Everglide Bamboo Green vs. Haimu Viola Tricolor
An in-depth look at the Everglide Bamboo Green and the Haimu Viola Tricolor switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When it comes to choosing a mechanical keyboard switch, two popular options to consider are the Everglide Bamboo Green and the Haimu Viola Tricolor. The Bamboo Green switch is best known for its clacky sound signature and a crisp, sparkling tactility. It offers a stepped, high-pitched, accented, sharp, resonant, and polished typing experience. On the other hand, the Viola Tricolor switch is designed to deliver a thuddy and punchy sound profile with a touch of character. It provides a pronounced tactility that offers satisfying feedback without being overly tactile. Categorized as accented, bassy, invigorating, and low-pitched, the Viola Tricolor strikes a perfect balance between sharp sensation and user-friendly operation. However, let's dive deeper beyond these generalities to help you decide on the best switch for your specific needs.
By the numbers
Technical specifications
Actuation force
43g
Actuation force
N/A
Bottom-out force
62g
Bottom-out force
63.5g
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Pre-travel
N/A
Total travel
4.00 mm
Total travel
3.80 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
Nylon
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Spring
Gold-plated
Spring
Dual-staged gold-plated spring
Housing materials
The Everglide Bamboo Green and the Haimu Viola Tricolor differ in their choice of housing materials for both the top and bottom. The Bamboo Green features a PBT top housing, while the Viola Tricolor utilizes a polycarbonate top housing. This distinction in materials leads to variations in sound profiles. The PBT top housing of the Bamboo Green offers a more neutral sound, lacking in crispness but also avoiding dullness. On the other hand, the polycarbonate top housing of the Viola Tricolor results in a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound profile. Additionally, the transparency of the polycarbonate allows for the effective display of RGB lighting.
Moving to the bottom housing, the Bamboo Green and the Viola Tricolor also diverge in their material choices. The Bamboo Green employs a PBT bottom housing, while the Viola Tricolor utilizes a nylon bottom housing. Similar to the top housing, the PBT bottom housing of the Bamboo Green offers a neutral sound profile, lacking distinct crispness or dullness. However, the nylon bottom housing of the Viola Tricolor brings forth a deeper and fuller sound. This is because nylon, being a softer plastic, absorbs more sound, resulting in a duller and rounder sound profile.
It is important to note that the combination of different materials for the top and bottom housings splits the qualities each material brings. The impact on the bottom-out sound and feel when pressing down a key will be influenced by the qualities of the bottom housing, while the sound when releasing a key will be affected by the top housing. Therefore, both the Bamboo Green and the Viola Tricolor will offer distinct experiences in terms of sound and feel due to their divergent housing materials.
Weight
When comparing the actuation force and bottom out force of the Everglide Bamboo Green tactile switch and the Haimu Viola Tricolor tactile switch, there are some similarities and differences to consider. Starting with the actuation force, the Everglide Bamboo Green requires 43 grams of force to trigger a keystroke, while the actuation force of the Haimu Viola Tricolor is unknown. However, both switches can be categorized as medium in terms of actuation force. Moving on to the bottom out force, the Bamboo Green requires 62 grams of force to fully press down, whereas the Viola Tricolor has a bottom out force of 63.5 grams, making it slightly heavier.
Considering weight, lighter switches like the Everglide Bamboo Green are preferred by some users as they allow for longer periods of typing without fatigue. This makes them suitable for keyboards used at work or during long gaming sessions. On the other hand, for those who prefer a stronger and more substantial typing experience, switches with heavier forces are a better option. In this case, the Viola Tricolor may be more suitable due to its slightly heavier bottom out force compared to the Bamboo Green.
In summary, the actuation force is similar between the Everglide Bamboo Green and the Haimu Viola Tricolor switches, both falling into the medium category. However, the Viola Tricolor has a slightly heavier bottom out force, making it more suitable for users who prefer a stronger push feel. Ultimately, the choice between these switches will depend on individual preferences for typing experience and the desired weight of the keys.
