Everglide Crystal Violet vs. KTT Mint
An in-depth look at the Everglide Crystal Violet and the KTT Mint switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
Introducing the Everglide Crystal Violet, a tactile switch, and the KTT Mint, a linear switch. Both switches offer unique characteristics that cater to different preferences and typing styles. The Crystal Violet is renowned for its light operating force of 45g, providing a relaxed and stepped tactile typing experience. With a pleasantly mellow sound profile leaning towards the lower-pitched spectrum, the Crystal Violet offers a subtle and non-intrusive auditory experience. In contrast, the Mint offers a satisfyingly smooth linear switch with a poppy thockiness due to its long pole stem. It provides a light and fleeting typing feel. While the Crystal Violet emphasizes a tactile typing experience and a gentle feel, the Mint focuses on smoothness and a satisfying poppy sound. However, let's dive in a bit deeper beyond generalities so you can best decide on the ideal switch for your typing needs.
By the numbers
Technical specifications
Actuation force
45g
Actuation force
45g
Bottom-out force
55g
Bottom-out force
53g
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
Plate (3-pin)
Spring
Gold-plated
Spring
15mm spring
Housing materials
The housing materials of the Everglide Crystal Violet and the KTT Mint differ in terms of their composition and resulting sound profiles. The Crystal Violet features an ABS top housing, which is a relatively rare plastic for switch housings. This ABS construction gives the switch a relatively low-pitched sound profile when typing, providing a softer and more subtle auditory experience. In contrast, the Mint boasts a polycarbonate top housing, which creates a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound profile. This material's stiffness enhances clarity and resonance, making it particularly suitable for switches with RGB lighting.
Moving on to the bottom housings, both the Crystal Violet and the Mint have distinct materials. The Crystal Violet utilizes an ABS bottom housing, contributing to its low-pitched sound profile when typing. Similarly, the Mint employs a nylon bottom housing, which elicits a deeper and fuller sound profile. The nylon material is softer and absorbs more sound, resulting in a duller and more rounded auditory sensation. This provides a unique typing experience with a satisfying depth to the sound.
When it comes to the overall impact of the housing materials on the switch, the bottom housing has a greater influence on the bottom-out sound and feel. The qualities of the bottom housing are felt when pressing down on the switch. In contrast, the top housing primarily affects the sound when releasing a key. Therefore, although the Everglide Crystal Violet and KTT Mint may differ in their specific housing materials, the general impact on sound can be similar, with the top or bottom housings respectively contributing to the sound characteristics during typing and key release.
Weight
When comparing the Everglide Crystal Violet tactile switch and the KTT Mint linear switch, we can see some similarities and differences in their actuation and bottom out forces. Both switches have the same actuation force of 45 grams, meaning that the force required to trigger a keystroke is equal for both switches. This ensures a consistent typing experience in terms of sensitivity. However, when it comes to the bottom out force, there is a slight variation. The Crystal Violet has a bottom out force of 55 grams, slightly heavier than the Mint's 53 grams. This means that the Crystal Violet switch provides a slightly more substantial typing experience, requiring a bit more force to fully press down the keys.
For those who prefer lighter switches, the Mint is a suitable choice, as it offers a medium-light actuation and bottom out force. This lighter touch allows for longer periods of typing without causing strain or fatigue. On the other hand, the Crystal Violet's slightly heavier bottom out force may attract individuals who enjoy a stronger push feel while typing, giving a more satisfying and tactile experience. Ultimately, the choice between these switches depends on personal preference and the desired typing experience. Whether one prefers a lighter touch or a more substantial feel, both switches provide similar actuation forces, ensuring a consistent responsiveness in keystrokes.
Travel distance
The Everglide Crystal Violet tactile switch and the KTT Mint linear switch have the same travel distance of 4 mm. This means that both switches will offer a similar experience in terms of the distance they travel from the top to the bottom. Whether you choose the Crystal Violet or the Mint, you can expect a consistent travel distance of 4 mm, providing a satisfying tactile or linear feel when pressing down on a key.
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 KTT Mint comes in at $2.91 per 10 switches.
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, both the Everglide Crystal Violet and the KTT Mint switches have a low-pitched profile, which means they produce a more bass-heavy and mellow sound compared to higher-pitched switches. Additionally, both switches are described as having a neutral sound profile, meaning they have a moderate actuation force requirement and a moderate sound profile. This makes both switches suitable for most intents and purposes, whether you are a beginner or advanced user and whether you plan to use them at home or work. However, it is important to note that the sound of a switch is also influenced by factors such as the choice of keyboard board and keycaps.
In terms of feel, the Everglide Crystal Violet offers a creamy typing experience. This means the switch is smooth and buttery, providing a gliding sensation as you effortlessly melt into each keystroke. Additionally, the Crystal Violet is described as having a mild feel, which means it offers a gentle typing experience without pronounced characteristics. It is also categorized as a stepped switch, which means it has two stages of tactile feedback. This provides a more mild and relaxed tactile typing experience, with some pre-travel and/or post-travel sensation.
On the other hand, the KTT Mint switch is described as having a mild feel, similar to the Crystal Violet. This means it offers a gentle typing experience that is approachable to most users. Additionally, the Mint switch is polished, which indicates a smooth and refined finish that results in a sleek typing experience. This is achieved through the use of high-quality materials and/or factory lubrication, which reduce friction and provide smooth key travel.
In conclusion, both the Everglide Crystal Violet and the KTT Mint switches have low-pitched sound profiles and offer a gentle and comfortable typing experience. The Crystal Violet provides a creamy and stepped feel, while the Mint offers a polished and mild feel. Overall, if you are looking for a relaxed and stepped tactile typing experience with a subtle and mellow sound, the Crystal Violet would be a great choice. On the other hand, if you prefer a satisfyingly smooth linear switch with a gentle and polished feel, the Mint switch would be a suitable option. Depending on your personal preferences, you can expect similar results in terms of sound and feel from both switches.
Conclusion
To sum up, if you are seeking a relaxed and stepped tactile typing experience with a light operating force, the Everglide Crystal Violet tactile switch would be a great choice for you. These switches offer a gentle and comfortable feel, with a bottom out force of 55 grams. The sound profile of the Crystal Violet switches is pleasantly mellow and leans towards the lower-pitched spectrum, creating a subtle and non-intrusive auditory experience. Additionally, the Crystal Violet switches feature a creamy feel, providing a smooth and buttery typing experience. On the other hand, if you prefer a satisfyingly smooth linear switch with a light and fleeting type feel, the KTT Mint linear switch would be a suitable option. It has a bottom out force of 53 grams, which is slightly lighter than the Crystal Violet. The Mint switches offer a mild typing experience that is approachable to most users, and its sound profile is also low-pitched and neutral. Overall, both switches have their unique characteristics and it ultimately comes down to personal preference and typing style when choosing between the Everglide Crystal Violet and the KTT Mint.
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