KTT Sea Salt Lemon vs. KTT Vanilla Ice Cream

Overview

When it comes to choosing between mechanical keyboard switches, the KTT Sea Salt Lemon and KTT Vanilla Ice Cream linear switches both offer unique qualities that cater to different preferences. The Sea Salt Lemon switch is praised for its buttery smooth typing experience, thanks to its progressive spring and dry-lube design. With a categorization of 'Low-pitched', 'Neutral', and 'Mild', this switch provides a gentle and consistent feel while typing. On the other hand, the Vanilla Ice Cream switch stands out for its smooth and creamy feel, achieved through the use of POK in both the stem and bottom housing. Categorized as 'Buttery', 'Creamy', 'High-pitched', 'Marbly', and 'Resonant', this switch offers a more tactile and clacky typing experience. However, let's dive in a bit deeper beyond generalities so you can best decide on the best switch for you.

By the numbers

KTT Sea Salt Lemon Linear

KTT Vanilla Ice Cream Linear

$2.80 per 10

$5.78

$4.60 per 10

Learn moreLearn more

Housing materials

The housing materials of the KTT Sea Salt Lemon and Vanilla Ice Cream switches differ significantly in terms of their compositions and resulting sound profiles. The Sea Salt Lemon features a polycarbonate top housing, which creates a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound due to its stiffness. In contrast, the Vanilla Ice Cream utilizes a proprietary blend of materials for its top housing, resulting in a high-pitched and clacky sound signature. While both switches offer unique sound profiles, the Sea Salt Lemon's polycarbonate top housing is more likely to enhance RGB lighting effects due to its translucency, making it a visually appealing choice for customization.

In terms of bottom housing materials, the Sea Salt Lemon utilizes a nylon housing, which produces a deeper and fuller sound profile thanks to its softer and more sound-absorbent properties. On the other hand, the Vanilla Ice Cream features a POK bottom housing, known for its smoothness, durability, and shock resistance. The POK material contributes to the smooth and clacky feel of the Vanilla Ice Cream switches, offering a different tactile experience compared to the Sea Salt Lemon's nylon bottom housing. Overall, the bottom housing material plays a significant role in the bottom-out sound and feel of the switch, while the top housing material impacts the sound when the key is released.

Despite their differences in housing materials, both the KTT Sea Salt Lemon and Vanilla Ice Cream switches offer unique sound profiles and tactile experiences. The use of polycarbonate in the Sea Salt Lemon creates a clear and resonant sound, while the proprietary blend of materials in the Vanilla Ice Cream results in a clacky sound signature. Similarly, the nylon bottom housing of the Sea Salt Lemon provides a deeper sound profile, contrasting with the smooth and durable POK material used in the Vanilla Ice Cream. Overall, the choice between these switches will depend on individual preferences for sound, feel, and visual customization options.

Weight

Comparing the KTT Sea Salt Lemon linear switch to the KTT Vanilla Ice Cream linear switch, the Sea Salt Lemon has a slightly heavier actuation force of 45 grams compared to the Vanilla Ice Cream's 43 grams. However, when it comes to bottom out force, the Sea Salt Lemon requires 53 grams while the Vanilla Ice Cream only needs 48 grams. This means that overall, the Sea Salt Lemon is heavier than the Vanilla Ice Cream. The actuation force and bottom out force of the Sea Salt Lemon falls into the medium-light category, providing a balance between a light and heavy typing experience. On the other hand, the Vanilla Ice Cream is considered light in both categories, making it a suitable choice for those who prefer a lighter touch. In terms of weight, the Sea Salt Lemon would provide a more substantial typing experience, while the Vanilla Ice Cream would be ideal for longer typing sessions or gaming sessions where a lighter touch is preferred. Ultimately, the choice between the two switches would come down to personal preference in terms of typing feel and force required for key presses.

Travel distance

The KTT Sea Salt Lemon linear switch has a travel distance of 4mm, while the KTT Vanilla Ice Cream linear switch has a travel distance of 3.5mm. In terms of travel distance, the Sea Salt Lemon has a slightly longer travel distance compared to the Vanilla Ice Cream. The Sea Salt Lemon's 4mm distance provides a bit more depth when pressing down on the key, which may be preferred by those who enjoy a more substantial feel. On the other hand, the Vanilla Ice Cream's 3.5mm travel distance is slightly shorter, offering a more shallow feel when typing. Ultimately, the choice between the two switches comes down to personal preference - whether you prefer a longer, more traditional travel distance like the Sea Salt Lemon, or a slightly shorter and possibly faster response time with the Vanilla Ice Cream. Both switches will provide a different typing experience, but both are great options depending on individual preferences.

Price comparison

Typing experience

In terms of sound, the KTT Sea Salt Lemon switch offers a low-pitched and neutral sound profile, with a more bass-heavy and mellow tone suitable for various typing environments. On the other hand, the KTT Vanilla Ice Cream switch provides a high-pitched, marbly, and resonant sound that is sharp, crisp, and clean, standing out with its distinctive acoustics. Depending on personal preference, users can choose between a calming and neutral sound or a vibrant and resonant auditory experience when selecting between these two switches.

When it comes to feel, the KTT Sea Salt Lemon switch offers a mild typing experience that is gentle and approachable to most users. In contrast, the KTT Vanilla Ice Cream switch provides a buttery and creamy feel that is smooth, fluid, and uniform, creating a seamless and effortless typing sensation. Whether one prefers a mild and safe typing experience or a luxurious and silky keystroke, the choice between these switches lies in the tactile feedback and typing comfort desired by the user.

Overall, while the KTT Sea Salt Lemon and Vanilla Ice Cream linear switches both offer smooth and buttery typing experiences, they differ in sound characteristics, with the former being low-pitched and neutral, and the latter being high-pitched, marbly, and resonant. Depending on individual preferences for sound and feel, users can select between these switches for a tailored typing experience. Regardless of the choice made, both switches promise a pleasant and enjoyable typing experience that will satisfy newcomers and enthusiasts alike.

Conclusion

To sum up, when deciding between the KTT Sea Salt Lemon linear switch and the KTT Vanilla Ice Cream linear switch, you should consider the level of bottom out force that suits your typing preference. If you prefer a slightly lighter bottom out force, you may lean towards the Vanilla Ice Cream with its 48-gram force. On the other hand, if you prefer a medium-light bottom out force, the Sea Salt Lemon with its 53-gram force may be more to your liking. Additionally, consider the sound and feel characteristics of each switch. If you enjoy a low-pitched and neutral sound profile, the Sea Salt Lemon may be the way to go. However, if you prefer a high-pitched, marbly, and resonant sound along with a buttery and creamy typing experience, the Vanilla Ice Cream could be the better choice for you. Ultimately, your decision should be based on your personal typing preferences and the type of typing experience you are looking to achieve.

Mentioned in this article

KTT Sea Salt Lemon Linear

$2.80 per 10

Learn more

KTT Vanilla Ice Cream Linear

$5.78

$4.60 per 10

Learn more