Kailh Berry vs. Everglide Tourmaline Blue

Overview

The Kailh Berry and the Everglide Tourmaline Blue are two popular mechanical keyboard switches that both offer a linear switch experience. The Berry is known for its hefty typing experience, featuring a springy type feel and a chalk-like texture when typing. Its sound profile is fairly deep, giving it a distinct and satisfying sound. On the other hand, the Tourmaline Blue offers a deep and thocky sound profile, immersing users in a satisfying typing experience. With a lengthened single-stage spring, the Tourmaline Blue provides a bouncy feel with each keystroke. It strikes a balance with its standard spring weight, making it enjoyable and accessible to a wide range of users. Both switches have their own unique qualities that make them desirable, however, let's dive in a bit deeper beyond generalities so you can best decide on the best switch for you.

By the numbers

Kailh Berry Linear

Everglide Tourmaline Blue Linear

$6.25 per 10

$6.86

$3.89 per 10

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Housing materials

The Kailh Berry and the Everglide Tourmaline Blue both feature polycarbonate top housings, which create a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound profile. This is mainly because polycarbonate is a stiff plastic, resulting in a clear and resonant sound. Additionally, both switches utilize the translucency of polycarbonate to enhance the RGB lighting effects. Therefore, if you are looking for a switch that provides these sound characteristics and supports RGB lighting, both the Berry and the Tourmaline Blue are excellent options.

However, when it comes to the bottom housing, the Berry uses a nylon material, while the Tourmaline Blue maintains a polycarbonate housing. Typing on the Berry, which incorporates the softer nylon material, produces a deeper and fuller sound profile. Nylon's ability to absorb more sound compared to harder plastics creates a duller and rounder sound. Conversely, the Tourmaline Blue's polycarbonate bottom housing contributes to its overall sound profile, which is sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper. Depending on your preference for the sound when bottoming out the key, you may find one of these switches more appealing.

It's important to note that the choice of housing material used for the top versus the bottom of a switch influences different aspects of the typing experience. When pressing down on the switch, you will feel the qualities of the bottom housing, which impacts the bottom-out sound and feel. On the other hand, the top housing primarily affects the sound when you release a key. Therefore, by using different materials for each housing, the Berry and the Tourmaline Blue offer a combination of characteristics that can result in a unique and personalized typing experience.

Weight

When comparing the actuation force and bottom out force of the Kailh Berry linear switch and the Everglide Tourmaline Blue linear switch, we can observe some similarities and differences. Starting with the actuation force, the Berry switch does not provide specific information regarding the grams required to trigger a keystroke. In contrast, the Tourmaline Blue requires 59 grams of force to actuate, making it slightly lighter. Moving on to the bottom out force, the Berry switch has a medium-heavy bottom out force of 70 grams. On the other hand, the Tourmaline Blue has a slightly lower bottom out force of 67 grams, indicating a similar medium-heavy rating. However, the exact actuation force of the Berry switch remains unknown, so it is hard to make a precise comparison. Overall, if a lighter actuation force is preferred for extended typing sessions, the Tourmaline Blue may be a suitable choice. On the other hand, if a more substantial typing experience with a stronger push feel is desired, both switches offer a medium-heavy bottom out force, ensuring similar results.

Travel distance

The travel distance of the Kailh Berry linear switch is 3.6 mm, while the Everglide Tourmaline Blue linear switch has a travel distance of 4 mm. In terms of travel distance, the Berry is shorter than the Tourmaline Blue. A travel distance of 4.0 mm is considered the most traditional, while 3.0 mm is the most shallow. However, shorter travel distances have become more popular, especially among gamers who seek faster response times. If you prefer a more responsive feel, the Berry's shorter travel distance might be the better option for you. On the other hand, some individuals find short travel distances to be too abrupt and prefer a deeper, more substantial feel. In that case, the Tourmaline Blue's longer travel distance may be a better choice. It is important to consider your personal preferences and needs when deciding between these two switches.

Price comparison

Typing experience

When comparing the sound qualities of the Kailh Berry linear switch and the Everglide Tourmaline Blue linear switch, there are notable differences. The Berry switch offers a low-pitched and bassy sound profile, which results in a deeper and mellow tone during key presses. On the other hand, the Tourmaline Blue switch has a more neutral sound profile, providing a moderate tone that is suitable for most users' preferences. It is important to note that the sound of the switches can also be influenced by other factors such as the keyboard board and keycaps used.

Moving on to the feel of the switches, the Kailh Berry switch exhibits a textured sensation when typing. This means that the switch has noticeable friction when pressed, which may appeal to users who prefer a more tactile experience. On the contrary, the Everglide Tourmaline Blue switch is described as buttery, offering a smooth and fluid keystroke. This implies a seamless and effortless typing experience, which is further enhanced by its easy-to-press nature. The Tourmaline Blue switch requires minimal force to activate, reducing finger fatigue and providing a low-impact typing feel. Additionally, the Tourmaline Blue switch is classified as mild, offering a gentle typing experience that falls within a safe and approachable middle-ground zone.

In conclusion, the Kailh Berry linear switch and the Everglide Tourmaline Blue linear switch possess distinct subjective qualities. The Berry switch provides a hefty and springy typing experience with a texturized feel and a deep sound profile. On the other hand, the Tourmaline Blue switch offers a bouncy and enjoyable typing feel, with a balance in spring weight and providing a deep and thocky sound profile. While they may differ in certain aspects, both switches aim to deliver a satisfying typing experience. Depending on individual preferences and requirements, either switch can provide similar results in terms of sound and feel. It is important to consider personal preferences, the desired sound profile, and the desired typing experience when choosing between these two switches.

Conclusion

In closing, if you are looking for a hefty typing experience with a springy type feel and a deeper sound profile, the Kailh Berry linear switch would be the ideal choice for you. The Berry switch offers a chalk-like texture when typing and has a bottom out force of 70 grams, providing a medium-heavy typing experience. On the other hand, if you prefer a bouncy feel with each keystroke and a satisfying, thocky sound profile, the Everglide Tourmaline Blue linear switch would be the better option. With its lengthened single-stage spring and standard spring weight, the Tourmaline Blue strikes a balance between enjoyment and accessibility for a wide range of users. Additionally, the Tourmaline Blue has a bottom out force of 67 grams, making it slightly lighter than the Berry switch. Ultimately, the choice between these two switches depends on your preference for typing experience and sound profile.

Mentioned in this article

Kailh Berry Linear

$6.25 per 10

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Everglide Tourmaline Blue Linear

$6.86

$3.89 per 10

Learn more