Everglide Crystal Violet vs. Gateron G Pro 3.0 Brown
An in-depth look at the Everglide Crystal Violet and the Gateron G Pro 3.0 Brown switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
Introducing two exceptional mechanical keyboard switches, the Everglide Crystal Violet and the Gateron G Pro 3.0 Brown, both known for their tactile experience. The Crystal Violet offers a relaxed and stepped tactile typing experience, providing a gentle and comfortable feel with its light operating force of 45g. Its sound profile is pleasantly mellow, leaning towards the lower-pitched spectrum, creating a subtle and non-intrusive auditory experience. On the other hand, the G Pro 3.0 Brown presents an economical solution without compromising on quality. It offers a delightful and subtle tactile sensation, carefully crafted to provide a gentle bump that won't overpower your typing flow. Additionally, it features a frosted light diffuser that enhances the RGB lighting, creating an immersive visual experience. The G Pro 3.0 Brown delivers a medium-high pitch, which adds an extra layer of joy to your typing sessions. However, let's dive in and explore these switches further to help you decide on the best switch for your needs.
By the numbers
Technical specifications
Actuation force
45g
Actuation force
55g
Bottom-out force
55g
Bottom-out force
63g
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
Yes
Stem construction
Standard
Stem construction
Standard
Stem material
POM
Stem material
POM
Top housing material
ABS
Top housing material
Polycarbonate
Bottom housing material
ABS
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Spring
Gold-plated
Spring
20.5mm lengthened stainless steel spring
Housing materials
The Everglide Crystal Violet and the Gateron G Pro 3.0 Brown differ in their choice of materials for both the top and bottom housing of their switches. The Crystal Violet features an ABS top housing, which is a relatively rare choice for switch housings. This ABS material contributes to a low-pitched sound profile when typing, providing a unique auditory experience. On the other hand, the G Pro 3.0 Brown utilizes a polycarbonate top housing. Polycarbonate is known for creating a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound profile, making the typing experience more distinct. In terms of aesthetics, the translucent nature of polycarbonate allows for a vibrant display of RGB lighting, which can enhance the overall visual appeal of the switch.
Moving on to the bottom housing, the Crystal Violet and the G Pro 3.0 Brown also vary in their material choices. The Crystal Violet employs an ABS bottom housing, similar to its top housing. As with the top housing, this ABS material contributes to a low-pitched sound profile, ensuring consistency in the typing experience. On the other hand, the G Pro 3.0 Brown features a nylon bottom housing. Nylon is a classic choice for switch housings and is known to elicit a deeper and fuller sound profile. The softer nature of nylon allows it to absorb more sound, resulting in a duller and rounder sound when typing.
When both top and bottom housings are present in a switch, their respective materials divide the qualities each brings to the overall typing experience. The bottom housing has a more significant impact on the bottom-out sound and feel when the switch is pressed down. In contrast, the top housing influences the sound produced when releasing a key, giving it a distinct auditory characteristic. Therefore, depending on the switch, the combination of materials in the top and bottom housings will contribute to a unique typing experience, with either a lower or higher-pitched sound profile and a difference in tactile feedback.
Weight
When comparing the actuation force and bottom out force of the Everglide Crystal Violet tactile switch and the Gateron G Pro 3.0 Brown tactile switch, we can observe distinct differences. The Everglide Crystal Violet has a lighter actuation force of 45 grams, meaning it requires a relatively gentle touch to register a keystroke. However, it has a slightly heavier bottom out force of 55 grams, providing a more substantial typing feel when pressing the keys fully.
In contrast, the Gateron G Pro 3.0 Brown has a heavier actuation force of 55 grams, requiring a bit more force to trigger a keystroke compared to the Crystal Violet. Similarly, its bottom out force is also heavier at 63 grams. Though both switches fall in the medium category, the G Pro 3.0 Brown offers a slightly more robust tactile experience.
For those who prefer a lighter typing experience or require a keyboard for extended use, the Everglide Crystal Violet may be the preferred choice. Its lighter actuation force can help reduce fatigue during long typing or gaming sessions. On the other hand, individuals who enjoy a more substantial push feel while typing might lean towards the Gateron G Pro 3.0 Brown, with its slightly heavier actuation and bottom out forces.
In summary, while the Crystal Violet has a lighter actuation force and the G Pro 3.0 Brown has a heavier actuation force, both switches provide a medium-level experience overall. The choice between the two will depend on personal preferences and the desired typing or gaming experience.
