Gateron Jupiter Banana vs. Huano Strawberry Latte

Overview

When it comes to mechanical keyboards, the choice of switches can significantly impact your typing experience, and two popular options stand out: the Gateron Jupiter Banana and the Huano Strawberry Latte. The Jupiter Banana, a tactile switch, is celebrated for its unique blend of high precision in its molding and delightful softer backlight effects, enhanced by two-stage springs that provide a solid return and consistent tactile feedback. It is characterized by a polished, high-pitched, creamy, and resonant sound, appealing to those who enjoy a satisfying tactile bump with each keystroke. On the other hand, the Huano Strawberry Latte is a linear switch known for its exceptionally smooth action, drawing from the latest mold technology to deliver a balanced sound profile—neither too quiet nor overly resonant. This makes it an excellent choice for users who prioritize a seamless, uninterrupted typing experience. Both switches cater to different preferences—those seeking tactile feedback may gravitate toward the Jupiter Banana, while enthusiasts of smooth transitions might lean towards the Strawberry Latte. However, let's dive in a bit deeper beyond generalities so you can best decide on the ideal switch for you.

By the numbers

Gateron Jupiter Banana Tactile

Huano Strawberry Latte Linear

$2.80 per 10

$3.50

$3.29 per 10

Learn moreLearn more

Housing materials

When comparing the housing materials of the Gateron Jupiter Banana and the Huano Strawberry Latte, notable differences emerge in their top housings. The Gateron Jupiter Banana utilizes polycarbonate for its top housing, which is known for its stiffness and ability to produce a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound profile. This material's translucency enhances RGB lighting effects, making it visually appealing while ensuring a resonance that complements its sound characteristics. In contrast, the Huano Strawberry Latte employs POK (polyketone) for its top housing. While POK is an exceptionally durable material that contributes to a smooth typing experience, its sound profile is generally characterized as clacky. The variations in these materials suggest that the Jupiter Banana may provide a more pronounced and articulated sound compared to the smooth and durable experience of the Strawberry Latte.

Both switches share nylon as their bottom housing material, which creates a consistent experience in terms of sound profile. Nylon is recognized for producing a deeper and fuller sound due to its softer nature, which absorbs sound, resulting in a rounder auditory experience. Thus, both the Gateron Jupiter Banana and the Huano Strawberry Latte benefit from this classic material, ensuring that regardless of the differences in their top housings, both switches will provide a satisfying and rich sound due to their nylon bottoms. This consistency in bottom housing plays a crucial role in the overall feel and bottom-out sound when typing, making both switches appealing to users who prioritize acoustic qualities.

Ultimately, while the Jupiter Banana and Strawberry Latte diverge in their top housing materials, their similar nylon bottom housings allow for shared attributes in sound. The Jupiter Banana's polycarbonate top lends a sharper sound signature, while the Strawberry Latte's POK is optimized for smoothness, reflecting their individual characteristics. However, the underlying nylon ensures that users will experience a robust and full sound that is consistent across both switch types. In essence, these switches demonstrate how distinct materials can create unique typing experiences, yet still harmonize when it comes to certain fundamental acoustic properties like those provided by nylon.

Weight

When comparing the Gateron Jupiter Banana tactile switch to the Huano Strawberry Latte linear switch, there are notable differences in both actuation and bottom out forces. The Jupiter Banana requires a heavier actuation force of 59 grams and a bottom out force of 69 grams, making it suitable for those who prefer a more substantial typing experience. In contrast, the Strawberry Latte features a lighter actuation force of 40 grams and a bottom out force of 45 grams, making it ideal for users who prioritize comfort over extended typing sessions or gaming. Consequently, while the Jupiter Banana is the heavier option with a firmer push feel, the Strawberry Latte offers a softer touch, catering to those who may tire easily from prolonged use. Overall, if you're seeking lighter keystrokes that facilitate longer typing or gaming sessions, the Strawberry Latte will serve you well, whereas the Jupiter Banana will cater more to those who appreciate a more robust feedback from their switches.

