Head to head · both bought and tested
Ferrule 75 vs Meridian 96
Both tested here, side by side: measured sound, latency and typing scores for the Ferrule 75 and the Meridian 96, and which one to buy.
The short answer
The Ferrule 75 scores 1.1 higher overall and is also the cheaper of the two at $89. Almost anyone buying their first good keyboard, and most people buying their third. Buy the other one if: anyone who works in spreadsheets and has run out of desk.
Scores, criterion by criterion
| Criterion | Ferrule 75 | Meridian 96 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Build | 8.0 | 7.5 | +0.5 to Ferrule 75 |
| Typing feel | 8.5 | 7.5 | +1.0 to Ferrule 75 |
| Sound | 8.0 | 7.0 | +1.0 to Ferrule 75 |
| Stabilisers | 8.5 | 6.5 | +2.0 to Ferrule 75 |
| Software | 9.5 | 8.5 | +1.0 to Ferrule 75 |
| Value | 9.0 | 7.5 | +1.5 to Ferrule 75 |
| Overall | 8.5 | 7.4 | +1.1 to Ferrule 75 |
Measured
| Figure | Ferrule 75 | Meridian 96 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sound | 54.6 dB | 58.9 dB | 4.3 dB quieter to Ferrule 75 |
| Latency, wired | 4.1 ms | 4.6 ms | 0.5 ms faster to Ferrule 75 |
| Polling | 1,000 Hz | 1,000 Hz | level |
| Actuation | 55.9 g | 46.3 g | +9.6 g — preference, not better |
| Case flex | 2.4 mm | 0.9 mm | +1.5 mm — softer, not better |
Specifications
| Specification | Ferrule 75 | Meridian 96 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $89 | $95 | $6 cheaper — Ferrule 75 |
| Layout | 75% | 96% | — |
| Switches | Tactile — Gateron Brown Pro | Linear — Kailh Red | — |
| Hot-swap | Yes | Yes | — |
| Mount | Gasket mount | Top mount | — |
| Plate | PC (polycarbonate) | Aluminium | — |
| Connectivity | Wired USB-C, 2.4 GHz dongle, Bluetooth | Wired USB-C, 2.4 GHz dongle | — |
| Remapping | VIA | VIA | — |
| Weight | 940 g | 1,240 g | — |
Shape and footprint
Ferrule 75
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. Ferrule 75 · Meridian 96