Durock Sea Glass vs. Wuque Studio WS Aurora Clear
An in-depth look at the Durock Sea Glass and the Wuque Studio WS Aurora Clear switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
The Durock Sea Glass and the Wuque Studio WS Aurora Clear are two mechanical keyboard switches that offer unique features and characteristics. The Sea Glass stands out with its captivating selection of five pastel colors, giving it a visually appealing aesthetic. Its proprietary material blend results in a distinct typing experience, emanating dryness, wispiness, and airiness, while still maintaining a smooth feel. Despite its 62g bottom-out force, the Sea Glass switches possess a weightlessness that defies expectations, making them frictionless and easy to press. Additionally, these switches produce a uniquely hollow sound signature. On the other hand, the WS Aurora Clear is known for its smooth and high-pitched typing experience. With a transparent polycarbonate top housing and UHMWPE bottom housing, these switches allow for maximum RGB lighting customization. The lightly lubed POM stem ensures minimal friction and a satisfyingly smooth keystroke. Both switches offer mild actuation, making them easy to use, but they differ in their sound signatures and visual appearance. However, 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
53g
Bottom-out force
62g
Bottom-out force
63.5g
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Pre-travel
1.90 mm
Total travel
3.80 mm
Total travel
3.80 mm
Factory lubed
Yes
Factory lubed
Yes
Stem construction
Standard
Stem construction
Partial box
Stem material
P3+
Stem material
POM
Top housing material
Polymer nylon and UHMWPE blend
Top housing material
Polycarbonate
Bottom housing material
Polymer nylon and UHMWPE blend
Bottom housing material
UHWMPE
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Spring
Gold-plated
Spring
Double-staged stainless steel
Housing materials
The housing materials of the Durock Sea Glass and the Wuque Studio WS Aurora Clear differ in several aspects. The Sea Glass features a unique blend of Polymer nylon and UHMWPE in both its top and bottom housings. This blend provides a pleasant sound profile, leaning towards the brighter side without being overly sharp. In contrast, the WS Aurora Clear utilizes polycarbonate for its top housing. This choice creates a sharper and higher-pitched sound profile, attributed to polycarbonate's stiffness and clear resonant qualities. Additionally, the translucency of polycarbonate makes it an ideal material for switches utilizing RGB lighting. However, when it comes to the bottom housing, the Sea Glass maintains its Polymer nylon and UHMWPE blend, resulting in a sound profile that is still bright but not as sharp. The WS Aurora Clear, in contrast, adopts UHWMPE, a newer material known for providing a very bright sound signature with resonant clacks during typing.
Despite their differences, both the Sea Glass and WS Aurora Clear housing materials offer unique qualities to the respective switches. The Sea Glass's blend of Polymer nylon and UHMWPE in both top and bottom housings ensures a consistent and pleasant sound profile throughout key presses. Its slightly brighter characteristics provide a refreshing typing experience without being too sharp. Similarly, the WS Aurora Clear's polycarbonate top housing contributes to a sharper and clearer sound while allowing for spectacular RGB lighting effects. Its transparency enhances the visual aesthetics of the switch while delivering a crisp sound profile upon key release. In terms of the bottom housing, the Sea Glass's polymer nylon and UHMWPE blend delivers a bright sound without being overly sharp, while the WS Aurora Clear's UHWMPE material provides a vibrant and resonant typing experience.
In summary, while the housing materials of the Durock Sea Glass and Wuque Studio WS Aurora Clear differ in specifics, both options aim to provide an enjoyable and distinct typing experience. The Sea Glass's unique blend of Polymer nylon and UHMWPE in both top and bottom housings offers a pleasant and bright sound profile, while the WS Aurora Clear's combination of polycarbonate and UHWMPE in its top and bottom housings respectively ensures sharper and vibrant sound characteristics. Whether it is the consistent brightness of the Sea Glass or the enhanced crispness of the WS Aurora Clear, users can expect satisfying results from these switches.
Weight
When comparing the actuation force and bottom out force of the Durock Sea Glass linear switch and the Wuque Studio WS Aurora Clear linear switch, there are some similarities and differences to consider. In terms of weight, the Sea Glass switch is lighter with an actuation force of 45 grams and a bottom out force of 62 grams, both of which are considered medium. On the other hand, the WS Aurora Clear switch is slightly heavier, with an actuation force of 53 grams and a bottom out force of 63.5 grams, falling into the medium-heavy range.
