TTC Honey vs. Haimu Neo White
An in-depth look at the TTC Honey and the Haimu Neo White switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When it comes to mechanical keyboard switches, the TTC Honey and the Haimu Neo White both offer unique features that cater to different preferences. The TTC Honey is celebrated for its smooth and creamy feel, along with a deep and pleasant sound profile, making it a popular choice for those who enjoy a subdued and buttery typing experience. On the other hand, the Haimu Neo White stands out with its medium weight and slightly reduced total travel, providing a distinctive typing feel with a smooth actuation thanks to the rare Ly stem. While the Honey is categorized as 'Subdued', 'Creamy', 'Frictionless', 'Buttery', 'Subtle', and 'Polished', the Neo White is categorized as 'Mild' and 'Neutral'. Each switch has its own strengths and appeal, offering a different typing experience for users. However, let's dive in a bit deeper beyond generalities so you can best decide on the best switch for you.
By the numbers
Technical specifications
Actuation force
42g
Actuation force
N/A
Bottom-out force
50g
Bottom-out force
58g
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Total travel
3.80 mm
Total travel
3.60 mm
Factory lubed
Yes
Factory lubed
Yes
Stem construction
Box
Stem construction
Standard
Stem material
POM
Stem material
Ly
Top housing material
Polycarbonate
Top housing material
Polycarbonate
Bottom housing material
Polycarbonate
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Mount type
Plate (3-pin)
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Spring
25.5 mm lengthened spring
Spring
Double-staged spring
Housing materials
The housing materials of the TTC Honey and the Haimu Neo White both feature polycarbonate top housings, which create a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound profile due to its relatively stiffer nature. This material is ideal for switches that will utilize RGB lighting, as its translucency allows for light to shine through beautifully. However, the Honey switches also have a polycarbonate bottom housing, while the Neo White switches have a nylon bottom housing. The nylon material in the Neo White bottom housing absorbs more sound than polycarbonate, resulting in a deeper and fuller sound profile when typing.
Overall, the differences in housing materials between the TTC Honey and the Haimu Neo White result in distinct sound profiles and typing experiences. The Honey switches offer a clear and resonant sound due to the polycarbonate top and bottom housings, while the Neo White switches provide a deeper and fuller sound thanks to the nylon bottom housing. The stiffer nature of polycarbonate in the Honey switches creates a crisper sound, while the softer nylon material in the Neo White switches absorbs more sound, resulting in a rounder tone.
Despite the differences in housing materials between the TTC Honey and the Haimu Neo White switches, both are designed to enhance the sound and typing experience for users. The use of polycarbonate in the top housing of both switches creates a sharper and crisper sound profile, especially when combined with RGB lighting. While the nylon bottom housing in the Neo White switches offers a deeper and fuller sound, the polycarbonate bottom housing in the Honey switches contributes to a clearer and more resonant typing experience. In the end, the choice between these switches may come down to personal preference in sound profile and typing feel.
Weight
The TTC Honey linear switch and Haimu Neo White linear switch have different actuation and bottom out forces. The Honey has a lighter actuation force of 42 grams compared to the Neo White which has an unknown actuation force. In terms of bottom out force, the Honey requires 50 grams of force while the Neo White requires a heavier 58 grams. The actuation force of the Honey switch is lighter, making it more suitable for longer typing or gaming sessions where a lighter touch is preferred. On the other hand, the Neo White switch provides a more substantial typing experience with its heavier bottom out force. Both switches offer different typing experiences due to their varying actuation and bottom out forces.
Travel distance
The TTC Honey linear switch has a travel distance of 3.8 mm, slightly longer than the Haimu Neo White linear switch which has a travel distance of 3.6 mm. Both switches fall within the range of shorter travel distances, making them popular choices for those seeking faster response times, such as gamers. The slight difference in travel distance may not be noticeable to all users, but for some, the longer travel distance of the Honey switch may provide a slightly deeper and more satisfying key press compared to the Neo White switch. Ultimately, the choice between the two will come down to personal preference for responsiveness versus key depth.
Price comparison
Which switch is more bang for your buck?
The TTC Honey has an MSRP of $9.99 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Honey for $6.78.
The Haimu Neo White comes in at $2.70 per 10 switches.
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
In terms of sound, the TTC Honey linear switch is known for its subdued sound profile, creating a dampened and more subtle typing experience when compared to most switches. On the other hand, the Haimu Neo White linear switch is described as having a neutral sound profile, offering a moderate actuation force requirement and sound level suitable for a variety of typing environments. Both switches provide smooth and pleasant typing experiences, with the Honey switch offering a deeper sound profile and the Neo White switch providing a slightly different, yet satisfying sound.
When it comes to feel, the TTC Honey linear switch is praised for its creamy and frictionless typing experience, offering a smooth and buttery sensation with each keystroke. The switch is also described as buttery, subtle, and polished, providing a silky and effortless typing feel. On the other hand, the Haimu Neo White linear switch is characterized as having a mild typing experience, offering a more gentle feel compared to switches with more pronounced characteristics. The use of a Ly stem in the Neo White switch contributes to a remarkably smooth actuation, enhancing the overall typing experience.
In conclusion, while the TTC Honey linear switch and the Haimu Neo White linear switch differ slightly in their sound and feel profiles, both switches offer smooth and satisfying typing experiences. The Honey switch is known for its creamy feel and pleasant sound, while the Neo White switch stands out with its medium weight and slightly reduced total travel, providing a distinctive typing experience. Ultimately, choosing between these two switches will depend on personal preference for sound and feel, but users can expect similar levels of satisfaction and smoothness from both options.
Conclusion
To sum up, when considering whether to choose the TTC Honey linear switch or the Haimu Neo White linear switch, you should take into account your preference for typing feel and sound profile. If you prioritize a light typing experience with a smooth and creamy feel, along with a subdued sound signature, then the TTC Honey switch would be a suitable choice for you. On the other hand, if you prefer a slightly heavier typing experience with a medium weight and a slightly reduced total travel, along with a neutral sound profile that is approachable to most users, then the Haimu Neo White switch might be the better option for you. Ultimately, the decision between these two switches will come down to your personal preferences in terms of typing feel and sound.