KTT Laurel vs. KTT Peach
An in-depth look at the KTT Laurel and the KTT Peach switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When it comes to choosing a mechanical keyboard switch, it's important to consider the specific characteristics that best suit your typing preferences. Two popular options worth exploring are the KTT Laurel and the KTT Peach, both linear switches with their own distinct features. The Laurel is well-regarded for its medium-light weight, offering a balance of responsiveness and comfort with its full POM housing, short travel, and long pole design. Additionally, it produces a subtly low-pitched sound profile. On the other hand, the Peach switch boasts multiple desirable traits of a linear switch, providing a syrupy smooth typing experience and a deep, thocky sound profile. It falls under the categories of 'Low-pitched', 'Neutral', and 'Mild'. While these generalities may give you some initial insight, let's delve deeper to fully understand which switch would be the best fit for you.
By the numbers
Technical specifications
Actuation force
43g
Actuation force
45g
Bottom-out force
50g
Bottom-out force
53g
Pre-travel
1.80 mm
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Total travel
3.50 mm
Total travel
4.00 mm
Factory lubed
Yes
Factory lubed
No
Stem construction
Standard
Stem construction
Standard
Stem material
POM
Stem material
POM
Top housing material
POM
Top housing material
Polycarbonate
Bottom housing material
POM
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Mount type
Plate (3-pin)
Mount type
Plate (3-pin)
Spring
22m spring
Spring
13mm progressive spring
Housing materials
The housing materials of the KTT Laurel and KTT Peach switches differ in terms of the top housing. The Laurel features a POM top housing, which creates a deeper and relatively muted sound profile. On the other hand, the Peach utilizes a polycarbonate top housing, resulting in a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound profile. This is because polycarbonate is a stiffer plastic that produces a more clear and resonant sound. Additionally, the polycarbonate material allows for the use of RGB lighting due to its translucency. In contrast, the POM top housing of the Laurel does not offer this feature.
Moving on to the bottom housing, the Laurel and Peach switches have contrasting materials as well. The Laurel incorporates a POM bottom housing, which contributes to an incredibly pleasing and unique sound profile. It creates a deeper and slightly more muted sound, adding to the overall typing experience. Meanwhile, the Peach utilizes a nylon bottom housing, a classic switch housing material. This material absorbs more sound due to its softer nature, resulting in a deeper and fuller sound profile. The nylon bottom housing of the Peach produces a duller and rounder sound compared to the POM bottom housing of the Laurel.
When it comes to the overall typing experience, the housing materials of both switches play a significant role. While the Laurel and Peach differ in their respective top and bottom housings, the resulting sound profiles offer distinct qualities. Pressing down on the switch showcases the properties of the bottom housing, affecting the bottom-out sound and feel. Similarly, the top housing influences the sound when releasing a key. Therefore, depending on the specific requirements and preferences of the user, both the Laurel and Peach switches offer unique acoustic experiences despite their differences in housing materials.
Weight
When comparing the KTT Laurel and KTT Peach linear switches, their actuation forces and bottom out forces present some interesting differences. The Laurel has a slightly lighter actuation force of 43 grams, while the Peach requires 45 grams to trigger a keystroke. Both switches have fairly light actuation forces, making them suitable for prolonged typing or gaming sessions without inducing fatigue. However, when it comes to bottoming out, the Laurel requires 50 grams of force, while the Peach has a slightly heavier bottom out force of 53 grams. This means that the Peach switch provides a slightly more substantial typing experience, appealing to those who prefer a stronger push feel. Nonetheless, the differences in force between the two switches are relatively small, so one can still achieve similar results when using either option. Ultimately, the Laurel is lighter overall, while the Peach is slightly heavier due to its higher bottom out force.
Travel distance
When comparing the travel distance of the KTT Laurel linear switch and the KTT Peach linear switch, it is clear that the Laurel has a shorter travel distance of 3.5 mm, while the Peach has a longer travel distance of 4 mm. The Laurel falls on the shorter end of the spectrum, which is favored by gamers who desire faster response times. On the other hand, the Peach offers a more substantial depth with its longer travel distance, which some individuals may prefer for a more satisfying keystroke. Both switches provide different experiences and cater to different preferences. If you prioritize responsiveness, the Laurel would be the ideal choice, while those seeking a deeper and more deliberate keystroke may find the Peach more suitable.
Price comparison
Which switch is more bang for your buck?
The KTT Laurel has an MSRP of $4.42 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Laurel for $3.95.
The KTT Peach comes in at $2.91 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, both the KTT Laurel and Peach switches have a low-pitched profile. Low-pitched switches typically have a more bass-heavy and mellow tone compared to higher-pitched switches. However, it's important to note that the sound of a switch can also be influenced by factors such as the choice of keyboard and keycaps used.
Moving on to feel, the Laurel switch is described as snappy, offering a super responsive typing experience. This is likely due to the longer or dual-staged springs present in the switch, enhancing the feeling of liveliness while typing. On the other hand, the Peach switch is described as mild, providing a more gentle typing experience. These switches have qualities that fall into a safe middle-ground zone, making them approachable to most users in terms of sound and feel.
Considering all the available information, we can conclude that both the Laurel and Peach switches have their own unique qualities. They both offer a linear typing experience, but with variations in sound and feel. If you prefer a subtly low-pitched sound profile and a snappy feel, the Laurel switch would be a good choice. Whereas if you're looking for a syrupy smooth typing experience with a deep thocky sound profile and a more gentle feel, the Peach switch would be suitable. Based on these descriptions, it is clear that while the qualities may differ slightly, both switches offer enjoyable typing experiences in their own right.
Conclusion
In closing, if you are looking for a medium-light linear switch that strikes the perfect balance of responsiveness and comfort, with a subtly low-pitched sound profile, then the KTT Laurel switch would be the ideal choice for you. Its full POM housing, short travel, and long pole design contribute to its smooth typing experience. On the other hand, if you prefer a linear switch with a syrupy smooth typing experience and a deep, thocky sound profile, then the KTT Peach switch would be the better option. It offers a more gentle typing experience overall, making it approachable for most users. Ultimately, the decision between the KTT Laurel and KTT Peach would depend on your personal preferences for bottom out force, sound profile, and typing feel.
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