HMX Cheese vs. Everglide Tourmaline Blue
An in-depth look at the HMX Cheese and the Everglide Tourmaline Blue switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When it comes to mechanical keyboard switches, the HMX Cheese and Everglide Tourmaline Blue both offer unique features that cater to different preferences. The HMX Cheese switch is renowned for its unparalleled smoothness and pristine typing experience, with a satisfying clacky, poppy, and crispy sound signature. In contrast, the Everglide Tourmaline Blue switch boasts a deep and thocky sound profile, providing a bouncy feel with each keystroke thanks to its lengthened single-stage spring. While the Cheese switch is lighter and offers a unique typing experience, the Tourmaline Blue switch strikes a balance with its standard spring weight, making it enjoyable and accessible to a wide range of users. 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
59g
Bottom-out force
46g
Bottom-out force
67g
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Total travel
3.50 mm
Total travel
4.00 mm
Factory lubed
Yes
Factory lubed
Yes
Stem construction
Standard
Stem construction
Standard
Stem material
Ly
Stem material
POM
Top housing material
Nylon
Top housing material
Polycarbonate
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Bottom housing material
Polycarbonate
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Spring
22mm single-staged spring
Spring
Gold-plated
Housing materials
The main difference between the housing materials of the HMX Cheese and the Everglide Tourmaline Blue lies in the type of plastic used. The Cheese utilizes nylon for both its top and bottom housing, resulting in a deeper and fuller sound profile due to the softer nature of nylon. On the other hand, the Tourmaline Blue features polycarbonate for both its top and bottom housing, leading to a sharper and crisper sound profile attributed to the stiffer nature of polycarbonate. This contrast showcases how the choice of housing material can significantly impact the sound produced by a switch.
Despite the differences in housing materials, both the HMX Cheese and the Everglide Tourmaline Blue share some similarities in their sound profiles. The use of nylon in the Cheese's housing and polycarbonate in the Tourmaline Blue's housing both contribute to absorbing sound to some extent, resulting in a duller and rounder sound for the Cheese and a more clear and resonant sound for the Tourmaline Blue. Additionally, both switches offer unique aesthetics due to their housing materials, with the Cheese's nylon providing a classic look and the Tourmaline Blue's polycarbonate offering a translucent appearance ideal for RGB lighting setups.
Overall, the housing materials of the HMX Cheese and the Everglide Tourmaline Blue play a significant role in shaping the sound profiles and aesthetics of these switches. While nylon and polycarbonate have distinct properties that influence the sound produced by each switch, they also share certain characteristics such as sound absorption. Whether you prefer a deeper, fuller sound profile with the Cheese's nylon housing or a sharper, crisper sound profile with the Tourmaline Blue's polycarbonate housing, both switches offer a unique typing experience based on their housing materials.
Weight
The HMX Cheese linear switch has a lighter actuation force of 43 grams and a bottom out force of 46 grams, making it ideal for users who prefer a lighter typing experience. In comparison, the Everglide Tourmaline Blue linear switch has a heavier actuation force of 59 grams and a bottom out force of 67 grams, providing a more substantial typing feel. Those who enjoy a lighter touch for extended typing or gaming sessions may lean towards the HMX Cheese switch, while users who prefer a stronger push feel may opt for the Tourmaline Blue switch. Both switches provide distinct typing experiences based on their actuation and bottom out forces.
Travel distance
The HMX Cheese linear switch has a travel distance of 3.5 mm, which is shorter compared to the Everglide Tourmaline Blue linear switch with a travel distance of 4 mm. Both switches fall within the range of shorter travel distances, making them ideal for gamers seeking faster response times. However, the Cheese switch offers a slightly quicker keypress due to its shorter travel distance, while the Tourmaline Blue switch may provide a bit more depth for those who prefer a more substantial feel. Ultimately, the choice between the two switches will depend on individual preference for travel distance and the desired typing experience.
Price comparison
Which switch is more bang for your buck?
The HMX Cheese has an MSRP of $5.50 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Cheese for $3.79.
The Everglide Tourmaline Blue has an MSRP of $6.86 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Tourmaline Blue for $3.89.
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
In terms of sound, the HMX Cheese switches are known for their satisfying clacky, poppy, and crispy sound profile, providing a unique typing experience with their ultra-light weight. On the other hand, the Everglide Tourmaline Blue switches offer a deep and thocky sound, creating a different immersive typing experience with their lengthened single-stage spring and standard spring weight. While both switches offer distinct sound profiles, your choice of keyboard and keycaps can also influence the overall sound outcome.
When it comes to feel, the HMX Cheese switches are praised for their unparalleled smoothness and pristine typing experience, but specific descriptors are not available for this switch. On the other hand, the Everglide Tourmaline Blue switches are described as buttery, easy-to-press, and mild, providing a smooth and fluid keystroke experience with gentle resistance and minimal force required for activation. These qualities make the Tourmaline Blue switches approachable and comfortable for a wide range of users, enhancing the overall typing feel.
In conclusion, while the HMX Cheese and Everglide Tourmaline Blue switches offer different sound and feel experiences, both switches excel in providing a satisfying typing experience. Depending on your preference for sound and typing feel, either switch can provide a high-quality performance for your mechanical keyboard setup. Additionally, experimenting with different keycap and keyboard combinations can further enhance the overall typing experience with these switches.
Conclusion
In closing, when deciding between the HMX Cheese linear switch and the Everglide Tourmaline Blue linear switch, consider your preference for bottom out force and typing experience. If you prefer a lighter touch with a smooth and responsive typing feel, the HMX Cheese switch with its 46-gram bottom out force and satisfying sound signature may be the best choice for you. On the other hand, if you enjoy a medium-heavy bottom out force with a bouncy and immersive typing experience, the Everglide Tourmaline Blue switch with its 67-gram bottom out force and deep thocky sound profile could be more suitable. Ultimately, your decision should be based on your personal typing preferences and the kind of typing experience you are looking to achieve.
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