Gateron Luciola vs. KTT Pine

Overview

The Gateron Luciola and KTT Pine are two popular mechanical keyboard switches, each offering their own unique characteristics and advantages. The Luciola switches are widely known for their captivating glow-in-the-dark feature, making them visually appealing. With a medium heft, these switches provide a smooth and bouncy typing experience, accompanied by a distinct sound profile reminiscent of a can of spray paint being shaken. On the other hand, the Pine switches are defined by their translucent, forest green appearance. These switches offer a medium-heavy weight, ensuring a buttery smooth feel and delivering an effortless typing experience. With a polished and factory-lubed finish, the Pine switches minimize friction, resulting in incredibly smooth key travel. While both switches provide desirable qualities such as buttery typing feel, they differ in their sound profiles and visual appeal. However, let's dive in a bit deeper beyond these generalities so you can best decide on the perfect switch for your needs.

By the numbers

Gateron Luciola Linear

KTT Pine Linear

$7.50

$6.50 per 10

$4.60

$4.15 per 10

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Housing materials

The housing materials of the Gateron Luciola and the KTT Pine switches have distinct differences, particularly in terms of the sound profile they produce. The Luciola's proprietary INK blend top and bottom housings both contribute to a pointed and relatively high-pitched sound, which is described as clacky. On the other hand, the Pine's polycarbonate top and bottom housings create a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound profile. This is mainly due to polycarbonate's stiffness, which produces a more clear and resonant sound. Aesthetically, the Pine's polycarbonate housing is translucent, making it ideal for showcasing RGB lighting, while the Luciola's INK blend housing does not offer this feature.

Despite their differences, there are some similarities between the two switches' housing materials. Both the INK blend housing of the Luciola and the polycarbonate housing of the Pine contribute to a higher-pitched sound profile, although the Pine's sound profile is generally sharper. Additionally, both materials are described as having a satisfying and clacky sound, albeit with slight nuances. Therefore, if you are looking for a switch that produces a thin and clacky sound, both the Luciola and the Pine can provide similar results, although the Pine may have a crisper sound due to its polycarbonate housing.

When it comes to the overall impact of the housing materials, the properties of the bottom housing play a role in the bottom-out sound and feel of the switch when pressed down. In this aspect, the Luciola's INK blend bottom housing and the Pine's polycarbonate bottom housing are likely to have similar effects, contributing to the same satisfying clacky sound. However, the top housing of the switches has a more significant impact on the sound produced when a key is released. As such, the Luciola's INK blend top housing and the Pine's polycarbonate top housing will differ in terms of the sharpness, pitch, and resonance of the sound when keys are released.

Weight

When comparing the actuation force and bottom out force of the Gateron Luciola linear switch and the KTT Pine linear switch, it becomes evident that both switches fall within the medium range of force. However, there are slight differences worth noting.

The Gateron Luciola linear switch has an actuation force of 55 grams, meaning that it requires a 55-gram force to trigger a keystroke. In contrast, the KTT Pine linear switch has a slightly lighter actuation force of 45 grams. This slight difference suggests that the Pine switch may feel slightly more responsive and lighter to the touch when typing.

Moving on to the bottom out force, which measures the force required to press a key all the way down, the Luciola switch has a bottom out force of 60 grams, while the Pine switch has a bottom out force of 58 grams. Although the difference is negligible, it suggests that the Luciola switch may provide a slightly firmer and more substantial typing experience when compared to the Pine switch.

Considering the weight factor, the Pine switch is the lighter of the two, with a lighter actuation force. This lighter force could be beneficial for individuals who prefer a lighter touch and need to type for extended periods, such as during work or long gaming sessions. On the other hand, the Luciola switch offers a slightly heavier push feel, providing a more substantial typing experience for those who prefer a stronger sensation while typing.

In summary, while both the Gateron Luciola linear switch and the KTT Pine linear switch fall within the medium force range, the Pine switch has a lighter actuation force and a slightly lower bottom out force compared to the Luciola switch. This suggests that the Pine switch may offer a slightly lighter and more responsive typing experience, whereas the Luciola switch may provide a firmer and more substantial feel while typing. Ultimately, the choice between the two would depend on individual preferences for typing experience and desired actuation force.

