Durock Light Tactile vs. Gateron Silent Ink Black
An in-depth look at the Durock Light Tactile and the Gateron Silent Ink Black switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When it comes to mechanical keyboard switches, there's a wide variety to choose from, each offering their own unique features and characteristics. Two popular options include the Durock Light Tactile, a tactile switch, and the Gateron Silent Ink Black, a linear switch. The Light Tactile stands out for its gentle tactility, providing a smooth and comfortable typing experience. In contrast, the Silent Ink Black is renowned for its silenced design, making it perfect for quieter environments. Both switches offer a polished feel and are categorized as 'Polished', but with different qualities ('Neutral' and 'Silky' respectively). While these general points can help you make a preliminary decision, let's delve deeper into the specifics to help you determine the best switch for your needs.
By the numbers
Technical specifications
Actuation force
52g
Actuation force
60g
Bottom-out force
67g
Bottom-out force
70g
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Total travel
4.00 mm
Total travel
4.00 mm
Factory lubed
Yes
Factory lubed
Yes
Stem construction
Standard
Stem construction
Standard
Stem material
POM
Stem material
POM
Top housing material
Polycarbonate
Top housing material
Proprietary INK blend
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Bottom housing material
Proprietary INK blend
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Spring
Gold-plated spring
Spring
Color coated
Housing materials
The housing materials of the Durock Light Tactile and the Gateron Silent Ink Black switches offer distinct characteristics that result in different typing experiences. The Light Tactile features a polycarbonate top housing, which creates a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound profile. This material's stiffness contributes to a more clear and resonant sound. In contrast, the Silent Ink Black utilizes Gateron's proprietary INK blend top housing, which produces a pointed and relatively high-pitched sound that is described as clacky. While both materials offer unique sound profiles, the Light Tactile's polycarbonate housing provides a more pronounced and defined sound compared to the Silent Ink Black's INK blend.
Moving to the bottom housing, the Light Tactile employs a nylon material, resulting in a deeper and fuller sound profile. Nylon is known to be a softer plastic that absorbs more sound, creating a duller and rounder sound. Conversely, the Silent Ink Black uses Gateron's proprietary INK blend bottom housing, which shares similar characteristics with its top housing. This blend provides a thin and higher-pitched sound that is often described as clacky. While both switches use different bottom housing materials, they both contribute to the overall sound and feel of the switch.
It's important to note that the top housing of a switch has a greater impact on the sound when releasing a key, while the bottom housing influences the bottom-out sound and feel when pressing down on the switch. Therefore, the Durock Light Tactile's polycarbonate top housing will produce a more pronounced sound upon key release compared to the Gateron Silent Ink Black's INK blend top housing. On the other hand, both switches share similarities in how their bottom housing materials contribute to the overall clacky sound and feel.
In conclusion, the housing materials of the Durock Light Tactile and the Gateron Silent Ink Black switches offer unique traits that result in different sound profiles. The Light Tactile's polycarbonate top housing creates a sharper and crisper sound, while the Silent Ink Black's INK blend top housing offers a pointed and clacky sound profile. Similarly, the Light Tactile's nylon bottom housing elicits a deeper and rounder sound, while the Silent Ink Black's INK blend bottom housing contributes to a clacky typing experience. Although the switches differ in their housing materials, they both provide distinctive sound and feel characteristics based on their top and bottom housing choices.
Weight
When comparing the actuation force and bottom out force of the Durock Light Tactile tactile switch and the Gateron Silent Ink Black linear switch, it is clear that both switches have similar characteristics. The Light Tactile switch has a slightly lighter actuation force of 52 grams compared to the Silent Ink Black switch which has an actuation force of 60 grams. However, both switches have a medium-heavy bottom out force, with the Light Tactile switch measuring at 67 grams and the Silent Ink Black switch at 70 grams.
Considering weight is an important factor when choosing a switch, as it can greatly impact typing comfort and endurance. Those who prefer a lighter feel may opt for the Light Tactile switch, as its lower actuation force allows for extended typing sessions without straining the fingers. This makes it ideal for work or long gaming sessions. On the other hand, individuals who prefer a more substantial typing experience may lean towards the Silent Ink Black switch, with its slightly heavier actuation force providing a stronger push feel.
Overall, while the actuation and bottom out forces of the two switches may differ slightly, they both fall within the medium-heavy range. This means that users can expect similar results in terms of typing experience, with the choice between the two switches ultimately coming down to personal preference and desired typing feel.
Travel distance
The travel distance of a switch is the distance it travels from the top to the bottom when pressed. In the case of the Durock Light Tactile tactile switch, it has a travel distance of 4 mm. Similarly, the Gateron Silent Ink Black linear switch also has a travel distance of 4 mm. This means that both switches have the same travel distance, providing a consistent experience when pressing down on the keys. The distance traveled by both switches is equal, ensuring that users can expect similar results when using either switch.
Price comparison
Which switch is more bang for your buck?
The Durock Light Tactile has an MSRP of $5.50 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Light Tactile for $4.25.
The Gateron Silent Ink Black has an MSRP of $8.50 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Silent Ink Black for $8.35.
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, the Durock Light Tactile switch offers a gentle and jelly-like sound signature. It has a neutral sound profile, which means it produces a moderate level of noise suitable for most purposes. On the other hand, the Gateron Silent Ink Black switch is known for its muted sound. It produces a softer and quieter sound compared to regular or clacky switches, making it ideal for quiet environments. However, it's important to note that the sound of the switches can also be influenced by other factors such as the keyboard board and keycaps used.
In terms of feel, the Durock Light Tactile switch provides a mild and approachable typing experience. It falls in a safe middle-ground zone, offering a gentle tactile sensation without being too pronounced. Additionally, it is described as polished, indicating a smooth and refined finish that results in a sleek typing experience. This is achieved through either the materials used or factory lubing, which reduces friction and promotes smooth key travel. Similarly, the Gateron Silent Ink Black switch is also described as polished, providing a smooth and refined typing experience. It is referred to as silky, offering an exceptionally smooth feel that minimizes resistance when pressing and releasing keys.
Taking all the available information into account, the Durock Light Tactile switch stands out for its gentle tactility and jelly-like sound signature. It provides a mild feel that is approachable to most users and offers a polished typing experience with reduced friction. Meanwhile, the Gateron Silent Ink Black switch excels in providing a quiet typing experience with a cushiony bottom-out feel. It also offers a polished and silky smooth typing experience. While they have their differences, both switches offer pleasant typing experiences and are suitable for various environments. Whether you prefer a more tactile and jelly-like experience or a quieter and cushioned feel, you can achieve similar satisfying results with either switch choice.
Conclusion
To sum up, if you are looking for a switch with a gentle tactility and a jelly-like sound signature, the Durock Light Tactile is the way to go. It provides a unique and angelic typing experience. On the other hand, if you need a quieter switch, the Gateron Silent Ink Black is perfect for you. Its pillow-like bottom-out feel with minimal audio feedback ensures a peaceful typing environment. In terms of sound, the Light Tactile has a neutral profile suitable for various settings, while the Silent Ink Black offers a muted sound to minimize keyboard noise. As for feel, the Light Tactile offers a mild and polished typing experience, providing a safe middle-ground. The Silent Ink Black, on the other hand, boasts a silky smooth feel with a polished finish. Ultimately, the choice between these switches depends on your preference for tactility, sound, and feel.
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