Durock Ice King Linear vs. Wuque Studio WS Aurora Clear
An in-depth look at the Durock Ice King Linear and the Wuque Studio WS Aurora Clear switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
The Durock Ice King Linear and the Wuque Studio WS Aurora Clear are both popular choices among mechanical keyboard enthusiasts, offering unique features and qualities that cater to different preferences. The Ice King Linear is praised for its silky smooth typing experience, thanks to its full nylon construction and generous factory lube, providing a frictionless and subdued feel that many users find creamy and polished. On the other hand, the WS Aurora Clear stands out for its smooth and high-pitched typing experience, facilitated by its transparent polycarbonate top housing and UHMWPE bottom housing, allowing for maximum RGB lighting customization. The lightly lubed POM stem of the WS Aurora Clear ensures minimal friction and a satisfyingly smooth keystroke, described as buttery, mild, high-pitched, and polished. Each switch has its own set of characteristics that make them appealing choices for different preferences and needs. 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
52g
Actuation force
53g
Bottom-out force
62g
Bottom-out force
63.5g
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Pre-travel
1.90 mm
Total travel
3.50 mm
Total travel
3.80 mm
Factory lubed
Yes
Factory lubed
Yes
Stem construction
Standard
Stem construction
Partial box
Stem material
Nylon
Stem material
POM
Top housing material
Nylon
Top housing material
Polycarbonate
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Bottom housing material
UHWMPE
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Spring
Gold-plated progressive long spring
Spring
Double-staged stainless steel
Housing materials
In comparing the housing materials of the Durock Ice King Linear and the Wuque Studio WS Aurora Clear, the differences in sound profile are quite apparent. The Ice King Linear's nylon top housing offers a deeper and fuller sound profile due to the softer plastic absorbing more sound, resulting in a duller and rounder sound. On the other hand, the WS Aurora Clear's polycarbonate top housing creates a sharper and crisper sound profile with its stiffer plastic material. This difference in material directly affects the typing experience, with the Ice King Linear providing a more muffled sound compared to the clear and resonant sound of the WS Aurora Clear.
Moving on to the bottom housing materials, the contrast between the Ice King Linear's nylon bottom housing and the WS Aurora Clear's UHWMPE bottom housing is stark. The nylon bottom housing of the Ice King Linear contributes to a deeper and fuller sound profile, similar to its top housing material. In contrast, the UHWMPE bottom housing of the WS Aurora Clear offers a very bright sound signature, resulting in resonant clacks when typing on switches with such housings. This difference in bottom housing material adds another layer of sound variation to the overall typing experience of each switch.
While the housing materials of the Durock Ice King Linear and the Wuque Studio WS Aurora Clear have distinct differences in sound profiles, they both offer unique typing experiences. The combination of nylon top and bottom housing in the Ice King Linear provides a consistent deep and full sound profile, whereas the polycarbonate top and UHWMPE bottom housing of the WS Aurora Clear offer a sharper and brighter sound signature. Despite these differences, both switches aim to enhance the typing experience by utilizing specific housing materials to create unique sound profiles that cater to different preferences. Ultimately, choosing between the two switches would come down to personal preference in sound profile and typing feel.
Weight
Comparing the actuation force and bottom out force of the Durock Ice King Linear switch and the Wuque Studio WS Aurora Clear switch, we can see some differences in weight. The Ice King Linear has an actuation force of 52 grams and a bottom out force of 62 grams, providing a medium level of resistance. In contrast, the WS Aurora Clear has a slightly higher actuation force of 53 grams and a bottom out force of 63.5 grams, making it a medium-heavy switch. Both switches fall within the medium range of actuation force, with the WS Aurora Clear being slightly heavier. When it comes to typing preferences, those who prefer a lighter feel may opt for the Ice King Linear, allowing for longer typing sessions, while those who prefer a stronger push may lean towards the WS Aurora Clear for a more substantial typing experience. Overall, these differences in force levels offer users the option to choose a switch that best suits their typing style and preference.
Travel distance
The Durock Ice King Linear switch has a travel distance of 3.5 mm, while the Wuque Studio WS Aurora Clear linear switch has a travel distance of 3.8 mm. In this case, the Ice King Linear switch has a shorter travel distance compared to the WS Aurora Clear switch. The Ice King Linear switch's 3.5 mm travel distance may provide a quicker response time, which could be preferred by gamers looking for faster input. On the other hand, the WS Aurora Clear switch's 3.8 mm travel distance offers a slightly deeper press, which may be more comfortable for those who enjoy a bit more depth in their keystrokes. Ultimately, the preference between the two switches would come down to personal preference in terms of travel distance and typing feel.
Price comparison
Which switch is more bang for your buck?
The Durock Ice King Linear has an MSRP of $5.80 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Ice King Linear for $4.20.
The Wuque Studio WS Aurora Clear comes in at $8.00 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
When it comes to sound, the Durock Ice King Linear switch offers a more subdued typing experience, producing a dampened sound when pressed. On the other hand, the Wuque Studio WS Aurora Clear switch provides a high-pitched sound, resulting in a sharp and crisp typing experience. Keep in mind that the sound of a switch can also be influenced by other factors such as the keyboard and keycaps used.
In terms of feel, the Ice King Linear switch is known for its silky, frictionless, creamy, and polished typing experience. These qualities contribute to an exceptionally smooth and effortless keystroke, minimizing resistance and offering a fluid travel. Conversely, the WS Aurora Clear switch is described as buttery, mild, and polished, providing a smooth and uniform typing sensation that is gentle and approachable to most users.
Considering the available information, the Ice King Linear and WS Aurora Clear switches offer distinct subjective qualities in terms of sound and feel. If you prefer a more subdued sound with a silky and polished feel, the Ice King Linear switch would be a suitable choice. On the other hand, if you prefer a high-pitched sound with a buttery and mild feel, the WS Aurora Clear switch might be more to your liking. Ultimately, both switches aim to provide a smooth typing experience, so you can expect similar results in terms of overall typing comfort and satisfaction.
Conclusion
To sum up, if you are looking for a silky smooth typing experience with a medium bottom out force, the Durock Ice King Linear switches would be the ideal choice for you. These switches are known for their frictionless and polished feel, offering a pleasant typing sensation. On the other hand, if you prefer a high-pitched typing experience with a slightly heavier bottom out force, the Wuque Studio WS Aurora Clear linear switches would be more suited to your preferences. These switches are known for their buttery and mild feel, providing a smooth and uniform typing experience. Ultimately, your decision between the Ice King Linear and WS Aurora Clear switches will depend on your preference for typing feel and sound.
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