Everglide Bamboo Green vs. Kailh NovelKeys Cream
An in-depth look at the Everglide Bamboo Green and the Kailh NovelKeys Cream switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When it comes to choosing the perfect mechanical keyboard switch, there are a plethora of options available. Two standout switches, the Everglide Bamboo Green and the Kailh NovelKeys Cream, offer unique features that cater to different preferences. The Bamboo Green is a tactile switch that is best known for its clacky sound signature and crisp tactility. It falls into the categories of 'Stepped', 'High-pitched', 'Accented', 'Sharp', 'Resonant', and 'Polished'. On the other hand, the NovelKeys Cream is a linear switch that offers a heftier typing experience. It has a fairly deep sound profile, making it stand out from the average switch. The Cream switch is categorized as 'Buttery', 'Low-pitched', 'Textured', 'Resonant', and 'Invigorating'. Both switches have their own unique features and advantages, allowing users to choose based on their preferences. 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
55g
Bottom-out force
62g
Bottom-out force
70g
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
POM
Bottom housing material
PBT
Bottom housing material
POM
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Spring
Gold-plated
Spring
Stainless steel
Housing materials
The Everglide Bamboo Green and the Kailh NovelKeys Cream switches have different housing materials which give them distinct sound profiles. The Bamboo Green features a PBT top housing, known for its neutral sound profile. It offers a balance between crispness and dullness, providing a pleasant typing experience. In contrast, the NovelKeys Cream has a POM top housing that creates a more unique and deep sound. The POM material gives it a relatively more muted tone compared to the Bamboo Green. So, while both switches offer different sound characteristics, they both deliver satisfying results when it comes to top housing sound.
Moving on to the bottom housing, the Everglide Bamboo Green and the Kailh NovelKeys Cream continue to differ in terms of material and sound. The Bamboo Green's PBT bottom housing contributes to its overall neutral sound profile, resulting in a well-rounded typing experience. Conversely, the NovelKeys Cream utilizes a POM bottom housing, which enhances the switch's sound profile by creating a deeper and more pleasing tone. This bottom housing material adds an extra layer of uniqueness to the Cream switch. Despite their differences, both switches provide a satisfying bottom-out sound and feel thanks to their respective bottom housing materials.
When it comes to pressing down on the switches, the impact of the bottom and top housing materials becomes apparent. The bottom housing plays a significant role in the switch's bottom-out sound and feel. With the Bamboo Green's PBT bottom housing, you can expect a neutral and balanced tactile feedback when pressing down on the keys. On the other hand, the NovelKeys Cream's POM bottom housing creates a distinct and deep bottom-out sound, which adds to its overall typing experience. Conversely, the top housing material has a greater impact on the sound when you let go of a key. While the PBT top housing of the Bamboo Green offers a neutral sound, the POM top housing of the Cream brings a unique and somewhat muted sound to the table. So, while the bottom housings differentiate the switches in terms of bottom-out sound and feel, the top housings provide contrasting sound profiles when releasing a key.
Weight
When comparing the actuation force and bottom out force of the Everglide Bamboo Green tactile switch and the Kailh NovelKeys Cream linear switch, there are noticeable differences. The Bamboo Green has a lighter actuation force of 43 grams compared to the Cream's 55 grams. Similarly, the Bamboo Green has a lighter bottom out force of 62 grams compared to the Cream's heavier 70 grams. This means that the Bamboo Green provides a slightly lighter and less forceful typing experience, making it more suitable for those who prefer a lighter touch or need to type for longer periods without fatigue. On the other hand, the Cream switch offers a slightly heavier and more substantial push feel, ideal for users looking for a stronger typing experience. While both switches fall into the medium to medium-heavy force range, the Bamboo Green is lighter in both actuation and bottom out forces compared to the Cream switch. Overall, the choice between the two will depend on personal preference and desired typing experience.
Travel distance
Both the Everglide Bamboo Green tactile switch and the Kailh NovelKeys Cream linear switch have the same travel distance of 4 mm. This means that when you press down on a key equipped with either of these switches, you will feel the same distance traveled from the top to the bottom. In terms of travel distance, both switches provide a consistent experience, ensuring that users will get similar results regardless of the switch they choose to use.
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 Kailh NovelKeys Cream has an MSRP of $6.50 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the NovelKeys Cream for $6.25.
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 have a high-pitched and resonant profile. These switches produce a sharp and crisp sound when pressed, and typing on them provides an immersive auditory experience. On the other hand, the Kailh NovelKeys Cream switches offer a deeper sound profile compared to the average switch. While they are also described as resonant, the Cream switches have a low-pitched tone with a more bass-heavy and mellow sound. It's important to note that the sound of a switch is also influenced by other factors such as the keyboard and keycaps used. So, if you prefer a higher-pitched sound, the Bamboo Green switches would be a good choice. But if you prefer a deeper and more bass-heavy sound, the NovelKeys Cream switches will provide that experience.
When it comes to the feel of the switches, the Everglide Bamboo Green switches are described as stepped, accented, sharp, and polished. Stepped switches have a two-stage tactile feel with some pre-travel and/or post-travel. Accented switches provide a medium amount of tactility that is neither overwhelming nor subtle. The sharp tactile bump in the Bamboo Green switches offers strong and crisp feedback with each keystroke. Additionally, the polished finish of these switches results in reduced friction and smooth key travel. On the other hand, the Kailh NovelKeys Cream switches are described as buttery, textured, and invigorating. The buttery switches provide a smooth and fluid typing experience, with a seamless and effortless keystroke. Textured switches, on the other hand, have noticeable friction when pressed, which may be preferred by some users. The invigorating switches offer pronounced feedback, moderate to firm actuation force, and a snappy and reactive feel. Whether you prefer a stepped and polished feel with strong tactile feedback, or a buttery and textured typing sensation, the choice between the Bamboo Green and Cream switches will depend on your personal preference.
In conclusion, the Everglide Bamboo Green switches are known for their clacky sound signature and sparkling tactility. They provide a high-pitched and resonant sound profile, with a unique stepped, accented, sharp, and polished feel. On the other hand, the Kailh NovelKeys Cream switches offer a heftier linear typing experience, with a fairly deep sound profile and a buttery, textured, and invigorating feel. While the sound and feel of these switches differ, both provide an immersive typing experience with their own distinct characteristics. Ultimately, the choice between the Everglide Bamboo Green and Kailh NovelKeys Cream switches will depend on individual preference, as they offer different subjective qualities to suit varying typing preferences.
Conclusion
To sum up, if you're looking for a tactile switch with a medium bottom-out force and a clacky sound signature, the Everglide Bamboo Green would be a great choice for you. These switches offer a crisp and sparkling tactility that adds a pleasant feedback to your typing experience. They have a higher-pitched and resonant sound profile, which creates a clean and sharp auditory experience. In terms of feel, the Bamboo Green switches are described as stepped, accented, sharp, and polished, providing a medium tactile feedback that is neither overwhelming nor subtle. On the other hand, if you prefer a linear switch with a slightly higher bottom-out force and a deeper sound profile, the Kailh NovelKeys Cream switches would be a better fit. These Cream switches offer a heftier linear typing experience, with a low-pitched and resonant sound profile. In terms of feel, they are described as buttery, textured, and invigorating, providing a smooth and fluid keystroke experience. Ultimately, the choice between the Everglide Bamboo Green and the Kailh NovelKeys Cream depends on your preference for tactility and sound profile.
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