KTT Mint vs. Gazzew U4Tx

Overview

When it comes to mechanical keyboard switches, two popular options that often come up in discussions are the KTT Mint and the Gazzew U4Tx. The Mint is a linear switch that is known for its satisfyingly smooth typing experience. With its long pole stem, it offers a poppy thockiness, accompanied by a light and fleeting type feel. On the other hand, the U4Tx is a tactile switch that combines the best of both worlds. It features a cleaner and refined sound profile, with a deep, resonant "thock" when bottoming out and a whisper-quiet stealth when topping out. The U4Tx provides a sharp tactile bump, ensuring a luxurious typing experience that is both acoustically pleasing and tactile. While these general descriptions can give you a good starting point, let's dive deeper beyond generalities to help you decide on the best switch for your needs.

By the numbers

KTT Mint Linear

Gazzew U4Tx Tactile

$2.91 per 10

$6.50 per 10

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Housing materials

The housing materials of the KTT Mint and the Gazzew U4Tx switches differ in several ways. The Mint utilizes a polycarbonate top housing, which provides a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound profile. This is due to polycarbonate being a stiffer plastic, resulting in a clear and resonant sound. Additionally, the polycarbonate top housing is ideal for RGB lighting due to its translucency. On the other hand, the U4Tx features a proprietary Gazzew blend top housing, sometimes referred to as "boba plastic," which offers a rich and deep sound profile. The softness of this blend contributes to a unique auditory experience.

Moving on to the bottom housings, the Mint employs a nylon material that elicits a deeper and fuller sound profile. Nylon is a softer plastic that absorbs more sound, creating a duller and rounder tone. In contrast, the Gazzew U4Tx utilizes its proprietary Gazzew blend bottom housing, also known as "boba plastic." Similar to the top housing, this material's softness results in a rich and deep sound profile.

While the two switches have different housing materials, their respective qualities are divided between the top and bottom of the switch. When pressing down on the switch, the characteristics of the bottom housing, such as the impact on the bottom-out sound and feel, are noticeable. Conversely, the sound when releasing a key is largely influenced by the top housing. Despite these differences, both switches provide unique auditory experiences through their housing materials.

Weight

When comparing the actuation force and bottom out force of the KTT Mint linear switch and the Gazzew U4Tx tactile switch, several differences and similarities become apparent. Starting with the actuation force, the Mint requires 45 grams of force to trigger a keystroke, while the U4Tx's actuation force is unknown. This means that for individuals who prefer a lighter feel, the Mint would be the more suitable choice. However, since the actuation force of the U4Tx is unavailable, it is difficult to determine how it compares in this aspect. Moving on to the bottom out force, the Mint has a bottom out force of 53 grams, which falls within the medium-light range. In contrast, the U4Tx has a bottom out force of 65 grams, categorizing it as medium-heavy. This indicates that the U4Tx provides a more substantial typing experience for those who prefer a stronger push feel. Additionally, the Mint and U4Tx differ in terms of weight as well, with the Mint being lighter than the U4Tx. Ultimately, the choice between the two switches will depend on individual preferences, with the Mint offering a lighter actuation and bottom out force, while the U4Tx provides a heavier and more substantial typing experience.

Travel distance

The travel distance of the KTT Mint linear switch is 4.0 mm, while the travel distance of the Gazzew U4Tx tactile switch is 3.6 mm. With a travel distance of 4.0 mm, the Mint provides a more traditional and deeper key press experience. On the other hand, the U4Tx offers a slightly shallower travel distance at 3.6 mm. This makes it a suitable choice for those who prefer a shorter travel distance and quicker response times, which is particularly favored by gamers. However, some individuals may find the shorter travel distance of the U4Tx to feel too abrupt. Ultimately, the choice between the two switches will depend on personal preference and whether you prioritize a deeper or shallower key press experience.

Price comparison

Typing experience

When it comes to sound, the KTT Mint linear switch provides a low-pitched and neutral sound profile. The low-pitched nature of these switches offers a bass-heavy and mellow tone, resulting in a satisfying sound during key presses. The neutral sound profile ensures a moderate volume level, making these switches suitable for various settings, whether you're a beginner or advanced user. On the other hand, the Gazzew U4Tx tactile switch offers a bassy and muted sound profile. The deeper and richer sound of these switches resembles the depth and richness associated with bass tones, providing a satisfying acoustic experience. Additionally, the muted sound of the U4Tx ensures a softer and quieter typing experience, minimizing the noise typically linked with mechanical keyboards. However, it's important to note that the sound produced by these switches can also be influenced by factors such as the keyboard layout and keycaps chosen.

In terms of feel, the KTT Mint linear switch offers a mild and polished typing experience. The mild nature of these switches provides a gentle typing feel, suitable for a wide range of users. The switch's qualities stand in a safe and middle-ground zone, ensuring approachability and comfort. In addition, the polished finish of the Mint switch enhances the typing experience by reducing friction and offering smooth key travel. On the other hand, the Gazzew U4Tx tactile switch provides a sharp tactile feel. These switches are known for their high feedback intensity, with a strong and crisp tactile bump that can be distinctly felt with each keystroke. This tactile feedback adds to the overall typing experience, allowing for precise and satisfying key presses.

Taking all the available information into account, the Mint linear switch and the U4Tx tactile switch offer distinct subjective qualities. The Mint switch provides a satisfyingly smooth linear feel, accompanied by a light and fleeting typing experience. The sound profile of the Mint switch is low-pitched and neutral, offering a mellow tone suitable for most users. On the other hand, the U4Tx switch combines the benefits of a cleaner and refined sound profile with a satisfying tactile feedback. The U4Tx switch produces a deep and resonant "thock" when bottoming out, while maintaining a whisper-quiet sound when topping out. The sharp tactile bump of the U4Tx ensures a luxurious typing experience. So if you're looking for a smooth linear switch with a light touch and moderate sound, the Mint is a great choice. On the other hand, if you prefer a switch that combines a refined sound profile with a satisfying tactile feedback, the U4Tx is the way to go. Overall, both switches offer unique characteristics that will enhance your typing experience.

Conclusion

In closing, when deciding between the KTT Mint linear switch and the Gazzew U4Tx tactile switch, it ultimately comes down to your personal preferences and typing style. The Mint switch, with its medium-light bottom out force and satisfyingly smooth linear feel, is a great choice if you prefer a lighter typing experience with a poppy thockiness. It also offers a neutral sound profile, which makes it suitable for various environments and purposes.

On the other hand, if you value a cleaner, refined sound profile and a luxurious typing experience, the Gazzew U4Tx tactile switch is worth considering. With a medium-heavy bottom out force and a combination of deep "thock" and whisper-quiet topping out, these switches provide a sharp, satisfying tactile bump while minimizing noise. The U4Tx switch is particularly known for its sharp tactile feedback, which adds a high level of intensity to each keystroke.

Ultimately, it's important to choose the switch that aligns with your preferences in terms of force, sound, and feel. Whether you lean towards the Mint's smooth linear action or the U4Tx's unique blend of tactile feedback and refined sound, both switches offer their own set of advantages. Experimentation and finding the switch that truly enhances your typing experience is key.

Mentioned in this article

KTT Mint Linear

$2.91 per 10

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Gazzew U4Tx Tactile

$6.50 per 10

Learn more