Everglide Bamboo Green vs. Everglide Lightning Silver V3
An in-depth look at the Everglide Bamboo Green and the Everglide Lightning Silver V3 switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When considering mechanical keyboard switches, the Everglide Bamboo Green and the Everglide Lightning Silver V3 stand out as popular options with unique characteristics. The Bamboo Green is a tactile switch that delivers a clacky sound signature and a crisp tactility, providing a satisfying typing experience. On the other hand, the Lightning Silver V3 is a linear switch known for its clacky sound and silky typing feel, with the added feature of a light diffuser for enhanced RGB illumination. While the Bamboo Green offers a more pronounced tactile feedback, the Lightning Silver V3 provides a smoother typing experience. 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
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
PBT
Top housing material
Polycarbonate
Bottom housing material
PBT
Bottom housing material
Polycarbonate
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Spring
Gold-plated
Spring
Lengthened gold-plated spring
Housing materials
In comparing the housing materials of the Everglide Bamboo Green and the Everglide Lightning Silver V3, it is clear that the PBT housing of the Bamboo Green offers a more neutral sound profile compared to the crisper and higher-pitched sound profile of the polycarbonate housing of the Lightning Silver V3. The use of PBT in both the top and bottom housing of the Bamboo Green results in a consistent sound and feel throughout the pressing and releasing of keys, whereas the Lightning Silver V3's polycarbonate housing may provide a more dynamic sound due to its stiffness and translucency, especially when paired with RGB lighting.
While both the Bamboo Green and Lightning Silver V3 share the PBT bottom housing, which offers a neutral sound profile, the key difference lies in their top housing material. The Bamboo Green's PBT top housing provides a more traditional typing experience with a soft and subtle sound profile, while the Lightning Silver V3's polycarbonate top housing creates a sharper and clearer sound, particularly noticeable when releasing keys. The use of different materials in the top housing of these switches allows for a varied typing experience depending on the desired sound and feel.
Overall, the choice between the Everglide Bamboo Green and the Everglide Lightning Silver V3 comes down to personal preference in sound profile and typing experience. The PBT housing of the Bamboo Green offers a consistent and neutral sound, while the polycarbonate housing of the Lightning Silver V3 provides a crisper and more resonant sound. Whether one prefers a softer typing experience or a more dynamic one, both switches offer unique qualities that cater to different preferences and typing styles.
Weight
The Everglide Bamboo Green tactile switch and the Everglide Lightning Silver V3 linear switch both fall under the medium weight category. The Bamboo Green has a lighter actuation force of 43 grams compared to the Lightning Silver V3's 48 grams, making the Bamboo Green slightly easier to trigger a keystroke. However, when it comes to bottom out force, the Bamboo Green requires a heavier 62 grams compared to the Lightning Silver V3's 60 grams. This means that while the Bamboo Green may be lighter to initiate a keystroke, it offers a more substantial typing experience when fully pressed down compared to the Lightning Silver V3. Both switches provide a balanced combination of actuation and bottom out forces, making them suitable for various preferences and typing styles.
Travel distance
The Everglide Bamboo Green tactile switch has a travel distance of 4 mm, while the Everglide Lightning Silver V3 linear switch has a travel distance of 3.4 mm. The Bamboo Green offers a slightly longer travel distance, making it more suitable for those who prefer a deeper key press feel. In comparison, the Lightning Silver V3 provides a slightly shorter travel distance, making it a better choice for those looking for a quicker response time, such as gamers. Both switches offer a different feel and experience due to their varying travel distances, catering to different preferences. Ultimately, choosing between the two will depend on whether you prefer a longer, more substantial key press or a shorter, quicker response.
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 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
When it comes to sound, the Everglide Bamboo Green tactile switch is known for its high-pitched and resonant characteristics, producing a sharp and crisp sound profile that can provide an immersive auditory experience. On the other hand, the Everglide Lightning Silver V3 linear switch is described as clacky and high-pitched, offering a sharp, snappy sound that is bright and percussive. Both switches have unique sound profiles that cater to different preferences, with the Bamboo Green focusing on a more resonant tone and the Lightning Silver V3 showcasing a clacky and high-pitched sound signature. The final sound outcome will also be influenced by other factors such as the keyboard board and keycaps used.
In terms of feel, the Everglide Bamboo Green switch is characterized as stepped, accented, sharp, and polished, providing a tactile experience that features two stages of feedback, a medium amount of tactility without being overwhelming, a strong and crisp tactile bump, and a smooth and refined typing feel. On the other hand, the Everglide Lightning Silver V3 switch is described as silky, offering an exceptionally smooth typing experience that enhances overall smoothness and minimizes resistance when pressing and releasing keys. While the Bamboo Green switch focuses on a more pronounced and textured tactile feedback, the Lightning Silver V3 emphasizes a silky and effortless typing feel. Both switches offer distinct tactile sensations that cater to different preferences, with the Bamboo Green aiming for a sharper tactile response and the Lightning Silver V3 prioritizing a smoother typing experience.
In conclusion, the Everglide Bamboo Green tactile switch and the Everglide Lightning Silver V3 linear switch offer unique sound and feel qualities that cater to different preferences. The Bamboo Green provides a high-pitched and resonant sound profile along with a stepped, accented, sharp, and polished tactile feel, appealing to those who enjoy a more textured and pronounced tactile feedback. On the other hand, the Lightning Silver V3 delivers a clacky and high-pitched sound signature paired with a silky and smooth typing experience, catering to individuals who prefer a crisp and effortless typing feel. Ultimately, both switches offer distinct characteristics that can elevate the typing experience, allowing users to choose based on their preferred sound and feel preferences.
Conclusion
To sum up, if you are looking for a tactile switch with a medium bottom out force and a clacky sound signature, then the Everglide Bamboo Green switches would be a great choice for you. These switches offer a crisp and sparkling tactility that enhances your typing experience. On the other hand, if you prefer a linear switch with a slightly lower bottom out force and a clacky, high-pitched sound profile, then the Everglide Lightning Silver V3 switches would be the ideal option for you. These switches provide a silky typing experience with enhanced RGB illumination, adding a vibrant touch to your keyboard setup. Ultimately, the decision between the two switches comes down to your preference for tactility and sound profile.
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