Everglide Aqua King (V3) vs. Huano Elf
An in-depth look at the Everglide Aqua King (V3) and the Huano Elf switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When it comes to choosing the right mechanical keyboard switches, the Everglide Aqua King (V3) and the Huano Elf offer distinct experiences that cater to different preferences in typing feel and sound. The Aqua King (V3) is celebrated for its incredibly smooth and frictionless experience, reminiscent of gliding on freshly resurfaced ice, making it perfect for users who prioritize a silky, effortless typing feel. Its subdued and creamy characteristics provide a luxurious sensation that can enhance productivity during extended typing sessions. Conversely, the Huano Elf stands out with its unique POK top housing, which not only enhances acoustics but also delivers a deep sound signature paired with a medium-light feel, offering a more tactile auditory experience. This makes the Elf an appealing choice for those who enjoy feedback while typing and appreciate a sound profile that adds character to their keystrokes. Both switches have compelling reasons for selection, depending on whether you value a smooth and frictionless ride or a crisp and resonant sound experience. However, let's dive in a bit deeper beyond generalities to help you decide which switch is the best fit for your typing style.
By the numbers
Technical specifications
Actuation force
46g
Actuation force
42g
Bottom-out force
62g
Bottom-out force
N/A
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Total travel
4.00 mm
Total travel
3.60 mm
Factory lubed
Yes
Factory lubed
Yes
Stem construction
Standard
Stem construction
Standard
Stem material
Nylon
Stem material
POM
Top housing material
Polycarbonate
Top housing material
POK
Bottom housing material
Polycarbonate
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Spring
Gold-plated
Spring
Stainless steel spring
Housing materials
The Everglide Aqua King (V3) and the Huano Elf utilize different materials for their top housings, which significantly influences their sound characteristics and overall user experience. The Aqua King (V3) is constructed with a polycarbonate top housing, known for its rigidity and clarity. This results in a sharper, higher-pitched sound profile and a more resonant auditory experience, particularly beneficial for setups involving RGB lighting due to its translucency. In contrast, the Huano Elf employs a POK (polyketone) top housing that prioritizes smoothness with a slightly higher coefficient of friction. While the sound profile of the Elf may not achieve the same crispness as that of the Aqua King, the POK material contributes to an overall smooth and clacky typing experience.
Examining the bottom housings, the Aqua King (V3) features a polycarbonate bottom housing, which maintains the sharp and clear sound profile established by its top. Polycarbonate's stiffer properties ensure that the sound is vibrant and resonant, making it ideal for a vibrant key feel and auditory feedback. Meanwhile, the Huano Elf employs nylon for its bottom housing. Nylon's softer nature results in a deeper and fuller sound profile as it absorbs more sound, generating a rounder and more subdued acoustic experience. This difference in materials will lead to contrasting bottom-out sounds during key presses, demonstrating how the bottom housing's properties can blend with the characteristics from the top housing.
In essence, the unique combination of housing materials in both the Aqua King (V3) and the Huano Elf leads to distinct yet complementary auditory profiles. While the Aqua King's dual polycarbonate design focuses on clarity and sharpness, the Elf's blend of POK and nylon allows for a soft, smooth experience with enhanced durability. As a result, users can prioritize different aspects of their typing experience: those seeking a lively sound with vibrant RGB lighting may favor the Aqua King, while those valuing smoothness and robust durability might lean towards the Huano Elf. Despite their material differences, both switches can still deliver compelling auditory experiences based on the user’s preferences and typing style.
Weight
When comparing the Everglide Aqua King (V3) linear switch and the Huano Elf linear switch, the actuation forces provide a clear distinction in their tactile responsiveness. The Aqua King (V3) features an actuation force of 46 grams, while the Elf has a lighter actuation force of 42 grams. This difference indicates that the Huano Elf may offer an easier keystroke, which can be beneficial for those who prefer a lighter touch for extended typing or gaming sessions. However, the bottom out force for the Elf is unknown, whereas the Aqua King (V3) has a bottom out force of 62 grams. This means the Aqua King provides a more defined end to the keystroke, giving a more substantial feel when bottoming out. Overall, the Aqua King (V3) is the heavier option with a firmer tactile response both in actuation and bottoming out, while the Elf is the lighter choice, potentially leading to a softer typing experience, depending on its bottom out characteristics.
Travel distance
The Everglide Aqua King (V3) linear switch features a travel distance of 4 mm, while the Huano Elf linear switch has a shorter travel distance of 3.6 mm. This difference highlights the Aqua King as the option for users who prefer a deeper key press, providing a more pronounced tactile experience that some may find more satisfying. On the other hand, the shorter travel distance of the Elf appeals to gamers looking for quicker response times, as it allows for faster key actuation. Consequently, if you value responsiveness in your typing or gaming, the Huano Elf would be the preferable choice. Conversely, if you favor a more traditional feel and depth in your keystrokes, the Everglide Aqua King (V3) would suit you better.
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 Huano Elf has an MSRP of $3.50 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Elf for $3.29.
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
In terms of sound, the Everglide Aqua King (V3) exhibits a subdued quality, producing a dampened sound with each key press. This subtle sound signature makes it less intrusive in a shared environment while still providing a noticeable tactile feedback with every keystroke. In comparison, the Huano Elf linear switch does not have specific sound characteristics detailed, but it is worth noting that any switch's acoustics can be significantly influenced by the type of keyboard and keycaps used. Therefore, while the Aqua King leans towards a quieter profile, the Elf's sound may vary based on these factors.
When it comes to feel, the Aqua King (V3) truly stands out with descriptors like creamy, frictionless, silky, and polished. Users can expect an exceptionally smooth typing experience, akin to gliding on ice, with minimal resistance and a luxurious tactile sensation. This makes it a desirable option for those who prioritize comfort and fluidity in their typing. On the other hand, the Huano Elf linear switch lacks specific descriptions of its feel, leaving it vague in terms of the tactile experience it offers. As such, the Aqua King provides a more detailed and appealing tactile profile for enthusiasts who value an effortless typing experience.
In conclusion, the Everglide Aqua King (V3) is distinguished by its subdued sound and remarkably smooth feel, making it a fantastic choice for those seeking a serene and fluid typing experience. In contrast, while the Huano Elf linear switch's sound and feel characteristics are not specified, it may still provide a satisfactory experience depending on user preferences and other factors. If you desire a well-rounded linear switch experience with a focus on smoothness and sound dampening, the Aqua King (V3) is a robust choice, whereas the Elf may be better understood upon hands-on experience or user feedback.
Conclusion
To conclude, when deciding between the Everglide Aqua King (V3) and the Huano Elf linear switches, your choice ultimately hinges on your typing preferences and the type of experience you're looking for. If you desire a typing feel that is exceptionally smooth, almost ice-like, and appreciate a more subdued sound profile, the Aqua King (V3) would likely be the more suitable option for you. With its frictionless and creamy feel, this switch provides an effortless typing experience, great for long typing sessions or gaming where fluid movement is essential. On the other hand, if you're someone who enjoys a medium-light typing experience with a satisfying acoustic profile, the Huano Elf might be more to your liking. While its bottom-out force is not specified, the Elf's design emphasizes enhanced acoustics, providing a deeper sound signature that adds a unique auditory element to your typing. In essence, choose the Aqua King (V3) for a silky, smooth, and low-sound experience, while opting for the Huano Elf if you lean towards deeper sounds with a more casual typing feel.
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