Jwick Ginger Milk vs. Gateron Ink Yellow

Overview

When it comes to choosing a mechanical keyboard switch, two popular options that stand out are the Jwick Ginger Milk and the Gateron Ink Yellow. The Ginger Milk switch is best known for its soft and pastel design, which is reflected in its typing experience. Users will appreciate the silky smooth and approachable push feel, accompanied by a muted and snappy sound profile. On the other hand, the Ink Yellow switch is characterized by its shorter travel distance, making it an ideal choice for those who want a typing experience that falls between that of a laptop and a standard mechanical keyboard. This switch offers a pleasant smoothness and a satisfying clackiness. While these general pointers can guide you in your decision-making process, let's dive a bit deeper beyond these generalities to help you choose the best switch for your specific needs.

By the numbers

Jwick Ginger Milk Linear

Gateron Ink Yellow Linear

$5.50

$4.25 per 10

$7.50

$7.35 per 10

Learn moreLearn more

Housing materials

The housing materials of the Jwick Ginger Milk and the Gateron Ink Yellow switches differ in terms of their composition and resulting sound profiles. The Ginger Milk features a polycarbonate top housing, which is known for creating a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound. This is due to the stiffness of polycarbonate, which allows for a more clear and resonant sound. On the other hand, the Ink Yellow utilizes Gateron's proprietary INK blend top housing, which produces a pointed and relatively high-pitched sound, characterized as "clacky". While both materials result in high-pitched sounds, the Ginger Milk's polycarbonate offers a sharper and crisper profile compared to the Ink Yellow's INK blend.

In terms of the bottom housing, the Ginger Milk incorporates a nylon material, known for eliciting a deeper and fuller sound. This is because nylon is a softer plastic that absorbs more sound than harder plastics, creating a duller and rounder sound. On the other hand, the Ink Yellow utilizes Gateron's INK blend for its bottom housing as well, offering a similar pointed and high-pitched sound profile to its top housing. Both bottom housings contribute to a satisfying thin and higher-pitched sound, although the Ginger Milk's nylon material may provide a slightly deeper and fuller tone.

When considering the impact of each housing material on the overall switch, it's important to note that the top and bottom housings play different roles. The bottom housing has more influence on the bottom-out sound and feel when pressing down on the switch, while the top housing affects the sound when letting go of a key. Therefore, the Ginger Milk's polycarbonate top housing will result in a sharper and crisper sound upon key release, whereas the Ink Yellow's INK blend top housing will provide a slightly less sharp but still pointed sound. Similarly, the Ginger Milk's nylon bottom housing will contribute to a deeper and fuller sound upon bottoming out, while the Ink Yellow's INK blend bottom housing will offer a high-pitched and clacky sensation. Overall, both switches provide satisfying sound profiles, with slight differences based on their respective housing materials.

Weight

When comparing the actuation force and bottom out force of the Jwick Ginger Milk linear switch and the Gateron Ink Yellow linear switch, it is evident that both switches fall into the medium-heavy category. The Ginger Milk has an actuation force of 50 grams and a bottom out force of 63.5 grams, while the Ink Yellow has a slightly higher actuation force of 60 grams and a bottom out force of 67 grams.

In terms of weight, some individuals may prefer a lighter switch to allow for longer typing sessions or extended gaming periods. Both the Ginger Milk and Ink Yellow switches can fulfill this preference as they are relatively lightweight compared to heavier options available. However, for those who seek a more substantial typing experience with a stronger push feel, the Ginger Milk may be considered the lighter option, while the Ink Yellow can be deemed the heavier option.

Overall, while there is a slight difference in the actuation and bottom out forces between the Ginger Milk and Ink Yellow switches, both switches provide a similar typing experience in terms of force requirements. Thus, individuals can expect comparable results when using either switch, allowing them to choose based on other personal preferences such as switch smoothness or sound.

