KTT Mint vs. Gateron Smoothie Silver
An in-depth look at the KTT Mint and the Gateron Smoothie Silver switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
The KTT Mint and the Gateron Smoothie Silver are both linear mechanical keyboard switches that offer unique characteristics to enhance your typing experience. The mint is cherished for its satisfyingly smooth linear feel, long pole stem providing a poppy thockiness, and light and fleeting type feel. On the other hand, the smoothie silver stands out for its lightning-fast actuation with a short travel distance, thocky sound, unparalleled smoothness, and feather-light touch. While the mint is categorized as low-pitched, neutral, mild, and polished, the smoothie silver's categories are not provided. Let's dive in a bit deeper beyond generalities so you can best decide on the best switch for you.
By the numbers
Technical specifications
Actuation force
45g
Actuation force
45g
Bottom-out force
53g
Bottom-out force
N/A
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Pre-travel
1.20 mm
Total travel
4.00 mm
Total travel
3.40 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
POM
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Bottom housing material
POM
Mount type
Plate (3-pin)
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Spring
15mm spring
Spring
22mm extended double-stage spring
Housing materials
In comparing the housing materials of the KTT Mint and the Gateron Smoothie Silver, it is clear that they both prioritize sound profile in their design. The Mint's polycarbonate top housing creates a sharper and crisper sound profile, while the Smoothie Silver's POM top housing produces a deeper and more muted sound. This contrast in sound profile highlights the different material properties of polycarbonate and POM, with polycarbonate being relatively stiffer and POM being softer. While the Mint focuses on a clear and resonant sound with its polycarbonate top housing, the Smoothie Silver aims for a pleasing and unique sound with its POM top housing.
Similarly, the housing materials used for the bottom of these switches also play a crucial role in their overall sound profile. The Mint's nylon bottom housing produces a deeper and fuller sound, thanks to its relatively softer plastic that absorbs more sound. In comparison, the Smoothie Silver's POM bottom housing offers a similarly deep and muted sound profile. Both switches rely on the specific qualities of their bottom housing material to contribute to the overall typing experience. Despite the differences in material composition between nylon and POM, both bottom housings strive to create a more rounded and dull sound compared to the top housings.
Overall, while the KTT Mint and Gateron Smoothie Silver may use different housing materials for their top and bottom components, they both aim to provide a unique and enjoyable typing experience through their sound profiles. The Mint's use of polycarbonate and nylon creates a clear and resonant sound, while the Smoothie Silver's choice of POM for both top and bottom housings achieves a pleasing yet deeper tone. Despite the differences in material properties such as stiffness and absorption of sound, both switches ultimately seek to cater to individual preferences in sound and feel while typing.
Weight
When comparing the actuation force and bottom out force of the KTT Mint linear switch and the Gateron Smoothie Silver linear switch, it's clear that they have the same actuation force of 45 grams. However, the KTT Mint has a bottom out force of 53 grams, making it slightly heavier in comparison to the Gateron Smoothie Silver, whose bottom out force is unknown. The Mint switch provides a medium-light typing experience due to its slightly heavier bottom out force, whereas the Smoothie Silver's bottom out force is unspecified. For those who prefer a lighter typing feel, the Mint switch may be more suitable for extended typing sessions or gaming. On the other hand, individuals who prefer a stronger push feel may opt for a switch with a heavier bottom out force, although in this case, it is unclear how the Smoothie Silver compares in terms of bottom out force. Ultimately, the actuation and bottom out forces play a significant role in determining the typing experience and feel of a switch, catering to different preferences and needs of users.
Travel distance
The KTT Mint linear switch has a travel distance of 4 mm, while the Gateron Smoothie Silver linear switch has a travel distance of 3.4 mm. In this case, the Smoothie Silver has a shorter travel distance compared to the Mint. The Mint's 4 mm travel distance is more traditional, offering a bit more depth when pressing down on the key, which some users may find more satisfying. On the other hand, the Smoothie Silver's 3.4 mm travel distance provides a faster response time, making it a preferred choice for gamers or those looking for quick key presses. Both switches offer different travel distances catered to different preferences, so choosing between them ultimately depends on what type of typing experience you are looking for.
Price comparison
Which switch is more bang for your buck?
The Gateron Smoothie Silver has an MSRP of $3.00 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Smoothie Silver for $2.60.
The KTT Mint comes in at $2.91 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
When it comes to sound, the KTT Mint linear switch offers a low-pitched and neutral experience, providing a bass-heavy and mellow tone with a moderate actuation force requirement suitable for various uses. On the other hand, the Gateron Smoothie Silver linear switch's sound profile is not specified, but it is mentioned to feature a thocky sound, which suggests a deeper and more satisfying tone. Both switches can deliver a pleasing auditory experience, especially when paired with a compatible keyboard and keycaps.
In terms of feel, the KTT Mint linear switch is described as mild and polished, offering a gentle typing experience with smooth and refined key travel. This indicates that the Mint switch provides a comfortable and sleek typing feel, making it approachable to most users. The Gateron Smoothie Silver linear switch's feel is not detailed, but with its all-POM construction and lightning-fast actuation, it can be inferred that it offers a smooth and quick typing experience. Both switches seem to prioritize a smooth and comfortable typing feel, catering to users who value tactile feedback and responsiveness.
Overall, the KTT Mint linear switch and the Gateron Smoothie Silver linear switch both offer unique qualities in terms of sound and feel. While the Mint switch excels in providing a low-pitched and polished typing experience, the Smoothie Silver switch may offer a thocky sound and fast actuation. Ultimately, the decision between these two switches will depend on personal preference for sound profile and typing feel. Regardless of the choice, users can expect a satisfying and smooth typing experience from either switch option.
Conclusion
To sum up, when deciding between the KTT Mint linear switch and the Gateron Smoothie Silver linear switch, you should consider your preferences for typing experience. If you enjoy a smooth and satisfying typing experience with a light touch and a poppy thockiness, the Mint switch may be the right choice for you. On the other hand, if you prefer lightning-fast actuation with a thocky sound and feather-light touch, the Smoothie Silver switch could be more suitable. Ultimately, your decision should be based on your personal typing style and preferences for sound and feel.
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