For those who prefer a lighter typing experience, the Sea Glass switch would be a suitable choice. Its lower actuation and bottom out forces make it easier to type on for extended periods of time, making it ideal for work or long gaming sessions. In contrast, the WS Aurora Clear switch is slightly heavier, providing a more substantial push feel. This can result in a more satisfying and tactile typing experience for individuals who prefer a stronger keystroke sensation.
It is worth noting that although the actuation and bottom out forces are different for these two switches, they still fall within a similar range. Both switches provide a medium to medium-heavy typing experience, ensuring that users will achieve similar results in terms of the overall force required to trigger a keystroke and press the key all the way down. Ultimately, the decision between the Durock Sea Glass and WS Aurora Clear switches will depend on personal preference regarding the desired weight and typing experience.
Travel distance
The Durock Sea Glass linear switch and the Wuque Studio WS Aurora Clear linear switch both have a travel distance of 3.8 mm. This means that when you press down on a key, you will feel the same distance of travel with both switches. The travel distance of both switches is equal, ensuring a consistent typing experience for users. Whether you choose the Sea Glass or the WS Aurora Clear, you can expect similar results in terms of travel distance.
Price comparison
Which switch is more bang for your buck?
The Durock Sea Glass has an MSRP of $5.80 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Sea Glass for $4.87.
The Wuque Studio WS Aurora Clear comes in at $8.00 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 Sea Glass switches have a uniquely hollow sound signature, although further details about their sound qualities are not provided. On the other hand, the WS Aurora Clear switches are described as having a high-pitched sound, which produces a sharp and crisp sound when pressed. This indicates that the two switches have different sound profiles, with the Sea Glass offering a more hollow sound and the WS Aurora Clear delivering a higher-pitched sound. However, 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.
In terms of feel, the Sea Glass switches are described as frictionless, offering an extremely smooth and effortless typing experience with minimal resistance or friction. They are also labeled as mild, indicating a gentle typing experience that falls within a safe middle-ground zone. Additionally, the Sea Glass switches are described as feathery, meaning they require little exertion and are exceptionally light to press, reducing finger fatigue during extended typing sessions. On the other hand, the WS Aurora Clear switches are described as buttery, implying a smooth and fluid keystroke experience. They also fall under the mild category, offering a gentle typing experience that is approachable to most users. Additionally, the WS Aurora Clear switches are labeled as polished, indicating a smooth and refined finish that results in sleek typing and reduced friction.
Based on the available information, it is clear that the Sea Glass and WS Aurora Clear switches offer different subjective qualities. The Sea Glass switches provide a distinct dryness, wispiness, and airiness in their typing experience, along with a hollow sound signature. On the other hand, the WS Aurora Clear switches deliver a smooth, high-pitched typing experience with a buttery keystroke feel. While the Sea Glass switches emphasize weightlessness and frictionless typing, the WS Aurora Clear switches prioritize maximum RGB lighting customization and a refined typing experience. However, it should be noted that the overall typing experience can also be influenced by factors such as the keyboard board and keycaps used. Therefore, it is recommended to consider these factors when selecting between the Sea Glass and WS Aurora Clear switches to achieve the desired sound and feel outcome.
Conclusion
In closing, when choosing between the Durock Sea Glass linear switch and the Wuque Studio WS Aurora Clear linear switch, it ultimately comes down to your preference for typing experience and aesthetics. If you prioritize a distinct dryness, wispiness, and airiness in your typing, along with a weightlessness that defies expectations, the Sea Glass switch series would be an excellent choice. Additionally, the Sea Glass switches offer a uniquely hollow sound signature. On the other hand, if you prefer a smooth, high-pitched typing experience with maximum RGB lighting customization, the WS Aurora Clear switches are a great option. These switches have a transparent polycarbonate top housing, UHMWPE bottom housing, and a lightly lubed POM stem for minimal friction and smooth keystrokes. Both switches have a medium to medium-heavy bottom-out force, making them suitable for most typists. Ultimately, consider your desired typing feel and sound, as well as the visual appeal of the switches, to make your decision.
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