KTT Strawberry vs. SP-Star Yanyu
An in-depth look at the KTT Strawberry and the SP-Star Yanyu 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 KTT Strawberry and the SP-Star Yanyu. The Strawberry switch is best known for its smooth actuation, comfortable feel, and reliable performance. With attractive pink and clear housings, it offers a low-pitched, frictionless, silky, buttery, and polished typing experience. On the other hand, the Yanyu switch is perfect for those seeking a more delicate typing experience or for those who spend long periods of time typing. Its material blend contributes to a crisp sound profile and offers a neutral, mild, thocky, feathery, subtle, and polished sensation. However, let's dive in a bit deeper beyond these generalities so you can make an informed decision on the best switch for your needs.
By the numbers
Technical specifications
Actuation force
43g
Actuation force
N/A
Bottom-out force
62g
Bottom-out force
43g
Pre-travel
1.90 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
Polymer nylon and UHMWPE blend
Bottom housing material
Polycarbonate
Bottom housing material
Polymer nylon and UHMWPE blend
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Spring
Gold-plated
Spring
Gold plated
Housing materials
The housing materials of the KTT Strawberry and the SP-Star Yanyu differ significantly. The Strawberry utilizes a polycarbonate top housing, which results in a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound profile. This is due to the stiffness of polycarbonate, allowing for a clear and resonant sound. In contrast, the Yanyu features a unique blend of Polymer nylon and UHMWPE for its top housing, resulting in a pleasant sound profile that is less sharp but brighter. While both materials contribute to an enjoyable sound profile, the Strawberry's polycarbonate offers a sharper and crisper tone, while the Yanyu's blend provides a slightly softer, yet bright sound.
Similarly, the bottom housing materials of the two switches differ. The Strawberry uses polycarbonate for its bottom housing, producing a sharper and crisper sound profile consistent with its top housing. On the other hand, the Yanyu utilizes a blend of Polymer nylon and UHMWPE for its bottom housing. While unique, this blend offers a sound profile that is not particularly sharp but leans towards the brighter side. The bottom housing has a more significant impact on the bottom-out sound and feel when pressing down on the switch, and the Strawberry's polycarbonate bottom housing would result in a sharper impact compared to the Yanyu's blend.
Although the housing materials of the Strawberry and the Yanyu differ, their overall impact on sound can be understood through the split between the top and bottom housings. The top housing material influences the sound when releasing a key, while the qualities of the bottom housing material are felt during the bottom-out sound and feel. Thus, both switches would offer a unique sound experience, with the Strawberry emphasizing sharpness and crispness throughout the typing experience, while the Yanyu provides a more pleasant and brighter sound. Ultimately, the choice between the two would depend on personal preferences regarding sound profiles.
Weight
When comparing the actuation force and bottom out force of the KTT Strawberry linear switch and the SP-Star Yanyu linear switch, we can see some notable differences. The KTT Strawberry has an actuation force of 43 grams, while the Yanyu's actuation force is unfortunately unavailable. However, the KTT Strawberry has a bottom out force of 62 grams, whereas the Yanyu has a lighter bottom out force of 43 grams. While the actuation force of the Yanyu may be unknown, it can be inferred that it is lighter than the Strawberry due to the lower bottom out force.
Considering weight, those who prefer a lighter typing experience may lean towards the Yanyu switch as the lower bottom out force allows for extended typing periods without fatigue. This makes it suitable for those who type for long durations at work or engage in lengthy gaming sessions. On the other hand, individuals who appreciate a more substantial typing experience may opt for the KTT Strawberry. With its higher bottom out force, it provides a stronger push feel, adding a sense of solidity and satisfaction to each keystroke.
In summary, the KTT Strawberry linear switch is heavier in terms of both actuation force (43 grams) and bottom out force (62 grams), providing a more robust typing experience. In contrast, the SP-Star Yanyu linear switch offers a lighter typing feel due to its lower bottom out force (43 grams), although the actuation force remains unknown. Overall, the choice between the two switches ultimately depends on individual preferences and typing requirements.
