Durock Mamba vs. Everglide Sakura Pink
An in-depth look at the Durock Mamba and the Everglide Sakura Pink switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
The Durock Mamba and the Everglide Sakura Pink are both linear mechanical keyboard switches that offer unique typing experiences. The Mamba switches, paying tribute to Kobe Bryant, provide a gliding typing sensation and a rich and creamy auditory experience. With their neutral and mild characteristics, as well as thocky and polished feel, the Mamba switches offer a satisfying typing experience. On the other hand, the Sakura Pink switches are known for their super light 35g actuation force, making them perfect for delicate typists. These switches offer a gliding type feel and frictionless operation, ensuring a smooth and effortless typing experience. They also produce a delightful poppy sound, reminiscent of bubble wrap being popped, adding a playful touch to your keyboarding sessions. The Sakura Pink switches are categorized as buttery, creamy, easy-to-press, frictionless, and muted. Although these general pointers give you an idea of what to expect from each switch, let's dive in a bit deeper beyond these generalities so you can best decide on the perfect switch for you.
By the numbers
Technical specifications
Actuation force
N/A
Actuation force
35g
Bottom-out force
60g
Bottom-out force
45g
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Total travel
3.50 mm
Total travel
4.00 mm
Factory lubed
Yes
Factory lubed
Yes
Stem construction
Standard
Stem construction
Standard
Stem material
Ly
Stem material
POM
Top housing material
Polymer nylon and UHMWPE blend
Top housing material
Polycarbonate
Bottom housing material
POM
Bottom housing material
Polycarbonate
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Spring
Extended long spring
Spring
Stainless steel
Housing materials
The housing materials of the Durock Mamba and the Everglide Sakura Pink differ significantly in their composition. The Mamba's top housing is made of a unique blend of Polymer nylon and UHMWPE. This blend offers a pleasant and bright sound profile that is not overly sharp. In contrast, the Sakura Pink features a polycarbonate top housing, which creates a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound profile. The stiffer nature of polycarbonate contributes to a clearer and more resonant sound. While both materials provide distinct sound profiles, the Mamba's blend offers a mellower tone, whereas the Sakura Pink's polycarbonate offers a more vibrant and defined sound.
Moving to the bottom housing, the Mamba incorporates a POM material. POM housings result in an incredibly pleasing sound with a deeper tone that is relatively muted. In comparison, the Sakura Pink utilizes a polycarbonate bottom housing, providing a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound. Just like in the top housing, the stiffer nature of polycarbonate contributes to a more clear and resonant sound in the bottom housing as well. While both materials create unique sound profiles, the Mamba's POM bottom housing creates a deeper and more muffled sound, while the Sakura Pink's polycarbonate offers a brighter and more pronounced sound.
Although the housing materials of these switches differ, it is worth noting that they both utilize polycarbonate in at least one of their housings. Polycarbonate is known for its stiffer nature, which results in a clearer and more resonant sound profile. Additionally, the translucency of polycarbonate makes it especially beneficial for switches that plan to incorporate RGB lighting. Therefore, if you are seeking a switch with a sharper and more vibrant sound, both the Mamba's polycarbonate top housing and the Sakura Pink's polycarbonate bottom housing can provide similar results. However, if you prefer a mellower sound with a deeper tone, the Mamba's unique blend of Polymer nylon and UHMWPE in the top housing along with the POM material in the bottom housing would be more suitable.
Weight
When comparing the actuation force and bottom out force of the Durock Mamba linear switch and the Everglide Sakura Pink linear switch, there are notable differences between the two. The actuation force of the Mamba is unfortunately not provided, while the Sakura Pink has a light actuation force of 35 grams. This means that the Sakura Pink requires a gentle touch to trigger a keystroke, making it ideal for those who prefer a lighter typing experience. On the other hand, the Mamba has a bottom out force of 60 grams, indicating that it provides a more substantial and satisfying push feel when pressing the keys all the way down.
