Everglide Aqua King (V3) vs. Everglide Bamboo Green
An in-depth look at the Everglide Aqua King (V3) and the Everglide Bamboo Green switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When it comes to choosing a mechanical keyboard switch, there are a plethora of options available to cater to different preferences. Two popular choices to consider are the Everglide Aqua King and the Everglide Bamboo Green. The Aqua King, a linear switch, is best known for its smooth and frictionless typing feel, reminiscent of gliding on a freshly resurfaced ice skating rink. With its subdued, creamy, and silky attributes, it offers a magical typing experience. On the other hand, the Bamboo Green, a tactile switch, boasts a clacky sound signature paired with a crisp and sparkling tactility. Its stepped, high-pitched, and accented attributes provide a sharp and resonant feedback while typing. These general pointers showcase the distinct characteristics of both switches, allowing individuals to make an informed decision based on their preferences. 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
46g
Actuation force
43g
Bottom-out force
62g
Bottom-out force
62g
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Total travel
4.00 mm
Total travel
4.00 mm
Factory lubed
Yes
Factory lubed
Yes
Stem construction
Standard
Stem construction
Standard
Stem material
POM
Stem material
POM
Top housing material
Polycarbonate
Top housing material
PBT
Bottom housing material
Polycarbonate
Bottom housing material
PBT
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Spring
Gold-plated
Spring
Gold-plated
Housing materials
The housing materials of the Everglide Aqua King and the Everglide Bamboo Green differ in terms of their impact on sound profiles and aesthetics. The Aqua King features a polycarbonate top housing, which creates a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound profile. In addition, its translucency makes it ideal for use with RGB lighting, adding to its visual appeal. On the other hand, the Bamboo Green incorporates a PBT top housing, which offers a more neutral sound profile. While it may not be as sharp or resonant as polycarbonate, it also avoids sounding dull.
Similarly, the bottom housings of these switches vary in material and their impact on sound profiles. The Aqua King utilizes a polycarbonate bottom housing, resulting in a sharper and more resonant sound profile. Again, its translucency adds to its aesthetic appeal. In contrast, the Bamboo Green utilizes a PBT bottom housing, offering a more neutral sound profile. This means it may not have the same crispness as polycarbonate, but it also avoids sounding dull.
Overall, the differences in top and bottom housing materials between the Everglide Aqua King and the Everglide Bamboo Green result in variations in sound profiles. While the Aqua King with its polycarbonate housing produces a sharper and crisper sound, the Bamboo Green with its PBT housing offers a more neutral sound. However, it's important to note that both switches aim to provide a pleasant typing experience, with each housing material bringing its own unique characteristics to the sound profiles. Whether you prefer a sharper, higher-pitched sound or a more neutral sound, both switches strive to deliver satisfying results.
Weight
When comparing the actuation force and bottom out force of the Everglide Aqua King linear switch and the Everglide Bamboo Green tactile switch, there are some notable similarities and differences. In terms of actuation force, the Aqua King requires 46 grams of force, while the Bamboo Green requires 43 grams. Both switches fall into the medium force category, providing a balance between light and heavy keystrokes. This means that users can expect similar results in terms of ease of triggering a keystroke with both switches.
However, when it comes to bottom out force, both switches require 62 grams of force. This indicates that the tactile feedback and resistance experienced when fully pressing down on the keys will be the same for both switches.
Considering the weight aspect, some individuals may prefer a lighter switch for extended typing or gaming sessions, as it reduces fatigue. In this regard, the Bamboo Green switch would be the lighter option due to its lower actuation force. On the other hand, those seeking a more solid and substantial typing experience might prefer a switch with a heavier force. For them, the Aqua King, with its slightly higher actuation force, would be a more suitable choice.
Ultimately, the decision between the Everglide Aqua King linear switch and the Everglide Bamboo Green tactile switch boils down to individual preference. Both switches offer a medium actuation force and a similar bottom out force, ensuring a comfortable and consistent typing experience.
