Everglide Crystal Violet vs. Gateron Ink Red

Overview

When it comes to mechanical keyboard switches, two popular options are the Everglide Crystal Violet and the Gateron Ink Red. The Crystal Violet is a tactile switch, designed to provide a relaxed and stepped tactile typing experience with its light operating force of 45g. Its sound profile is pleasantly mellow and leans towards the lower-pitched spectrum, thanks to the special use of ABS in its housings. On the other hand, the Ink Red is a linear switch that stands out for its lower actuation force, making it perfect for those with a lighter typing style. It boasts a smooth and effortless typing experience, accompanied by a crispy and clacky sound profile. However, let's dive in a bit deeper beyond these generalities to help you decide which switch suits you best.

By the numbers

Everglide Crystal Violet Tactile

Gateron Ink Red Linear

$7.08

$4.19 per 10

$7.50

$7.35 per 10

Learn moreLearn more

Housing materials

The housing materials of the Everglide Crystal Violet and the Gateron Ink Red switches differ in terms of their composition and resulting sound profiles. Starting with the top housing, the Crystal Violet utilizes ABS, a plastic commonly found in keycaps. This ABS top housing results in a relatively low-pitched sound profile when typing, providing a more muted and gentle typing experience. In contrast, the Ink Red features Gateron's proprietary INK blend top housing, which brings about a pointed and relatively high-pitched sound. This unique blend creates a satisfying, thin, and clacky sound that adds a distinctive touch to each keystroke. So, while the Crystal Violet offers a softer sound, the Ink Red delivers a sharper and more defined auditory feedback.

Moving on to the bottom housing, both switches employ ABS as their chosen material. The ABS bottom housing in the Crystal Violet shares the same properties as its top housing counterpart, resulting in a relatively low-pitched sound profile. Similarly, the Ink Red utilizes its proprietary INK blend for the bottom housing, contributing to the overall sound characteristics. With the pointed and high-pitched nature of the INK blend, the bottom housing emphasizes a similar sound profile as the top housing, creating consistency throughout the switch. So, whether you're pressing down or releasing a key, both switches maintain their unique sound profiles due to their respective bottom housings.

It is essential to note that if a switch has different materials for its top and bottom housings, the resulting sound and feel will be distributed between the two. In this case, the qualities of the Crystal Violet's bottom housing will predominantly impact the bottom-out sound and feel, while the Ink Red's top housing will have a more significant influence on the sound when releasing a key. This distinction showcases how the choice of housing materials in a switch can affect the overall typing experience, allowing users to select a switch that aligns with their desired sound profile and tactile preference.

Weight

When comparing the actuation force and bottom out force of the Everglide Crystal Violet tactile switch and the Gateron Ink Red linear switch, there are a few noticeable differences. Both switches have the same actuation force of 45 grams, meaning that the amount of force required to trigger a keystroke is identical for both. This ensures a similar experience when it comes to responsiveness and speed. However, when it comes to the bottom out force, the Crystal Violet requires 55 grams of force, while the Ink Red requires 60 grams. This means that in terms of typing experience, the Crystal Violet is lighter and easier to press all the way down, making it more suitable for those who prefer a lighter and smoother feel. On the other hand, the Ink Red provides a slightly heavier push feel, which can lend a more substantial and tactile typing experience. It is worth noting that both switches fall into the medium category in terms of bottom out force, but the Ink Red is slightly heavier. Overall, the choice between these switches depends on personal preference - those who prioritize a lighter touch may opt for the Crystal Violet, while those seeking a more robust feel may prefer the Ink Red.

Travel distance

Both the Everglide Crystal Violet tactile switch and the Gateron Ink Red linear switch have the same travel distance of 4 mm. This means that when you press down on a key with either switch, you will experience the same distance of travel from the top to the bottom. Thus, you can expect similar results in terms of the tactile feedback and key press experience provided by these switches.

Price comparison

Typing experience

When it comes to sound, the Everglide Crystal Violet tactile switch produces a pleasantly mellow and lower-pitched auditory experience. This is thanks to the rare use of ABS in the switch housing, which contributes to a more subtle and non-intrusive sound profile. On the other hand, the Gateron Ink Red linear switch has a neutral sound profile with a moderate actuation force requirement. However, it is described as having a "crispy and clacky" sound, which sets it apart from other switches and gives it a unique acoustic signature. It's important to note that the sound of a switch can also be influenced by factors such as the keyboard board and keycaps chosen.

When it comes to feel, the Everglide Crystal Violet tactile switch is known for its creamy and mild typing experience. The switch offers a smooth and buttery feel, akin to gliding your fingers effortlessly across the keys. Additionally, the Crystal Violet switch is described as a stepped switch, meaning it has two stages of tactile feedback. This provides a more gradual and gentle typing experience compared to switches with a more pronounced tactile bump. On the other hand, the Gateron Ink Red linear switch offers a silky and polished typing experience. It has an exceptionally smooth feel, minimizing resistance when pressing and releasing keys. The Ink Red switch also falls under the mild category, providing a gentle typing experience that is approachable to most users.

Based on the available information, the Everglide Crystal Violet tactile switch and the Gateron Ink Red linear switch offer different subjective qualities in terms of sound and feel. The Crystal Violet switch provides a low-pitched and mellow sound profile, along with a creamy and mild typing experience. On the other hand, the Ink Red switch offers a neutral sound profile with a chirpy characteristic, and a silky and polished feel. Both switches have a moderate actuation force requirement and fall under the mild category, making them suitable for most users. However, it's important to consider individual preferences and factors such as keyboard board and keycaps which can influence the overall experience.

Conclusion

To sum up, if you are looking for a relaxed and stepped tactile typing experience with a gentle and comfortable feel, the Everglide Crystal Violet tactile switch would be the perfect choice for you. These switches have a light operating force of 45 grams, making them ideal for those with a lighter typing style. The Crystal Violet switches also have a pleasantly mellow sound profile, leaning towards the lower-pitched spectrum, which creates a subtle and non-intrusive auditory experience. Additionally, the use of ABS in the switch housings contributes to their unique sound profile. On the other hand, if you prefer a linear switch with a lower actuation force, the Gateron Ink Red linear switch is the way to go. With a bottom out force of 60 grams, the Ink Red provides a medium typing experience suitable for most intents and purposes. These switches are satisfyingly smooth to type on and have a crispy and clacky sound profile. Ultimately, the decision between the Everglide Crystal Violet and the Gateron Ink Red will depend on your typing style preferences and whether you prioritize a tactile or linear switch.

Mentioned in this article

Everglide Crystal Violet Tactile

$7.08

$4.19 per 10

Learn more

Gateron Ink Red Linear

$7.50

$7.35 per 10

Learn more