Everglide Aqua King (V3) vs. HMX Silent Sakura - 53g
An in-depth look at the Everglide Aqua King (V3) and the HMX Silent Sakura - 53g switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When it comes to choosing the right mechanical keyboard switch, the Everglide Aqua King (V3) and the HMX Silent Sakura - 53g both offer unique tactile experiences that cater to different typing preferences. The Aqua King (V3) is renowned for its frictionless feel, likened to gliding on freshly resurfaced ice, providing a smooth and polished typing experience that many find exhilarating. This sensation makes it ideal for those who appreciate a subdued and creamy touch, allowing for rapid, fluid keystrokes without the interruption of resistance. In contrast, the Silent Sakura - 53g is meticulously crafted for a whisper-quiet operation, evoke the delicate sound of raindrops, and features a balanced 53g bottom-out force that combines lightness with satisfying feedback. This makes the Silent Sakura an excellent choice for typists who prioritize a serene typing environment without sacrificing the tactile sensation. While both switches have their distinctive characteristics catering to different preferences, let's dive in a bit deeper beyond generalities so you can best decide on the ideal switch for you.
By the numbers
Technical specifications
Actuation force
46g
Actuation force
45g
Bottom-out force
62g
Bottom-out force
53g
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
Partial box
Stem material
Nylon
Stem material
POM
Top housing material
Polycarbonate
Top housing material
Nylon
Bottom housing material
Polycarbonate
Bottom housing material
Polycarbonate
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Spring
Gold-plated
Spring
22mm extended single-staged spring
Housing materials
The Everglide Aqua King (V3) and the HMX Silent Sakura - 53g present distinct characteristics in their top housing materials, which significantly influence their acoustic profiles. The Aqua King (V3) features a polycarbonate top housing, which is known for its stiffness and translucency. This contributes to a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound profile, making it particularly well-suited for RGB lighting setups. In contrast, the Silent Sakura - 53g employs a nylon top housing. Nylon, being a softer plastic, absorbs sound more effectively, resulting in a deeper and fuller sound profile that contrasts sharply with the Aqua King’s sharper tones. Consequently, typing on the Silent Sakura creates a more muffled sound experience, appealing to users who prefer a quieter typing environment.
When it comes to the bottom housings, both switches utilize polycarbonate, leading to a shared acoustic signature in terms of bottom-out sound and overall feel. The Everglide Aqua King (V3) maintains its snappier and more resonant characteristics with its polycarbonate bottom housing, which reflects the material’s ability to produce clear and crisp auditory feedback. Similarly, the HMX Silent Sakura - 53g shares this polycarbonate bottom housing, resulting in a sharper sound profile that enhances the bottoming out experience. Thus, even though the top housings differ—one being nylon and the other polycarbonate—the commonality found in the bottom housings of both switches means they will yield similar results in terms of sound clarity and impact when hitting the keys.
In summary, users can expect a blend of acoustic characteristics from these two switches based on their housing materials. The contrasting top housings of the Aqua King (V3) and Silent Sakura - 53g create unique typing experiences; however, they converge in their polycarbonate bottom housings. The resulting sound profile will be influenced by both the top and bottom materials, where the stark differences in the top housing yield varying overall experiences, yet the polycarbonate bottom maintains a consistent clarity and resonance. Therefore, while the characters of each switch are defined by their top housings, the shared bottom housing ensures that both switches offer engaging tactile feedback with a clear auditory profile when typing.
Weight
When comparing the Everglide Aqua King (V3) linear switch and the HMX Silent Sakura - 53g linear switch, we see some distinct differences in their actuation and bottom out forces. The Aqua King (V3) has an actuation force of 46 grams, while the Silent Sakura offers a slightly lighter actuation force of 45 grams. In terms of bottom out forces, the Aqua King is significantly heavier at 62 grams compared to the Silent Sakura's 53 grams. This makes the Aqua King the heavier option overall, appealing to those who prefer a more substantial typing experience. Conversely, the Silent Sakura's lighter actuation and bottom out forces may be more suitable for users looking for a keyboard that allows for longer typing and gaming sessions with less finger fatigue. Ultimately, both switches can provide a satisfying response, but your choice would lean on whether you value a heavier feel or a lighter touch.
Travel distance
Both the Everglide Aqua King (V3) linear switch and the HMX Silent Sakura - 53g linear switch share the same travel distance of 4 mm. This means that users can expect a similar tactile experience when pressing down on the keys of keyboards equipped with either switch, as both switches require the same amount of distance to be activated. Consequently, regardless of which switch is chosen, the overall feel and responsiveness while typing or gaming will be quite comparable.
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 HMX Silent Sakura - 53g comes in at $3.50 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 comparing the sound profile of the Everglide Aqua King (V3) and the HMX Silent Sakura - 53g switches, the Aqua King stands out with its subdued sound signature. This means that when pressed, these switches produce a dampened sound that is softer and more subtle than many others, providing a relatively quiet environment while typing. On the other hand, while the specific sound characteristics of the Silent Sakura - 53g switches are not detailed, it’s important to note that they are engineered for a whisper-quiet typing experience reminiscent of gentle raindrops. With both switches being designed to minimize noise, users can expect a tranquil typing experience, especially when combined with the right board and keycaps.
In terms of feel, the Aqua King (V3) excels with its extremely smooth qualities, described as creamy, frictionless, silky, and polished. This switch offers an effortless typing experience, where fingers glide across the keys as if skating on ice, creating a magical sensation that typists frequently seek. In contrast, the HMX Silent Sakura - 53g has not had its tactile feedback characteristics elaborated upon, so we can't draw direct comparisons here. However, the balance of the 53g bottom-out force is designed to be light and satisfying, which may provide a pleasant experience complemented by their intended quiet typing.
Overall, both the Everglide Aqua King (V3) and the HMX Silent Sakura - 53g cater to users looking for a pleasant typing experience, albeit in different ways. The Aqua King offers a remarkable feel that is smooth and frictionless, along with a subdued sound, creating a unique typing environment. In contrast, while we lack detailed information on the specific feel of the Silent Sakura, its quietness and balanced actuation suggest it could appeal to those who prioritize low noise while typing. Ultimately, both switches can produce similar results in terms of added comfort and reduced sound, making them suitable options depending on personal preferences.
Conclusion
In conclusion, whether you choose the Everglide Aqua King (V3) or the HMX Silent Sakura - 53g linear switch greatly depends on your personal typing preferences and environment. If you enjoy a medium bottom-out force and crave an incredibly smooth, frictionless typing experience that feels almost magical, the Aqua King (V3) is the switch for you. Its creamy, silky feel paired with a subdued sound signature makes it an excellent choice for both fast typists and those who enjoy a refined tactile experience. Conversely, if you prefer a lighter bottom-out force for a more effortless keystroke and need a whisper-quiet operation—ideal for shared workspaces or quiet environments—the Silent Sakura - 53g is the way to go. With its balanced 53g force, this switch offers a satisfying typing feel without the noise, allowing you to focus on your work or gaming without distraction. Ultimately, your choice will come down to whether you prioritize an ultra-smooth experience or the need for silence while typing.
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