SP-Star Ayara vs. Everglide Lightning Silver V3
An in-depth look at the SP-Star Ayara and the Everglide Lightning Silver V3 switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When comparing the SP-Star Ayara and the Everglide Lightning Silver V3 mechanical keyboard switches, both being linear switches, it becomes evident that they offer distinctive qualities tailored to different preferences. The Ayara is praised for its medium heftiness, providing a hearty typing experience with a soft bottom-out feel and a satisfying clacky sound profile. On the other hand, the Lightning Silver V3 stands out for its clacky and high-pitched sound signature, offering a silky typing experience with the added bonus of a light diffuser for enhanced RGB illumination. While the Ayara may appeal to those who prefer a polished feel, the Lightning Silver V3 caters to individuals seeking a more vibrant and visually striking keyboard setup. 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
N/A
Actuation force
48g
Bottom-out force
62g
Bottom-out force
60g
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Pre-travel
1.50 mm
Total travel
4.00 mm
Total travel
3.40 mm
Factory lubed
Yes
Factory lubed
Yes
Stem construction
Standard
Stem construction
Partial box
Stem material
POM
Stem material
POM
Top housing material
Nylon
Top housing material
Polycarbonate
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Bottom housing material
Polycarbonate
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Spring
Two-stage
Spring
Lengthened gold-plated spring
Housing materials
The SP-Star Ayara and the Everglide Lightning Silver V3 both offer unique housing materials for their switches. The Ayara's nylon top housing provides a deeper and fuller sound profile due to its softer plastic that absorbs more sound, resulting in a duller and rounder sound. In contrast, the Lightning Silver V3's polycarbonate top housing creates a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound profile with its stiffer plastic, leading to a more clear and resonant sound. While the Ayara offers a more muted and softer typing experience, the Lightning Silver V3 provides a crisp and clear typing sound.
In terms of the bottom housing, both switches continue to showcase the differences between nylon and polycarbonate materials. The Ayara's nylon bottom housing contributes to a deeper and fuller sound profile, similar to its top housing, while the Lightning Silver V3's polycarbonate bottom housing enhances the sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound profile of the switch. This difference in bottom housing materials further emphasizes the contrasting typing experiences offered by the two switches. Overall, the Ayara prioritizes a softer and more muted sound, while the Lightning Silver V3 delivers a sharper and crisper typing experience.
When using switches with different top and bottom housing materials, the qualities of each material will be felt in different aspects of typing. The bottom housing has more impact on the bottom-out sound and feel, influencing the overall typing experience when pressing down on a key. On the other hand, the top housing plays a significant role in the sound when releasing a key. While the Ayara and the Lightning Silver V3 may have similar bottom or top housing materials, their combination of nylon and polycarbonate elements result in distinct typing experiences that cater to different preferences in sound and feel.
Weight
The SP-Star Ayara linear switch and the Everglide Lightning Silver V3 linear switch both offer a medium level of resistance when it comes to bottoming out, with the Ayara requiring 62 grams and the Lightning Silver V3 requiring 60 grams. However, the actuation force differs between the two switches, with the Ayara having None grams listed and the Lightning Silver V3 requiring 48 grams to trigger a keystroke. This means that the Lightning Silver V3 is lighter in terms of actuation force compared to the Ayara. Weight is an important factor to consider when choosing a switch, as a lighter actuation force may be preferred for longer typing sessions or intense gaming, while a heavier actuation force can provide a more substantial typing experience. Ultimately, the choice between the Ayara and Lightning Silver V3 will depend on individual preferences for actuation force and bottom out force.
Travel distance
The Everglide Lightning Silver V3 linear switch has a travel distance of 3.4 mm, making it the shorter option compared to the SP-Star Ayara linear switch, which has a travel distance of 4 mm. The 0.6 mm difference may not seem significant, but it can impact how the switch feels when typing or gaming. Gamers looking for faster response times may prefer the Lightning Silver V3 with its shorter travel distance, while those who prefer a more substantial feel when pressing down on a key may lean towards the Ayara with its longer travel distance. Ultimately, the choice between the two switches comes down to personal preference and the type of typing or gaming experience you are looking to achieve.
Price comparison
Which switch is more bang for your buck?
The SP-Star Ayara has an MSRP of $5.80 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Ayara for $5.40.
The Everglide Lightning Silver V3 has an MSRP of $5.55 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Lightning Silver V3 for $4.10.
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
In terms of sound, the SP-Star Ayara linear switch offers a neutral sound profile with a clacky feel when typing, making it suitable for a wide range of users. On the other hand, the Everglide Lightning Silver V3 linear switch provides a high-pitched and clacky sound signature that adds a bright and percussive element to typing. Both switches offer unique sound characteristics that can enhance the overall typing experience, depending on user preference and setup.
When it comes to feel, the SP-Star Ayara switch is known for its polished finish, resulting in a smooth and refined typing experience with reduced friction. This polished feel contributes to a sleek and pleasant typing feel. In contrast, the Everglide Lightning Silver V3 switch is described as silky, offering an exceptionally smooth typing experience with minimal resistance when pressing and releasing keys. Users can expect a seamless typing experience with these switches, enhancing typing speed and accuracy.
Overall, the SP-Star Ayara and Everglide Lightning Silver V3 linear switches offer distinct sound and feel qualities that cater to different preferences among mechanical keyboard enthusiasts. While the Ayara provides a clacky and medium-heft typing experience with a neutral sound profile, the Lightning Silver V3 offers a high-pitched and silky typing feel that enhances smoothness and responsiveness. Depending on personal preference for sound and feel, users can choose between these two switches to achieve their desired typing experience.
Conclusion
To sum up, when considering whether to choose the SP-Star Ayara linear switch or the Everglide Lightning Silver V3 linear switch, it ultimately comes down to your preference for typing experience. If you enjoy a medium heftness and a soft bottom-out feel with a clacky sound profile, the Ayara switches are the way to go. On the other hand, if you prefer a silky, seamless typing experience with a clacky and high-pitched sound signature, the Lightning Silver V3 switches will be more suited to your taste. Both options offer unique features and cater to different preferences, so it's important to consider what characteristics matter most to you in a mechanical keyboard switch. Ultimately, the choice between the Ayara and Lightning Silver V3 switches will depend on your personal typing style and sound preferences.
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