Dareu Snow vs. Wuque Studio WS Brown
An in-depth look at the Dareu Snow and the Wuque Studio WS Brown switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When considering mechanical keyboard switches, the Dareu Snow, a linear switch, and the Wuque Studio WS Brown, a tactile switch, stand out as popular options in the market. The Snow switch offers a unique typing experience with its innovative use of POK material for the top housing and stem, resulting in a deeper sound signature and a thocky, neutral, low-pitched, and bouncy feel. On the other hand, the WS Brown switch is praised for its medium-light actuation force, striking a balance between responsiveness and comfort for fatigue-free typing. With a harmonious blend of familiarity and innovation, these switches provide a delightful auditory experience with their nylon housing and POM stem combination. 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
50g
Actuation force
N/A
Bottom-out force
60g
Bottom-out force
55g
Pre-travel
1.30 mm
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Total travel
3.30 mm
Total travel
3.80 mm
Factory lubed
Yes
Factory lubed
Yes
Stem construction
Partial box
Stem construction
Partial box
Stem material
POM
Stem material
POM
Top housing material
POK
Top housing material
Nylon
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Spring
Stainless steel
Spring
22mm double-stage spring
Housing materials
Both the Dareu Snow and the Wuque Studio WS Brown use nylon as a housing material for their switches. Nylon is known for creating a deeper and fuller sound profile compared to other materials, as it is a softer plastic that absorbs more sound. However, the POK material used in the Snow's top housing is valued for its smoothness and durability. POK has a coefficient of friction that is slightly higher than LY, making it one of the smoothest materials available. Additionally, its wear resistance surpasses POM by 14 times, making it exceptionally strong.
In terms of durability and shock resistance, the Dareu Snow's POK top housing outperforms the nylon top housing of the WS Brown. The POK material is known for its exceptional strength and durability, with shock resistance surpassing both Nylon and POM materials. On the other hand, the WS Brown's nylon top housing is praised for creating a deeper and fuller sound profile, giving it a different acoustic characteristic compared to the Snow. Both housing materials have their strengths and weaknesses, with the POK material excelling in smoothness and durability, while the nylon material offers a unique sound experience.
When it comes to the bottom housing, both the Dareu Snow and the WS Brown use nylon for this component. This means that typing on switches from both keyboards will elicit a deeper and fuller sound profile due to the absorbing qualities of nylon. The impact of the bottom housing on the bottom-out sound and feel will be prevalent in both keyboards, creating a duller and rounder sound when compared to harder plastics. Overall, the choice of housing material for the bottom of the switch contributes to the overall sound and typing experience, with nylon being a preferred option for its sound-absorbing properties.
Weight
The Dareu Snow linear switch has a slightly heavier actuation force of 50 grams compared to the Wuque Studio WS Brown tactile switch, which has an unknown actuation force. However, the bottom out force of the Snow is also heavier at 60 grams, while the WS Brown has a lighter bottom out force of 55 grams. This means that the Snow switch provides a slightly more substantial typing experience due to both a higher actuation and bottom out force, whereas the WS Brown offers a lighter feel. Those who prefer a heavier push may lean towards the Snow switch, while those who prefer a lighter touch may prefer the WS Brown. Both switches fall within the medium to medium-light force range, so users can expect similar results in terms of typing experience and comfort.
Travel distance
The Dareu Snow linear switch has a travel distance of 3.3 mm, while the Wuque Studio WS Brown tactile switch has a slightly longer travel distance of 3.8 mm. Both switches fall within the range of shorter travel distances that are becoming popular, especially among gamers seeking faster response times. The Snow switch offers a shorter travel distance, making it a preferred choice for those looking for quick and precise keystrokes. On the other hand, the WS Brown switch provides a bit more depth in its travel distance, which may appeal to users who prefer a more substantial feeling when pressing down on the keys. Ultimately, the decision between the two switches will depend on personal preferences for travel distance and the desired typing experience.
Price comparison
Which switch is more bang for your buck?
The Dareu Snow has an MSRP of $7.78 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Snow for $5.76.
The Wuque Studio WS Brown comes in at $3.50 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 Dareu Snow linear switch offers a deep and satisfying "Thocky" sound, thanks to its innovative POK material construction. On the other hand, the Wuque Studio WS Brown tactile switch provides a familiar and delightful auditory experience due to its nylon housing and POM stem combination. While the Snow switch has a low-pitched and thocky sound profile, the WS Brown switch offers a moderate sound that strikes a harmonious balance between comfort and responsiveness.
Moving on to feel, the Dareu Snow switch is described as bouncy, providing a spring-like feedback sensation that gives keys a lively feel with rebound when pressed. The Wuque Studio WS Brown tactile switch's feel is not specified. However, given its medium-light actuation force, it is likely to offer a comfortable and fatigue-free typing experience with a tactile bump.
In conclusion, the Dareu Snow linear switch and the Wuque Studio WS Brown tactile switch offer unique sound and feel qualities that cater to different preferences. The Snow switch excels in providing a deep thocky sound and bouncy feel, while the WS Brown switch offers a harmonious blend of familiarity and innovation with a medium-light actuation force. Depending on your preference for sound and feel, both switches can provide a satisfying typing experience, ensuring that you get similar results in terms of performance and comfort.
Conclusion
To sum up, when choosing between the Dareu Snow linear switch and the Wuque Studio WS Brown tactile switch, consider the following guidelines. If you prioritize a deeper sound signature and a medium bottom out force of 60 grams, the Snow switch may be the better option for you. On the other hand, if you prefer a harmonious blend of familiarity and innovation with a medium-light bottom out force of 55 grams, the WS Brown switch would be a suitable choice. Additionally, the Snow switch offers a thocky sound profile and a bouncy feel, while the WS Brown switch provides a delightful auditory experience and comfortable typing experience. Ultimately, your decision should be based on your preferences for sound, feel, and actuation force when selecting between these two mechanical keyboard switches.
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