Considering weight, some individuals may prefer a lighter switch for longer typing sessions or extended gaming sessions where finger fatigue could be a concern. In this regard, the Sakura Pink would be a suitable choice due to its lighter actuation force. However, for those who enjoy a stronger push feel and desire a more substantial typing experience, the Mamba's heavier bottom out force would be more appealing.
In conclusion, while the actuation force of the Mamba remains unknown, the Sakura Pink offers a lighter actuation force ideal for extended typing or gaming sessions. Conversely, the Mamba provides a heavier bottom out force, giving typists a more satisfying and substantial feel when pressing the keys all the way down. Choosing between the two switches ultimately depends on personal preference and the desired typing experience.
Travel distance
The travel distances of the Durock Mamba linear switch and the Everglide Sakura Pink linear switch provide an interesting contrast. The Mamba has a travel distance of 3.5 mm, while the Sakura Pink has a slightly longer travel distance of 4 mm. In terms of traditional standards, the Sakura Pink aligns more closely with the common 4.0 mm travel distance, while the Mamba offers a slightly shallower feel. Gamers, who prioritize faster response times, often opt for switches with shorter travel distances. In this case, the Mamba would be the preferred choice. However, individuals who value a deeper key press experience may find the Sakura Pink more suitable due to its longer travel distance. Ultimately, the choice between the two switches depends on personal preference and whether one prioritizes speed or depth in their 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 Everglide Sakura Pink has an MSRP of $6.86 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Sakura Pink for $3.89.
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 Durock Mamba linear switch is known for its gliding typing sensation and rich and creamy auditory experience, providing a pleasant and immersive typing experience. The sound profile of the Mamba can be described as neutral, which means it has a moderate sound profile suitable for various purposes, whether you are a beginner or an advanced typist, and whether you use it at home or work. The feel of the Mamba switch is mild and polished, offering a gentle typing experience with reduced friction and smooth key travel. The switch has a smooth and refined finish, resulting in a sleek and comfortable typing feel.
On the other hand, the Everglide Sakura Pink linear switch is best known for its super light actuation force of 35g, making it perfect for delicate typists. It offers a gliding type feel and frictionless operation, providing a smooth and effortless typing experience. The Sakura Pink switch produces a delightfully poppy sound, resembling the sound of popping bubble wrap, adding a playful touch to your typing sessions. The sound profile of the Sakura Pink switch can be described as muted, which means it produces a softer and quieter sound compared to regular or clacky switches, minimizing the noise typically associated with mechanical keyboards.
In conclusion, both the Durock Mamba linear switch and the Everglide Sakura Pink linear switch offer subjective qualities that enhance the typing experience. The Mamba provides a rich and creamy auditory experience with a gliding typing sensation, while the Sakura Pink offers a smooth and effortless typing experience with a poppy sound. Although they have different sound profiles, they both deliver enjoyable typing experiences. Depending on personal preferences, you can choose the Mamba for a neutral sound and polished feel or the Sakura Pink for a muted sound and a buttery, easy-to-press, and frictionless feel.
Conclusion
To sum up, if you prefer a medium bottom out force and a neutral sound profile, the Durock Mamba linear switch would be a great choice for you. It offers a gliding typing sensation and a rich and creamy auditory experience. The Mamba switch is also described as having a mild and polished feel, providing a smooth and refined typing experience with reduced friction and smooth key travel.
On the other hand, if you prefer a lighter switch with a bottom out force of 45 grams and a muted sound profile, the Everglide Sakura Pink linear switch is the way to go. These switches offer a feather-light actuation force of 35 grams, making them perfect for delicate typists. The Sakura Pinks provide a gliding type feel and a frictionless operation, resulting in a smooth and effortless typing experience. They also produce a delightfully poppy sound, adding a playful touch to your keyboarding sessions.
Ultimately, your choice between the Durock Mamba and the Everglide Sakura Pink will depend on your preference for bottom out force, sound profile, and typing feel. Consider the characteristics that align with your typing style and personal preferences to make the best decision. Happy typing!
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