Gateron Oil King (V2) vs. KTT Sea Salt Lemon
An in-depth look at the Gateron Oil King (V2) and the KTT Sea Salt Lemon switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
The Gateron Oil King and the KTT Sea Salt Lemon are both popular options for mechanical keyboard switches, specifically in the linear switch category. The Oil King is highly regarded for its buttery smoothness and a sound profile that evokes the satisfying snap of a dark chocolate bar. With a range of descriptors including low-pitched, creamy, silky, bassy, buttery, and polished, the Oil King offers a luxurious and refined typing experience. On the other hand, the Sea Salt Lemon, with its progressive spring and KTT's dry-lube design, provides a different kind of smoothness that is also highly desirable. Categorized as low-pitched, neutral, and mild, the Sea Salt Lemon delivers a gentle and consistent typing experience. Both switches have their unique characteristics and devotees, making them compelling choices for discerning keyboard enthusiasts. However, let's dive in a bit deeper beyond these generalities so that you can best decide on the switch that suits your preferences and needs.
By the numbers
Technical specifications
Actuation force
55g
Actuation force
45g
Bottom-out force
65g
Bottom-out force
53g
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Total travel
4.00 mm
Total travel
4.00 mm
Factory lubed
Yes
Factory lubed
No
Stem construction
Standard
Stem construction
Standard
Stem material
POM
Stem material
POM
Top housing material
Nylon
Top housing material
Polycarbonate
Bottom housing material
Proprietary INK blend
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Mount type
Plate (3-pin)
Spring
Color coated
Spring
13mm progressive spring
Housing materials
The Gateron Oil King and the KTT Sea Salt Lemon differ in their choice of housing materials. The Oil King utilizes a nylon top housing, which results in a deeper and fuller sound profile. This is because nylon is a softer plastic that absorbs more sound, creating a duller and rounder sound. In contrast, the Sea Salt Lemon employs a polycarbonate top housing, producing a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound profile. Polycarbonate is a stiffer plastic that leads to a clearer and resonant sound. While the two materials create distinct sound profiles, they both offer unique qualities that enhance the typing experience.
Another difference between the Oil King and the Sea Salt Lemon lies in their bottom housing materials. The Oil King features a proprietary INK blend bottom housing, known for its pointed and relatively high-pitched sound profile. This results in a satisfying and clacky sound when typing. On the other hand, the Sea Salt Lemon utilizes a nylon bottom housing, which shares similarities with the nylon top housing of the Oil King. Both nylon housings contribute to a deeper and fuller sound profile, creating a more rounded and duller sound.
When considering the overall impact on sound and feel, it's important to note that the bottom housing of a switch has a greater influence on the bottom-out sound and feel when pressing down on a key. Meanwhile, the top housing plays a larger role in the sound when releasing a key. This means that the choice of housing material in each switch will affect the typing experience in different ways, with the bottom housing contributing more to the overall feel and the top housing influencing the sound during key release. Although the Oil King and the Sea Salt Lemon have different housing materials, their respective nuances demonstrate how materials can be utilized to achieve a desired typing experience.
Weight
When comparing the actuation force and bottom out force of the Gateron Oil King linear switch and the KTT Sea Salt Lemon linear switch, there are distinct differences in the weight of the switches. The Oil King has a heavier actuation force of 55 grams and a heavier bottom out force of 65 grams, giving it a medium-heavy feel. In contrast, the Sea Salt Lemon has a lighter actuation force of 45 grams and a lighter bottom out force of 53 grams, resulting in a medium-light sensation.
Considering weight in switch selection is important for various reasons. A lighter switch, such as the Sea Salt Lemon with its lower actuation and bottom out forces, can be preferable for those who require extended typing sessions or engage in long gaming sessions. The lighter touch allows for less fatigue and strain on the fingers, enabling a more comfortable and efficient typing experience.
On the other hand, individuals seeking a more robust and substantial typing feel may lean towards switches with heavier forces like the Gateron Oil King. With its higher actuation and bottom out forces, the Oil King provides a stronger push, offering a tactile feedback that some typists find satisfying.
