SP-Star RedBlue vs. Gateron Silent Ink Black
An in-depth look at the SP-Star RedBlue and the Gateron Silent Ink Black switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When it comes to choosing a mechanical keyboard switch, two popular options to consider are the SP-Star RedBlue and the Gateron Silent Ink Black. The RedBlue is best known for providing a medium-light typing experience, making it a great choice for those who prefer a balance between key resistance and ease of use. Its sound profile is relatively higher-pitched, adding a touch of uniqueness to each keystroke. On the other hand, the Silent Ink Black is perfect for environments where quieter typing is necessary. This switch offers a plush, cushion-like bottom-out feel, ensuring a comfortable typing experience even during extended usage. While both switches have their standout features, let's dig a little deeper and explore their specific qualities to help you decide which switch is best suited for your needs.
By the numbers
Technical specifications
Actuation force
N/A
Actuation force
60g
Bottom-out force
57g
Bottom-out force
70g
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
Yes
Stem construction
Standard
Stem construction
Standard
Stem material
POM
Stem material
POM
Top housing material
Polycarbonate
Top housing material
Proprietary INK blend
Bottom housing material
Polycarbonate
Bottom housing material
Proprietary INK blend
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Spring
Gold plated
Spring
Color coated
Housing materials
The housing materials of the SP-Star RedBlue and the Gateron Silent Ink Black differ in terms of their composition. The RedBlue utilizes polycarbonate for both its top and bottom housings, while the Silent Ink Black features Gateron's proprietary INK blend for both its top and bottom housings. Polycarbonate is known for its stiffness, creating a clear and resonant sound profile in both the top and bottom housings of the RedBlue. On the other hand, the INK blend in the Silent Ink Black produces a slightly higher-pitched and clacky sound, providing a unique and satisfying typing experience.
In terms of aesthetics, both switches offer different advantages. The RedBlue's polycarbonate top housing allows for translucency, making it ideal for users planning to utilize RGB lighting. This adds a visually pleasing element to the switch, enhancing the overall look of the keyboard. Conversely, the Silent Ink Black's top housing, featuring the INK blend, provides a distinct appearance without the transparency of polycarbonate. While it may not be as visually striking as the RedBlue, it still offers a unique and clean look to the keyboard.
When it comes to the tactile experience, the housing materials play a crucial role. While both switches offer a higher-pitched sound profile, especially in the top housing, their characteristics differ slightly. The RedBlue, with its polycarbonate bottom housing, impacts the bottom-out sound and feel, adding a sharper and crisper sensation to each keystroke. In contrast, the Silent Ink Black's INK blend bottom housing contributes to a pointed and relatively high-pitched sound, creating a "clacky" typing experience. Therefore, depending on the user's preference, the RedBlue may provide a more clear and resonant feeling, while the Silent Ink Black offers a distinctive and satisfying clackiness.
In summary, the housing materials of the SP-Star RedBlue and the Gateron Silent Ink Black provide distinct qualities to their respective switches. While the RedBlue utilizes polycarbonate for both top and bottom housings, creating a sharper and higher-pitched sound, the Silent Ink Black features Gateron's INK blend for a relatively high-pitched yet not overly sharp sound profile. Both switches offer unique aesthetics, with the RedBlue's translucent polycarbonate top housing enhancing the RGB lighting experience, and the Silent Ink Black's INK blend top housing providing a clean and distinct appearance. Ultimately, the tactile experience differs as well, with the RedBlue's polycarbonate bottom housing adding clarity and resonance, and the Silent Ink Black's INK blend bottom housing offering a satisfying clackiness.
Weight
When comparing the SP-Star RedBlue linear switch and the Gateron Silent Ink Black linear switch, it is evident that they differ in terms of their actuation force and bottom out force. The RedBlue switch has an unknown actuation force, making it difficult to determine an accurate comparison. However, its bottom out force is measured at 57 grams, which can be considered medium-light. On the other hand, the Silent Ink Black switch requires an actuation force of 60 grams, slightly heavier than the RedBlue, and boasts a bottom out force of 70 grams, making it medium-heavy.