Travel distance

When comparing the travel distance of the Jwick Ginger Milk linear switch and the Gateron Ink Yellow linear switch, it is clear that there is a slight difference. The Ginger Milk has a travel distance of 3.7 mm, while the Ink Yellow has a slightly shorter travel distance of 3.5 mm. Both switches fall within the range of shorter travel distances, which are becoming increasingly popular in keyboards. Gamers, in particular, tend to prefer shorter travel distances as they provide faster response times. Therefore, if you prioritize responsiveness, the Ink Yellow with its slightly shorter travel distance may be the better option. However, it is important to note that some individuals find shorter travel distances to be too abrupt and prefer a deeper feel. In this case, the Ginger Milk with its slightly longer travel distance may be more suitable. Ultimately, the choice between the two switches depends on personal preference and the desired typing experience.

Price comparison

Typing experience

The subjective qualities of the Jwick Ginger Milk linear switch and the Gateron Ink Yellow linear switch can be compared in terms of sound and feel.

In terms of sound, the Ginger Milk switch is described as having a neutral sound profile. This means that it produces a moderate sound when pressed, making it suitable for a variety of purposes and environments. Similarly, the Ink Yellow switch is also described as having a neutral sound profile, but it is also mentioned to have a clacky characteristic. This means that it produces a sharp and snappy sound when pressed, adding a crisp and bright element to the typing experience. It's important to note that the sound of a switch can also be influenced by other factors such as the keyboard board and keycaps used.

Moving on to feel, the Ginger Milk switch is described as providing a buttery typing experience. This implies a smooth and fluid keystroke, offering a seamless and effortless typing sensation. On the other hand, the Ink Yellow switch is described as offering a mild typing experience. This means that it provides a more gentle sensation compared to switches with more pronounced characteristics. Additionally, the Ink Yellow switch is also mentioned to have a polished finish, resulting in a sleek and refined typing experience with reduced friction and smooth key travel.

In conclusion, both the Jwick Ginger Milk and Gateron Ink Yellow switches offer unique subjective qualities. The Ginger Milk switch provides a silky smooth and approachable push feel, as well as a muted and snappy sound profile. It offers a buttery typing experience, ensuring a seamless and uniform sensation. On the other hand, the Ink Yellow switch offers a shorter travel distance and a pleasant smoothness and clackiness. It provides a more gentle typing experience, and its polished finish contributes to a sleek and refined feel. Overall, while there are differences in their qualities, both switches offer enjoyable and satisfying experiences for typing enthusiasts. Whether you prefer a softer and pastel experience or a shorter travel and clacky sound, you can expect similar results in terms of actuation force requirement and sound profile.

Conclusion

In closing, when choosing between the Jwick Ginger Milk linear switch and the Gateron Ink Yellow linear switch, there are a few factors to consider. The Ginger Milk is best known for its soft and pastel aesthetic, providing a silky smooth and approachable push feel, along with a muted, snappy sound profile. On the other hand, the Ink Yellow offers a shorter travel distance, appealing to those who want a typing experience between that on a laptop and a standard mechanical keyboard, and it showcases a pleasant smoothness and clackiness.

When it comes to sound, both switches are described as neutral, making them suitable for various purposes, whether you are a beginner or advanced user, or if you plan to use them at home or work. However, the Ink Yellow is also described as clacky, producing a sharp and snappy sound when pressed, providing a crisp, bright, and percussive auditory experience.

In terms of feel, the Ginger Milk is described as buttery, offering a smooth and fluid keystroke experience, providing a seamless, effortless, and uniform typing sensation. On the other hand, the Ink Yellow is described as mild, offering a more gentle typing experience, placing it in a safe middle-ground zone. Additionally, the Ink Yellow is also described as polished, indicating a smooth and refined finish, resulting in reduced friction and smooth key travel.

Ultimately, the decision between the Jwick Ginger Milk and Gateron Ink Yellow switches will depend on your personal preferences. If you prioritize a softer and more muted typing experience with a smooth and effortless feel, the Ginger Milk may be the better choice for you. On the other hand, if you prefer a shorter travel distance and enjoy a combination of clackiness and smoothness, the Ink Yellow may be a more suitable option. Consider these factors and choose the switch that aligns with your desired typing experience.

Mentioned in this article

Jwick Ginger Milk Linear

$5.50

$4.25 per 10

Learn more

Gateron Ink Yellow Linear

$7.50

$7.35 per 10

Learn more