Everglide Aqua King (V3) vs. Everglide Sakura Pink
An in-depth look at the Everglide Aqua King (V3) and the Everglide Sakura Pink 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 Everglide Sakura Pink. The Aqua King is best known for its frictionless feel, providing a typing experience that resembles the effortless glide of ice skating on a freshly resurfaced rink. With its subdued, creamy, and polished qualities, this linear switch offers a magical experience for keyboard enthusiasts. On the other hand, the Sakura Pink switches are renowned for their feather-light actuation force of 35g, making them ideal for delicate typists. These switches also offer a gliding type feel and frictionless operation, ensuring a smooth and effortless typing experience. With their buttery, creamy, and easy-to-press attributes, the Sakura Pinks produce a delightful poppy sound reminiscent of popping bubble wrap, adding a playful touch to your keyboarding sessions. However, let's dive in a bit deeper beyond these generalities so you can best decide on the most suitable switch for your needs.
By the numbers
Technical specifications
Actuation force
46g
Actuation force
35g
Bottom-out force
62g
Bottom-out force
45g
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
Polycarbonate
Bottom housing material
Polycarbonate
Bottom housing material
Polycarbonate
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Spring
Gold-plated
Spring
Stainless steel
Housing materials
The Everglide Aqua King and the Everglide Sakura Pink both utilize polycarbonate as the material for their top and bottom housings. This choice of material is aimed at creating a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound profile for both switches. Additionally, the relatively stiff nature of polycarbonate contributes to a more clear and resonant sound profile. Aesthetically, the translucency of polycarbonate is particularly advantageous for switches that plan to incorporate RGB lighting.
However, while the housing materials are the same for both switches, the Aqua King and Sakura Pink may vary in terms of their performance due to other design elements. The Aqua King may offer a different typing experience compared to the Sakura Pink as the position of the housing materials differs between the top and bottom of the switch. The bottom housing will have more influence on the bottom-out sound and feel when the key is pressed, while the top housing will affect the sound when the key is released.
Despite these potential differences, both switches are likely to deliver similar overall results when it comes to sound and performance. This can be attributed to the common use of polycarbonate in their housings, which inherently creates a sharper and more resonant sound profile. So, whether one chooses the Everglide Aqua King or the Everglide Sakura Pink, they can expect a comparable auditory experience while typing, thanks to the shared housing materials.
Weight
When comparing the actuation force and bottom out force of the Everglide Aqua King linear switch and the Everglide Sakura Pink linear switch, there are notable differences to consider. The Aqua King has an actuation force of 46 grams, which requires a moderate amount of force to trigger a keystroke, while the Sakura Pink is lighter with an actuation force of 35 grams. This means that the Sakura Pink switch will require less force to initiate a keystroke compared to the Aqua King. Additionally, the Aqua King has a bottom out force of 62 grams, providing a more substantial typing experience for those who prefer a stronger push feel. On the other hand, the Sakura Pink has a lighter bottom out force of 45 grams, making it easier to press all the way down. It is worth noting that both switches offer different levels of weight, allowing individuals to choose based on their personal preferences. Those who prefer a lighter switch may opt for the Sakura Pink, as it allows for longer typing periods and is suitable for work or extended gaming sessions. In contrast, individuals seeking a more substantial typing experience may lean towards the Aqua King's heavier forces. In summary, while the actuation and bottom out forces vary between the Aqua King and Sakura Pink switches, both provide options catering to different preferences.
Travel distance
The travel distance of a switch is a crucial factor to consider when choosing a keyboard. In the case of the Everglide Aqua King linear switch and the Everglide Sakura Pink linear switch, both switches have the same travel distance of 4 mm. This means that when you press down on a key equipped with either switch, you will experience the same travel distance of 4 mm from the top to the bottom. Therefore, you can expect similar results in terms of the feeling and experience of typing with these switches. Whether you opt for the Aqua King or Sakura Pink linear switch, you can enjoy a consistent and satisfactory travel distance while 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 Everglide Sakura Pink has an MSRP of $6.86 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Sakura Pink for $3.89.
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 Aqua King switch is best described as having a subdued sound. While it is not completely silent, it offers a more subtle sound signature compared to most switches. On the other hand, the Sakura Pink switch is known for producing a muted sound. This means that it produces a softer and quieter sound compared to regular or clacky switches, minimizing the noise typically associated with mechanical keyboards. It's important to note that the sound of a switch can also be influenced by other factors such as the keyboard and keycaps chosen.
In terms of feel, both the Aqua King and Sakura Pink switches offer a smooth and effortless typing experience. The Aqua King switch is often described as creamy, frictionless, silky, and polished. This means that it offers a buttery and refined typing experience, with reduced friction and smooth key travel. It provides a silky sensation, allowing your fingers to effortlessly glide across the keys. Similarly, the Sakura Pink switch is described as buttery, creamy, easy-to-press, and frictionless. This implies a smooth and fluid keystroke experience, with minimal resistance and effort required to activate the keys. It enhances the typing experience by providing a responsive and low-impact feel, reducing finger fatigue during extended typing sessions.
Taking all the available information into account, both the Everglide Aqua King and Sakura Pink switches offer a delightful typing experience. While the Aqua King switch emphasizes a frictionless and polished feel, the Sakura Pink switch focuses on being easy-to-press and buttery. Both switches provide a smooth and effortless typing sensation, allowing your fingers to glide across the keys with ease. In terms of sound, the Aqua King offers a subdued sound while the Sakura Pink offers a muted sound. Ultimately, the choice between the two switches depends on personal preference and the desired typing experience. However, it is important to consider that subjective qualities can vary depending on factors such as keyboard and keycap choices. Overall, both switches offer similar results in terms of a smooth and enjoyable typing experience.
Conclusion
To sum up, if you prefer a medium bottom out force and a slightly subdued sound, the Everglide Aqua King linear switch is the way to go. These switches offer a frictionless typing experience, similar to gliding on freshly resurfaced ice. With a creamy, polished feel, they provide a smooth and effortless key press. On the other hand, if you prefer a lighter bottom out force and a muted sound, the Everglide Sakura Pink linear switch is the better choice. These switches have a feather-light actuation force and offer a frictionless typing experience with an easy-to-press feel. They produce a delightful poppy sound, adding a playful touch to your typing sessions. Ultimately, the decision between the two switches comes down to personal preference for bottom out force and sound profile. Both switches offer smooth and effortless typing experiences, so you can't go wrong with either choice.