Durock Mamba vs. Haimu Neo White
An in-depth look at the Durock Mamba and the Haimu Neo White switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
The Durock Mamba and Haimu Neo White are both excellent options for those in search of a linear mechanical keyboard switch. The Durock Mamba is praised for its smooth typing sensation and rich auditory experience, providing a pleasant typing experience. On the other hand, the Haimu Neo White offers a distinctive typing feel with its medium weight and smooth actuation thanks to the use of a Ly stem. The Mamba is categorized as mild, neutral, thocky, polished, while the Neo White falls under mild and neutral. Each switch has its own unique characteristics that may appeal to different users depending on their preferences. Let's dive a bit deeper beyond generalities to help you decide on the best switch for you.
By the numbers
Technical specifications
Actuation force
N/A
Actuation force
N/A
Bottom-out force
60g
Bottom-out force
58g
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Total travel
3.50 mm
Total travel
3.60 mm
Factory lubed
Yes
Factory lubed
Yes
Stem construction
Standard
Stem construction
Standard
Stem material
Ly
Stem material
Ly
Top housing material
Polymer nylon and UHMWPE blend
Top housing material
Polycarbonate
Bottom housing material
POM
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Spring
Extended long spring
Spring
Double-staged spring
Housing materials
The Durock Mamba and the Haimu Neo White both utilize unique materials for their top and bottom housings, resulting in different sound profiles. The Mamba's polymer nylon and UHMWPE blend top housing provides a bright and pleasant sound, while the Neo White's polycarbonate top housing creates a sharper and crisper sound. The translucency of polycarbonate also makes it ideal for switches with RGB lighting, giving it an aesthetic advantage. In contrast, the Mamba's POM bottom housing offers a deeper and more muted sound, while the Neo White's nylon bottom housing produces a fuller and rounder sound due to its softer plastic composition.
Despite their differences in housing materials, the Durock Mamba and the Haimu Neo White both aim to provide a unique typing experience with their sound profiles. The Mamba's blend of polymer nylon and UHMWPE in the top housing creates a distinctive sound that is bright yet not sharp, while the POM bottom housing adds depth and muteness to the overall typing experience. On the other hand, the Neo White's polycarbonate top housing delivers a sharper and higher-pitched sound, complemented by the nylon bottom housing's ability to produce a fuller and rounder sound. These differences in sound profiles cater to different preferences among keyboard enthusiasts.
Overall, the choice between the Durock Mamba and the Haimu Neo White ultimately comes down to personal preferences in sound profiles and aesthetics. While the Mamba offers a unique blend of materials for both top and bottom housings, providing a pleasant and deep sound profile, the Neo White focuses on a sharper and crisper sound with its polycarbonate top housing and nylon bottom housing. Both switches offer a high-quality typing experience, with the top and bottom housings contributing to different aspects of the overall sound and feel. Whether you prefer a brighter sound with the Mamba or a sharper sound with the Neo White, both switches are designed to enhance your typing experience in their own unique ways.
Weight
When comparing the actuation force and bottom out force of the Durock Mamba linear switch and the Haimu Neo White linear switch, it's clear that both switches have a similar medium bottom out force, with the Mamba requiring 60 grams and the Neo White requiring 58 grams. However, the actuation force for both switches is listed as None grams, indicating that this information is unknown. In terms of weight, the Mamba is slightly heavier with a bottom out force of 60 grams compared to the Neo White's 58 grams. Weight is an important factor to consider when choosing a switch, as lighter switches are preferred by some for longer typing or gaming sessions, while heavier switches provide a more substantial typing experience. Overall, while the bottom out forces are similar, the slight difference in weight may impact the typing experience for some users.
Travel distance
The Durock Mamba linear switch has a travel distance of 3.5 mm, which is slightly shorter than the 3.6 mm travel distance of the Haimu Neo White linear switch. Both switches fall within the range of shorter travel distances, which are popular among gamers for their faster response times. The difference of 0.1 mm between the two switches may not be noticeable to all users, but those who prefer a slightly shorter travel distance may opt for the Mamba, while those who prefer a slightly longer travel distance may choose the Neo White. Ultimately, both switches offer similar results in terms of travel distance, providing users with a smooth typing or gaming experience.
Price comparison
Which switch is more bang for your buck?
The Durock Mamba has an MSRP of $6.50 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Mamba for $5.17.
The Haimu Neo White comes in at $2.70 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 Durock Mamba and the Haimu Neo White are described as having a neutral sound profile, making them suitable for a wide range of users and environments. The Mamba offers a thocky sound, which provides a deep and satisfying auditory experience, while the Neo White offers a more standard neutral sound. The choice of keycaps and keyboard setup can also influence the sound produced by these switches.
When it comes to feel, both switches are described as providing a mild typing experience, making them gentle and approachable for most users. The Mamba switch is noted for its polished feel, offering a smooth and refined typing sensation, likely due to factory lubing or high-quality materials. Meanwhile, the Neo White switch is known for its medium weight and slightly reduced total travel, resulting in a distinctive typing feel that is smooth and satisfying.
Overall, both the Durock Mamba and Haimu Neo White linear switches offer users a smooth and enjoyable typing experience with their unique qualities in sound and feel. Whether you choose the Mamba for its thocky sound and polished feel, or the Neo White for its distinctive typing experience, you can expect similar results in terms of overall performance and satisfaction. Ultimately, the choice between these two switches may come down to personal preference and typing style.
Conclusion
In closing, when deciding between the Durock Mamba linear switch and the Haimu Neo White linear switch, consider the following guidelines. Choose the Durock Mamba if you prefer a slightly heavier bottom out force and enjoy a gliding typing sensation with a rich auditory experience. This switch is also a great option if you appreciate a neutral sound profile that can be described as thocky and a mild feel that is polished. On the other hand, opt for the Haimu Neo White if you prefer a slightly lighter bottom out force and a distinctive typing feel with a rare Ly stem for smooth actuation. This switch offers a neutral sound profile and a mild feel, providing a smooth and satisfying typing experience. Ultimately, your decision should be based on your personal preferences for typing experience and sound profile.
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