Travel distance
The Everglide Crystal Violet tactile switch and the Gateron G Pro 3.0 Brown tactile switch have an equal travel distance of 4 mm. This means that both switches offer users a consistent and satisfying tactile feedback when pressing down on a key. Whether it is the Everglide Crystal Violet or the Gateron G Pro 3.0 Brown, users can expect a similar experience in terms of the distance the switch travels from the top to the bottom. Consequently, regardless of which switch is chosen, both will provide a reliable and enjoyable typing or gaming experience.
Price comparison
Which switch is more bang for your buck?
The Everglide Crystal Violet has an MSRP of $7.08 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Crystal Violet for $4.19.
The Gateron G Pro 3.0 Brown has an MSRP of $2.80 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the G Pro 3.0 Brown for $2.77.
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 Crystal Violet switches are best described as having a pleasantly mellow and low-pitched profile. This means that the switches produce a bass-heavy and soothing tone that is not too intrusive. On the other hand, the sound profile of the Gateron G Pro 3.0 Brown switches is not specified in the given information, so it is unknown how they compare in terms of sound. However, it is important to note that the sound of a switch can also be influenced by other factors such as the keyboard board and keycaps used. Overall, if you are looking for a switch with a low-pitched and mellow sound, the Crystal Violet switches would be a suitable choice, while the sound profile of the G Pro 3.0 Brown switches remains unknown.
In terms of feel, the Everglide Crystal Violet switches are described as offering a creamy and mild typing experience. The creamy sensation indicates that these switches provide a smooth and buttery feel, making typing effortless and enjoyable. The mild characteristic suggests that the switches have a gentle typing experience that most people will find approachable. Additionally, the Crystal Violet switches are described as having a stepped tactile feel, which means that they provide a mild bump with some pre-travel and/or post-travel sensation. On the other hand, the Gateron G Pro 3.0 Brown switches are also described as having a mild and stepped tactile feel, similar to the Crystal Violet switches. This means that they offer a gentle bump that won't overpower your typing flow, providing a comfortable and responsive typing experience. Overall, both switches provide a similar mild and stepped tactile feel, making them suitable for those who prefer a softer typing experience.
In conclusion, the Everglide Crystal Violet and Gateron G Pro 3.0 Brown switches have some similarities in terms of sound and feel. Both switches offer a mellow sound profile, although the specific sound characteristics of the G Pro 3.0 Brown switches are not mentioned. In terms of feel, both switches provide a mild and stepped tactile sensation, ensuring a comfortable and gentle typing experience. It is important to note that the individual preferences of the user, as well as other factors such as the keyboard board and keycaps used, can also influence the overall subjective qualities of the switches. Therefore, if you are looking for a relaxed and stepped tactile typing experience with a creamy feel, the Crystal Violet switches would be a great choice. If you are interested in a budget-friendly option with a frosted light diffuser for enhanced RGB lighting, the G Pro 3.0 Brown switches could be a suitable alternative, providing a similar mild and stepped tactile feel.
Conclusion
In conclusion, if you are looking for a relaxed and stepped tactile typing experience with a gentle and comfortable feel, the Everglide Crystal Violet tactile switch is the ideal choice for you. With a bottom out force of 55 grams, it offers a medium-light operating force, making it suitable for extended typing sessions without causing finger fatigue. The Crystal Violet switches also provide a pleasantly mellow sound profile, leaning towards the lower-pitched spectrum, creating a subtle and non-intrusive auditory experience. Additionally, the use of ABS in the switch housings further enhances the overall typing experience.
On the other hand, if you are seeking an economical solution without compromising on quality, the Gateron G Pro 3.0 Brown tactile switch would be a great option. With a bottom out force of 63 grams, it offers a medium operating force, providing a gentle bump that won't overpower your typing flow. The G Pro Brown switches also feature a frosted light diffuser, ensuring that your RGB lighting shines brighter, creating an immersive visual experience. Moreover, they deliver a medium-high pitch that adds an extra layer of joy to your typing sessions.
Ultimately, the choice between the Everglide Crystal Violet and the Gateron G Pro 3.0 Brown tactile switches depends on your preferences for operating force, sound profile, and overall typing feel. Consider the level of comfort you desire during extended typing sessions and whether you prefer a mellow or higher-pitched sound. Both switches offer a mild and stepped typing experience, ensuring a safe middle-ground zone in terms of feel. Evaluate these factors to make the best decision based on your individual needs and preferences.
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