HMX Gravel vs. Haimu Neo White

Overview

When it comes to mechanical keyboard switches, the HMX Gravel and Haimu Neo White both present intriguing options for typists and gamers alike, each with its own unique characteristics that cater to different preferences. The Gravel switches shine with their exceptional smoothness and medium-light actuation force, providing a responsive and effortless typing experience while ensuring a satisfying tactile feedback. This makes them an ideal choice for those who prefer a lighter touch without sacrificing precision. In contrast, the Neo White switches offer a medium weight and a slightly reduced total travel, delivering a distinctive typing feel that many find appealing. Coupled with the rare Ly stem, these switches ensure remarkably smooth actuation and an engaging keystroke experience. While both switches provide smoothness and responsiveness, the Gravel leans towards a lighter touch, while the Neo White strikes a balance with its moderate weight. However, let's dive in a bit deeper beyond generalities so you can best decide on the switch that suits your typing style and preferences.

By the numbers

HMX Gravel Linear

Haimu Neo White Linear

$3.50

$2.99 per 10

$2.70 per 10

Learn moreLearn more

Housing materials

The HMX Gravel and the Haimu Neo White both utilize polycarbonate for the top housing, a choice that ensures a consistent sound profile characterized by clarity and brightness. The polycarbonate's stiffness contributes to a sharper and crisper auditory experience, making both switches suitable for users who prefer a more vibrant sound when typing. Additionally, the translucency of polycarbonate enhances potential RGB lighting effects, allowing the glow of illumination to shine through beautifully. This similarity in top housing materials guarantees that users will achieve comparable results in terms of sound quality and aesthetic appeal when using either switch, particularly in setups that prioritize visual or auditory dynamics.

In contrast, both the Gravel and Neo White feature nylon for their bottom housing, which promotes a distinctively deeper and fuller sound profile. The softer nature of nylon absorbs sound more effectively than harder plastics, leading to a rounder and less sharp auditory experience come the bottom-out phase of a key press. This design choice allows both switches to deliver a satisfying tactile response while mitigating any harshness often associated with more rigid materials. Consequently, the use of nylon in the bottom housing provides a complementary effect to the crisper top housing, creating a well-rounded acoustic performance across both switches.

The combined material choices in these switches highlight how the interplay between the two housing components results in a balanced sound experience. While the polycarbonate top contributes to the initial sound signature upon release, the nylon bottom takes over as the keystroke bottoms out, creating a smooth transition between a bright attack and a mellow finish. As both the Gravel and Neo White share identical materials in both their top and bottom housings, users can expect a synergistic effect where the unique qualities of both materials enhance one another, ultimately driving similar auditory outcomes regardless of which switch they choose. In essence, the union of polycarbonate and nylon across both switches ensures that users can achieve an optimal typing experience that is rich in both tonal variety and aesthetic flair.

Weight

When comparing the actuation and bottom out forces of the HMX Gravel linear switch and the Haimu Neo White linear switch, notable differences emerge. The HMX Gravel boasts a light actuation force of 45 grams and a bottom out force of 50 grams, making it suitable for users who prefer a keyboard that minimizes finger fatigue during extended typing or gaming sessions. In contrast, the Haimu Neo White, while its actuation force is unspecified, presents a heavier bottom out force of 58 grams, indicating a firmer key press that provides a more substantial typing experience for users who appreciate a stronger tactile feedback. Given these differences, the Gravel can be considered the lighter option overall owing to its known actuation and bottom out forces, while the Neo White, with its higher bottom out force, is the heavier switch. This variation means that users who favor a lighter, more effortless typing experience should lean towards the Gravel, whereas those who prefer a heavier resistance might be drawn to the Neo White, despite its unknown actuation force.

Travel distance

The HMX Gravel linear switch has a travel distance of 3.5 mm, while the Haimu Neo White linear switch features a slightly longer travel distance of 3.6 mm. This means that the Gravel switch offers a marginally shorter travel distance compared to the Neo White, making it the better choice for those who prioritize faster response times in their gaming experience. On the other hand, the Neo White's longer travel distance may appeal to users who prefer a more substantial feel when pressing keys, providing a sense of depth that some might find more satisfying. Ultimately, if you opt for the Gravel switch, you can expect a snappier, more responsive typing experience, whereas the Neo White will give you that extra 0.1 mm for a deeper press, which may cater to different preferences in switch feel.

Price comparison

Typing experience

When it comes to sound, the HMX Gravel switch's acoustic qualities remain unclear, making it difficult to provide a precise comparison. In contrast, the Haimu Neo White switch is characterized by a neutral sound profile, which means it produces a moderate level of noise with each keystroke. This neutrality makes the Neo White versatile, suitable for various environments, whether gaming or office work, without being overly intrusive.

Regarding the feel of each switch, the HMX Gravel switch is celebrated for its exceptional smoothness and refined typing experience, featuring a medium-light actuation force that leans towards the lighter side. This results in a highly responsive and effortless typing experience. On the other hand, the Haimu Neo White switch offers a mild feel, providing a gentle typing experience with a slightly reduced total travel. The unique Ly stem enhances the smoothness of actuation, resulting in a consistently satisfying keystroke. While the Gravel focuses on a robust smoothness, the Neo White's gentler qualities still ensure an enjoyable feel.

In conclusion, while both the HMX Gravel and Haimu Neo White switches excel in delivering smooth typing experiences, their acoustic qualities differ, leaving the Gravel's sound profile unspecified. The Gravel leans towards a more responsive and effortless feel, while the Neo White offers a mild, approachable experience with a unique actuation. Depending on your preference for sound and feel, you may favor one switch over the other, but both deliver distinct yet satisfying results for mechanical keyboard enthusiasts.

Conclusion

To conclude, the choice between HMX Gravel linear switches and Haimu Neo White linear switches largely depends on your specific preferences and usage scenarios. If you prioritize a lighter and ultra-smooth typing experience, the HMX Gravel is the way to go, especially for extended typing sessions where a light actuation force can reduce finger fatigue. These switches shine for enthusiasts who enjoy a refined feel and want to enhance their typing speed with minimal resistance. On the other hand, if you prefer a balanced feel with a slightly firmer keypress, the Haimu Neo White could be more suitable for you. With its medium bottom-out force and a neutral sound profile, it strikes a good balance for both typing and gaming, making it versatile for various environments, be it at home or the office. Ultimately, your choice should reflect your personal typing style and environment, ensuring you have the most satisfying experience with your mechanical keyboard.

Mentioned in this article

HMX Gravel Linear

$3.50

$2.99 per 10

Learn more

Haimu Neo White Linear

$2.70 per 10

Learn more