Gateron New North Pole V2 vs. Kailh NovelKeys Blueberry

Overview

When it comes to choosing the perfect mechanical keyboard switch, it's all about finding the one that suits your typing preferences and needs. Two popular options in this regard are the Gateron New North Pole V2 and the Kailh NovelKeys Blueberry. The New North Pole V2 is a linear switch that offers a polished, creamy, and frictionless typing experience. With the removal of the rubber dampener, Gateron has managed to maintain the seamless glide and smoothness that users have come to love. On the other hand, the NovelKeys Blueberry is a tactile switch that provides a sharp tactile bump, resulting in a unique typing feel. These switches also boast a lower-than-average sound frequency and offer a textured, resonant, and invigorating typing experience. Both switches have their own distinct qualities that can enhance your 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

Gateron New North Pole V2 Linear

Kailh NovelKeys Blueberry Tactile

$6.80

$5.70 per 10

$6.50

$6.25 per 10

Learn moreLearn more

Housing materials

The Gateron New North Pole V2 and the Kailh NovelKeys Blueberry differ in their housing materials. The New North Pole V2 features a polycarbonate top housing, while the Blueberry has a POM top housing. The polycarbonate top housing of the New North Pole V2 creates a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound profile, making it ideal for those who prefer a more distinct and resonant typing experience. Additionally, the polycarbonate material allows for translucency, making it perfect for showcasing RGB lighting effects. In contrast, the POM top housing of the Blueberry produces a deeper and relatively more muted sound. This unique sound profile offers a different auditory experience, appealing to individuals who prefer a softer and more subdued typing sound.

Moving on to the bottom housings, the New North Pole V2 utilizes polycarbonate, while the Blueberry incorporates a POM bottom housing. Similar to the top housing, the polycarbonate bottom housing of the New North Pole V2 contributes to a sharper and crisper sound profile when bottoming out the keys. This stiffer plastic material enhances the clarity and resonance of the keystrokes. As for the Blueberry, its POM bottom housing delivers a deeper sound profile, creating a more subdued typing experience. While both housing materials offer durability and quality, they provide distinct sound characteristics that can significantly impact the overall feel and sound of the switches.

When it comes to pressing down and letting go of the keys, the qualities of the housing materials are split between the top and bottom. When pressing down on the switch, the qualities of the bottom housing become more apparent, influencing the bottom-out sound and feel. In this case, the polycarbonate bottom housing of the New North Pole V2 will contribute to a sharper and crisper bottom-out sound, while the POM bottom housing of the Blueberry will create a deeper and relatively more muted bottom-out sound. On the other hand, the top housing material will have a more significant impact on the sound when releasing a key. This means that the polycarbonate top housing of the New North Pole V2 will result in a sharper and crisper sound when the key is released, while the POM top housing of the Blueberry will provide a deeper and more subdued sound upon key release.

In summary, the Gateron New North Pole V2 and the Kailh NovelKeys Blueberry differ in their housing materials, resulting in distinct sound profiles. The New North Pole V2 features polycarbonate top and bottom housings, generating a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound both when pressing down and releasing a key. On the other hand, the Blueberry utilizes POM top and bottom housings, which produce a deeper and relatively more muted sound experience. Ultimately, the choice between these two switches will depend on personal sound preferences, with the polycarbonate housing offering a more distinct and resonant typing experience, while the POM housing provides a softer and more subdued sound.

Weight

When comparing the actuation force and bottom out force of the Gateron New North Pole V2 linear switch and the Kailh NovelKeys Blueberry tactile switch, there are noticeable differences in weight. The New North Pole V2 requires a lighter actuation force of 50 grams, making it easier to trigger keystrokes. Additionally, it has a bottom out force of 62.5 grams, providing a moderate resistance when pressing all the way down. On the other hand, the NovelKeys Blueberry has a heavier actuation force of 55 grams, requiring a slightly stronger push for each keystroke. Similarly, its bottom out force is notably heavier at 80 grams, providing users with a more substantial typing experience. For those who prefer a lighter switch, the New North Pole V2 would be a suitable choice for extended typing or gaming sessions. Conversely, the NovelKeys Blueberry would be ideal for individuals seeking a more forceful typing feel. Overall, the weight disparity between the two switches offers users the ability to choose between a lighter or heavier typing experience, depending on their preferences.

Travel distance

Both the Gateron New North Pole V2 linear switch and the Kailh NovelKeys Blueberry tactile switch have a travel distance of 4 mm. This means that when pressing down on a key equipped with either switch, you will experience the same amount of travel distance. Both switches offer a consistent and satisfying tactile feedback, making typing or gaming experiences enjoyable. Whether opting for the Gateron New North Pole V2 or the Kailh NovelKeys Blueberry, users can expect similar results in terms of travel distance and keypress feel.

Price comparison

Typing experience

In terms of sound, the Gateron New North Pole V2 linear switch is known for producing a sound that is not explicitly described in the provided information. However, it can be assumed that the removal of the rubber dampener will result in a crisper typing experience, suggesting a potentially sharper sound profile. On the other hand, the Kailh NovelKeys Blueberry tactile switch has a low-pitched sound frequency, deeper than average but not "thocky." This implies that the Blueberry switches offer a bass-heavy and mellow tone, providing a unique auditory experience.

When it comes to feel, the Gateron New North Pole V2 linear switch maintains the frictionless typing feel that is characteristic of the North Pole lineup. The absence of a rubber dampener allows for a crisper typing experience and retains the seamless glide and smoothness that users adore. This suggests that the New North Pole V2 offers a polished, creamy, and frictionless typing experience. On the other hand, the Kailh NovelKeys Blueberry tactile switch is known for its sharp tactile bump, creating a snappy and invigorating typing feel. These switches offer a buttery and textured keystroke experience, combining smooth and fluid typing with noticeable friction when pressed.

Based on the available information, we can conclude that the Gateron New North Pole V2 linear switch and the Kailh NovelKeys Blueberry tactile switch offer distinct subjective qualities. The New North Pole V2 provides a crisper typing experience with a frictionless feel, while the Blueberry offers a sharp and invigorating tactile bump. The sound profiles of these switches also differ, with the New North Pole V2 lacking specific descriptors and the Blueberry producing a low-pitched sound. However, it's important to note that the sound and feel of a switch can be influenced by other factors such as the keyboard and keycaps used. As a result, while the subjective qualities of these switches are distinct, similar results can be achieved depending on the user's setup.

Conclusion

To sum up, if you are looking for a medium bottom out force and a frictionless typing feel, the Gateron New North Pole V2 linear switch is a great choice. With its removal of the rubber dampener, it provides a crisper typing experience while still maintaining the seamless glide and smoothness that users love. On the other hand, if you prefer a heavy bottom out force and a sharp tactile bump, the Kailh NovelKeys Blueberry tactile switch would be more suitable. These switches offer a lower-than-average sound frequency and a clean, sharp sound profile. In terms of feel, the New North Pole V2 provides a polished, creamy, and frictionless typing experience, while the NovelKeys Blueberry offers a snappy, buttery, textured, invigorating, and stiff feel. Ultimately, your decision should be based on your preference for bottom out force, typing feel, and sound profile.

Mentioned in this article

Gateron New North Pole V2 Linear

$6.80

$5.70 per 10

Learn more

Kailh NovelKeys Blueberry Tactile

$6.50

$6.25 per 10

Learn more