Everglide Aqua King (V3) vs. Everglide Moyu Black (Dark Jade)
An in-depth look at the Everglide Aqua King (V3) and the Everglide Moyu Black (Dark Jade) switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When it comes to mechanical keyboard switches, the Everglide Aqua King and the Everglide Moyu Black (Dark Jade) offer distinctly different typing experiences. The Aqua King is a linear switch, known for its frictionless feel and smooth gliding sensation. It provides a magical and effortless typing experience, reminiscent of ice skating on a freshly resurfaced rink. On the other hand, the Moyu Black (Dark Jade) is a tactile switch that offers a sharp and pronounced tactile feel. Its unique blend of PBT top and bottom housing sets it apart and provides a premium typing experience. With a strong downstroke tactile bump and an even sharper and stronger upstroke bump, the Moyu Blacks deliver a hypertactile sensation with satisfyingly sharp and punchy sound. Both switches have their own strengths and qualities, making them suitable for different preferences and typing styles. 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
50g
Bottom-out force
62g
Bottom-out force
67g
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
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 Everglide Aqua King and the Everglide Moyu Black (Dark Jade) differ in their housing materials, with the Aqua King featuring a polycarbonate top and bottom housing, while the Moyu Black incorporates a PBT top and bottom housing. The polycarbonate top housing of the Aqua King creates a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound profile, thanks to its stiffness and resonant qualities. This material is especially desirable for users who plan to utilize RGB lighting due to its translucency. On the other hand, the PBT top housing of the Moyu Black offers a more neutral sound profile that is neither crisp nor dull.
Similarly, the bottom housing of the Aqua King and the Moyu Black differ in their materials, with the Aqua King featuring a polycarbonate bottom housing and the Moyu Black incorporating a PBT bottom housing. The polycarbonate bottom housing of the Aqua King contributes to a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound profile, just like its top housing counterpart. Its stiffness is responsible for a clear and resonant sound when the switch is bottomed-out. In contrast, the PBT bottom housing of the Moyu Black provides a neutral sound profile, offering neither a crisp nor dull sound when pressed.
When analyzing the overall sound and feel of a switch, the qualities brought by the top and bottom housings are essential to consider. With the Aqua King, the top housing's polycarbonate material primarily influences the sound when releasing a key, making it a crucial factor for users who prioritize the sound upon key release. Conversely, the bottom housing material of the Aqua King, also polycarbonate, predominantly affects the bottom-out sound and feel, ensuring a satisfying and resonant experience when pressing down on the switch. For the Moyu Black, the PBT material used in both the top and bottom housings provides a more consistent and neutral sound profile throughout both key press and release, resulting in a more balanced overall experience.
Weight
When comparing the actuation force and bottom out force of the Everglide Aqua King linear switch and the Everglide Moyu Black (Dark Jade) tactile switch, there are some notable differences. The Aqua King has a lighter actuation force of 46 grams, while the Moyu Black requires a slightly stronger push with an actuation force of 50 grams. This means that the Aqua King switch may be more suitable for those who prefer a lighter touch while typing, allowing for longer periods of comfortable use. However, when it comes to bottoming out, the Aqua King has a force of 62 grams, which is slightly less than the Moyu Black's bottom out force of 67 grams. This implies that the Moyu Black provides a more substantial typing experience with a heavier bottom out force. Overall, if one prefers a lighter actuation force and a medium bottom out force, the Aqua King would be the better choice. However, if someone desires a stronger push feel and a slightly heavier typing experience, the Moyu Black (Dark Jade) would be more suitable.
Travel distance
The Everglide Aqua King linear switch and the Everglide Moyu Black (Dark Jade) tactile switch have the same travel distance of 4 mm. Both switches provide a consistent 4 mm travel distance, ensuring a similar experience when pressing down on the keys. Whether you choose the Aqua King or the Moyu Black, you can expect to feel the same distance underneath your fingers when typing or gaming. Therefore, both switches offer a consistent and reliable travel distance without any notable differences between them in this regard.
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 Moyu Black (Dark Jade) has an MSRP of $12.00 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Moyu Black (Dark Jade) for $7.59.
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 can be 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 Everglide Moyu Black (Dark Jade) switch is known for its resonant sound profile. Typing on these switches will provide a higher-pitched and sharp sound that creates an immersive auditory experience. It's important to note that the sound of a switch is also influenced by other factors such as the choice of the keyboard and keycaps used.
In terms of feel, the Everglide Aqua King switch offers a range of qualities. It can be described as creamy, giving a smooth and buttery typing experience. This could be due to factory lubrication or specific materials used in the switch. Additionally, the Aqua King switch is also considered frictionless, minimizing any sense of resistance or friction when pressing the keys and providing a fluid travel. It can also be described as silky, enhancing the overall smoothness of the typing feel and minimizing resistance when pressing and releasing keys. Finally, the Aqua King switch can be seen as polished, offering a sleek typing experience with reduced friction and smooth key travel.
On the other hand, the Everglide Moyu Black (Dark Jade) switch is described as accented. This refers to a medium tactile switch that provides a prominent amount of tactility without being overwhelming or subtle. Typing on these switches will result in a strong and crisp tactile bump that can be distinctly felt with each keypress. Overall, the Moyu Black (Dark Jade) switch offers a distinctive and impactful typing experience due to its medium-heavy feel and abrupt bottom-out.
In conclusion, the Everglide Aqua King switch provides a frictionless and creamy typing experience with a subdued sound profile. On the other hand, the Everglide Moyu Black (Dark Jade) switch offers a sharp tactile feel with a resonant sound profile. Both switches have unique characteristics that cater to different preferences, ensuring a premium typing experience.
Conclusion
To sum up, if you prefer a smooth and frictionless typing experience, the Everglide Aqua King linear switch is the one for you. These switches offer a magical typing experience, with your fingers effortlessly gliding across the keys. Additionally, the Aqua King has a medium bottom out force of 62 grams, providing a comfortable typing feel.
On the other hand, if you enjoy a strong and sharp tactile feel, the Everglide Moyu Black (Dark Jade) tactile switch is the better choice. These switches feature a unique blend of PBT top and bottom housing, resulting in a rare and premium typing experience. The Moyu Blacks have a medium-heavy bottom out force of 67 grams, offering an impactful typing experience with their strong downstroke and even sharper upstroke tactile bumps.
In terms of sound, the Aqua King produces a subdued sound, offering a more subtle and dampened sound profile compared to most switches. On the other hand, the Moyu Black (Dark Jade) produces a resonant sound, providing a higher-pitched and immersive auditory experience with a clean and sharp sound profile.
When it comes to feel, the Aqua King switches are known for their creamy, frictionless, silky, and polished typing experience. These switches offer a smooth and effortless typing feel, minimizing resistance and friction. On the other hand, the Moyu Black (Dark Jade) switches are described as accented and sharp, providing a high feedback intensity with a distinct tactile bump.
Ultimately, the choice between the Everglide Aqua King linear switch and the Everglide Moyu Black (Dark Jade) tactile switch depends on your personal preferences. If you value a smooth and frictionless typing experience, go for the Aqua King. If you prefer a strong and sharp tactile feel, opt for the Moyu Black (Dark Jade). Consider the bottom out force, sound profile, and feel descriptions to make the decision that suits your typing style and preferences best.
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