Travel distance
The Everglide Aqua King linear switch and the Everglide Bamboo Green tactile switch both have a travel distance of 4 mm. This means that when you press down on a key with either of these switches, you will feel the same distance traveled from the top to the bottom. Both switches offer a consistent and satisfying tactile feedback, ensuring a comfortable typing experience. Although the specific travel distances of the Aqua King and Bamboo Green switches are the same, it is important to note that they offer different typing experiences due to their unique switch designs. The Aqua King switch is a linear switch, providing smooth and silent keystrokes, while the Bamboo Green switch is a tactile switch, offering a noticeable bump when pressing each key. Whether you prefer the linear feel of the Aqua King or the tactile feedback of the Bamboo Green, both switches will deliver reliable performance and allow you to type with precision and ease.
Price comparison
Which switch is more bang for your buck?
The Everglide Aqua King (V3) has an MSRP of $7.18 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Aqua King (V3) for $5.44.
The Everglide Bamboo Green has an MSRP of $9.67 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Bamboo Green for $7.19.
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
The sound of the Everglide Aqua King linear switch can be described as subdued. It produces a dampened sound when pressed, creating a more subtle sound signature compared to most switches. On the other hand, the Everglide Bamboo Green tactile switch has a high-pitched and resonant sound profile. When typing on these switches, you can expect a sharp and crisp sound that adds a clacky sound signature to your typing experience.
In terms of feel, the Everglide Aqua King linear switch is known for its creamy, frictionless, silky, and polished qualities. These switches offer a smooth and buttery typing experience, with a sensation of effortlessly gliding your fingers across the keys. The Aqua King switch provides an extremely smooth and effortless typing experience, minimizing any sense of resistance or friction. Additionally, the switch is polished and refined, resulting in reduced friction and smooth key travel.
On the other hand, the Everglide Bamboo Green tactile switch is described as stepped, accented, sharp, and polished. These switches provide a mild tactility with pre-travel and/or post-travel, giving it a stepped feel. They offer a prominent amount of tactility without being overwhelming or subtle, providing a medium tactile experience. The Bamboo Green switch is known for its high feedback intensity with a strong and crisp tactile bump for a distinct tactile experience. Similar to the Aqua King, the Bamboo Green switch is also polished, resulting in reduced friction and smooth key travel.
Overall, the Everglide Aqua King linear switch and the Everglide Bamboo Green tactile switch offer different subjective qualities. The Aqua King provides a frictionless and smooth typing experience, while the Bamboo Green offers a clackier and more tactility focused typing experience. The Aqua King has a subdued sound profile, while the Bamboo Green has a high-pitched and resonant sound. Both switches have polished finishes for reduced friction and smooth key travel. Depending on your preference for sound and tactility, either switch can provide a satisfying typing experience.
Conclusion
In closing, if you are looking for a smooth and effortless typing experience without much sound, the Aqua King linear switch is the ideal choice for you. These switches offer a frictionless and creamy feel, allowing your fingers to effortlessly glide across the keys. The Aqua King provides a medium bottom out force of 62 grams, which is comfortable for most users. The sound produced by these switches is subdued, offering a more subtle and dampened sound compared to other switches. On the other hand, if you prefer a tactile switch with a distinct feedback and a slightly clacky sound signature, the Bamboo Green switch is the way to go. With a medium bottom out force of 62 grams, the Bamboo Green offers a stepped or accented tactile feel, providing a prominent amount of tactility without overwhelming you. These switches also have a polished finish, resulting in a sleek typing experience. The sound produced by the Bamboo Green switches is described as high-pitched and resonant, giving you a sharp and crisp auditory experience. Ultimately, the choice between the Everglide Aqua King linear switch and the Everglide Bamboo Green tactile switch depends on your preference for a smooth and silent typing experience or a tactile feedback with a distinctive sound.
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