Everglide Bamboo Green vs. Outemu Crystal
An in-depth look at the Everglide Bamboo Green and the Outemu Crystal switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When it comes to mechanical keyboard switches, two popular options are the Everglide Bamboo Green and the Outemu Crystal. The Bamboo Green is known for its clacky sound signature and crisp tactility. It falls under the tactile category with attributes like being stepped, high-pitched, accented, sharp, resonant, and polished. On the other hand, the Crystal offers a unique linear typing experience with a fairly elastic feel and medium-light weight. It provides a neutral sound profile and is categorized as chirpy, high-pitched, and polished. Both switches have their own distinct qualities that might appeal to different users. 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
43g
Actuation force
45g
Bottom-out force
62g
Bottom-out force
55g
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
POM
Stem material
POM
Top housing material
PBT
Top housing material
Polycarbonate
Bottom housing material
PBT
Bottom housing material
Polycarbonate
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Mount type
Plate (3-pin)
Spring
Gold-plated
Spring
Stainless steel
Housing materials
The Everglide Bamboo Green and the Outemu Crystal differ in terms of their housing materials. The Bamboo Green features a PBT top and bottom housing, while the Crystal utilizes a polycarbonate top and bottom housing. The PBT housing of the Bamboo Green provides a neutral sound profile, neither crisp nor dull. On the other hand, the polycarbonate housing of the Crystal creates a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound profile. This is because polycarbonate is a stiffer plastic, resulting in a more clear and resonant sound. Additionally, the Crystal's translucent polycarbonate top housing makes it more suitable for RGB lighting enthusiasts.
While the housing materials of the Bamboo Green and the Crystal differ, they both offer distinct advantages. For those who prefer a more neutral sound profile, the Bamboo Green's PBT housing is a great choice. It may not be as crisp as the polycarbonate housing, but it still provides a satisfying typing experience. Similarly, the Crystal's polycarbonate housing offers a sound profile that is sharper and crisper, which could be appealing for those looking for a more pronounced feedback when typing. Both switches are reliable options, with their housing materials catering to different preferences.
It's worth noting that the impact of the housing materials is split between the top and bottom of the switch. When pressing down on a key, the qualities of the bottom housing become apparent, influencing the bottom-out sound and feel. Conversely, when releasing a key, the top housing's characteristics come into play, affecting the sound produced. Therefore, while the top and bottom housings may differ in material for a given switch, they each contribute to the overall typing experience and sound profile, ensuring a well-rounded performance regardless of the chosen switch.
Weight
When comparing the actuation force and bottom out force of the Everglide Bamboo Green tactile switch and the Outemu Crystal linear switch, there are a few key differences to note. The Bamboo Green requires an actuation force of 43 grams, while the Crystal requires a slightly higher force of 45 grams. This means that the Bamboo Green will provide a slightly lighter touch when triggering keystrokes compared to the Crystal. However, when it comes to bottoming out, the Crystal has a lower force requirement of 55 grams, whereas the Bamboo Green requires 62 grams. This indicates that the Crystal will have a lighter and easier bottoming out experience compared to the Bamboo Green.
Considering the weight aspect, individuals who prefer a lighter switch may find the Crystal more suitable for their needs. The lighter actuation force allows for longer typing sessions, making it ideal for work or extended gaming sessions. On the other hand, those who enjoy a stronger pushing feel for a more substantial typing experience may lean towards the Bamboo Green. Though both switches fall under the medium range classification, the Bamboo Green offers a slightly heavier actuation force and bottom out force, providing a more robust typing experience overall.
In terms of similarities, both switches fall within the medium force range. This means that users can expect similar results in terms of actuation and bottom out forces, although with slight variations in the actual measurements. Ultimately, the choice between the Everglide Bamboo Green tactile switch and the Outemu Crystal linear switch will depend on individual preferences and desired typing experiences.
Travel distance
The Everglide Bamboo Green tactile switch and the Outemu Crystal linear switch both have a travel distance of 4 mm. Therefore, pressing down on either of these switches will provide a similar tactile and responsive feel. The distances are equal for both switches, ensuring consistent and reliable keystrokes.
Price comparison
Which switch is more bang for your buck?
The Everglide Bamboo Green has an MSRP of $9.67 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Bamboo Green for $7.19.
The Outemu Crystal comes in at $3.40 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 Bamboo Green switch produces a high-pitched and resonant sound profile. The high-pitched sound gives a sharp and crisp tone when the switch is pressed. This type of sound is ideal for those who prefer a more rich and bassy sound. The resonant nature of the switch adds to the immersive auditory experience, making each keystroke clean and sharp. On the other hand, the Outemu Crystal switch has a neutral sound profile. While the specific sound qualities of the Crystal switch are not mentioned, it is safe to assume that it does not have the high-pitched or resonant characteristics of the Bamboo Green. Instead, it offers a chirpy sound, which adds a unique acoustic signature to the typing experience.
In terms of feel, the Bamboo Green switch provides a stepped, accented, sharp, and polished tactile experience. The stepped nature of the switch means that it has two stages of tactility, with some pre-travel and/or post-travel. This mild tactile experience is not as pronounced as the intense bump of hypertactile switches but still provides a noticeable amount of tactility. The accented characteristic of the switch further emphasizes the medium level of tactility it offers. It strikes a balance between being prominent and not overwhelming or subtle. The sharpness of the tactile bump in the Bamboo Green switch ensures a high feedback intensity, allowing each keypress to be distinctly felt. Lastly, the polished finish of the switch contributes to a smooth and refined typing experience with reduced friction and smooth key travel. On the other hand, the Outemu Crystal switch is also described as polished, resulting in a sleek typing experience with reduced friction and smooth key travel. While there is no mention of any additional tactile characteristics for the Crystal switch, it can be assumed that it does not possess the stepped, accented, or sharp qualities of the Bamboo Green switch.
To summarize, the Everglide Bamboo Green tactile switch offers a clacky sound signature with a crisp and sparkling tactility. It produces a high-pitched and resonant sound and provides a stepped, accented, sharp, and polished tactile experience. On the other hand, the Outemu Crystal linear switch has a neutral sound profile and polished finish, ensuring a sleek typing experience. While the specific sound and tactile characteristics of the Crystal switch are not mentioned, it can be assumed that it offers a unique linear typing experience with medium-light weight. Although they have some differences in sound and feel, both switches offer a polished finish, resulting in reduced friction and smooth key travel. Therefore, if you prefer a high-pitched and resonant sound with a stepped, accented, sharp, and polished tactile feel, the Bamboo Green switch would be the ideal choice. However, if you prefer a neutral sound profile and a sleek typing experience with reduced friction, the Crystal switch would provide similar results.
Conclusion
To sum up, if you value a clacky sound signature, a crisp and sparkling tactility, and a medium bottom out force of 62 grams, then the Everglide Bamboo Green tactile switch would be a great choice for you. On the other hand, if you prefer a unique, linear typing experience with a medium-light bottom out force of 55 grams, a fairly elastic feel, and a neutral sound profile, then the Outemu Crystal linear switch would be more suitable for your preferences. Both switches offer different qualities in terms of sound and feel, so it ultimately comes down to personal preference. Whether you prioritize a high-pitched and resonant sound profile or a chirpy and high-pitched sound profile, or if you prefer a stepped, accented, sharp, and polished tactile experience versus a polished linear feel, the decision is yours to make based on your desired sound and feel characteristics. Consider your typing preferences and choose the switch that aligns best with your preferences for an enjoyable and satisfying typing experience.
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