Time to pit the EPOMAKER Budgerigar switches against the EPOMAKER Wisteria switches
I’m a keyboard nerd who’s built dozens of boards and swapped switches more times than I can count.
I’ve put these things through the wringer for you (so you don’t have to).
This EPOMAKER Budgerigar vs EPOMAKER Wisteria article breaks down their specs, performance, and whether they’re worth your hard-earned cash.
Stick around to see which one of these switches deserve a spot in your next build!
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Switch Snapshot
EPOMAKER is short for Epoch of Makers. The company is comprised of gamers, software engineers, product designers, and mech keyboard enthusiasts who were inspired to create their own line of keyboards, and thus, switches.
The Budgerigars and Wisterias are two of the company’s most popular switches. Both were named to match their color schemes. I can see that being the case with the Wisterias, but I have no idea how they came up with the colors for the Budgerigars.
For a more in-depth look, check out my EPOMAKER Budgerigar Review and my EPOMAKER Wisteria Review.
Specs
| EPOMAKER Budgerigar | EPOMAKER Wisteria | |
| Type | Tactile | Linear |
| Top Housing | Nylon | Polycarbonate |
| Bottom Housing | Nylon | Nylon PA66 |
| Stem | POM | POM+PTFE |
| Spring Weight | 60g (Bottom Out) | 45g (Actuation Force) |
| Total Travel | 3.8mm | 3.6mm |
| Lubrication | Pre-Lubricated | Pre-Lubricated |
| Pins | 5-Pin | 5-Pin |
Specs were sourced directly from the manufacturer’s website.
Wanna get into details about mechanical switches? Learn more about them here.
Tempted already? Snag a pack and join the tactile party!
Hands On Breakdown
I tried these switches as they came from the factory using the following setup:
Keyboard: Neo Studio Neo65
- Case: Aluminum
- Plate: FR4
- Mount: Gasket
Check out our keyboard case article, plate article, and gasket mount article for more info.
Keycaps: Wuque Studio BOW
- Material: PBT
- Printing: Double Shot
- Profile: Cherry
Note: Neo Studio Neo65 doesn’t have RGB. RGB was tested on a Keychron Q1.
Learn all about keycaps here.
I tested these switches in both gaming and typing scenarios.
Performance
Preferences:
The switches I’ve used the longest are the Gateron Oil Kings. So, you can consider them the baseline for what my preferences are.
I like to rest my fingers on the keys when I’m typing. This often leads to keys being inadvertently pressed.
I also type like I’m hammering nails. I bottom out pretty hard when I press the keys.
General:
Both switches felt very smooth without any hints of scratchiness. To be honest, I’m not particularly sensitive to scratchiness.
The Wisterias are linear switches, while the Budgerigars are tactile switches. As you would expect, they offer very different typing experiences.
The Wisterias traveled nice and smoothly. They were a bit too light for my tastes, but they performed well.
The Budgerigars, on the other hand, felt amazing to me. They have a heavy initial force and a sharp bump. I loved the feedback that the bump gave.
Their in-depth reviews go more into their feel and also includes force curve graphs. Check them out if you’re into the nerdy details.
Gaming:
I played mostly Sea of Thieves when reviewing the Budgerigars and Marvel Rivals when reviewing the Wisterias.
My characters movements felt great. Everything was snappy and responsive.
If you’re not familiar with how these games play, they both involve moving your character using the WASD keys and pressing a bunch of other keys to use your character’s abilities or items.
I got great feedback from the Budgerigars. Normally, I get absorbed into the game and pay no attention to my keyboard, but with the Budgerigars, I continuously spammed random buttons just so I could feel the tactile feedback over and over. I loved every key press.
I wasn’t as impressed with the Wisterias. That’s not to say they’re bad. It’s just that I didn’t feel anything particularly of note while playing Rivals. They worked great, though.
Typing:
Typing felt amazing with the Budgerigars.
It had the perfect weight for me, just heavy enough for me to rest my lazy fingers on the keys without accidentally activating them. I do have to note that there was a very slight bit of travel while I was resting my fingers, but it wasn’t anything that would bother me.
With the Wisterias, I had to consciously remind myself to hover over the keys while typing to avoid mistakes.
Strangely though, I typed way faster with the Wisterias than the Budgerigars on the typing test. If I had to choose, I would much rather write an entire report with the Budgerigars.
