Durock Sea Glass vs. Gateron Zero Degree 0°
An in-depth look at the Durock Sea Glass and the Gateron Zero Degree 0° switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When comparing the Durock Sea Glass linear switch to the Gateron Zero Degree 0° linear switch, it is evident that both switches offer unique features that cater to different preferences. The Sea Glass stands out for its pastel colors and proprietary material blend, providing a dry, airy typing experience with a surprisingly weightless feel despite its 62g bottom-out force. On the other hand, the Zero Degree 0° from Gateron boasts a revolutionary self-padding design and dual-rail structure, ensuring unparalleled smoothness, stability, and noise reduction for silent typing. Both switches offer a smooth typing experience, but the Sea Glass showcases a distinct hollow sound signature while the Zero Degree 0° focuses on noise reduction. 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
45g
Bottom-out force
62g
Bottom-out force
N/A
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Pre-travel
1.80 mm
Total travel
3.80 mm
Total travel
3.60 mm
Factory lubed
Yes
Factory lubed
Yes
Stem construction
Standard
Stem construction
Standard
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
Nylon
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Spring
Gold-plated
Spring
20mm extended spring
Housing materials
The housing materials of the Durock Sea Glass and the Gateron Zero Degree 0° switches both offer unique sound profiles, but they differ in terms of materials used. The Sea Glass features a Polymer nylon and UHMWPE blend top housing, providing a pleasant and bright sound profile that is not particularly sharp. On the other hand, the Zero Degree 0° utilizes a polycarbonate top housing, creating a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound profile. This difference in materials results in a distinct auditory experience for users of each switch.
In terms of bottom housings, the Sea Glass and Zero Degree 0° switches also have different materials. The Sea Glass boasts a Polymer nylon and UHMWPE blend bottom housing, contributing to a pleasant and bright sound profile similar to its top housing. In contrast, the Zero Degree 0° utilizes a nylon bottom housing, which produces a deeper and fuller sound profile compared to the Sea Glass. This variance in bottom housing materials leads to a difference in the overall sound experience when typing on these switches.
While the top and bottom housing materials of the Sea Glass and Zero Degree 0° switches offer unique sound profiles, their impact on the overall typing experience is significant. The bottom housing material has more influence on the bottom-out sound and feel when pressing down on a key, while the top housing material affects the sound when releasing a key. Despite their differences, both switches aim to provide users with a pleasing typing experience, showcasing the importance of housing materials in switch design.
Weight
In comparing the actuation and bottom out forces of the Durock Sea Glass linear switch and the Gateron Zero Degree 0° linear switch, we find that they both have the same actuation force of 45 grams. However, the Sea Glass has a bottom out force of 62 grams, while the bottom out force of the Zero Degree 0° is unknown. The Sea Glass provides a medium typing experience with a slightly heavier bottom out force, while the Zero Degree 0° has an unknown bottom out force. In terms of weight, the Sea Glass may be considered lighter compared to the Zero Degree 0° due to its known bottom out force. This difference in bottom out force may result in a more substantial typing experience for the Sea Glass switch. Ultimately, the choice between the two switches will depend on personal preference for typing feel and weight.
Travel distance
The Durock Sea Glass linear switch has a travel distance of 3.8 mm, while the Gateron Zero Degree 0° linear switch has a travel distance of 3.6 mm. Both of these switches fall within the range of shorter travel distances that are becoming more popular, especially among gamers looking for faster response times. The Sea Glass is slightly longer than the Zero Degree in terms of travel distance, but the difference is minimal. If you prefer a switch with a bit more depth to the key press, the Sea Glass may be the better option for you. However, if you prefer a slightly shorter travel distance for quick and responsive keystrokes, the Zero Degree may be more suitable. Ultimately, both switches offer similar results in terms of travel distance, so the choice between the two will come down to personal preference.
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 Gateron Zero Degree 0° has an MSRP of $6.50 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Zero Degree 0° for $5.50.
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
In terms of sound, the Sea Glass linear switch from Durock presents a uniquely hollow sound signature that adds a distinct character to the typing experience. On the other hand, the Gateron Zero Degree 0° linear switch is known for revolutionizing silent typing with its innovative self-padding design and dual-rail structure to absorb sound and reduce noise. Both switches offer different sound profiles that cater to individual preferences, with the Sea Glass providing a hollow sound and the Zero Degree 0° focusing on silent operation.
When it comes to feel, the Sea Glass linear switch is characterized by its frictionless nature, offering an extremely smooth and effortless typing experience. Additionally, these switches are described as mild, feathery, and easy-to-press, providing a comfortable typing feel with minimal finger fatigue. Meanwhile, the feel of the Gateron Zero Degree 0° linear switch is not explicitly mentioned, but it is known for delivering unparalleled smoothness, stability, and a soft, elastic feel. Both switches prioritize smoothness in their typing feel, with the Sea Glass focusing on a lightweight and frictionless experience, while the Zero Degree 0° emphasizes stability and noise reduction.
Overall, the Sea Glass and Gateron Zero Degree 0° linear switches offer unique qualities that cater to different preferences in the mechanical keyboard community. While the Sea Glass switch stands out for its distinctive hollow sound and frictionless feel, the Zero Degree 0° switch excels in providing silent typing with its innovative design features. Depending on your sound and feel preferences, both switches offer a premium typing experience that can enhance your overall keyboard setup. Ultimately, choosing between these switches will provide similar results in terms of smoothness and typing comfort, with slight distinctions in sound and feel to suit individual tastes.
Conclusion
To sum up, when choosing between the Durock Sea Glass linear switch and the Gateron Zero Degree 0° linear switch, you should consider your preferences for typing experience and sound. If you're looking for a switch with a distinct dry and airy typing feel, a weightless nature, and a uniquely hollow sound signature, the Sea Glass switch may be the ideal choice for you. On the other hand, if you prioritize silent typing with unparalleled smoothness, stability, and noise reduction, the Zero Degree 0° switch with its innovative self-padding design and dual-rail structure might be the better option. Ultimately, the decision between these two switches boils down to your personal preferences for typing feel and sound characteristics.
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