Huano Grape Orange vs. Durock Piano

Overview

When it comes to selecting mechanical keyboard switches, the Huano Grape Orange and the Durock Piano both offer unique features aimed at enhancing your typing experience. The Grape Orange is revered for its exceptionally light, 40g actuation force, which allows for an effortless and comfortable typing experience, making it an ideal choice for those who spend long hours at the keyboard. With its focus on minimal resistance, this switch empowers users to type faster while reducing finger fatigue. On the other hand, the Durock Piano switches stand out with their proprietary material blend that provides a remarkably pleasant typing sensation, characterized by a gliding push feel and a deep, creamy sound signature. This makes the Piano an excellent option for those who prioritize acoustics and tactile enjoyment in their keystrokes, offering a luxurious typing encounter. While both switches are categorized as linear, catering to different preferences in user experience, the choice ultimately depends on what aspects are most important to you — be it ultra-light actuation or a rich auditory feedback. However, let's dive in a bit deeper beyond generalities so you can best decide on the best switch for you.

By the numbers

Huano Grape Orange Linear

Durock Piano Linear

$3.00

$2.79 per 10

$6.70

$5.57 per 10

Learn moreLearn more

Housing materials

When comparing the housing materials of the Huano Grape Orange and the Durock Piano, distinct differences emerge between their top and bottom housings that directly influence their acoustic profiles. The Grape Orange features a polycarbonate top housing, known for its stiffness. This rigidity contributes to a sharper and crisper sound profile, making the Grape Orange well-suited for users who desire an auditory feedback that is bright and clear, especially when illuminated by RGB lighting, thanks to the material's translucency. In contrast, the Durock Piano utilizes a proprietary POM blend for its top housing, providing a sound profile that is uniquely satisfying and deeper, albeit without the same crispness that polycarbonate offers. This difference highlights how the Grape Orange might appeal to those who appreciate higher-pitched sounds, whereas the Piano may cater to users looking for a richer sonic experience.

The bottom housing of both switches presents another point of comparison, exhibiting different qualities that influence sound and feel during typing. The Grape Orange's nylon bottom housing is characterized by its softness, which results in a deeper and fuller sound profile by absorbing more sound and creating a rounder auditory experience. This is juxtaposed with the Durock Piano's proprietary POM blend bottom housing, which, although the specifics are unknown, similarly promotes a satisfying and deep sound profile. This parallel indicates that despite their material differences, both switches can deliver a depth in sound that enhances the overall typing experience. However, the softer nature of nylon in the bottom housing of the Grape Orange may provide a more muted experience, as it tends to soften the tactile feedback.

Ultimately, the differences in the housing materials between the Huano Grape Orange and the Durock Piano lead to unique auditory and tactile experiences when typing. The distinct stiffer polycarbonate top housing of the Grape Orange provides a bright and lively sound, while the POM top housing of the Piano offers a more subdued yet satisfying tone. Similarly, the nylon and proprietary POM blends in the bottom housings contribute to the overall sound profile, with the nylon's soft characteristics creating a warmer and rounder touch. Though the materials are not the same, the unique contributions from each housing type suggest that users can achieve similarly satisfying results in terms of sound depth, albeit through different acoustical qualities, thus allowing for a rich and enjoyable typing experience across both models.

Weight

The Huano Grape Orange linear switch and the Durock Piano linear switch exhibit notable differences in their actuation and bottom out forces. The Grape Orange features a light actuation force of 40 grams and a bottom out force of 50 grams, making it suitable for extended typing sessions or gaming, as it requires less physical effort to press. In contrast, the Durock Piano does not specify an actuation force, but its bottom out force is 63.5 grams, categorizing it as medium-heavy. This indicates that while the actuation point for the Piano is unclear, it is likely that users experience a heavier feel overall due to its higher bottom out force. Consequently, for users seeking a lighter switch for comfort during prolonged use, the Grape Orange would be the more appealing choice, while those who prefer a stronger push and a more substantial typing experience might favor the Durock Piano.

Travel distance

When comparing the travel distances of the Huano Grape Orange linear switch and the Durock Piano linear switch, there is a noticeable difference. The Grape Orange has a travel distance of 3.6 mm, while the Piano features a longer travel distance of 4 mm. This means that the Grape Orange switch offers a slightly shorter travel distance, which may appeal to gamers seeking quicker response times and a more responsive feel. On the other hand, the Durock Piano’s longer travel distance may provide a more tactile experience that those who prefer a deeper key press might enjoy. Ultimately, the choice between these two switches will depend on individual preferences for responsiveness versus depth, with the Grape Orange being the shorter option and the Durock Piano being the longer one.

Price comparison

Typing experience

In terms of sound, the Huano Grape Orange switch lacks a detailed description, leaving its auditory characteristics somewhat ambiguous. In contrast, the Durock Piano switch is well-regarded for its deep, creamy sound signature, often characterized as bassy. This deeper sound profile enhances the auditory feedback during typing, making it more enjoyable for those who appreciate a richer acoustic experience. However, it's important to note that the final sound produced by either switch can vary significantly depending on the keyboard build, including factors like the choice of board and keycaps, which can influence how these switches ultimately perform acoustically.

When it comes to the feel of each switch, the Grape Orange switch is not elaborated upon, but it can be inferred that its ultra-low 40g actuation force likely contributes to a light and possibly smooth typing experience. The Durock Piano switch, on the other hand, stands out for its frictionless and silky characteristics, which provide an exceptionally smooth typing experience with minimal resistance. This results in a fluid keypress journey, making the Piano switches particularly appealing for extensive typing sessions. While the specific tactile feedback of the Grape Orange is unknown, it's generally anticipated that the lightness of the actuation force will lend to a similar effortless typing sensation.

Taking into account the available information, the Huano Grape Orange and Durock Piano switches appear to diverge in their sound profiles, with the Piano switches fostering a more pleasing auditory experience. On the tactile front, the Piano's frictionless and silky feel presents a clear advantage in smoothness, but the Grape Orange switch is likely to provide a lightweight experience conducive to extensive typing. While direct comparisons may not fully align due to the gaps in information, both switches cater to those seeking unique typing experiences, and the overall quality can certainly be subjective based on personal preferences and the specific keyboard build chosen.

Conclusion

To conclude, your choice between the Huano Grape Orange and the Durock Piano linear switches largely depends on your personal preferences and intended use. If you value a light, feather-like typing experience that allows for rapid keystrokes and minimizes finger fatigue—especially during long work sessions—the Grape Orange switch, with its low actuation force of 40 grams, is an excellent fit. Its sound profile, though not specified here, complements its lightness, making it a versatile option for both typing and gaming. Conversely, if you appreciate a more robust typing sensation and a deeper auditory experience, the Durock Piano switch would be your go-to. With its medium-heavy actuation force of 63.5 grams, the Piano offers a satisfying push feel that enhances your typing feedback, along with a creamy, bassy sound that adds character to key presses. In summary, opt for the Grape Orange for a lightweight and effortless experience, while the Durock Piano is ideal for a richer feel and sound during your typing sessions. Ultimately, both switches cater to different typing styles, so consider what aligns best with your usage to make the most informed choice.

Mentioned in this article

Huano Grape Orange Linear

$3.00

$2.79 per 10

Learn more

Durock Piano Linear

$6.70

$5.57 per 10

Learn more