Kailh Box Jade vs. Everglide Oreo

Overview

When it comes to mechanical keyboard switches, the Kailh Box Jade and the Everglide Oreo are two popular options to consider. The Box Jades are ideal for those seeking a medium-heavy typing experience accompanied by a clicky sound profile and satisfying tactility. With their crisp clicks and crunchy tactile bumps, these switches offer a truly invigorating typing sensation. On the other hand, the Everglide Oreo switches provide a delectable treat for your fingertips. They boast a crisp and responsive tactile bump at the top, followed by a delightfully cushioned sensation when bottoming out. These switches strike the perfect balance between a satisfying keystroke and a comfortable typing experience with their medium-light tactility. While the Box Jades provide a high-pitched and accented sound profile, the Oreos offer a more subtle and mellow sound. However, let's dive in a bit deeper beyond these generalities so you can best decide on the switch that suits your preferences.

By the numbers

Housing materials

The Kailh Box Jade and Everglide Oreo both utilize polycarbonate as their top housing material. This material creates a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound profile due to its relatively stiffer nature. The translucency of polycarbonate also makes it ideal for switches that plan to use RGB lighting. Therefore, both switches will provide similar results in terms of sound profile and aesthetic when it comes to their top housings.

However, the two switches differ in their bottom housing materials. The Box Jade features a nylon bottom housing, which elicits a deeper and fuller sound profile. This is because nylon, being a softer plastic, absorbs more sound than harder plastics, resulting in a duller and rounder sound. On the other hand, the Oreo incorporates a polycarbonate bottom housing. This will contribute to a sharper and crisper sound profile, similar to its top housing. The material's stiffness enhances the clarity and resonance of the sound produced.

When it comes to the overall typing experience, the qualities of the bottom housing will be more pronounced in the Box Jade, as it has a significant impact on the bottom-out sound and feel. Conversely, for the Oreo, the top housing will have a greater influence on the sound when releasing a key. Therefore, while both switches share similarities in their polycarbonate top housings, the choice of bottom housing material will result in variations in sound dynamics and overall typing experience.

Weight

When comparing the actuation force and bottom out force of the Kailh Box Jade clicky switch and the Everglide Oreo tactile switch, there are some notable differences. The Box Jade has a slightly higher actuation force of 50 grams compared to the Oreo's 45 grams, making it slightly heavier to trigger a keystroke. Similarly, the Box Jade also has a higher bottom out force of 60 grams compared to the Oreo's 55 grams, indicating a heavier feel when fully pressing down.

These differences in weight can impact the typing experience for users. Those who prefer a lighter switch may find the Oreo more suitable, as its lower actuation and bottom out forces allow for easier keystrokes. This lighter feel can be beneficial for extended typing sessions or long gaming sessions, providing increased comfort and reduced fatigue.

On the other hand, individuals who prefer a more robust and substantial typing experience may opt for the Box Jade switch. With its slightly heavier actuation and bottom out forces, the Box Jade offers a stronger push feel, which can enhance the tactile feedback and make each keystroke feel more substantial. This can be advantageous for individuals who prefer a more deliberate and pronounced typing experience.

Overall, the Kailh Box Jade and Everglide Oreo switches offer different force profiles, with the Box Jade being slightly heavier in both actuation and bottom out forces. Depending on personal preferences and typing style, users can choose the switch that best suits their needs for either a lighter or stronger push feel.

Travel distance

When comparing the travel distance of the Kailh Box Jade clicky switch and the Everglide Oreo tactile switch, we can see that the Box Jade has a shorter travel distance of 3.6 mm, while the Oreo has a longer travel distance of 4 mm. This means that the Box Jade will require a slightly shallower press to register a key press, while the Oreo will provide a more substantial depth. The Box Jade's shorter travel distance may be favored by gamers looking for faster response times, as it allows for quicker key presses. On the other hand, the Oreo's longer travel distance may be preferred by those who enjoy a more satisfying and pronounced feel when typing. Both switches offer distinct benefits, so the choice ultimately depends on personal preference and typing style.

Price comparison

Typing experience

When comparing the subjective qualities of the Kailh Box Jade clicky switch and the Everglide Oreo tactile switch, it is clear that they offer distinct experiences in terms of sound and feel.

Starting with sound, the Box Jade is best described as having a high-pitched and crunchy sound profile. The high-pitched nature of these switches produces a sharp and crisp sound when pressed, which can be preferred by those who do not enjoy richer and bassier sound profiles. Additionally, the Box Jade's crunchy sound is reminiscent of stepping on piles of crisp and autumn leaves. On the other hand, the Oreo offers a more subtle and mellow sound profile, with a chirpy acoustic signature that sets it apart from other switches. It's important to note that the sound of a switch can also be influenced by factors such as the keyboard board and keycaps used.

Moving on to feel, both the Box Jade and the Oreo are described as having an accented tactile feel. This means that they provide a medium amount of tactility that is neither overwhelming nor subtle. The Box Jade is further characterized as invigorating, offering pronounced feedback, moderate to firm actuation force, and a snappy and reactive feel. This creates an immersive typing sensation that many users appreciate. The Oreo, on the other hand, is described as having a stepped tactile feel. This means that it provides a mild tactile experience with some pre-travel and/or post-travel, giving the user a sense of distinct stages during a keystroke.

Taking into account all the available information, it is clear that the Box Jade and the Oreo offer different subjective qualities in terms of sound and feel. The Box Jade provides a high-pitched, crunchy sound profile and an invigorating tactile experience. On the other hand, the Oreo offers a mellow sound profile with a chirpy acoustic signature and a stepped tactile feel. If you prefer a medium-heavy typing experience with crisp clicks and crunchy tactile bumps, the Box Jade is the ideal choice. However, if you desire a medium light tactility with a satisfying keystroke and a comfortable typing experience, the Oreo is a great option. Ultimately, it's important to consider personal preference and try out these switches firsthand to determine which one suits you best.

Conclusion

To sum up, if you are looking for a medium-heavy typing experience with a satisfying clicky sound profile and pronounced tactility, the Kailh Box Jade clicky switch would be the perfect choice for you. These switches provide crisp clicks and crunchy tactile bumps when typing, giving you a truly immersive and invigorating typing sensation. On the other hand, if you prefer a medium-light tactility that strikes a balance between a satisfying keystroke and comfortable typing experience, along with a subtle and mellow sound profile, the Everglide Oreo tactile switch is the ideal option. These switches offer a crisp and responsive tactile bump at the top, followed by a delightfully cushioned sensation when bottoming out. With their accented tactility and unique chirpy sound signature, the Oreo switches provide a delectable treat for your fingertips. Ultimately, the choice between the Kailh Box Jade clicky switch and the Everglide Oreo tactile switch depends on your preference for typing experience, sound profile, and tactility.

Mentioned in this article