Travel distance
Both the KTT Strawberry and the SP-Star Yanyu linear switches have a travel distance of 4 mm. This means that when you press down on a key, both switches will travel a distance of 4 mm from the top to the bottom. Therefore, the travel distances of these two switches are equal, ensuring similar results in terms of the distance you feel when typing on them.
Price comparison
Which switch is more bang for your buck?
The SP-Star Yanyu has an MSRP of $5.80 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Yanyu for $5.40.
The KTT Strawberry comes in at $4.91 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 KTT Strawberry linear switch offers a low-pitched sound profile. This means that the switch produces a more bass-heavy and mellow tone when pressed and released. On the other hand, the SP-Star Yanyu linear switch has a neutral sound profile, which means it has a moderate sound without a specific pitch. Additionally, the Yanyu switch is also described as thocky, meaning it produces a deep, rich, and satisfying sound similar to a deep "thud" or soft "knock". It's important to note that the sound of a switch can also be influenced by other factors such as the keyboard and keycaps used. Based on these descriptions, the Strawberry and Yanyu switches offer different sound experiences, with the Strawberry providing a low-pitched tone and the Yanyu offering a thocky and neutral sound.
Moving on to the feel of the switches, the KTT Strawberry linear switch is praised for its frictionless, silky, buttery, and polished feel. A frictionless switch ensures a smooth and effortless typing experience, minimizing resistance or friction when pressing the keys. The silky and buttery qualities further enhance the smoothness of typing, providing a seamless and uniform sensation. The polished finish adds to the sleekness of the typing experience, reducing friction and promoting smooth key travel. On the other hand, the SP-Star Yanyu linear switch is described as mild, feathery, subtle, and polished in terms of feel. A mild switch offers a gentle typing experience without pronounced characteristics. Feathery switches are exceptionally light to press, reducing finger fatigue. Subtle switches have a gentle resistance and a non-resonant sound, making them suitable for shared spaces. The Yanyu switch also features a polished finish, resulting in reduced friction and smooth key travel. Comparing the two, the Strawberry switch offers a more frictionless and smooth experience, while the Yanyu switch provides a mild and feathery feel.
In conclusion, the KTT Strawberry linear switch is characterized by its attractive pink and clear housings and is loved for its smooth actuation, comfortable feel, reliable performance, low-pitched sound, and frictionless, silky, buttery, and polished feel. On the other hand, the SP-Star Yanyu linear switch is known for its delicate typing experience, crisp sound profile, mild and feathery feel, and polished finish. While there are differences in sound and feel between the two switches, both provide unique and desirable qualities. If you prefer a low-pitched sound with a frictionless and smooth feel, the Strawberry switch would be a great choice. However, if you're looking for a typing experience that is gentle and feathery with a slight thocky sound, the Yanyu switch would suit your preferences. With either choice, you can expect a reliable and enjoyable mechanical keyboard switch experience.
Conclusion
To sum up, if you are looking for a medium bottom out force and a smooth, comfortable typing experience with reliable performance, the KTT Strawberry linear switch is a great choice. These switches are loved for their smooth actuation and comfortable feel, making them suitable for both beginners and advanced users. The Strawberry switch has a low-pitched sound profile, which offers a more bass-heavy and mellow tone compared to higher-pitched switches. Its feel is described as frictionless, silky, buttery, and polished, providing an exceptionally smooth and effortless typing experience.
On the other hand, if you prefer a light bottom out force and a delicate typing experience, especially for long periods of time, the SP-Star Yanyu linear switch would be the better option. These switches offer a more gentle and feathery typing experience, reducing finger fatigue and strain during extended typing sessions. The Yanyu switch has a neutral sound profile, meaning it has a moderate actuation force requirement and a moderate sound profile suitable for most purposes. Additionally, it produces a thocky sound when pressed, providing a deep, rich, and satisfying typing experience. Like the Strawberry switch, the Yanyu switch also features a polished finish for reduced friction and smooth key travel.
Ultimately, the choice between the KTT Strawberry linear switch and the SP-Star Yanyu linear switch depends on your personal preference in terms of bottom out force, sound profile, and typing feel. Consider your typing needs, whether it be a smooth and medium typing experience or a delicate and light typing experience, and choose accordingly.
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