Travel distance
The travel distance of the Everglide Bamboo Green tactile switch is 4 mm, while the Haimu Viola Tricolor tactile switch has a travel distance of 3.8 mm. Both switches fall within the traditional range of travel distances, with the Bamboo Green being slightly longer. Gamers who prioritize quick response times may prefer the shorter travel distance of the Viola Tricolor. On the other hand, those who prefer a more substantial key press may opt for the Bamboo Green with its slightly longer travel distance. Ultimately, the choice between the two switches depends on individual preferences for responsiveness versus depth of key press.
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 Haimu Viola Tricolor has an MSRP of $6.60 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Viola Tricolor for $3.09.
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 comparing the sound qualities of the Everglide Bamboo Green tactile switch and the Haimu Viola Tricolor tactile switch, each switch offers a distinct sound profile that can enhance the typing experience. The Bamboo Green switch produces a high-pitched and resonant sound when pressed, resulting in a sharp and crisp auditory experience. On the other hand, the Viola Tricolor switch delivers a thuddy and punchy sound profile with a lower frequency range, resembling a bass-heavy and mellow tone. Both switches offer unique sound characteristics that can add character to your typing, providing a satisfying auditory feedback. If you prefer a sharper and cleaner sound, the Bamboo Green switch is the way to go, while the Viola Tricolor switch offers a deeper and richer sound. Keep in mind that the sound of a switch can also be influenced by factors such as the keyboard board and keycaps used.
In terms of feel, the Everglide Bamboo Green switch is described as having a stepped, accented, sharp, and polished tactile sensation. The stepped feel refers to a switch with two stages of tactility, providing some pre-travel and/or post-travel. This results in a more mild tactile experience compared to hypertactile switches. The accented feel indicates a medium tactile switch that offers a prominent amount of tactility without being overwhelming or subtle. The sharp tactile bump of the Bamboo Green switch is distinct and intense, providing a high feedback intensity with each keypress. This switch is also polished, meaning it has a smooth and refined finish, resulting in reduced friction and smooth key travel. On the other hand, the Haimu Viola Tricolor switch is also described as having an accented feel, providing a prominent amount of tactile feedback without being overpowering. It is characterized as invigorating, offering pronounced feedback, moderate to firm actuation force, and a snappy, reactive feel. Both switches offer a satisfying tactile experience, with the Bamboo Green switch being sharper and more intense, while the Viola Tricolor switch strikes a balance between tactile feedback and typing comfort.
In conclusion, the Everglide Bamboo Green and Haimu Viola Tricolor switches offer distinct yet desirable qualities for mechanical keyboard enthusiasts. The Bamboo Green switch stands out for its clacky sound signature, high-pitched and resonant sound, stepped, accented, sharp, and polished feel. It delivers a satisfying and crisp typing experience with a strong tactile bump. On the other hand, the Viola Tricolor switch offers a thuddy and punchy sound profile, bassy and low-pitched sound characteristics, and an accented, invigorating feel. It strikes a balance between pronounced tactile feedback and typing comfort. Both switches provide unique subjective qualities that can enhance the overall typing experience, allowing users to choose based on their preferences.
Conclusion
To conclude, if you are looking for a switch with a medium bottom out force and a clacky sound signature, the Everglide Bamboo Green tactile switch would be a great choice for you. These switches provide a crisp and sparkling tactility that adds a satisfying feedback to your typing experience. With their stepped and accented feel, you can expect a switch that has a mild yet prominent tactility, giving you a balanced typing experience. In terms of sound, the Bamboo Green switches have a high-pitched and resonant profile, which can be preferred by those who enjoy sharper and crisper sound profiles.
On the other hand, if you prefer a switch with a slightly heavier bottom out force and a thuddy, punchy sound profile, the Haimu Viola Tricolor tactile switch would be a suitable option. These switches offer a pronounced tactility without crossing the line of being overly tactile. With their accented feel, you can expect a prominent amount of tactility that enhances your typing sensation. The Viola Tricolor switches strike a perfect balance between sharpness and user comfort. In terms of sound, these switches have a bassy and low-pitched profile, which adds depth and richness to the typing experience.
Ultimately, the choice between the Everglide Bamboo Green and the Haimu Viola Tricolor tactile switches depends on your personal preferences. If you prefer a clacky sound with a medium bottom out force, go for the Bamboo Green. However, if you prefer a thuddy and punchy sound with a slightly heavier bottom out force, the Viola Tricolor would be a great choice. Consider your specific typing needs and desired typing experience to make the best decision for yourself.
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