The bottom out force of the Carrot is 45 grams, while the HMX Cloud reaches a bottom out force of 50 grams. This slight variance indicates that the Carrot provides a softer landing upon bottoming out, which may enhance comfort for users who dislike a pronounced bottoming sensation. Overall, those who prefer a lighter touch should gravitate toward the Aflion Carrot, while those who enjoy a more substantial push feel might find the HMX Cloud to be a better match.

Travel distance

The Aflion Carrot tactile switch offers a travel distance of 4 mm, while the HMX Cloud - 50g linear switch has a slightly shorter travel distance of 3.9 mm. This makes the Carrot the longer of the two switches, providing a more pronounced depth when pressed down, which may appeal to users who prefer a more substantial tactile experience. In contrast, the Cloud - 50g, with its shorter travel distance, aligns with the trend towards quicker response times, often favored by gamers for faster key actuation. Although the differences are minimal, with only a 0.1 mm variance, the Carrot may feel more robust to those who appreciate a deeper switch, while the Cloud - 50g can provide a snappier feel for those who enjoy a quicker press. Overall, if you desire a hearty depth, the Carrot is the better choice, while the Cloud - 50g is suitable for those who prioritize rapid response.

Price comparison

Typing experience

When it comes to sound, both the Aflion Carrot tactile switch and the HMX Cloud - 50g linear switch deliver a clacky and high-pitched auditory profile. The Carrot’s sound is characterized as sharp and snappy, offering a bright, crisp, and percussive quality upon actuation that appeals to users who prefer a lively acoustic environment. Similarly, the Cloud - 50g also boasts a clacky sound, ensuring a similar bright and percussive typing experience. This means that, regardless of your choice between the two, you can expect a vibrant auditory feedback that enhances the enjoyment of typing.

In terms of feel, the Carrot switch presents a multi-faceted tactile experience, thanks to its long, two-stage bouncy spring. This provides a lively rebound upon each key press, creating a sensation that is both snappy and responsive. The tactile feedback is enhanced by a stepped feel, allowing users to detect a clear transition through the keystroke, which can often make typing more engaging. On the other hand, the Cloud - 50g, while primarily described as bouncy like the Carrot, does not have the same level of tactile feedback conveyed by a two-stage action, thereby offering a smoother experience. Those who prefer a more distinct tactile feel may find the Carrot more appealing, while still enjoying the buoyancy found in the Cloud variant.

In conclusion, both switches offer unique yet overlapping qualities. The Aflion Carrot shines with its pronounced tactile feedback and lively auditory sensation, making it ideal for enthusiasts who relish an engaging typing experience. The HMX Cloud - 50g, while slightly more subdued in tactile response, still provides a satisfying and bubbly typing feel, alongside a similarly bright sound profile. Ultimately, both switches are excellent choices for mechanical keyboard enthusiasts, with sound and feel being pivotal factors that will influence your preferred typing experience.

Conclusion

To conclude, choosing between the Aflion Carrot tactile switch and the HMX Cloud - 50g linear switch ultimately comes down to your personal preferences in typing experience and sound profile. If you enjoy a lively and bouncy typing sensation with a pronounced tactile feedback, the Carrot switch is the way to go. Its lighter actuation force of 45 grams, combined with the snappy and feathery feel, makes it perfect for long typing sessions, especially if you appreciate a mid-pitched, firm sound that brings a fun element to your workflow. On the other hand, if you prefer a linear switch that offers a silky smooth feel for rapid key presses, the HMX Cloud - 50g might be your best bet. With a slightly heavier 50-gram bottom-out force, it provides a satisfying experience for those who enjoy a brighter, more pronounced clacky sound profile. In shared spaces where noise might be a concern, you may also find the Cloud switch's sound to be more acceptable. Ultimately, your choice should reflect the type of feedback, sound, and effort you seek in your daily typing or gaming routine.

Mentioned in this article

Aflion Carrot Tactile

$4.60

$3.57 per 10

Learn more

HMX Cloud - 50g Linear

$3.50

$2.99 per 10

Learn more