Everglide Crystal Violet vs. Everglide Moyu Black (Dark Jade)
An in-depth look at the Everglide Crystal Violet and the Everglide Moyu Black (Dark Jade) switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
The Everglide Crystal Violet and the Everglide Moyu Black (Dark Jade) are both tactile switches that offer unique typing experiences. The Crystal Violet is best suited for those seeking a relaxed and stepped tactile typing experience, with a light operating force of 45g. This switch provides a gentle and comfortable feel, with a pleasantly mellow sound profile leaning towards the lower-pitched spectrum. The Moyu Black, on the other hand, offers a sharp tactile feel and a premium typing experience. With its blend of PBT top and bottom housing, this switch delivers a strong downstroke tactile bump and an even sharper and stronger upstroke bump, creating a hypertactile sensation. The Moyu Black produces a satisfyingly sharp and punchy sound during typing, with a medium-heavy feel and an accentuated bottom-out. Both switches have their strengths and unique characteristics, so let's dive in a bit deeper beyond generalities to help you decide on the best switch for your preferences.
By the numbers
Technical specifications
Actuation force
45g
Actuation force
50g
Bottom-out force
55g
Bottom-out force
67g
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
PBT
Bottom housing material
ABS
Bottom housing material
PBT
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Spring
Gold-plated
Spring
Gold-plated
Housing materials
The Everglide Crystal Violet and the Everglide Moyu Black (Dark Jade) have different housing materials for both the top and bottom housing of the switches. The Crystal Violet utilizes ABS plastic for both the top and bottom housing, which is a relatively rare material for switch housings. Typing on switches featuring ABS housing produces a relatively low-pitched sound profile. On the other hand, the Moyu Black (Dark Jade) makes use of PBT plastic for both the top and bottom housing. PBT is also rarely seen in switch housings, offering a neutral sound profile that is neither crisp nor dull.
Although both switches have different housing materials, they do share similarities. The ABS and PBT materials are commonly used in keycaps, but it is more unusual to find them in switch housings. Additionally, both switch housings provide a sound profile that is not extremely crisp or dull. However, there may be slight differences in the sound produced when pressing down on the switch and when releasing a key, as the qualities of the housing materials may vary between the top and bottom housings of the switch.
The impact of the housing material differs depending on whether it is the top or the bottom housing of the switch. When pressing down on the Crystal Violet switch, the qualities of the ABS bottom housing will be felt, influencing the bottom-out sound and feel. Conversely, the top housing of the switch will have a greater impact on the sound produced when releasing a key. Similarly, for the Moyu Black (Dark Jade), the PBT bottom housing will affect the bottom-out sound and feel, while the top housing will play a larger role in the sound when the key is released. Despite the differences in housing materials, each switch offers a unique typing experience based on the qualities provided by their respective top and bottom housings.
Weight
When comparing the actuation force and bottom out force of the Everglide Crystal Violet tactile switch and the Everglide Moyu Black (Dark Jade) tactile switch, there are notable differences. The Crystal Violet has a slightly lighter actuation force of 45 grams, while the Moyu Black requires 50 grams of force to trigger a keystroke. Both switches fall within the medium-light to medium-heavy range, respectively, in terms of actuation force. Moving on to the bottom out force, the Crystal Violet requires 55 grams of force to fully press the key, while the Moyu Black has a heavier bottom out force of 67 grams. Therefore, the Moyu Black offers a more substantial typing experience for those who prefer a stronger push feel.
Considering weight, it is worth noting that some individuals prefer lighter switches as it allows them to type for longer periods without fatigue. This is particularly advantageous for keyboards used at work or during prolonged gaming sessions. On the other hand, there are those who enjoy a more substantial typing experience and prefer switches with heavier forces. In this case, the Moyu Black would be the preferable option. However, if one is seeking a similar experience to the Moyu Black but with a lighter touch, the Crystal Violet would be a suitable choice as it offers a comparable actuation force. Overall, the Crystal Violet is the lighter option with a medium-light actuation force and a slightly lighter bottom out force, while the Moyu Black is the heavier option with a medium-heavy actuation force and a heavier bottom out force.
Travel distance
The travel distance of the Everglide Crystal Violet tactile switch and the Everglide Moyu Black (Dark Jade) tactile switch is the same, with both switches having a travel distance of 4 mm. This means that when pressing down on a key with either switch, you will experience the same amount of travel distance. Thus, both switches provide a consistent tactile feedback and a similar typing experience in terms of key press depth.
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 Everglide Moyu Black (Dark Jade) has an MSRP of $12.00 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Moyu Black (Dark Jade) for $7.59.
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
The Everglide Crystal Violet tactile switch is best known for its light operating force of 45g, providing a relaxed and stepped tactile typing experience. In terms of sound, the Crystal Violet switches have a pleasantly mellow tone that leans towards the lower-pitched spectrum, thanks to the rare use of ABS in their housings. This creates a subtle and non-intrusive auditory experience. As for the feel, the Crystal Violet switches offer a creamy and mild typing experience. This means they provide a smooth and gentle sensation, with a safe and approachable middle-ground sound and feel. Additionally, the Crystal Violet switches have a stepped design, which means you can feel some pre-travel and/or post-travel throughout the keystroke.
On the other hand, the Everglide Moyu Black (Dark Jade) tactile switch delivers a sharp tactile feel. These switches feature a unique blend of PBT top and bottom housing, offering a rare and premium typing experience. The Moyu Blacks have a strong downstroke tactile bump, but what sets them apart is an even sharper and stronger upstroke bump, creating a hypertactile sensation. When typing, the downstroke bump produces a satisfyingly sharp, short, snappy, and punchy sound. With their medium-heavy feel and an abrupt and accentuated bottom-out, the Moyu Black switches provide a distinctive and impactful typing experience.
In conclusion, the Everglide Crystal Violet and Moyu Black (Dark Jade) tactile switches offer different subjective qualities. The Crystal Violet switches provide a relaxed and stepped tactile typing experience with a mellow sound and a creamy, mild feel. On the other hand, the Moyu Black switches deliver a sharp tactile feel with a resonant and punchy sound, alongside an accented and sharp feel. Both switches offer unique typing experiences that cater to different preferences. If you enjoy a lighter and more relaxed typing experience, you can expect similar results with the Crystal Violet switches. Similarly, if you prefer a sharper and more impactful typing experience, the Moyu Black switches will provide a comparable satisfaction.
Conclusion
To sum up, if you are seeking a relaxed and stepped tactile typing experience with a gentle and comfortable feel, then the Everglide Crystal Violet tactile switch is the best choice for you. With its light operating force of 45 grams, it offers a smooth and buttery typing experience, akin to gliding your fingers across the keys with ease. The Crystal Violet switches also have a mellow and non-intrusive auditory experience, thanks to the use of ABS in their housings. On the other hand, if you prefer a sharper and stronger tactile feel, the Everglide Moyu Black (Dark Jade) tactile switch is your ideal option. With a medium-heavy bottom out force of 67 grams, these switches offer a distinctive and impactful typing experience. The Moyu Blacks feature a strong downstroke tactile bump and an even sharper and stronger upstroke bump, providing a hypertactile sensation. Additionally, they produce a satisfyingly sharp, short, and punchy sound. Ultimately, the choice between the Crystal Violet and Moyu Black (Dark Jade) switches comes down to personal preference in terms of feel and sound profile.
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