Objectively, both of these switches performed well and I can’t give the win to the Budgies just because I prefer them more.
Winner: Tie
Sound Profile
Sound Signature:
Both switches thocked. I loved the way both of them sounded.
Pinging:
The Budgerigars had a bit of pinging. It wasn’t anything concerning. You’d have to bring the switches up to your ears just to hear it.
In contrast, the Wisterias had zero pinging. I tried listening as hard as I could and I heard nothing. I was very impressed.
Microphone Usage:
Neither of the switches had any issues on Discord. In the past, Discord would frequently pick up all the typing sounds. However, it seems the newer mic options in the mic are really good at suppressing keyboard sounds now.
Winner: EPOMAKER Wisteria
Build Quality
Socket Fit:
Both of these switches had a boxy shape that reminded me of an 80’s car. I have no idea why.
However, looks can be deceiving as they both seated very securely into the keyboard sockets without any wobbling.
Pins:
The pins on both switches were nice and sturdy.
They’re a 5-pin design and, as noted above, seated into the sockets just fine.
I have to note that a couple the Budgerigars weren’t registering. When I reseated them, I discovered that their pins had been bent.
Errors:
After fixing the pins, I had no issues with getting the keys to register. I had also had no issues with ghost-typing on either of the switches.
Lubrication:
Both switches were nicely lubed from the factory.
Winner: EPOMAKER Wisteria
Aesthetics and Compatibility
Colorway:
The switches have the following color scheme:
| EPOMAKER Budgerigar | EPOMAKER Wisteria | |
| Stem | Baby Blue | Mint |
| Top Housing | Cream | Lighter Purple |
| Bottom Housing | Cream | Darker Purple |
I’m not a huge fan of the look on either of these switches. If I had to choose one, I would say the Budgies look better. I’m just not a fan of pastel colorways.
I would be all over the Budgerigars if they were bright white with the baby blue stem.
Keycaps:
Both switches performed exactly the same when it came to installing keycaps.
Everything was secured with no excessive wobble.
Everything stayed in place when removing keycaps.
RGB:
Both switches also performed exactly the same when it came to RGB. They both have a slit for the LED to shine through.
Winner: Tie
Price and Value
The EPOMAKER Budgerigars cost ~$0.33 per switch. The EPOMAKER Wisterias cost ~$0.25 per switch. I consider both of these budget prices.
Value-wise, both of these switches are completely worth it.
The Budgerigars actually have a higher MSRP (~$0.45), but I’ve never seen them near their MSRP price. They seem to always be on sale.
I really want to call this a tie when it comes to pricing, but the Wisterias are slightly cheaper so they get the win here.
Winner: EPOMAKER Wisteria
Wrapping Up
Performance: Tie
Sound: EPOMAKER Wisteria
Build Quality: EPOMAKER Wisteria
Compatibility: Tie
Value: EPOMAKER Wisteria
Winner: EPOMAKER Wisteria
There you have it. A quick comparison of the EPOMAKER Budgeriar switches vs EPOMAKER Wisteria switches.
I wasn’t ready for this result. I thought the Budgerigar would have come out on top, but it didn’t even win a single category.
My Pick: EPOMAKER Budgerigar
No matter, I’m still picking the Budgerigar as my favorite between the two.
Both switches were amazing and I have no doubt you’ll enjoy either of them. However, the EPOMAKER Budgerigars just felt much better to me because of their sharp tactile bump and heavier springs.
My goal for this sum up was to give you a place to get info on a general comparison of the switches. Be sure to check out my in-depth review for the EPOMAKER Budgerigar and EPOMAKER Wisteria switches if you want more info.
Otherwise, if you’re ready to jump in on these switches, grab a pack today!
How We Tested and Our Methodology
Keyboard Forge is a 100% independent publisher.
We purchased these switches with our own funds and were not paid by any company or manufacturer to influence our opinions or decisions.
We conducted numerous hours of hands-on testing with these switches in both gaming and typing environments. Majority of the gaming testing was done playing Sea of Thieves or Marvel Rivals. Majority of the typing testing was done writing articles for Keyboard Forge.
We hope this review helps you get a better understanding of these switches. Feel free to reach out to suggest switches to review in the future.
Thanks for the support!
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