Everglide Aqua King (V3) vs. Gateron Ink Red
An in-depth look at the Everglide Aqua King (V3) and the Gateron Ink Red switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When it comes to mechanical keyboards, two popular choices for linear switches are the Everglide Aqua King and the Gateron Ink Red. The Aqua King is best known for its frictionless feel, reminiscent of gliding on freshly resurfaced ice. With its subdued, creamy, and silky attributes, this switch provides a magical typing experience. On the other hand, the Ink Red stands out for its lower actuation force, making it ideal for those with a lighter typing style. Known for their smoothness and crispy, clacky sound profile, these switches are effortless to type on. Both switches are categorized as polished and offer unique qualities. 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
45g
Bottom-out force
62g
Bottom-out force
60g
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
Nylon
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
Gold-plated
Housing materials
The housing materials used in the Everglide Aqua King and Gateron Ink Red switches have distinct characteristics, but both contribute to creating a pleasing auditory experience. The Aqua King features a polycarbonate top housing that provides a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound profile. This is due to polycarbonate's stiffness, which results in a clear and resonant sound. Additionally, the Aqua King's translucent polycarbonate top housing is ideal for those who plan to use RGB lighting, as it allows the lighting effects to shine through. In contrast, the Ink Red utilizes Gateron's proprietary INK blend top housing, which offers a pointed and relatively high-pitched sound profile. While still providing a satisfying sound, the Ink Red's top housing is described as clacky, striking a balance between being sharp and not overly so.
Moving on to the bottom housings, the Aqua King and Ink Red employ different materials that influence the feedback and sound when a key is pressed down. The Aqua King's polycarbonate bottom housing, like its top housing, contributes to a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound profile. It adds to the overall resonant and clear sound when a key is bottomed out. Conversely, the Ink Red utilizes Gateron's proprietary INK blend bottom housing, which has its own distinct qualities. While specific details about the INK blend bottom housing are not provided, it can be inferred that it complements the Ink Red's overall sound profile and contributes to a satisfying typing experience.
Considering the impact of the top and bottom housings on the overall performance of a switch, it becomes evident that both play significant roles. When a key is pressed, the user experiences the qualities of the bottom housing, influencing the bottom-out sound and feel. This means that the Aqua King's polycarbonate bottom housing and the Ink Red's proprietary INK blend bottom housing will offer contrasting tactile experiences. On the other hand, the sound when a key is released is influenced by the top housing. Thus, the Aqua King's polycarbonate top housing and the Ink Red's proprietary INK blend top housing will have a more substantial impact on the auditory feedback when a key is released. Although the materials differ for the top and bottom housings of these switches, users can expect similar results regarding clarity, sharpness, and resonance in both the Aqua King and Ink Red switches.
Weight
When comparing the Everglide Aqua King linear switch and the Gateron Ink Red linear switch, both switches have relatively similar actuation and bottom out forces. The Aqua King has a slightly higher actuation force of 46 grams, compared to the Ink Red's 45 grams. Similarly, the Aqua King also has a slightly higher bottom out force of 62 grams, while the Ink Red has a bottom out force of 60 grams. Both switches fall under the medium force category, providing a balance between a lighter typing experience and a more substantial push feel. Therefore, users can expect similar results in terms of actuation and bottom out forces when using either switch. The slight differences in force may be subjective and depend on personal preference, with some individuals favoring the slightly lighter actuation and bottom out forces of the Ink Red switch, while others may prefer the slightly heavier forces of the Aqua King switch. Ultimately, the decision between the two switches will depend on the user's typing style and preference for lighter or heavier forces.
Travel distance
The Everglide Aqua King linear switch and the Gateron Ink Red linear switch have identical travel distances of 4 mm. This means that both switches will provide a similar experience in terms of the distance one would have to press down on a key to activate it. Whether you choose the Aqua King or the Ink Red, you can expect the same travel distance, making them both suitable options for those who prefer a shorter travel distance on their keyboard switches.
