Everglide Aqua King (V3) vs. SP-Star Meteor Orange
An in-depth look at the Everglide Aqua King (V3) and the SP-Star Meteor Orange switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When it comes to mechanical keyboard switches, two popular options to consider are the Everglide Aqua King and the SP-Star Meteor Orange. The Aqua King, a linear switch, is best known for its frictionless feel, evoking a sensation similar to ice skating on a freshly resurfaced rink. Your fingers effortlessly glide across the keys, resulting in a truly enchanting typing experience. Categorized as 'Subdued', 'Creamy', 'Frictionless', 'Silky', and 'Polished', the Aqua King offers a unique and smooth typing experience. On the other hand, the Meteor Orange, a tactile switch, stands out for its exquisitely gentle touch. These switches offer a soft and seductive tactility, paired with a neutral sound profile. Categorized as 'Neutral', 'Mild', 'Thocky', and 'Polished', the Meteor Orange switches provide a slightly more pronounced tactile feedback for those who prefer a subtle sensation while typing. However, let's dive in a bit deeper beyond these generalities, so you can make a more informed decision on the best switch for your specific needs.
By the numbers
Technical specifications
Actuation force
46g
Actuation force
N/A
Bottom-out force
62g
Bottom-out force
57g
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
Nylon
Bottom housing material
Polycarbonate
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Spring
Gold-plated
Spring
Stainless steel
Housing materials
The housing materials of the Everglide Aqua King and the SP-Star Meteor Orange switches differ significantly. The Aqua King features a polycarbonate top housing, which results in a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound profile. This is due to polycarbonate being a relatively stiffer plastic, allowing for a more clear and resonant sound. Additionally, the translucent nature of polycarbonate makes it perfect for RGB lighting enthusiasts. On the other hand, the Meteor Orange utilizes a nylon top housing, which elicits a deeper and fuller sound profile. Nylon, being a softer plastic, absorbs more sound and creates a duller and rounder sound. Consequently, the Aqua King is ideal for those seeking a more precise and vibrant auditory experience, while the Meteor Orange caters to users who crave a richer and more mellow sound.
When it comes to the bottom housing, the differences between the Aqua King and the Meteor Orange remain consistent. The Aqua King's polycarbonate bottom housing contributes to a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound profile similar to its top housing. The stiffness of polycarbonate enhances the clarity and resonance of the sound, providing users with a satisfying typing experience. In contrast, the Meteor Orange's nylon bottom housing emphasizes a deeper and fuller sound profile. Nylon's softness enables it to absorb more sound, resulting in a duller and rounder sound. While both properties create distinct sound characteristics, the Aqua King's polycarbonate bottom housing delivers a more precise and resonant bottom-out sound, while the Meteor Orange's nylon housing produces a softer and less defined sound.
Considering the effects of the different housing materials, one can conclude that the Everglide Aqua King and the SP-Star Meteor Orange will offer varying typing experiences. The polycarbonate housing in both the top and bottom of the Aqua King ensures a sharp, higher-pitched, and crisp sound profile throughout. This consistency provides users with a satisfying auditory feedback when pressing and releasing keys. In contrast, the Meteor Orange's combination of nylon top and bottom housings creates a deeper and fuller sound profile during typing. The softness of nylon results in a more mellow and less pronounced sound overall. Ultimately, the choice between the two switches will depend on individual preferences – those seeking precision and vibrancy may opt for the Aqua King, while users desiring a richer and softer sound may prefer the Meteor Orange.
Weight
When comparing the actuation force and bottom out force of the Everglide Aqua King linear switch and the SP-Star Meteor Orange tactile switch, it is evident that they both fall under the medium weight category. The Aqua King has an actuation force of 46 grams and a bottom out force of 62 grams. Similarly, the Meteor Orange has an actuation force of undisclosed grams but a bottom out force of 57 grams, which makes it slightly lighter than the Aqua King.
Weight is an important consideration for keyboard enthusiasts for various reasons. Some individuals prefer a lighter actuation force as it allows them to type for extended periods, making it ideal for work or long gaming sessions. On the other hand, certain users prefer a heavier push feel for a more substantial typing experience. For those individuals, opting for switches with heavier forces would be preferable.
