Aflion Foggy Shadow vs. TTC Venus
An in-depth look at the Aflion Foggy Shadow and the TTC Venus switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
The Aflion Foggy Shadow and the TTC Venus are both exceptional mechanical keyboard switches that offer unique qualities to enhance your typing experience. The Foggy Shadow by Aflion boasts a light tactile bump and a medium weight of 63.5g, providing a balanced and satisfying feel with each press. On the other hand, the TTC Venus stands out with its innovative internal design, offering a seamless glide and a distinctive "Q-texture" for a smooth and engaging typing experience. While the Foggy Shadow's tactile bump may appeal to those looking for a responsive key press, the Venus's buttery actuation and muted sound signature may be preferred by those seeking a quieter and smoother typing experience. However, let's dive in a bit deeper beyond generalities so you can best decide on the best switch for you.
By the numbers
Technical specifications
Actuation force
N/A
Actuation force
45g
Bottom-out force
63.5g
Bottom-out force
52g
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Pre-travel
1.80 mm
Total travel
3.50 mm
Total travel
3.80 mm
Factory lubed
Yes
Factory lubed
Yes
Stem construction
Partial box
Stem construction
Standard
Stem material
POM
Stem material
POM
Top housing material
Polycarbonate
Top housing material
POM
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Bottom housing material
Polycarbonate
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Spring
20mm double-stage spring
Spring
Lengthened 20.5mm spring
Housing materials
In comparing the housing materials of the Aflion Foggy Shadow and the TTC Venus, it is clear that they both offer unique sound profiles based on their materials. The Foggy Shadow's polycarbonate top housing provides a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound profile, while the Venus's POM top housing creates a deeper and more muted sound. The contrast between the sharpness of polycarbonate and the depth of POM can significantly impact the overall typing experience for users. However, both materials excel in their ability to showcase RGB lighting due to their translucency, offering a visually appealing element to the switches.
Moving on to the bottom housing materials, the Foggy Shadow's nylon bottom housing produces a deeper and fuller sound profile, thanks to its softer plastic composition that absorbs more sound. In contrast, the Venus's polycarbonate bottom housing contributes to a sharper, more resonant sound profile, reflecting its stiffer plastic nature. The choice between nylon and polycarbonate for the bottom housing can have a noticeable impact on the typing experience, with nylon providing a rounder sound and polycarbonate offering a clearer tone. Each material brings its own qualities to the switch, influencing the overall sound and feel of typing.
It is essential to note that when the top and bottom housings differ for a switch, the characteristics of each material will be divided between the top and bottom of the switch. While pressing down on the switch will emphasize the qualities of the bottom housing, such as impact on bottom-out sound and feel, releasing the key will highlight the sound influenced by the top housing. This division allows for a well-rounded typing experience that incorporates the unique properties of both housing materials, offering users a diverse and dynamic feel when typing on the switches.
Weight
The Aflion Foggy Shadow tactile switch and the TTC Venus linear switch have different actuation and bottom out forces, giving users a choice between a lighter or heavier typing experience. In terms of actuation force, the Venus switch requires 45 grams to trigger a keystroke, while the Foggy Shadow's actuation force is unknown. The bottom out force of the Venus switch is 52 grams, lighter than the Foggy Shadow's 63.5 grams, making it a medium-light option compared to the medium-heavy Foggy Shadow. The choice between the two switches depends on personal preference, with some preferring the lighter feel for extended typing sessions and others opting for the heavier force for a more substantial typing experience. Ultimately, users can achieve similar results in terms of actuation and bottom out force depending on their preference for a lighter or heavier typing experience.
Travel distance
The Aflion Foggy Shadow tactile switch has a travel distance of 3.5 mm, while the TTC Venus linear switch has a travel distance of 3.8 mm. Both switches fall within the realm of shorter travel distances, which are favored by gamers for their quick response times. However, the Venus switch offers a slightly longer travel distance, which may provide a more satisfying depth for those who prefer a bit more resistance when pressing down on a key. Ultimately, the choice between the two switches will depend on individual preference for either a shorter, more responsive feel or a slightly longer, more tactile experience.
Price comparison
Which switch is more bang for your buck?
The Aflion Foggy Shadow has an MSRP of $5.50 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Foggy Shadow for $3.91.
The TTC Venus has an MSRP of $7.99 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Venus for $5.09.
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 of the Aflion Foggy Shadow tactile switch and the TTC Venus linear switch, both are described as having low-pitched tones, providing a bass-heavy and mellow sound profile. The Venus switch, however, is noted to have a more muted and subdued sound signature, offering a quieter typing experience. The Foggy Shadow switch, on the other hand, is described as having a neutral sound profile, suitable for various environments and preferences. Overall, both switches offer a pleasant auditory experience, with the Venus switch leaning towards a softer and more subtle sound compared to the Foggy Shadow.
In terms of feel, the TTC Venus linear switch is praised for its buttery and frictionless keystroke experience, providing a smooth and effortless typing sensation. It's also noted to have a gummy feel, akin to bottoming out on a trampoline or a gummy bear, adding a unique tactile element to each press. The Aflion Foggy Shadow, unfortunately, lacks specific descriptors for feel, but given its light tactile bump and medium weight, it can be inferred that it offers a balanced and comfortable typing experience without any extreme characteristics. Ultimately, the Venus switch excels in providing a polished and refined typing feel, making every keystroke a seamless and enjoyable endeavor.
In conclusion, both the Aflion Foggy Shadow tactile switch and the TTC Venus linear switch offer distinct qualities in terms of sound and feel. While the Foggy Shadow provides a neutral and balanced sound profile with a light tactile bump, the Venus switch stands out with its muted, low-pitched sound and buttery, frictionless feel. Depending on personal preference, one can choose between the softer, more subdued typing experience of the Venus switch or the balanced and comfortable typing feel of the Foggy Shadow. Overall, both switches promise a satisfying and engaging typing experience, showcasing the innovation and quality that Aflion and TTC bring to the mechanical keyboard switch market.
Conclusion
To sum up, when deciding between the Aflion Foggy Shadow tactile switch and the TTC Venus linear switch, consider the characteristics that best suit your typing preferences. If you prefer a medium-heavy tactile switch with a light tactile bump and a neutral sound profile, the Foggy Shadow may be the ideal choice for you. On the other hand, if you prefer a medium-light linear switch with a smooth and engaging typing experience, along with a low-pitched and muted sound profile, the Venus may be more to your liking. Ultimately, your decision should be based on your individual typing style and the overall feel and sound you desire in a mechanical keyboard switch.
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