TTC Gold Red vs. Huano Strawberry Latte

Overview

When it comes to mechanical keyboard switches, the TTC Gold Red and the Huano Strawberry Latte both offer a distinctive linear typing experience, catering to different preferences among users. The Gold Red is celebrated for its buttery smooth feel and light-medium resistance, providing a tactile satisfaction without overwhelming the typist. Its snappy sound profile adds a subtle personality to your keyboard, striking a balance between being engaging and unobtrusive—qualities that make it suitable for both work and play. On the other hand, the Huano Strawberry Latte stands out with its ultra-smooth operation, utilizing the latest molds to create a balanced sound profile that sits comfortably between quiet and resonant. This switch not only promises a seamless typing experience but also ensures that it remains captivating without being distracting. Both switches have their unique charms, appealing to users looking for reliability and performance; however, let's dive in a bit deeper beyond generalities so you can best decide on the best switch for you.

By the numbers

TTC Gold Red Linear

Huano Strawberry Latte Linear

$5.00

$3.28 per 10

$3.50

$3.29 per 10

Learn moreLearn more

Housing materials

When comparing the housing materials of the TTC Gold Red and the Huano Strawberry Latte, notable distinctions can be observed, particularly in their top housing compositions. The Gold Red employs a polycarbonate top housing, which is known for its stiffness and translucence, leading to a sharper and crisper sound profile. This material enhances the clarity of sound and is especially crafted to complement RGB lighting due to its ability to allow light to pass through. In contrast, the Strawberry Latte utilizes POK (polyketone) for its top housing, which contributes to smoothness and a distinctive clacky sound. While both materials aim to create a dynamic auditory experience, the polycarbonate of the Gold Red focuses on clarity and vibration, whereas the POK material of the Strawberry Latte emphasizes smoothness and durability.

Turning our attention to the bottom housing, both the TTC Gold Red and Huano Strawberry Latte feature nylon, a classic choice in switch construction. This consistent use of nylon in both switches creates a deeper and fuller sound profile, as nylon’s softer plastic absorbs more sound compared to harder plastics. The result is a duller and rounder sound, facilitating a somewhat muted tactile feedback. This parallel in the bottom housing allows both switches to deliver a similar foundational feel and auditory experience, despite the differences in their top housing materials. Therefore, users can expect a comparable depth in sound when bottoming out the keys in both switches.

Ultimately, the combination of housing materials in each switch yields unique characteristics while retaining some common ground. The TTC Gold Red's polycarbonate top enhances resonance and clarity, making it ideal for RGB aesthetic displays, whereas the Huano Strawberry Latte’s POK top prioritizes smooth actuation and durability, providing a unique auditory experience. Both switches share the nylon bottom housing, ensuring a consistent sound profile during key presses. Users can thus achieve comparable results in terms of sound depth when pressing down on the keys, even as the overall acoustic properties differ based on the nuances brought forth by each top material.

Weight

When comparing the TTC Gold Red linear switch and the Huano Strawberry Latte linear switch, the differences in their actuation and bottom out forces become evident. The Gold Red requires an actuation force of 43 grams and has a bottom out force of 50 grams, while the Strawberry Latte is lighter, with an actuation force of 35 grams and a bottom out force of 45 grams. This means that the Huano Strawberry Latte is the lighter option overall, making it potentially more suitable for those who prefer typing or gaming over extended periods without fatigue. Conversely, the TTC Gold Red offers a slightly heavier feel, which some users might appreciate for a more substantial typing experience. Both switches are considered light, but the Strawberry Latte is objectively the lighter choice, providing easier actuation with less force. This distinction can influence user preference depending on whether they prioritize ease of keystrokes or a firmer push feel.

Travel distance

When comparing the travel distances of the TTC Gold Red linear switch and the Huano Strawberry Latte linear switch, the Gold Red features a travel distance of 4 mm, while the Strawberry Latte offers a shorter travel distance of 3.6 mm. This means that the Gold Red provides a more substantial feel and feedback when pressed, appealing to those who prefer a deeper key press. In contrast, the Strawberry Latte’s shorter travel distance caters to gamers and users seeking quicker response times, though it may feel more abrupt for some. Thus, if responsiveness is your priority, the Strawberry Latte is the more suitable choice, while those who appreciate a more hearty depth in their keystrokes would benefit from the Gold Red’s longer travel distance.

Price comparison

Typing experience

The sound produced by the TTC Gold Red linear switch can be characterized as thocky and low-pitched, providing a deep, rich audio experience that delivers a satisfying 'thud' when keys are pressed. This auditory experience is not overly resonant, making it suitable for various environments, from home to office settings. The sound profile is also neutral, meaning it doesn't overwhelm the user and is tolerable for both novices and experienced typists alike. On the other hand, the Huano Strawberry Latte switch offers a balanced sound profile that falls between being too quiet and too resonant. While specifics about its sound characteristics are not detailed, it promises to deliver a non-intrusive auditory experience, complementing its smoothness.

In terms of feel, the Gold Red switch excels with its mild resistance, providing a gentle typing experience. Users will appreciate its silky smoothness, which minimizes friction and enhances overall key travel. The subtle and polished nature of the Gold Red switch offers a refined typing sensation that is approachable for everyone, making it ideal for shared spaces. Unfortunately, there is no specific description of the feel of the Huano Strawberry Latte switches, which leaves a gap in comparison; however, their smooth operation is suggested as they utilize the latest available molds from Huano, potentially indicating a high-quality, pleasant typing experience.

In conclusion, both the TTC Gold Red and Huano Strawberry Latte switches provide unique auditory and tactile experiences suitable for a wide range of users. While the Gold Red boasts a rich, thocky sound and a smooth, polished feel, the Strawberry Latte offers a balanced sound profile with undetermined feel qualities, likely also emphasizing smoothness. Regardless of which switch you choose, they both promise similar satisfaction in their linear characteristics, with the Gold Red providing more defined sound and feel qualities, while the Strawberry Latte remains somewhat ambiguous but potentially comparable in smoothness and overall typing experience.

Conclusion

To conclude, choosing between the TTC Gold Red linear switch and the Huano Strawberry Latte linear switch ultimately depends on your personal preferences and intended use. If you seek a buttery smooth typing experience with a slightly snappier feel and a richer sound profile, the TTC Gold Red switch might be the best fit for you. Its 50-gram bottom-out force offers a light-medium resistance that many find comfortable for both typing and gaming, especially in shared environments where a balanced sound is desired. On the other hand, if you prefer a lighter 45-gram bottom-out force combined with a super smooth feel, the Huano Strawberry Latte may be more appealing. While it maintains a balanced auditory profile that doesn't overpower, its silky action offers a more refined tactile experience, making it suitable for extended typing sessions or focused work environments. Ultimately, consider your typing style, sound preferences, and any specific tasks you'll be performing when making your decision.

Mentioned in this article

TTC Gold Red Linear

$5.00

$3.28 per 10

Learn more

Huano Strawberry Latte Linear

$3.50

$3.29 per 10

Learn more