Everglide Aqua King (V3) vs. Gateron Ink Box Pink
An in-depth look at the Everglide Aqua King (V3) and the Gateron Ink Box Pink switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When it comes to comparing and contrasting mechanical keyboard switches, two popular options are the Everglide Aqua King and the Gateron Ink Box Pink, both of which belong to the linear switch category. The Aqua King is renowned for its frictionless experience, evoking the sensation of effortlessly gliding on freshly resurfaced ice. With its subdued, creamy, and polished attributes, typing on the Aqua King is nothing short of magical. On the other hand, the Ink Box Pink offers a lighter typing feel compared to other switches, accompanied by a distinctive high-pitched clack. With its clacky and silky characteristics, the Ink Box Pink switches provide a smooth and satisfying typing experience. However, let's dive in a bit deeper beyond these generalities in order to help you make an informed decision on which switch is best suited for your needs.
By the numbers
Technical specifications
Actuation force
46g
Actuation force
50g
Bottom-out force
62g
Bottom-out force
60g
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Pre-travel
1.80 mm
Total travel
4.00 mm
Total travel
3.60 mm
Factory lubed
Yes
Factory lubed
Yes
Stem construction
Standard
Stem construction
Partial box
Stem material
POM
Stem material
POM
Top housing material
Polycarbonate
Top housing material
Proprietary INK blend
Bottom housing material
Polycarbonate
Bottom housing material
Proprietary INK blend
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Spring
Gold-plated
Spring
Stainless steel
Housing materials
The Everglide Aqua King and the Gateron Ink Box Pink both utilize different materials for their top and bottom housings, resulting in distinct sound profiles and tactile experiences. The Aqua King features a polycarbonate top housing, known for creating a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound profile. The stiffness of polycarbonate contributes to a clear and resonant sound, making it an ideal choice for those who prioritize sound clarity. Additionally, its translucency is advantageous for users who plan to use RGB lighting, as it allows for vibrant illumination. On the other hand, the Ink Box Pink incorporates Gateron's proprietary INK blend for its top housing. This special blend produces a pointed and relatively high-pitched sound, characterized as clacky. The Ink Box Pink offers a satisfying thin and higher-pitched sound that can be more suitable for users who prefer this particular auditory experience.
While the top housings of the Aqua King and Ink Box Pink differ in material, their respective bottom housings also play a significant role in the overall performance of the switches. The Aqua King's polycarbonate bottom housing contributes to the sharp, high-pitched sound profile and crisp tactile feel. It influences the bottom-out sound and feel when the key is fully pressed, enhancing the overall typing or gaming experience. Similarly, the Ink Box Pink utilizes Gateron's proprietary INK blend for its bottom housing, which helps shape the switch's characteristic sound and feel. The bottom housing influences the bottom-out sound and tactile sensation, allowing users to enjoy the satisfying clacky sound that defines the Ink Box Pink.
In terms of sound and feel, the top housing material of a switch has a greater impact on the sound when a key is released, while the bottom housing plays a more prominent role in the bottom-out sound and sensation when a key is fully pressed. Therefore, despite their differences in housing materials, both the Everglide Aqua King and the Gateron Ink Box Pink offer users unique sound profiles and tactile experiences. Whether one prefers the sharper, crisper sound of the Aqua King's polycarbonate housing or the satisfying clackiness of the Ink Box Pink's INK blend housing, both switches deliver exceptional performance and cater to different user preferences.
Weight
When comparing the actuation force and bottom out force of the Everglide Aqua King linear switch and the Gateron Ink Box Pink linear switch, there are some similarities and differences to note. Both switches fall into the medium force range, providing a balance between typing comfort and substantial feedback. The Aqua King has a slightly lighter actuation force of 46 grams compared to the Ink Box Pink's 50 grams. This means that the Aqua King requires a bit less force to trigger a keystroke. However, when it comes to bottoming out, the Aqua King has a slightly heavier force of 62 grams compared to the 60 grams of the Ink Box Pink. This means that the Aqua King requires a slightly stronger push when fully pressing down. Overall, both switches offer a medium typing experience, with the Aqua King being slightly lighter for actuation and slightly heavier for bottoming out. For those who prefer a lighter typing experience, the Aqua King may be more suitable, allowing for longer periods of comfortable typing. Meanwhile, the Ink Box Pink provides a slightly stronger push feel for those who prefer a more substantial typing experience.
