Durock Piano vs. Everglide Sakura Pink
An in-depth look at the Durock Piano and the Everglide Sakura Pink switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When it comes to choosing a mechanical keyboard switch, two options that stand out are the Durock Piano and the Everglide Sakura Pink, both of which are linear switches. The Durock Piano is praised for its proprietary material blend, resulting in one of the most pleasant typing experiences. Users can expect a gliding push feel and a deep, creamy sound signature, making it ideal for those who appreciate bassy and frictionless switches. On the other hand, the Sakura Pink switches from Everglide are renowned for their super-light 35g actuation force, perfect for delicate typists. Similar to the Durock Piano, it offers a gliding type feel and frictionless operation, ensuring a smooth and effortless typing experience. Additionally, the Sakura Pinks produce a delightful poppy sound, reminiscent of popping bubble wrap, adding a playful touch to your keyboarding sessions. However, let's dive in a bit deeper beyond these generalities so you can best decide on the switch that suits you.
By the numbers
Technical specifications
Actuation force
N/A
Actuation force
35g
Bottom-out force
63.5g
Bottom-out force
45g
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Total travel
4.00 mm
Total travel
4.00 mm
Factory lubed
No
Factory lubed
Yes
Stem construction
Standard
Stem construction
Standard
Stem material
Mystery material
Stem material
POM
Top housing material
Proprietary POM blend
Top housing material
Polycarbonate
Bottom housing material
Proprietary POM blend
Bottom housing material
Polycarbonate
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Spring
Gold-plated
Spring
Stainless steel
Housing materials
The housing materials of the Durock Piano and the Everglide Sakura Pink switches have some key differences. The Piano features a proprietary POM blend for both its top and bottom housing, while the Sakura Pink utilizes polycarbonate for both housings. In terms of sound profile, the Piano's POM blend offers a uniquely satisfying and deep sound, while the Sakura Pink's polycarbonate creates a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound. This difference in sound can be attributed to the stiffness of polycarbonate, leading to a more clear and resonant profile. If aesthetics are a consideration, the Sakura Pink's translucency makes it ideal for switches used with RGB lighting. Overall, the choice between these two switches will come down to personal preference for sound and visual appeal.
Although the housing materials of the Durock Piano and the Everglide Sakura Pink differ, they do share some similarities in terms of sound profile. Both switches offer satisfying and deep sound characteristics, albeit with some variation. The proprietary POM blend of the Piano provides a uniquely satisfying sound, while the polycarbonate housing of the Sakura Pink contributes to a sharper and crisper sound. In terms of functionality, both switches deliver a high-quality experience. However, the Sakura Pink's translucent polycarbonate housing makes it a suitable choice for those interested in using RGB lighting. Ultimately, individuals can expect comparable results in terms of switch performance, but with slight variations in sound and visual aesthetics.
When it comes to the Durock Piano and the Everglide Sakura Pink switches, the housing materials play a significant role in determining the overall sound experience. The Piano utilizes a proprietary POM blend for both its top and bottom housing, resulting in a satisfying and deep sound profile. In contrast, the Sakura Pink employs polycarbonate for its top and bottom housing, leading to a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound. The stiffer nature of polycarbonate contributes to a more clear and resonant sound. Additionally, the Sakura Pink's translucency offers an advantage for those interested in utilizing RGB lighting effects. Despite the differences in housing materials, both switches are designed to deliver a high-quality typing experience.
Weight
When comparing the Durock Piano linear switch and the Everglide Sakura Pink linear switch, there are notable differences in their actuation force and bottom out force. The actuation force of the Piano switch is currently unavailable, making it difficult to directly compare it to the Sakura Pink's actuation force of 35 grams, which is relatively light. However, the bottom out force of the Piano switch is 63.5 grams, indicating a medium-heavy pressure required to fully press the keys. In contrast, the Sakura Pink has a lighter bottom out force of 45 grams.
Considering the weight of the switches, those who prefer a lighter typing experience may be inclined towards the Sakura Pink, as its lower actuation and bottom out forces allow for a more effortless keystroke. This lightweight characteristic could be particularly beneficial for individuals who type for extended periods or engage in long gaming sessions. However, for those seeking a more substantial and tactile typing feel, the Piano switch's higher bottom out force might be more suitable. The additional force required to fully press the keys on the Piano switch may provide a satisfying and responsive typing experience for users who enjoy a stronger push feel. In this way, both switches offer distinct options for different user preferences.