Travel distance

The Gateron Luciola linear switch and the KTT Pine linear switch have different travel distances. The Luciola has a travel distance of 3.6 mm, while the Pine has a slightly longer travel distance of 4 mm. The difference may seem minor, but it can greatly impact the typing experience. A travel distance of 4.0 mm is considered the most traditional distance, offering a balance between depth and responsiveness. On the other hand, the Luciola's shorter travel distance of 3.6 mm is preferred by gamers who prioritize faster response times. The shorter travel distance allows for quicker keystrokes, which can be advantageous in gaming scenarios. However, for those who prefer a more substantial feel and deeper keystrokes, the Pine's longer travel distance may be more suitable. Ultimately, the choice between the two switches will depend on personal preference and the desired typing or gaming experience.

Price comparison

Typing experience

In terms of sound, the Gateron Luciola switch offers a range of options. It can provide a clacky sound, which is sharp and snappy, giving a crisp and bright feel to each keystroke. Alternatively, it can produce a chirpy sound, adding a unique acoustic signature to the typing experience. If you prefer a more resonant and high-pitched sound, the Luciola switch can also deliver a marbly profile, reminiscent of tapping on solid marble or the sound of billiard balls colliding. On the other hand, if you prefer a higher-pitched sound, the Luciola switch can provide a sharp and crisp tone. It is important to note that the sound of a switch is influenced by other components, such as the keyboard board and keycaps chosen.

On the other hand, the KTT Pine switch offers a different sound profile. It is described as bassy, offering a deeper and richer sound during key presses. This sound profile is characterized by a lower frequency range, resembling the depth and richness associated with bass tones. If you prefer a more mellow and bass-heavy tone, the Pine switch provides a low-pitched sound. As with the Luciola switch, the sound produced by the Pine switch is influenced by factors like the keyboard board and keycaps used.

Moving on to feel, the Gateron Luciola switch offers a range of sensations. It can provide a snappy feel, which indicates super responsiveness and a more alive typing experience. This may be due to longer or dual-staged springs within the switch. Additionally, the Luciola switch can offer a buttery feel, characterized by a smooth and fluid keystroke experience. This seamless and effortless typing sensation is achieved through a polished finish and reduced friction associated with factory lubing. You can expect smooth key travel with the Luciola switch.

Similarly, the KTT Pine switch also offers a buttery feel, ensuring a smooth and fluid keystroke experience. This seamless and effortless typing sensation is achieved through a combination of lubricant applied at the factory and specific materials. It provides a silky sensation, allowing your fingers to effortlessly glide across the keys.

In conclusion, the Gateron Luciola and KTT Pine switches offer different subjective qualities in terms of sound and feel. The Luciola switch can deliver a clacky, chirpy, marbly, or high-pitched sound, depending on the preference. It provides a snappy and buttery feel, with a smooth and refined finish. On the other hand, the Pine switch offers a bassy or low-pitched sound, providing a mellow and rich typing experience. It offers a buttery and creamy feel, ensuring a smooth and effortless typing sensation. If you desire similar results between the two switches, such as a buttery feel, you can expect comparable experiences. However, keep in mind that the overall sound and feel of the switches can be influenced by other factors such as the keyboard board and keycaps chosen.

Conclusion

To sum up, if you value switches that are eye-catching and glow in the dark, while also offering a medium heft, smooth and bouncy typing feel, and a unique "can of spray paint being shaken" sound profile, then the Gateron Luciola linear switch would be a great choice for you. On the other hand, if you prioritize a translucent forest green appearance, along with a medium-heavy weight, buttery smooth typing experience, and a polished, factory-lubed finish that minimizes friction for smooth key travel, then the KTT Pine linear switch would be an ideal option. In terms of sound, the Luciola offers clacky, chirpy, marbly, and high-pitched characteristics, while the Pine provides a bassy and low-pitched sound profile. When it comes to feel, both switches offer a buttery typing experience, but the Luciola has a snappy and polished feel, while the Pine is described as creamy. Ultimately, the choice between these two switches will depend on your preferred aesthetic, weight, sound, and typing experience.

Mentioned in this article

Gateron Luciola Linear

$7.50

$6.50 per 10

Learn more

KTT Pine Linear

$4.60

$4.15 per 10

Learn more