Travel distance
The Everglide Aqua King linear switch and the Gateron Ink Box Pink linear switch have different travel distances. The Aqua King has a travel distance of 4 mm, which is considered to be a more traditional and deeper travel distance. On the other hand, the Ink Box Pink has a shorter travel distance of 3.6 mm. This makes it a more shallow option compared to the Aqua King. Gamers who prioritize faster response times may prefer the shorter travel distance of the Ink Box Pink. However, some individuals may find the shorter travel distance to feel too abrupt. For those who enjoy a more substantial feel when pressing down on a key, the Aqua King with its longer travel distance would be a suitable choice. Both switches offer different tactile experiences, so it ultimately depends on personal preference and the desired level of responsiveness.
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 Gateron Ink Box Pink has an MSRP of $8.50 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Ink Box Pink for $7.65.
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
When it comes to sound, the Everglide Aqua King linear switch is best described as subdued. It produces a dampened sound when pressed, offering a more subtle sound signature compared to most switches. On the other hand, the Gateron Ink Box Pink linear switch is known for being clacky and high-pitched. It produces a sharp and snappy sound when pressed, with a crisp, bright, and percussive quality. If you prefer a quieter typing experience, the Aqua King would be a better choice, while the Ink Box Pink provides a more audible and energetic sound.
In terms of feel, both switches offer an exceptionally smooth typing experience. The Aqua King is described as creamy, frictionless, silky, and polished. It offers a truly effortless typing experience, as your fingers effortlessly glide across the keys with minimal resistance. The same can be said for the Ink Box Pink, which is also described as silky and polished. These switches enhance the overall smoothness of the typing feel, minimizing resistance when pressing and releasing keys. Both switches provide a sleek and refined typing experience, with reduced friction and smooth key travel.
In conclusion, the Everglide Aqua King linear switch and the Gateron Ink Box Pink linear switch offer distinct qualities in terms of sound and feel. The Aqua King provides a more subdued sound and feels incredibly smooth and effortless to type on. It offers a magical typing experience comparable to ice skating on a freshly resurfaced rink. On the other hand, the Ink Box Pink has a clacky, high-pitched sound and offers a lighter typing feel. Both switches are known for their smoothness and polished finish, allowing for a sleek typing experience. Depending on your preference for sound and typing feel, you can choose either switch to achieve similar results of a smooth, enjoyable typing experience.
Conclusion
To sum up, when choosing between the Everglide Aqua King linear switch and the Gateron Ink Box Pink linear switch, you should consider their bottom out force, typing feel, sound, and overall preferences. Both switches have a medium bottom out force, with Aqua King at 62 grams and Ink Box Pink at 60 grams.
The Aqua King is best known for its frictionless feel, providing a typing experience reminiscent of gliding on freshly resurfaced ice. On the other hand, the Ink Box Pink offers a smooth and lighter typing feel compared to other switches, with a higher-pitched clack when used.
In terms of sound, the Aqua King produces a subdued and more subtle sound when pressed, while the Ink Box Pink has a clacky and high-pitched sound profile. If you prefer a dampened and less attention-grabbing sound, the Aqua King would be a better choice. However, if you enjoy a sharp and crisp sound, especially with a higher pitch, the Ink Box Pink might suit your preferences.
As for feel, both switches offer a silky and polished typing experience, enhancing overall smoothness and minimizing resistance when pressing and releasing keys. However, the Aqua King is also described as creamy and frictionless, providing an exceptionally smooth and effortless typing experience due to lubricant or specific materials used.
Ultimately, choosing between the Everglide Aqua King linear switch and the Gateron Ink Box Pink linear switch depends on your personal preferences. If you prioritize a frictionless and creamy typing experience with a subdued sound, the Aqua King would be a suitable option. However, if you prefer a smoother typing feel with a clacky and potentially higher-pitched sound, the Ink Box Pink might be the better choice for you. Consider your desired typing experience and sound profile to make an informed decision.
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