Gateron Box Ink Pink vs Gateron North Pole 2
The Gateron Box Ink Pink and the Gateron North Pole 2 are often cross-shopped. The main differences: travel is 3.4 mm on the Gateron Box Ink Pink and 4 mm on the Gateron North Pole 2; stock they sound different: bright, poppy versus bright, glassy clack; the Gateron North Pole 2 costs less per switch ($0.65 versus $0.75).
- Cheaper per switchGateron North Pole 2$0.65 versus $0.75
Choose the Gateron Box Ink Pink if
- you want a switch popular for gaming.
- you want a switch popular for short-travel linears.
Choose the Gateron North Pole 2 if
- you want a switch popular for clacky builds.
- you want a switch popular for RGB showcases.
- you want to spend less per switch.
Gateron Box Ink Pink vs Gateron North Pole 2, spec by spec
| Gateron Box Ink Pink | Gateron North Pole 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Linear | Linear |
| Compatibility | Standard MX sockets | Standard MX sockets |
| Actuation force | 50g | 50g |
| Bottom-out force | 60g | 65g |
| Pre-travel | 1.2 mm | 2 mm |
| Total travel | 3.4 mm | 4 mm |
| Stem | POM | POM |
| Top housing | smoky INK blend | transparent PC |
| Bottom housing | smoky INK blend | transparent PC |
| Spring | single-stage | single-stage |
| Factory lube | light | light |
| Pins | 5-pin | 5-pin |
| Price / switch | $0.75 | $0.65 (stronger spec) |
| Sound profile | bright, poppy | bright, glassy clack |
| Released | 2021 | 2022 |
Highlighted rows are where the two differ; a check marks the objectively stronger spec (price, battery, modability). Feel and preference rows never get a check. Fields marked n/a are unpublished by the maker; we list only verifiable numbers.
Where they sit among all 227 switches we track
52% of the 198 switches tracked here actuate lighter than the Gateron Box Ink Pink; 52% of the 198 switches tracked here actuate lighter than the Gateron North Pole 2.
13% of the 224 switches tracked here have shorter total travel than the Gateron Box Ink Pink; 57% of the 224 switches tracked here have shorter total travel than the Gateron North Pole 2.
95% of the 193 switches tracked here cost less per switch than the Gateron Box Ink Pink; 87% of the 193 switches tracked here cost less per switch than the Gateron North Pole 2.
Where to buy the Gateron Box Ink Pink
No verified retailer link right now. Check the maker or your usual switch retailers.
Where to buy the Gateron North Pole 2
No verified retailer link right now. Check the maker or your usual switch retailers.
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