Zuoce Lavender vs. Kailh Sage
An in-depth look at the Zuoce Lavender and the Kailh Sage switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
The Zuoce Lavender, a linear switch, is renowned for its exceptional smoothness and satisfying clacky sound signature, making it a popular choice among mechanical keyboard enthusiasts. On the other hand, the Kailh Sage, a clicky switch, offers a distinct clicky typing experience with a heavy weight and sharp clickiness. While the Lavender is categorized as 'Easy-to-press' and 'Clacky', the Sage is described as 'Invigorating', 'Sharp', and 'Crunchy'. Choosing between these two switches ultimately depends on your preference for smoothness and clacky sound versus a sharp clicky feel. 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
48g
Actuation force
N/A
Bottom-out force
53g
Bottom-out force
70g
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Pre-travel
1.70 mm
Total travel
3.40 mm
Total travel
3.60 mm
Factory lubed
Yes
Factory lubed
No
Stem construction
Standard
Stem construction
Standard
Stem material
Z1 (Ly blend)
Stem material
POM
Top housing material
POM
Top housing material
Polycarbonate
Bottom housing material
POM
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Mount type
Plate (3-pin)
Spring
21mm double-staged spring
Spring
Stainless steel
Housing materials
The Zuoce Lavender and the Kailh Sage both feature unique housing materials that contribute to their sound profiles. The Lavender uses POM for both the top and bottom housing, resulting in a deep and muted sound. In contrast, the Sage utilizes polycarbonate for the top housing, creating a sharper and crisper sound. The translucency of polycarbonate in the Sage's top housing allows for enhanced RGB lighting effects, adding an aesthetic appeal to the switches. While both switches offer pleasing sound profiles, they achieve this through different materials, catering to varying preferences in sound quality.
In terms of the bottom housing, the Lavender and the Sage differ once again. The Lavender's POM bottom housing contributes to its deep and unique sound profile, while the Sage's nylon bottom housing offers a fuller and rounder sound. Nylon, being a softer plastic, absorbs more sound, resulting in a duller sound compared to the stiffer POM material. This contrast in bottom housing materials highlights the importance of housing material in determining the overall sound characteristics of a switch. Whether for a deep and muted sound like the Lavender or a fuller and rounder sound like the Sage, the choice of bottom housing material plays a significant role.
While the Lavender and the Sage differ in their choice of housing materials, both switches demonstrate how the top and bottom housings contribute to the overall sound profile of a mechanical switch. The bottom housing affects the bottom-out sound and feel when the key is pressed, while the top housing impacts the sound when the key is released. This division of qualities between the top and bottom housing materials allows for a more nuanced and customizable sound experience for mechanical keyboard enthusiasts. Whether you prefer the POM and nylon combination of the Lavender or the polycarbonate and nylon pairing of the Sage, both switches offer distinct sound profiles based on their housing materials.
Weight
The Zuoce Lavender linear switch has a lighter actuation force of 48 grams compared to the Kailh Sage clicky switch, which has an unknown actuation force. However, the Lavender also has a lighter bottom out force of 53 grams compared to the Sage's heavier bottom out force of 70 grams. This means that the Lavender switch would provide a lighter typing experience overall, making it more suitable for those who prefer a lighter touch for extended typing or gaming sessions. On the other hand, the Sage switch would be better suited for individuals who prefer a more substantial and tactile typing experience due to its heavier bottom out force. Both switches have their own advantages depending on the user's preferences for actuation and bottom out forces.
Travel distance
The Zuoce Lavender linear switch has a travel distance of 3.4 mm, while the Kailh Sage clicky switch has a travel distance of 3.6 mm. This makes the Sage switch slightly longer in travel distance compared to the Lavender switch. Both switches fall within the range of shorter travel distances, which are preferred by gamers for faster response times. However, the slight difference in travel distance may be noticeable to some users, with the Lavender providing a slightly shorter press compared to the Sage. Ultimately, choosing between the two switches will depend on personal preference for the amount of depth and responsiveness desired in the typing experience.
Price comparison
Which switch is more bang for your buck?
The Zuoce Lavender has an MSRP of $2.00 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Lavender for $1.99.
The Kailh Sage comes in at $6.25 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
The Zuoce Lavender linear switch is praised for its exceptionally smooth feel right out of the box, thanks to its proprietary Ly blend. Typing on the Lavender switch offers a gentle and easy-to-press experience, requiring minimal force for activation. In contrast, the Kailh Sage clicky switch is known for its heavy weight and sharp clickiness, providing an invigorating and sharp tactile feedback with each keypress. When it comes to sound, the Lavender switch produces a crisp and clacky sound signature, while the Sage switch offers a distinct and crunchy clicky typing experience. Overall, while the Lavender switch focuses on smoothness and ease of typing, the Sage switch prioritizes a firm and reactive feel with a satisfyingly sharp clickiness. Depending on personal preference, both switches offer unique qualities that can enhance the typing experience, with the Lavender providing a smoother and quieter typing experience, and the Sage delivering a more tactile and audible typing experience.
Conclusion
To sum up, when choosing between the Zuoce Lavender linear switch and the Kailh Sage clicky switch, consider your preferences for typing experience. If you value a smooth and clacky typing sound with a medium-light bottom out force, the Lavender switch would be a great choice for you. On the other hand, if you prefer a distinct clicky sound with a medium-heavy bottom out force, the Sage switch would be more suitable. The Lavender switch offers an easy-to-press feel, while the Sage switch provides an invigorating and sharp tactile sensation. Ultimately, your decision should be based on whether you prioritize smoothness and lightness or clickiness and firmness in your mechanical keyboard switches.
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