Gateron Ink Box Pink vs. KTT Strawberry

Overview

When it comes to choosing a mechanical keyboard switch, the Gateron Ink Box Pink and the KTT Strawberry are two options worth considering. The Ink Box Pink is best known for its beautiful translucent design and lighter typing feel compared to other switches. It offers a higher-pitched clack sound, adding a touch of uniqueness to your typing experience. On the other hand, the Strawberry switch stands out with its attractive pink and clear housings. It boasts a smooth actuation, comfortable feel, and reliable performance. With a low-pitched sound and a frictionless, buttery-smooth texture, the Strawberry switch offers a different typing experience altogether. However, let's dive in a bit deeper beyond these generalities to help you make the best decision for your specific needs.

By the numbers

Gateron Ink Box Pink Linear

KTT Strawberry Linear

$8.50

$7.65 per 10

$4.91 per 10

Learn moreLearn more

Housing materials

The Gateron Ink Box Pink and the KTT Strawberry differ in their housing materials. The Ink Box Pink features a proprietary INK blend top housing, which creates a pointed and relatively high-pitched sound profile. This gives the switch a satisfying thin and clacky sound. In contrast, the Strawberry utilizes a polycarbonate top housing. Polycarbonate is a stiffer plastic, resulting in a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound profile. Additionally, the Strawberry's translucent polycarbonate top housing is especially ideal for those who plan to use RGB lighting, as it enhances the visual appeal.

Moving on to the bottom housing, the Ink Box Pink and the Strawberry continue to diverge in terms of their materials. The Ink Box Pink utilizes the same proprietary INK blend bottom housing as its top housing. This provides the switch with a pointed and relatively high-pitched sound profile, contributing to its clacky feel. Conversely, the Strawberry employs a polycarbonate bottom housing. This stiff plastic lends a clear and resonant sound profile to the switch, making it sharper and higher-pitched. Once again, the Strawberry's polycarbonate bottom housing offers the advantage of translucency, which is beneficial for those who desire a visually appealing switch with RGB lighting.

Despite their differences, both switches share some similarities. They both aim for a higher-pitched sound profile, although the Ink Box Pink's proprietary INK blend may have a slightly different character compared to the Strawberry's polycarbonate. Additionally, both switches emphasize the importance of the housing materials in contributing to the overall sound and feel of the switch. While the bottom housing influences the bottom-out sound and feel upon pressing a key, the top housing has a greater impact on the sound when releasing the key. Overall, both the Gateron Ink Box Pink and the KTT Strawberry offer unique experiences in terms of their housing materials, catering to different preferences and needs.

Weight

When comparing the actuation force and bottom out force of the Gateron Ink Box Pink linear switch and the KTT Strawberry linear switch, there are some similarities and differences to note. Both switches fall into the medium range for actuation and bottom out forces. The Ink Box Pink has an actuation force of 50 grams and a bottom out force of 60 grams, while the Strawberry has an actuation force of 43 grams and a bottom out force of 62 grams.

Looking at the actuation force, the Strawberry requires a slightly lighter touch compared to the Ink Box Pink. This may appeal to those who prefer a lighter typing experience, as it allows for smoother and faster keystrokes. On the other hand, the Ink Box Pink requires a slightly stronger push for actuation, which could provide a more substantial typing feel and potentially reduce accidental key presses.

In terms of the bottom out force, both switches are relatively similar, with the Ink Box Pink requiring slightly less force at 60 grams compared to the Strawberry's 62 grams. This means that when fully pressing the keys, both switches give a similar resistance, allowing for a more consistent typing experience.

Considering the weight aspect, those who prefer a lighter typing experience may lean towards the Strawberry switch due to its lower actuation force. This lighter touch can be beneficial for extended typing sessions or long gaming sessions, as it reduces finger fatigue. On the other hand, individuals who prefer a more substantial typing experience may opt for the Ink Box Pink switch due to its slightly higher actuation force, providing a stronger push feel.

