Everglide Crystal Violet vs. Gateron Jupiter Banana

Overview

When it comes to choosing between mechanical keyboard switches, the Everglide Crystal Violet and Gateron Jupiter Banana both offer unique qualities that cater to different preferences. The Crystal Violet is favored for its light operating force of 45g, providing a relaxed and stepped tactile typing experience ideal for those seeking a gentle and comfortable feel. With a pleasantly mellow sound profile leaning towards the lower-pitched spectrum, the Crystal Violet switches create a subtle auditory experience, thanks to the rare use of ABS in their housings. On the other hand, the Jupiter Banana from Gateron stands out for its high-precision molds and softer backlight effects, enhanced with two-stage springs for a strong return and consistent feel. While the Crystal Violet is described as creamy, low-pitched, mild, neutral, and stepped, the Jupiter Banana is characterized as polished, high-pitched, creamy, and resonant. However, let's dive in a bit deeper beyond generalities so you can best decide on the right switch for you.

By the numbers

Everglide Crystal Violet Tactile

Gateron Jupiter Banana Tactile

$7.08

$4.19 per 10

$2.80 per 10

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Housing materials

The Everglide Crystal Violet and Gateron Jupiter Banana both offer unique housing materials that contribute to the sound profile and feel of the switches. The Crystal Violet features an ABS top housing, which results in a relatively low-pitched sound profile when typing. In contrast, the Jupiter Banana's polycarbonate top housing creates a sharper and crisper sound profile due to its stiffness. While the ABS bottom housing of the Crystal Violet also contributes to a low-pitched sound, the nylon bottom housing of the Jupiter Banana produces a deeper and fuller sound profile.

In terms of aesthetics, the housing materials of the Everglide Crystal Violet and Gateron Jupiter Banana play a significant role. The Crystal Violet's ABS top housing, while relatively rare in switch housings, provides a classic and clean look. On the other hand, the Jupiter Banana's polycarbonate top housing, known for its translucency, is ideal for showcasing RGB lighting effects. This difference in housing materials not only affects the overall appearance of the switches but also adds to the variety of options available for customization based on individual preferences.

Overall, the choice between the Everglide Crystal Violet and Gateron Jupiter Banana ultimately comes down to personal preference in terms of sound profile, feel, and aesthetics. While both switches offer distinct characteristics based on their housing materials, such as ABS and polycarbonate for the top housing, and ABS and nylon for the bottom housing, they both aim to provide a unique typing experience. Whether you prefer a lower-pitched sound profile with the Crystal Violet or a sharper sound with the Jupiter Banana, each switch offers a different typing experience that can cater to a variety of preferences.

Weight

The Everglide Crystal Violet tactile switch has a lighter actuation force of 45 grams compared to the Gateron Jupiter Banana tactile switch, which has a heavier actuation force of 59 grams. Both switches have a similar bottom out force range, with the Crystal Violet requiring 55 grams and the Jupiter Banana needing 69 grams. The Crystal Violet provides a medium-light typing experience, ideal for extended typing or gaming sessions where fatigue can be a concern. On the other hand, the Jupiter Banana offers a medium-heavy touch, providing a more substantial typing feel for those who prefer a stronger push when typing. Ultimately, the choice between the two switches will depend on individual preferences for actuation and bottom out forces.

Travel distance

The Everglide Crystal Violet tactile switch has a travel distance of 4 mm, making it a more traditional option compared to the Gateron Jupiter Banana tactile switch, which has a slightly shorter travel distance of 3.4 mm. Gamers who prioritize faster response times may lean towards the Jupiter Banana with its shorter travel distance, while those who prefer a more substantial key press may opt for the Crystal Violet. Both switches offer a different tactile experience due to their varying travel distances, catering to individual preferences. Ultimately, choosing between the two will depend on whether you prefer a shorter or longer travel distance for your typing or gaming needs.

Price comparison

Typing experience

The Everglide Crystal Violet switches are known for their low-pitched sound profile, which offers a mellow and non-intrusive auditory experience. This is due to the use of ABS material in the switch housings. On the other hand, the Gateron Jupiter Banana switches have a high-pitched and resonant sound profile, providing a sharp and crisp sound when pressed. The sound of the switches is also influenced by other factors such as the keyboard and keycaps used.

Moving on to the feel of the switches, the Crystal Violet switches are described as creamy, offering a smooth and buttery typing experience. They also have a mild feel, making them approachable to most users. Additionally, the stepped tactile feel of these switches provides a gentle and comfortable typing experience. Conversely, the Jupiter Banana switches are polished, resulting in a smooth and refined typing experience with reduced friction and smooth key travel. They also offer a creamy sensation, similar to the Crystal Violet switches, making typing feel effortless and enjoyable.

In conclusion, while the Crystal Violet and Jupiter Banana switches offer different sound and feel profiles, both switches provide a comfortable and tactile typing experience. The Crystal Violet switches are best suited for those who prefer a low-pitched sound and a mild, stepped tactile feel, while the Jupiter Banana switches cater to users who enjoy a high-pitched, resonant sound and a polished, creamy typing sensation. Ultimately, the choice between these switches will depend on personal preference and typing style.

Conclusion

In summary, when considering whether to choose the Everglide Crystal Violet tactile switch or the Gateron Jupiter Banana tactile switch, you should take into account the specific qualities of each. If you prefer a lighter bottom out force and a gentle, stepped tactile typing experience with a mellow, low-pitched sound profile, the Crystal Violet may be the right choice for you. On the other hand, if you prefer a medium-heavy bottom out force with high-precision molds, softer backlight effects, and a high-pitched, resonant sound profile, the Jupiter Banana may be more suited to your preferences. Ultimately, your decision should be based on your individual typing preferences and the overall feel you are looking for in a mechanical keyboard switch.

Mentioned in this article

Everglide Crystal Violet Tactile

$7.08

$4.19 per 10

Learn more

Gateron Jupiter Banana Tactile

$2.80 per 10

Learn more