Head to head · both bought and tested
Drift 64 vs Meridian 96
Both tested here, side by side: measured sound, latency and typing scores for the Drift 64 and the Meridian 96, and which one to buy.
The short answer
The Meridian 96 scores 2.6 higher overall and costs $95 against $22. Anyone who works in spreadsheets and has run out of desk. Buy the other one if: someone who needs a working mechanical keyboard immediately for the least possible money, or who wants to try clicky switches cheaply.
Scores, criterion by criterion
| Criterion | Drift 64 | Meridian 96 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Build | 5.5 | 7.5 | -2.0 to Meridian 96 |
| Typing feel | 5.0 | 7.5 | -2.5 to Meridian 96 |
| Sound | 4.0 | 7.0 | -3.0 to Meridian 96 |
| Stabilisers | 4.5 | 6.5 | -2.0 to Meridian 96 |
| Software | 3.0 | 8.5 | -5.5 to Meridian 96 |
| Value | 7.0 | 7.5 | -0.5 to Meridian 96 |
| Overall | 4.8 | 7.4 | -2.6 to Meridian 96 |
Measured
| Figure | Drift 64 | Meridian 96 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sound | 66.8 dB | 58.9 dB | 7.9 dB quieter to Meridian 96 |
| Latency, wired | 12.4 ms | 4.6 ms | 7.8 ms faster to Meridian 96 |
| Polling | 125 Hz | 1,000 Hz | 875 Hz higher to Meridian 96 |
| Actuation | 61.4 g | 46.3 g | +15.1 g — preference, not better |
| Case flex | 0.4 mm | 0.9 mm | -0.5 mm — softer, not better |
Specifications
| Specification | Drift 64 | Meridian 96 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $22 | $95 | $73 cheaper — Drift 64 |
| Layout | 60% | 96% | — |
| Switches | Clicky — Outemu Blue | Linear — Kailh Red | — |
| Hot-swap | No | Yes | — |
| Mount | Integrated plate | Top mount | — |
| Plate | Steel | Aluminium | — |
| Connectivity | Wired USB-C | Wired USB-C, 2.4 GHz dongle | — |
| Remapping | None | VIA | — |
| Weight | 480 g | 1,240 g | — |
Shape and footprint
Drift 64
Meridian 96
Where to buy
The full reviews
Everything above is a summary of two longer reviews — including the flaws, the long-term notes and the photographs. Drift 64 · Meridian 96