In summary, although both the Gateron Ink Box Pink linear switch and the KTT Strawberry linear switch fall into the medium range for actuation and bottom out forces, the Strawberry has a lighter actuation force, while the Ink Box Pink has a slightly lighter bottom out force. Choosing between the two ultimately depends on personal preferences for typing feel and the desired resistance during keystrokes.

Travel distance

The travel distance of the Gateron Ink Box Pink linear switch is 3.6 mm, while the KTT Strawberry linear switch has a travel distance of 4 mm. In terms of distance, the Strawberry switch has a slightly longer travel distance compared to the Ink Box Pink. Generally, a travel distance of 4.0 mm is considered more traditional, while a distance of 3.0 mm is shallower. However, shorter travel distances have gained popularity, especially among gamers who value faster response times. If you prefer a more responsive typing experience, the shorter travel distance of 3.6 mm offered by the Ink Box Pink may be a suitable choice. On the other hand, if you prefer a deeper and more substantial feel when pressing the keys, the 4 mm travel distance of the Strawberry switch might be more appealing. Ultimately, the choice between these switches will depend on personal preference and the desired typing or gaming experience.

Price comparison

Typing experience

When it comes to sound, the Gateron Ink Box Pink linear switch offers a clacky and high-pitched sound. The clacky nature of this switch produces a sharp and snappy sound when pressed, giving a crisp and percussive auditory experience. The higher-pitched profile adds to the brightness and crispness of the sound. On the other hand, the KTT Strawberry linear switch provides a low-pitched sound. These switches have a more bass-heavy and mellow tone, resulting in a rich and soothing auditory sensation. It is important to note that the sound produced by a switch can also be influenced by other factors such as the keyboard's construction and the type of keycaps used.

When it comes to feel, the Gateron Ink Box Pink linear switch is known for its silky and polished typing experience. A silky switch refers to a switch that offers an exceptionally smooth typing feel, enhancing the overall smoothness and minimizing resistance when pressing and releasing keys. Additionally, the polished finish of the switch further contributes to a sleek and refined typing experience with reduced friction and smooth key travel. Similarly, the KTT Strawberry linear switch provides a frictionless, silky, buttery, and polished typing experience. These switches offer an extremely smooth and effortless feel, ensuring minimal resistance or friction when pressing the keys. The fluid travel of the switch adds to the overall seamless and uniform typing sensation.

Considering the available information, the Gateron Ink Box Pink and KTT Strawberry linear switches have some similarities in terms of feel, with both offering a silky and polished typing experience. However, the Ink Box Pink switch is known for its clacky and high-pitched sound, while the Strawberry switch produces a low-pitched sound. It is important to remember that individual preferences will play a significant role in determining which switch is more suitable for a newcomer.

Conclusion

To sum up, if you're looking for a medium bottom out force and a lighter typing feel, the Gateron Ink Box Pink linear switch would be a great choice. These switches are known for their smoothness and offer a satisfying clack sound when pressed. They have a higher-pitched sound profile, which can be crisp and bright. Additionally, the Ink Box Pink switches provide a silky and polished feel, ensuring a smooth typing experience with minimal resistance.

On the other hand, if you prefer a slightly higher bottom out force but still want a comfortable feel, the KTT Strawberry linear switch would be a suitable option. These switches offer a reliable performance and smooth actuation. They have a low-pitched sound profile, which produces a more bass-heavy and mellow tone. The Strawberry switches provide a frictionless, silky, and buttery feel, allowing for an effortless and uniform typing sensation.

Ultimately, the choice between the Gateron Ink Box Pink and KTT Strawberry switches depends on your personal preferences. Consider factors like bottom out force, sound profile, and typing feel to determine which switch aligns better with your typing style and preferences.

Mentioned in this article

Gateron Ink Box Pink Linear

$8.50

$7.65 per 10

Learn more

KTT Strawberry Linear

$4.91 per 10

Learn more