The actuation force of a switch is the amount of force required to trigger a keystroke and initiate the action. In this regard, the Aqua King and Meteor Orange differ in that the exact actuation force for the Meteor Orange is unknown. However, with their both falling into the medium weight range, it can be assumed that the actuation force of the Meteor Orange would be similar to the Aqua King, providing comparable results.
Bottom out force, on the other hand, measures the force needed to fully depress a key. Here, the Aqua King requires a slightly heavier force of 62 grams compared to the Meteor Orange's bottom out force of 57 grams, making the Aqua King the marginally heavier option in this aspect.
Overall, individuals seeking a tactile switch with a moderately weighted feel may find both the Everglide Aqua King linear switch and the SP-Star Meteor Orange tactile switch to be suitable options. The Aqua King offers a known actuation force and a heavier bottom out force, while the Meteor Orange provides a lighter bottom out force, although the exact actuation force is not specified.
Travel distance
The Everglide Aqua King linear switch and the SP-Star Meteor Orange tactile switch have equal travel distances of 4 mm. This means that both switches have the same distance they travel from the top to the bottom when pressed down on a key. Therefore, whether you choose the Aqua King or the Meteor Orange, you can expect similar results in terms of the distance you feel when typing.
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 SP-Star Meteor Orange has an MSRP of $5.50 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Meteor Orange for $5.00.
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 Everglide Aqua King linear switch is best known for its frictionless feel, creating a magical typing experience that resembles gliding across a freshly resurfaced ice skating rink. In terms of sound, the Aqua King produces a subdued sound when pressed, offering a more subtle sound signature compared to most switches. The Aqua King also falls under the category of creamy, frictionless, silky, and polished switches, providing a smooth and refined typing experience with reduced friction and smooth key travel.
On the other hand, the SP-Star Meteor Orange tactile switch is known for its exquisitely gentle feel and soft and seductive tactility. In terms of sound, the Meteor Orange switch has a neutral sound profile that is suitable for most intents and purposes. Additionally, the Meteor Orange falls under the polished switch category, providing a sleek typing experience with reduced friction and smooth key travel. It is also described as having a mild typing experience, offering a safe middle-ground zone that is approachable to most users.
In conclusion, the Everglide Aqua King and SP-Star Meteor Orange switches offer different subjective qualities in terms of sound and feel. The Aqua King provides a frictionless, smooth, and magical typing experience, with a subdued sound signature. On the other hand, the Meteor Orange offers a gentle and soft tactility, with a neutral sound profile. Both switches feature a polished finish, resulting in reduced friction and smooth key travel. While the Aqua King emphasizes a more frictionless and premium typing experience, the Meteor Orange aims for a gentle and approachable feel. However, both switches share the common attribute of a polished finish, ensuring a sleek and refined typing experience.
Conclusion
To sum up, when considering the Everglide Aqua King linear switch, it is best suited for those seeking a medium bottom out force of 62 grams and a frictionless typing experience. The Aqua Kings offer a magical sensation akin to ice skating on a freshly resurfaced rink, with fingers effortlessly gliding across the keys. The sound profile of the Aqua King is described as subdued, providing a more subtle and dampened sound compared to most switches.
On the other hand, the SP-Star Meteor Orange tactile switch is ideal for those who prefer a slightly lighter bottom out force of 57 grams and a soft and seductive tactility. These switches offer a gentle typing experience while maintaining a neutral sound profile, making them suitable for various purposes and users. Additionally, the Meteor Orange switches are also described as having a thocky sound, providing a deep, rich, and satisfying sound when pressed.
In terms of overall feel, the Aqua King switch offers a variety of descriptors including creamy, frictionless, silky, and polished. These characteristics contribute to a smooth and buttery typing experience, with reduced friction and a sleek typing feel. On the other hand, the Meteor Orange switch is described as mild and polished, providing a more approachable and gentle typing experience. Both switches offer reduced friction and smooth key travel.
Ultimately, the choice between the Everglide Aqua King linear switch and the SP-Star Meteor Orange tactile switch will depend on personal preferences. If you desire a medium-bottom out force and a frictionless typing experience, the Aqua King switch is a great option. On the other hand, if you prefer a slightly lighter bottom out force and a soft and seductive tactile feedback, the Meteor Orange switch may be the better choice. Consider your desired typing experience and sound profile to make an informed decision.
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