Travel distance

The Gateron Jupiter Banana tactile switch features a travel distance of 3.4 mm, while the Huano Strawberry Latte linear switch has a slightly longer travel distance of 3.6 mm. This means that if you opt for the Jupiter Banana, you will experience a shorter keypress compared to the Strawberry Latte. For users who favor quicker response times, the shorter 3.4 mm travel distance of the Jupiter Banana may be more appealing, especially for gaming purposes. On the other hand, the 3.6 mm travel distance of the Strawberry Latte might offer a more satisfying depth for those who appreciate a more substantial tactile feedback during typing. Thus, the Jupiter Banana is the shorter option, while the Strawberry Latte provides a more traditional, longer travel distance.

Price comparison

Typing experience

When considering sound, the Gateron Jupiter Banana tactile switches stand out with their high-pitched and resonant characteristics. They produce a sharp, crisp auditory feedback that can be both engaging and immersive, ensuring that each keystroke is distinctly audible without being overly subdued. This high-pitched quality is ideal for users who prefer a more vibrant sound profile, as it avoids the richness and bassiness that some may find less appealing. In contrast, the Huano Strawberry Latte linear switches have a balanced sound profile, leaning neither too quiet nor excessively resonant. While specific details about the Strawberry Latte's sound characteristics are unknown, the combination of its smoothness and balanced nature suggests it offers a different auditory experience that may cater to those who enjoy a more muted typing environment.

In terms of feel, the Jupiter Banana switches are characterized by their polished and creamy sensations, providing a smooth and refined typing experience. This is attributed to either the materials used or potential factory lubing, resulting in reduced friction and an effortless glide during typing. The creamy feel enhances the experience further, giving a silky touch that makes keystrokes feel seamless. The tactile feedback combined with the smoothness allows for precise and responsive typing. On the other hand, the Strawberry Latte's tactile feel remains less defined in available descriptions. However, their linear nature generally implies a smooth key press without the tactile bump, which may appeal to those who prefer a continuous key travel without interruptions.

Overall, the Gateron Jupiter Banana tactile switches present distinct qualities in both sound and feel that cater to those looking for an engaging and textured typing experience. Their sharp, resonant auditory feedback and smooth tactile characteristics make them excellent choices for avid typists or gamers seeking a responsive performance. In contrast, the Huano Strawberry Latte linear switches offer a more balanced auditory experience, with potentially smooth and seamless key travel, especially appealing to users who favor a more straightforward approach to keystrokes. Ultimately, your choice will depend on whether you prioritize an expressive sound profile and tactile feedback or a straightforward, smooth experience.

Conclusion

To conclude, the choice between the Gateron Jupiter Banana tactile switch and the Huano Strawberry Latte linear switch ultimately hinges on your personal preferences and typing style. If you favor a medium-heavy feel with a tactile bump that provides satisfying feedback, the Jupiter Banana is an excellent choice. Its higher bottom-out force of 69 grams and distinct sound profile will appeal to those who appreciate a crisp and resonant auditory experience. Additionally, the polished and creamy feel of the Jupiter Banana makes it a great option for users who prioritize a smooth and refined typing experience, particularly during extended typing sessions or gaming. On the other hand, if you prefer a lighter touch and a smooth, uninterrupted keystroke without tactile feedback, the Strawberry Latte would serve you better. With a bottom-out force of just 45 grams, this switch offers a delightful and effortlessly fluid typing experience, perfect for those who value speed and minimal resistance. Its balanced sound profile also ensures a pleasant auditory backdrop without becoming distracting. Ultimately, your choice should reflect your desired combination of tactile feedback, sound, and overall typing feel for the best mechanical keyboard experience.

Mentioned in this article

Gateron Jupiter Banana Tactile

$2.80 per 10

Learn more

Huano Strawberry Latte Linear

$3.50

$3.29 per 10

Learn more