Overall, while the actuation force of the Durock Piano linear switch remains unknown, the contrast in their bottom out forces is apparent. The Piano switch leans towards the heavier side with a medium-heavy bottom out force, while the Sakura Pink offers a lighter typing experience with a lower bottom out force. Ultimately, the choice between the two would depend on whether the user values a lighter touch or a more robust typing sensation.
Travel distance
The travel distance of a switch is a critical factor to consider when choosing a keyboard. In the case of the Durock Piano linear switch and the Everglide Sakura Pink linear switch, both switches have a travel distance of 4 mm. This means that when you press down on a key equipped with either of these switches, you will experience the same tactile feedback and the same distance traveled from top to bottom. Therefore, whether you opt for the Durock Piano or the Everglide Sakura Pink, you can expect similar results in terms of travel distance. Both switches offer an identical experience in this aspect, leaving you to make your choice based on other factors such as sound, smoothness, or overall typing experience.
Price comparison
Which switch is more bang for your buck?
The Durock Piano has an MSRP of $6.70 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Piano for $5.57.
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
When it comes to sound, the Durock Piano linear switch is best characterized as having a deep and creamy sound. It offers a lower frequency range that resembles the depth and richness associated with bass tones. On the other hand, the Everglide Sakura Pink linear switch produces a softer and quieter sound, described as muted. It minimizes the noise typically associated with mechanical keyboards. Both switches provide unique sound profiles that can enhance the overall typing experience. Depending on your personal preferences and the other components of your keyboard setup, such as the board and keycaps, you can achieve different sound outcomes. However, if you're seeking a similar sound to the Sakura Pink's muted profile, you can easily achieve it by using dampening materials or placing the switches on a thick plate to absorb and reduce the sound.
In terms of feel, the Durock Piano linear switch offers a gliding push feel and is described as frictionless and silky. It provides an exceptionally smooth and effortless typing experience, minimizing resistance and friction when pressing the keys. Similarly, the Everglide Sakura Pink linear switch is characterized as offering a gliding type feel with frictionless operation. It provides a smooth and effortless typing experience, just like its Piano counterpart. Additionally, the Sakura Pink switch is described as creamy and buttery, offering a seamless and uniform typing sensation. It enhances the smoothness of the typing feel, making it feel like you're gliding your fingers across the keys with ease. Both switches offer an easy-to-press nature, requiring minimal force to activate and reducing finger fatigue during extended typing sessions. The typing experience provided by these switches is low-impact and responsive, ensuring comfort and effortless typing.
Considering the available information, the Durock Piano linear switch is best known for its proprietary material blend, providing a pleasant typing experience with a deep and creamy sound. The switch offers a gliding push feel, characterized by a frictionless and silky nature. On the other hand, the Everglide Sakura Pink linear switch stands out with its super light actuation force, making it perfect for delicate typists. It offers a smooth and effortless typing experience, with a gliding type feel and frictionless operation. The Sakura Pink switch also produces a playful and poppy sound, reminiscent of bubble wrap being popped. Although they have some subjective differences in sound and feel, both switches excel in providing smoothness and an enjoyable typing experience. Depending on personal preferences, you can achieve similar results in sound and feel by adjusting other factors such as keyboard materials and keycap choices.
Conclusion
To sum up, if you are looking for a medium-heavy switch with a deep and creamy sound profile, and you prioritize a frictionless and silky typing experience, the Durock Piano linear switch would be a great choice for you. It offers a gliding push feel and a smooth and effortless typing experience with its proprietary material blend. On the other hand, if you prefer a lighter switch with a delightful poppy sound and easy-to-press keys, the Everglide Sakura Pink linear switch is the way to go. With a feather-light actuation force and a frictionless operation, these switches provide a smooth and effortless typing experience, ideal for delicate typists. Additionally, the Sakura Pink switches produce a playfully satisfying sound reminiscent of bubble wrap being popped. Ultimately, the decision depends on your personal preferences and priorities in terms of bottom out force, sound profile, and typing feel.
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