In terms of weight, some individuals prefer a lighter actuation force as it allows for extended typing periods, ideal for work or long gaming sessions. For these users, the lighter RedBlue switch would be a suitable choice. However, others prefer a stronger push feel for a more substantial typing experience, and in this case, the heavier Silent Ink Black switch with its heavier actuation and bottom out forces would be more preferable.
Although the actual actuation force of the RedBlue switch is not available, it is likely to provide a similar typing experience to the Silent Ink Black due to its medium-light bottom out force. Both switches offer a linear design, ensuring a smooth keystroke without any tactile feedback. Overall, the choice between these switches ultimately depends on the individual's preference for a lighter or heavier typing experience.
Travel distance
Both the SP-Star RedBlue linear switch and the Gateron Silent Ink Black linear switch have the same travel distance of 4 mm. This means that when you press down on a key equipped with either of these switches, you will feel the same distance of travel from the top to the bottom. Therefore, if you are looking for a switch with a specific travel distance, either of these options will provide you with the desired experience.
Price comparison
Which switch is more bang for your buck?
The SP-Star RedBlue has an MSRP of $5.80 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the RedBlue for $5.40.
The Gateron Silent Ink Black has an MSRP of $8.50 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Silent Ink Black for $8.35.
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 RedBlue linear switch has a relatively higher-pitched sound profile. This means that the sound produced when pressing and releasing the keys will have a more noticeable and higher tone. On the other hand, the Gateron Silent Ink Black linear switch is specifically designed for quieter typing environments. It is described as producing a muted sound, meaning it creates a softer and quieter typing experience compared to regular mechanical switches. The Silent Ink Black switch minimizes the noise typically associated with mechanical keyboards. It's important to note that the sound of a switch can also be influenced by other factors such as the keyboard board and keycaps used.
Moving on to the feel of the switches, the RedBlue linear switch offers a medium-light typing experience. It is described as providing a mild and polished feel. This means that it offers a more gentle typing experience, with a smooth and refined finish. The switch has reduced friction and smooth key travel, resulting in a sleek typing experience. Similarly, the Gateron Silent Ink Black linear switch is known for its silky smooth feel. It offers an exceptionally smooth typing experience with minimal resistance when pressing and releasing keys. Like the RedBlue switch, it also boasts a polished finish that enhances the overall smoothness of the typing feel.
In conclusion, the RedBlue linear switch and the Gateron Silent Ink Black linear switch have distinct qualities in terms of sound and feel. The RedBlue switch produces a relatively higher-pitched sound and offers a mild, polished typing experience. On the other hand, the Silent Ink Black switch provides a muted sound and a silky smooth feel. Both switches offer a polished finish, ensuring reduced friction and smooth key travel. Depending on your preferences, the RedBlue switch is well-suited for those who prefer a medium-light typing experience with a higher-pitched sound, while the Silent Ink Black switch is ideal for environments that require quieter typing and a silky smooth feel. However, if you are aiming for similar results in terms of sound and feel, both switches offer a polished finish that ensures a sleek and refined typing experience.
Conclusion
To sum up, if you prefer a medium-light typing experience with a relatively higher-pitched sound profile, then the SP-Star RedBlue linear switch would be the ideal choice for you. These switches offer a more gentle and approachable feel, thanks to their mild and polished characteristics. On the other hand, if you require a quieter typing experience, especially in environments where noise is a concern, the Gateron Silent Ink Black linear switch is the perfect option. It offers a pillow-like bottom-out feel with minimal audio feedback and produces a softer and quieter sound due to its muted nature. Additionally, the Silent Ink Black switch is known for its silky and polished feel, providing an exceptionally smooth typing experience with reduced friction and smooth key travel. Ultimately, your decision should be based on your personal preferences and requirements, whether you prioritize sound, feel, or both.
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