Everglide Aqua King (V3) vs. Cherry MX Black
An in-depth look at the Everglide Aqua King (V3) and the Cherry MX Black switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When it comes to choosing a mechanical keyboard switch, two popular options that often come to mind are the Everglide Aqua King and the Cherry MX Black. Both switches provide a unique typing experience, but they have their distinct characteristics. The Aqua King is renowned for its noticeably smooth and frictionless feel, akin to effortlessly gliding across a freshly resurfaced ice skating rink. Its typing experience is often described as magical, making it a popular choice for those who value a subdued, creamy, and silky typing experience. On the other hand, the MX Black from Cherry boasts a classic textured smoothness thanks to their Hyperglide tooling. Typing on MX Blacks is accompanied by a deep sound profile, creating a satisfyingly tactile experience. The MX Black is categorized by its low-pitched, textured feel and a slightly stiffer keystroke. However, let's dive in a bit deeper beyond these generalities so you can best decide on the perfect switch for your needs.
By the numbers
Technical specifications
Actuation force
46g
Actuation force
60g
Bottom-out force
62g
Bottom-out force
80g
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
No
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
Plate (3-pin)
Spring
Gold-plated
Spring
Stainless steel
Housing materials
The Everglide Aqua King and the Cherry MX Black switches have different housing materials for both their top and bottom housings. The Aqua King features a polycarbonate top housing, which offers a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound profile. This stiffer plastic creates a more clear and resonant sound, making it ideal for users who enjoy a vibrant typing experience. In contrast, the MX Black comes with a nylon top housing, known for eliciting a deeper and fuller sound profile. The softer nature of nylon absorbs more sound, resulting in a duller and rounder sound that may appeal to those seeking a more mellow typing experience.
When it comes to the bottom housings, both switches again differ in materials. The Aqua King utilizes polycarbonate, which aligns with its top housing, providing a consistent sound profile. This stiffer plastic contributes to a clear and resonant sound, creating a cohesive typing experience throughout. Conversely, the MX Black incorporates a nylon bottom housing, maintaining its theme of producing a deeper and fuller sound profile. The softer characteristic of the nylon absorbs more sound, resulting in a slightly different sound when bottoming out keys compared to the Aqua King.
While the Aqua King and MX Black switches have distinct housing materials for both top and bottom, they share similar qualities in their respective categories. The polycarbonate used in the Aqua King's housings enables a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound, enhancing the overall typing experience. Similarly, the nylon used in the MX Black's housings emphasizes a deeper and fuller sound, offering a unique typing sensation. Despite their differences, both switches provide users with a tactile and auditory feedback when typing, ensuring a satisfying and enjoyable experience.
Weight
When comparing the actuation force and bottom out force of the Everglide Aqua King linear switch and the Cherry MX Black linear switch, some notable differences can be observed. The Aqua King has a lighter actuation force of 46 grams, while the MX Black requires a higher actuation force of 60 grams. Similarly, the Aqua King has a lighter bottom out force of 62 grams, whereas the MX Black has a heavier bottom out force of 80 grams.
These variances in force provide different typing experiences for users. The Aqua King's lighter actuation force allows for quicker and more effortless keystrokes, making it suitable for individuals who prefer a lighter touch when typing for extended periods, such as in a work setting or during long gaming sessions. On the other hand, the MX Black's heavier actuation force offers a more substantial and tactile typing experience, requiring a stronger push to trigger each keystroke. This heaviness may be more appealing to users who prefer a more pronounced sensation when typing.
Overall, while the Everglide Aqua King and Cherry MX Black linear switches provide different actuation and bottom out forces, both switches offer options that cater to the preferences of users who favor either a lighter or heavier typing experience. Whether one is seeking a lighter or heavier force, these switches can deliver similar results in terms of actuation and bottom out forces.
Travel distance
The Everglide Aqua King linear switch and the Cherry MX Black linear switch have the same travel distance of 4 mm. This means that both switches will provide a similar tactile experience when pressing down on a key. The travel distance refers to the distance the switch travels from the top to the bottom, and with both switches having a travel distance of 4 mm, users can expect consistent feedback and response from their keystrokes. Whether it's the Everglide Aqua King or the Cherry MX Black, users can enjoy a smooth and precise typing experience with a travel distance that remains consistent across both 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 Cherry MX Black comes in at $4.00 per 10 switches.
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 is best described as subdued. This means that when pressed, it produces a dampened sound that is not completely silent, but offers a more subtle sound signature compared to most switches. On the other hand, the Cherry MX Black has a low-pitched sound profile. This means that it features a more bass-heavy and mellow tone compared to higher-pitched switches. 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 chosen.
Moving on to the feel of the switches, the Aqua King offers a range of descriptors including creamy, frictionless, silky, and polished. This indicates that the typing experience on these switches is exceptionally smooth, with minimal resistance or friction when pressing the keys. It feels like gliding your fingers across the keys with ease, and each keystroke effortlessly melts into the switch. The MX Black, on the other hand, is described as textured and stiff. Textured switches have noticeable friction when pressed, which can be preferred by some users. Additionally, MX Black switches require more force to actuate and bottom-out compared to other switches.
In conclusion, the Everglide Aqua King linear switch and the Cherry MX Black linear switch offer contrasting subjective qualities in terms of sound and feel. The Aqua King provides a subdued sound and a smooth, frictionless typing experience, while the MX Black has a low-pitched sound profile and offers a textured feel with a higher actuation force. Depending on personal preferences, one may prefer the smooth and quiet typing experience of the Aqua King, while others may favor the slightly more tactile and bass-heavy feel of the MX Black. It's important to consider factors such as personal preference, typing style, and the overall keyboard setup when choosing between these switches.
Conclusion
To sum up, when considering the Everglide Aqua King linear switch versus the Cherry MX Black linear switch, it all comes down to your personal preferences. If you prioritize a smooth and effortless typing experience, with a frictionless sensation and a magical gliding feel, then the Aqua King is the switch for you. It provides a creamy, silky, and polished feel that allows your fingers to effortlessly melt into each keystroke. Additionally, the Aqua King offers a more subdued sound signature, providing a dampened and subtle typing experience.
On the other hand, if you prefer a textured typing feel with a deeper sound profile, the Cherry MX Black switch is the better choice. Cherry has perfected these switches with their Hyperglide tooling, offering a classic smoothness with noticeable friction when pressed. The MX Black switch provides a low-pitched sound that is bass-heavy and mellow, creating a different typing experience.
Ultimately, it boils down to your personal preference in terms of sound and feel. If you value a frictionless, silky, and smooth typing experience, alongside a more subdued sound, go for the Aqua King. However, if you prefer a textured typing feel with a deeper sound profile, the MX Black is the switch for you. So, consider your typing preferences and choose the switch that aligns with your desired typing experience.
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