Dareu Mahjong vs. Gateron Mountain Top
An in-depth look at the Dareu Mahjong and the Gateron Mountain Top switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When it comes to choosing mechanical keyboard switches, the Dareu Mahjong and Gateron Mountain Top offer distinct experiences tailored to different typing preferences and environments. The Mahjong switches, characterized by their vibrant green and white design, provide a lively and poppy sound signature, which enhances an effortless typing experience suitable for those who enjoy a more expressive and tactile feedback. This switch is categorized as 'Bouncy', 'Mild', 'Neutral', and 'Polished', appealing to users who appreciate a touch of playfulness in their keystrokes. In contrast, the Gateron Mountain Top switches prioritize discretion, making them ideal for office use. With a quiet yet not entirely silent typing experience, these switches balance a subdued sound signature with a comfortably light actuation, making them a great choice for professional settings where noise control is essential. Although both switches are linear and share certain similarities, their unique characteristics cater to different user needs. However, let's dive in a bit deeper beyond generalities so you can best decide on the right switch for you.
By the numbers
Technical specifications
Actuation force
45g
Actuation force
40g
Bottom-out force
N/A
Bottom-out force
50g
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Pre-travel
1.40 mm
Total travel
3.40 mm
Total travel
3.40 mm
Factory lubed
Yes
Factory lubed
Yes
Stem construction
Partial box
Stem construction
Standard
Stem material
POM
Stem material
POM
Top housing material
POK
Top housing material
Nylon
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Spring
Gold-plated spring
Spring
22mm double-stage spring
Housing materials
When comparing the housing materials of the Dareu Mahjong and the Gateron Mountain Top, we observe a distinct difference in their top housings. The Mahjong utilizes POK (polyketone) for its top housing, known for its exceptionally low coefficient of friction at 0.04, providing a smooth typing experience. Meanwhile, the Mountain Top features a nylon top housing, a classic choice that delivers a deeper sound due to its softer plastic composition. This difference suggests that while both switches aim to provide a pleasant typing experience, the Mahjong's POK material fosters a more pronounced smoothness and durability, while the nylon housing of the Mountain Top is likely to produce a sound profile that engages users with its rounder acoustics.
In terms of bottom housing, both the Mahjong and Mountain Top employ nylon for their respective designs. This commonality means that both switches can be expected to offer a deeper and fuller sound profile due to nylon’s sound-absorbing properties. As the bottom housing significantly influences the bottom-out sound and feel, users may find a consistent auditory experience between the two models, despite the differences observed in their top housings. The shared use of nylon at the bottom also suggests that both switches can achieve certain acoustic qualities effectively, providing a level of familiarity for users who value sound consistency.
Overall, the combination of POK and nylon in the Mahjong versus the dual nylon construction of the Mountain Top provides distinct yet complementary attributes. While the Mahjong’s top housing enables smoothness and durability that enhances the tactile feedback of each keystroke, the Mountain Top's nylon top contributes to a softer sound profile. This contrast allows users to choose a switch that aligns with their preferences, whether they prioritize a sleek typing experience or a warm auditory feel. Ultimately, both switches leverage their respective materials to create unique yet satisfying results, catering to a range of user experiences in the mechanical keyboard space.
Weight
When comparing the Dareu Mahjong linear switch and the Gateron Mountain Top linear switch, there are notable differences in their actuation forces. The Mahjong switch has an actuation force of 45 grams, while the Mountain Top switch requires a lighter actuation force of 40 grams. This means that the Mountain Top may be more appealing to users who prefer a lighter touch, allowing for easier key presses during extended periods of use, which can be particularly beneficial for long typing sessions or gaming marathons. In terms of bottom out force, the Mountain Top has a defined bottom out force of 50 grams, but the bottom out force for the Mahjong switch is unavailable. Therefore, we cannot directly compare these two switches on that aspect. However, based on the known values, the Gateron Mountain Top is the lighter switch overall due to its lower actuation force, while the Dareu Mahjong offers a slightly heavier experience. Users seeking a more substantial typing feel may prefer the Mahjong, while those looking for a lighter, easier to actuate switch might gravitate towards the Mountain Top.
Travel distance
The travel distances of the Dareu Mahjong linear switch and the Gateron Mountain Top linear switch are both identical at 3.4 mm, meaning that users will experience similar keypress feedback with both switches. Since the travel distance is the same, you can expect equivalent results in terms of how far the key travels from the top to the bottom when pressed. This consistency in travel distance can provide a similar typing feel, making the decision between these two switches largely dependent on other factors such as actuation force or sound profile.
Price comparison
Which switch is more bang for your buck?
The Dareu Mahjong has an MSRP of $8.89 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Mahjong for $5.79.
The Gateron Mountain Top comes in at $6.00 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
In terms of sound, both the Dareu Mahjong linear switch and the Gateron Mountain Top linear switch exhibit a neutral sound profile. The Mahjong switch is characterized by its lively, poppy sound signature, which can be quite engaging for typists. On the other hand, the Mountain Top switches prioritize discretion with a quiet, yet still audible typing experience, making them more suitable for professional environments. While both provide a moderate sound that caters to a variety of settings—be it home or office—the Mahjong might be perceived as slightly more pronounced during use, whereas the Mountain Top aims for a subtler auditory presence.
When considering the feel of these switches, both the Mahjong and Mountain Top exhibit a bouncy nature, delivering a spring-like feedback that provides a lively typing sensation. The Mahjong switches are noted for being polished, which enhances their smoothness and reduces friction during key presses. This results in a refined typing experience that many users appreciate. Conversely, the Mountain Top switches are designed to be easy-to-press, emphasizing gentle resistance and minimal effort required for actuation, making them comfortable for extended writing sessions. Additionally, the Mountain Top switches feature a more extensive variety of descriptors, indicating that while both switches offer mild typing experiences, the Mountain Top can cater to a broader range of preferences with its snappy and subtle characteristics.
In conclusion, both the Dareu Mahjong and the Gateron Mountain Top linear switches have their unique appeals, with the former being more vibrant in sound and polished in feel, while the latter excels in quietness and user-friendly actuation. Users can expect a pleasant typing experience from either switch, but their specific environments and needs may influence their choice. If you're interested in a switch that brings lively energy, the Mahjong is a great choice. In contrast, if discretion is your priority, the Mountain Top will serve you well, providing similar levels of comfort and responsiveness while minimizing auditory impact.
Conclusion
To conclude, choosing between the Dareu Mahjong linear switch and the Gateron Mountain Top linear switch ultimately depends on your specific typing preferences and the environment in which you plan to use them. If you appreciate a lively and poppy sound, combined with a bouncy and polished feel during your typing experience, the Mahjong switches will likely suit you well—ideal for home use or creative settings where the unique aesthetic and sound can shine. Conversely, if you find yourself in an office environment needing a quieter yet responsive solution, the Mountain Top switches would be the better choice. Their easy-to-press mechanism and subtle sound profile facilitate unobtrusive typing, reducing distractions during long working hours. Overall, both switches offer a mild and approachable typing experience, but your final decision should align with how you prioritize sound, feel, and the nature of your typing environment.
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