TTC Gold Red Pro vs. Akko V3 Silver Pro
An in-depth look at the TTC Gold Red Pro and the Akko V3 Silver Pro switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
The TTC Gold Red Pro and Akko V3 Silver Pro are both linear mechanical keyboard switches, each offering unique characteristics to enhance your typing or gaming experience. The Gold Red Pro is praised for its versatility, providing a smooth and accessible typing experience with a neutral sound signature that is suitable for any environment. On the other hand, the V3 Silver Pro is tailored specifically for gamers, offering effortless keystrokes, a pleasing bassy sound, and advantageous features like light actuation force and shortened travel distance. While both switches have their strengths, such as the Gold Red Pro's adaptability and the V3 Silver Pro's gamer-centric design, it is important to explore further beyond these generalities to determine which switch best suits your specific needs and preferences.
By the numbers
Technical specifications
Actuation force
43g
Actuation force
40g
Bottom-out force
N/A
Bottom-out force
45g
Pre-travel
1.80 mm
Pre-travel
1.00 mm
Total travel
3.80 mm
Total travel
3.30 mm
Factory lubed
Yes
Factory lubed
Yes
Stem construction
Standard
Stem construction
Partial box
Stem material
NPI
Stem material
POM
Top housing material
Polycarbonate
Top housing material
Polycarbonate
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Mount type
Plate (3-pin)
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Spring
18.5mm spring
Spring
13.8mm spring
Housing materials
The Gold Red Pro and the V3 Silver Pro both feature polycarbonate top housings, which create a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound profile. This is due to the stiffness of polycarbonate, which leads to a more clear and resonant sound. Additionally, the translucency of polycarbonate makes it ideal for switches that utilize RGB lighting, providing a visually appealing aesthetic. Both switches offer similar sound profiles and aesthetics due to their shared polycarbonate top housing material.
However, where the two switches differ is in their bottom housing material. The Gold Red Pro utilizes a nylon bottom housing, which elicits a deeper and fuller sound profile. Nylon, being a softer plastic, absorbs more sound than harder plastics, resulting in a duller and rounder sound. In contrast, the V3 Silver Pro also features a nylon bottom housing, offering a similar typing experience with a deeper and fuller sound. The bottom housing material plays a significant role in the overall sound and feel of a switch, impacting the bottom-out sound and feel when pressing down on a key.
Overall, both the Gold Red Pro and the V3 Silver Pro provide unique typing experiences with the combination of polycarbonate top housings and nylon bottom housings. While the top housings contribute to the overall sound profile and visual aesthetics of the switches, the bottom housings play a crucial role in creating a deeper and fuller sound when typing. These differences in housing materials result in distinct typing experiences for users, catering to individual preferences for sound and feel.
Weight
The TTC Gold Red Pro linear switch has a slightly higher actuation force of 43 grams compared to the Akko V3 Silver Pro linear switch which has an actuation force of 40 grams. The bottom out force for the Gold Red Pro is unknown, whereas the V3 Silver Pro has a bottom out force of 45 grams, making it a bit heavier. In terms of weight, the V3 Silver Pro is slightly lighter in terms of actuation force but heavier when it comes to bottoming out. Some users may prefer the lighter actuation force of the V3 Silver Pro for extended typing or gaming sessions, while others may enjoy the heavier bottom out force for a more substantial typing experience with the Gold Red Pro. Overall, both switches offer different experiences based on their actuation and bottom out forces, catering to individual preferences for typing and gaming.
Travel distance
The TTC Gold Red Pro linear switch has a travel distance of 3.8 mm, while the Akko V3 Silver Pro linear switch has a slightly shorter travel distance of 3.3 mm. Both switches fall within the range of shorter travel distances that have become popular, especially among gamers looking for faster response times. Choosing between the two switches will likely come down to personal preference - if you prefer a slightly shallower key press, the Akko V3 Silver Pro may be the better option for you. On the other hand, if you prefer a bit more depth to your key press, the TTC Gold Red Pro with its slightly longer travel distance could be the way to go. Ultimately, both switches offer a similar experience in terms of travel distance, so you can expect comparable results regardless of which one you choose.
Price comparison
Which switch is more bang for your buck?
The TTC Gold Red Pro has an MSRP of $6.11 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Gold Red Pro for $2.90.
The Akko V3 Silver Pro has an MSRP of $4.22 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the V3 Silver Pro for $3.10.
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 TTC Gold Red Pro linear switch offers a thocky and low-pitched sound profile that is neutral, making it suitable for a wide range of users and environments. The Akko V3 Silver Pro, on the other hand, has a high-pitched sound that may appeal more to gamers looking for a sharper and crisper sound experience. Both switches offer unique sound characteristics that cater to different preferences, so it ultimately comes down to personal preference and the accompanying keyboard and keycaps.
In terms of feel, the TTC Gold Red Pro switch provides a polished, silky, mild, and subtle typing experience that is smooth, refined, and gentle, offering a comfortable typing feel that minimizes resistance and enhances overall smoothness. In contrast, the Akko V3 Silver Pro switch offers an easy-to-press, creamy, feathery, polished, and silky typing experience, emphasizing a light actuation force, smooth and buttery feel, and reduced finger fatigue during extended typing sessions. Both switches excel in providing a comfortable and responsive typing experience, albeit with slightly different textures and levels of resistance, catering to the needs and preferences of various users.
Overall, the TTC Gold Red Pro linear switch and the Akko V3 Silver Pro linear switch both offer distinct qualities in terms of sound and feel. The Gold Red Pro is versatile, with a neutral sound and a polished, silky feel that suits a wide range of users and environments. Meanwhile, the V3 Silver Pro is optimized for gamers, featuring a high-pitched sound and an easy-to-press, creamy feel that enhances responsiveness and comfort during intense gaming sessions. Whether you prioritize versatility or gaming performance, both switches provide exceptional quality and functionality, ensuring a satisfying mechanical keyboard experience for users of all preferences. Ultimately, choosing between these switches will come down to personal preference and intended use case, but rest assured that you can expect a top-tier typing experience with either option.
Conclusion
To sum up, when deciding between the TTC Gold Red Pro linear switch and the Akko V3 Silver Pro linear switch, consider your specific needs and preferences. If you prioritize a versatile switch that offers a seamless typing experience and neutral sound profile suitable for various environments, the Gold Red Pro may be the better choice for you. On the other hand, if you are a gamer looking for switches engineered for quick actuation and optimized for gaming performance with a satisfying bassy sound, the V3 Silver Pro might be the ideal option. Ultimately, the decision should be based on your individual requirements and intended use for the keyboard switches.
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