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 Red has an MSRP of $7.50 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Ink Red for $7.35.
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 switch is best described as subdued. This means that it produces a dampened sound when pressed, offering a more subtle sound signature compared to most switches. On the other hand, the Gateron Ink Red switch is described as having a neutral sound profile. It falls in the middle ground, neither too loud nor too quiet, making it suitable for most purposes. Additionally, the Ink Red switch has a chirpy characteristic, giving it a unique acoustic signature with a slight squeak. It's important to note that the sound of a switch can also be influenced by other factors such as the keyboard board and keycaps used.
In terms of feel, the Everglide Aqua King switch is highly regarded for its frictionless and creamy typing experience. These switches offer an extremely smooth and effortless typing feel, minimizing any sense of resistance or friction when pressing the keys. They have a fluid travel, allowing your fingers to glide effortlessly across the keys, similar to ice skating on a freshly resurfaced rink. Additionally, the Aqua King switches also provide a silky and polished sensation, enhancing the overall smoothness of each keystroke. This can be attributed to the application of lubricant at the factory or specific materials used.
The Gateron Ink Red switch shares some similarities in feel with the Aqua King switch. It is also described as silky and polished, offering an exceptionally smooth typing experience. The Ink Red switch provides minimal resistance when pressing and releasing keys, resulting in a fluid and effortless typing feel. It is considered mild, providing a gentle typing experience that is approachable to most users. The Ink Red switch falls within the safe middle-ground, ensuring a comfortable typing experience for those with a lighter typing style.
Overall, both the Everglide Aqua King linear switch and Gateron Ink Red linear switch offer excellent subjective qualities. While the Aqua King switch is known for its frictionless and creamy feel, and the Ink Red switch is described as silky and polished, they both provide exceptionally smooth typing experiences with minimal resistance. In terms of sound, the Aqua King switch offers a more subdued sound, while the Ink Red switch has a neutral sound profile with a slight chirpy characteristic. Ultimately, the choice between these two switches will depend on individual preferences and typing styles. However, it's worth noting that for those seeking a similar result in terms of feel and sound, the Ink Red switch can provide comparable qualities to the Aqua King switch.
Conclusion
To sum up, if you're looking for a switch that provides a frictionless and magical typing experience, then the Aqua King is the way to go. With its medium bottom out force of 62 grams, you'll find that your fingers simply glide across the keys, reminiscent of ice skating on a freshly resurfaced ice skating rink. Additionally, the Aqua King offers a subdued sound profile, providing a more subtle and dampened sound when pressed.
On the other hand, if you prefer a switch with a lighter typing style, the Gateron Ink Red is the better choice. With a slightly lower bottom out force of 60 grams, the Ink Red offers a satisfyingly smooth and effortless typing experience. Its crispy and clacky sound profile adds to the overall typing satisfaction. Additionally, the Ink Red is described as having a neutral sound profile, suitable for various purposes, whether you're a beginner or advanced user, and can be used both at home or in the office. It's worth noting that the Ink Red also has a unique chirpy sound, setting it apart from other switches.
In terms of feel, the Aqua King provides a creamy, frictionless, silky, and polished typing experience, thanks to the smooth and buttery feel of the switch. This is achieved through lubrication at the factory or specific materials used in the switch. On the other hand, the Ink Red offers a silky, mild, and polished typing experience, again emphasizing smoothness and reduced friction.
Ultimately, the decision between the Everglide Aqua King linear switch and the Gateron Ink Red linear switch comes down to personal preference. If you prioritize a frictionless and magical typing experience with a subdued sound profile, go for the Aqua King. If you prefer a lighter typing style with a satisfyingly smooth and clacky sound profile, the Ink Red is your best bet. Both switches offer a smooth and refined typing experience, so it's up to you to decide which characteristics align better with your preferences.
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