Everglide Bamboo Green vs. Cherry MX Black
An in-depth look at the Everglide Bamboo Green and the Cherry MX Black switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When it comes to choosing the right mechanical keyboard switch, two popular options that often come up for consideration are the Everglide Bamboo Green and the Cherry MX Black. The Bamboo Green is best known for its clacky sound signature and crisp, sparkling tactility. Its stepped, high-pitched, accented, sharp, resonant, and polished characteristics offer a unique typing experience. On the other hand, Cherry has further perfected their iconic MX Black switches with their new Hyperglide tooling. These switches offer a classic textured smoothness and a familiar deep sound profile. Categorized as low-pitched, textured, and stiff, the MX Black switches provide a different typing sensation compared to the Bamboo Green. However, let's dive in a bit deeper beyond these generalities so you can best decide on the ideal switch for your typing preferences.
By the numbers
Technical specifications
Actuation force
43g
Actuation force
60g
Bottom-out force
62g
Bottom-out force
80g
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
No
Stem construction
Standard
Stem construction
Standard
Stem material
POM
Stem material
POM
Top housing material
PBT
Top housing material
Nylon
Bottom housing material
PBT
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Mount type
Plate (3-pin)
Spring
Gold-plated
Spring
Stainless steel
Housing materials
The housing materials of the Everglide Bamboo Green and the Cherry MX Black switches have some key differences. The Bamboo Green features a PBT top housing, while the MX Black has a nylon top housing. The PBT material of the Bamboo Green provides a neutral sound profile that is neither very crisp nor dull. In contrast, the nylon top housing of the MX Black elicits a deeper and fuller sound profile due to its relatively softer plastic composition, which absorbs more sound and creates a duller and rounder sound. So, when it comes to the sound produced when releasing a key, the MX Black with its nylon top housing will offer a distinct experience compared to the Bamboo Green.
Moving on to the bottom housing, the Bamboo Green and the MX Black differ once again. The Bamboo Green boasts a PBT bottom housing, while the MX Black utilizes a nylon bottom housing. Similar to the top housing, the PBT material of the Bamboo Green offers a neutral sound profile. On the other hand, the nylon bottom housing of the MX Black contributes to a deeper and fuller sound profile, thanks to its softer plastic composition that absorbs more sound. This difference in bottom housing materials means that when pressing down on the switch, the MX Black will provide a unique bottom-out sound and feel that sets it apart from the Bamboo Green.
Overall, it is important to note that the choice of housing materials for both the top and bottom of a switch impacts the overall sound and feel of typing. While the Bamboo Green and MX Black differ in their material compositions, both switches aim to offer a neutral sound profile. However, the MX Black's use of nylon in both the top and bottom housing brings a deeper and fuller sound profile, creating a distinct typing experience. Ultimately, if you are looking for a switch with a more rounded and dull sound, the MX Black may be the preferred choice, while the Bamboo Green might be more suitable for those seeking a neutral sound and feel.
Weight
When comparing the actuation force and bottom out force of the Everglide Bamboo Green tactile switch and the Cherry MX Black linear switch, it becomes clear that there are significant differences between the two. The Bamboo Green has a lighter actuation force of 43 grams, while the MX Black requires a heavier force of 60 grams to trigger a keystroke. In terms of bottom out force, the Bamboo Green requires 62 grams, whereas the MX Black is even heavier with 80 grams. This means that the Bamboo Green switch provides a lighter and more responsive typing experience, making it suitable for those who prefer a lighter touch or need to type for extended periods. On the other hand, the MX Black offers a more substantial typing experience due to its heavier forces, which some users might prefer for a stronger push feel. It's worth noting that both switches fall within the medium to heavy range, and both can deliver comparable results depending on the user's preferences and typing style.
Travel distance
The Everglide Bamboo Green tactile switch and the Cherry MX Black linear switch have the same travel distance of 4 mm. This means that when you press down on these keys, you will feel the switch travel a distance of 4 mm from the top to the bottom. Both switches provide a similar tactile feedback and experience for users, ensuring a comfortable typing or gaming experience. Therefore, whether you choose the Everglide Bamboo Green or the Cherry MX Black, you can expect similar results in terms of travel distance and the feeling of the switch.
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 Cherry MX Black comes in at $4.00 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 switches offer a high-pitched and resonant sound profile. The high-pitched nature of these switches produces a sharp and crisp sound when pressed, which can be preferred if you are not a fan of the richer and bassy sound profiles of certain switches. Typing on the Bamboo Green switches provides an immersive auditory experience with a clean and sharp sound profile. On the other hand, Cherry MX Black switches have a low-pitched sound profile that is more bass-heavy and mellow in comparison. It is important to note that the sound of a switch is also influenced by factors such as your choice of keyboard and keycaps.
In terms of feel, the Everglide Bamboo Green switches can be described as stepped, accented, sharp, and polished. Stepped switches have a two-stage feel, with a mild tactile bump and some pre-travel or post-travel. Accented switches provide a medium amount of tactility that is neither overwhelming nor subtle, offering a prominent amount of feedback. The sharp tactile bump of the Bamboo Green switches is strong and crisp, providing a distinctive feeling with each keypress. Additionally, the polished finish of these switches ensures reduced friction and smooth key travel for a sleek typing experience. On the other hand, the Cherry MX Black switches are characterized as textured and stiff. Textured switches have noticeable friction when pressed, which can be preferred by some users, while others may prefer a smoother, friction-free typing experience. The MX Black switches also require a higher amount of force to actuate and bottom-out, making them stiffer compared to other switches.
Overall, the Everglide Bamboo Green and Cherry MX Black switches offer distinct subjective qualities. The Bamboo Green switches provide a clacky sound signature with a sparkling tactility, offering a high-pitched and resonant sound profile. They have a stepped, accented, sharp, and polished feel, providing a mild tactile experience with reduced friction. On the other hand, the MX Black switches offer a deep sound profile with Cherry's Hyperglide tooling for a textured smoothness. They have a low-pitched sound profile and a textured feel, requiring a higher amount of force to actuate and bottom-out. Both switches provide unique experiences, and depending on personal preferences, one can choose the Bamboo Green for a sharper sound and mild tactility, or the MX Black for a deeper sound and textured feel.
Conclusion
To sum up, if you are someone who values a clacky sound signature and a crisp and sparkling tactility, then the Everglide Bamboo Green tactile switch might be the right choice for you. These switches offer a medium bottom out force of 62 grams, providing a comfortable typing experience. The high-pitched and resonant sound profile adds to the immersive auditory experience. Additionally, the stepped, accented, sharp, and polished feel of these switches offer a refined and tactile typing experience.
On the other hand, if you prefer a deep sound profile and a classic textured smoothness, the Cherry MX Black linear switch with its heavy bottom out force of 80 grams might be more suitable for you. These switches feature Cherry's new Hyperglide tooling, ensuring a smoother typing experience. The low-pitched sound profile adds a bass-heavy and mellow tone to your typing.
Ultimately, the decision between the Everglide Bamboo Green tactile switch and the Cherry MX Black linear switch comes down to your personal preferences. Consider the sound profile and feel that resonate with you the most, as well as the level of force required to actuate and bottom-out the keys. Both switches offer unique characteristics that can enhance your typing experience. In the end, it's important to choose a switch that aligns with your typing style and brings you the most satisfaction.
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