Gateron Jupiter Banana vs. Gateron Silent Ink Black

Overview

When considering mechanical keyboard switches, the Gateron Jupiter Banana and the Gateron Silent Ink Black offer distinct qualities catering to different preferences. The Jupiter Banana is a tactile switch known for its high-precision molds and softer backlight effects, providing a unique typing experience characterized by a strong return and consistent feel. On the other hand, the Silent Ink Black is a linear switch ideal for environments where quiet typing is essential, offering a cushiony bottom-out feel with minimal audio feedback. While the Jupiter Banana is polished, high-pitched, creamy, and resonant, the Silent Ink Black is silky, muted, and polished. Ultimately, choosing between the two switches will depend on your specific 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

Gateron Jupiter Banana Tactile

Gateron Silent Ink Black Linear

$2.80 per 10

$8.50

$8.35 per 10

Learn moreLearn more

Housing materials

The housing materials of the Gateron Jupiter Banana and the Gateron Silent Ink Black are quite different in terms of their composition and resulting sound profiles. The Jupiter Banana utilizes a polycarbonate top housing, which contributes to a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound compared to the Silent Ink Black's INK blend top housing. The polycarbonate material is known for its stiffness, creating a more clear and resonant sound that is especially ideal for switches with RGB lighting. In contrast, the Silent Ink Black's proprietary INK blend top housing offers a pointed and high-pitched sound profile that is described as clacky, providing a unique typing experience.

In terms of the bottom housing material, the Jupiter Banana features a nylon bottom housing that provides a deeper and fuller sound profile. The softer nature of nylon absorbs more sound than harder plastics, resulting in a duller and rounder sound compared to the Silent Ink Black's INK blend bottom housing. Both nylon and the proprietary INK blend contribute to the overall sound profile of the switches, with nylon offering a more muffled sound while the INK blend provides a thinner and higher-pitched sound quality. These differences in bottom housing materials contribute to the overall typing experience and feel of each switch.

While the top and bottom housings of the Gateron Jupiter Banana and the Gateron Silent Ink Black offer distinct sound profiles, the overall typing experience may still be similar due to their shared focus on providing a satisfying sound and feel. Both switches aim to deliver a satisfying typing experience with unique sound profiles, whether it be the crisp and resonant sound of the Jupiter Banana or the clacky and high-pitched sound of the Silent Ink Black. Despite differences in housing materials, both switches offer a balance of sound and feel that cater to different preferences and typing styles.

Weight

The Gateron Jupiter Banana tactile switch and the Gateron Silent Ink Black linear switch both fall into the medium-heavy category in terms of actuation and bottom out forces. The Jupiter Banana has an actuation force of 59 grams and a bottom out force of 69 grams, while the Silent Ink Black has an actuation force of 60 grams and a bottom out force of 70 grams. This makes the Silent Ink Black just slightly heavier in both aspects, but the difference is minimal. Both switches provide a satisfying typing experience, with the actuation force being the force required to trigger a keystroke, and the bottom out force measuring the pressure needed to press all the way down. Whether you prefer a lighter or heavier switch depends on personal preference and typing style, with lighter switches being ideal for longer typing sessions and heavier switches for those looking for a more substantial typing experience. Ultimately, choosing between the two would come down to individual preference and typing needs.

Travel distance

The Gateron Silent Ink Black linear switch has a travel distance of 4 mm, while the Gateron Jupiter Banana tactile switch has a slightly shorter travel distance of 3.4 mm. The Silent Ink Black offers a more traditional travel distance, providing a slightly deeper key press compared to the Jupiter Banana. Gamers looking for faster response times may prefer the Jupiter Banana with its shorter travel distance, while those who prefer a deeper key press may opt for the Silent Ink Black. Both switches offer a smooth and consistent typing experience, but the choice between the two ultimately comes down to personal preference in terms of key travel depth.

Price comparison

Typing experience

In terms of sound, the Gateron Jupiter Banana tactile switch is known for its high-pitched and resonant noise profiles, delivering a sharp and crisp sound with an immersive auditory experience. On the other hand, the Gateron Silent Ink Black linear switch offers a muted sound, providing a softer and quieter typing experience suitable for quieter environments. Both switches offer distinct auditory characteristics, catering to different preferences based on sound profile preference, board, and keycap choices.

Moving on to the feel, the Gateron Jupiter Banana tactile switch is praised for its polished and creamy typing feel, offering a smooth and refined finish with reduced friction and smooth key travel. The two-stage springs and high-precision molds in the Jupiter Banana switch ensure a strong return and consistent feel during typing. In contrast, the Gateron Silent Ink Black linear switch provides a silky and polished typing experience, minimizing resistance when pressing and releasing keys. The cushion-like bottom-out feel of the Silent Ink Black gives a comfortable sensation while typing.

In conclusion, the Gateron Jupiter Banana tactile switch and the Gateron Silent Ink Black linear switch offer unique qualities in sound and feel. The Jupiter Banana provides a high-pitched, resonant sound with a polished, creamy typing feel, while the Silent Ink Black offers a muted sound and a silky, polished typing experience. Depending on individual preferences for sound and feel, both switches cater to different typing needs, delivering a satisfying tactile or linear typing experience based on personal preference. Ultimately, choosing between the two switches will depend on whether the user prioritizes a sharper auditory experience or a quieter typing environment, as well as their preference for smoothness and key travel during typing.

Conclusion

In summary, when deciding between the Gateron Jupiter Banana tactile switch and the Gateron Silent Ink Black linear switch, consider your preference for sound and feel. If you enjoy a high-pitched and resonant sound with a polished and creamy typing experience, the Jupiter Banana may be the better choice for you. On the other hand, if you prefer a muted sound with a silky smooth feel, the Silent Ink Black could be more suitable. Ultimately, your decision should be based on your personal typing preferences and the environment in which you'll be using the keyboard. Both switches offer unique characteristics that cater to different preferences, so choose the one that aligns best with your typing style and preferences.

Mentioned in this article

Gateron Jupiter Banana Tactile

$2.80 per 10

Learn more

Gateron Silent Ink Black Linear

$8.50

$8.35 per 10

Learn more