Overall, while the Gateron Oil King linear switch provides a heavier actuation and bottom out force, the KTT Sea Salt Lemon linear switch offers a lighter feel. Both switches cater to different preferences and typing requirements. Hence, depending on personal preference and individual typing styles, one can choose between these switches to achieve their desired typing experience.
Travel distance
The Gateron Oil King linear switch and the KTT Sea Salt Lemon linear switch have the same travel distance of 4 mm. This means that when you press down on a key with either of these switches, you will experience the same amount of distance traveled from the top to the bottom. Both switches offer a consistent and satisfying tactile feedback for users. So, whether you choose the Oil King or the Sea Salt Lemon, you can expect similar results in terms of their travel distance and overall typing experience.
Price comparison
Which switch is more bang for your buck?
For 10 switches, the Gateron Oil King (V2) comes in at $6.50, whereas the KTT Sea Salt Lemon comes in at $2.80.
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, the Gateron Oil King linear switch is known for its low-pitched and bassy characteristics. These switches produce a mellow and rich sound profile during key presses, reminiscent of a dark chocolate bar snapping. On the other hand, the KTT Sea Salt Lemon linear switch is also low-pitched, but its sound profile is described as neutral. This means that it has a moderate sound profile suitable for most purposes, whether you are a beginner or advanced, and whether you plan to use them at home or work. It's important to note that the sound of a switch can also be influenced by factors such as the keyboard you use and the keycaps you choose. However, based on the information provided, you can expect similar low-pitched characteristics from both switches, with the Oil King being slightly more bassy.
When it comes to feel, the Gateron Oil King linear switch offers a creamy, silky, buttery, and polished typing experience. These switches are known for their smooth and buttery sensation, allowing your fingers to effortlessly glide across the keys with ease. The typing feel is exceptionally smooth, minimizing resistance when pressing and releasing keys. The Sea Salt Lemon linear switch, on the other hand, is described as mild, offering a more gentle typing experience compared to switches with more pronounced characteristics. While the exact qualities of the Sea Salt Lemon switch are not explicitly mentioned, it can be inferred that it provides a comfortable and approachable typing feel without any extreme characteristics. In terms of feel, both switches provide a smooth typing experience, but the Gateron Oil King switch offers a more luxurious and refined sensation.
Taking all the available information into consideration, we can conclude that both the Gateron Oil King linear switch and the KTT Sea Salt Lemon linear switch offer a buttery smoothness and are known for providing a pleasant typing experience. In terms of sound, they share a low-pitched profile, with the Oil King being slightly more bassy. The feel of the Oil King switch is described as creamy, silky, buttery, and polished, offering a highly smooth and refined experience. The Sea Salt Lemon switch, although not explicitly described in terms of feel, offers a mild and gentle typing experience suitable for most users. Ultimately, both switches would be excellent choices for individuals seeking a smooth and enjoyable typing experience, with slight differences in sound and feel that can cater to personal preferences.
Conclusion
In closing, if you're looking for a linear switch with a medium-heavy bottom out force and a low-pitched, bassy sound profile, the Gateron Oil King switch is the perfect choice for you. These switches offer a buttery smooth typing experience that can be compared to the smoothness of a dark chocolate bar snapping. With their creamy, silky, and polished feel, typing on the Oil King switches feels like gliding your fingers effortlessly across the keys.
On the other hand, if you prefer a linear switch with a medium-light bottom out force and a low-pitched, neutral sound profile, the KTT Sea Salt Lemon switch is the ideal option. These switches provide a buttery smooth typing experience, thanks to their progressive spring and dry-lube design. The Sea Salt Lemon switches offer a mild typing experience that is approachable to most users.
Overall, both the Gateron Oil King and KTT Sea Salt Lemon switches are fantastic choices, each with its unique qualities. Consider your preferences for bottom out force, sound profile, and typing feel to determine which of these switches aligns best with your needs and preferences.
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