Everglide Crystal Violet vs. Outemu Tom
An in-depth look at the Everglide Crystal Violet and the Outemu Tom switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When it comes to mechanical keyboard switches, the Everglide Crystal Violet and the Outemu Tom both offer tactile feedback, but with their own unique characteristics. The Crystal Violet features a light operating force of 45g, providing a relaxed and stepped tactile typing experience. Its sound profile is pleasantly mellow and leans towards the lower-pitched spectrum, making it non-intrusive. On the other hand, the Tom does not have specific standout features mentioned. If you prefer a switch that is 'Creamy', 'Low-pitched', 'Mild', 'Neutral', and 'Stepped', the Crystal Violet may be the way to go. However, let's dive in a bit deeper beyond generalities so you can best decide on the best switch for you.
By the numbers
Technical specifications
Actuation force
45g
Actuation force
55g
Bottom-out force
55g
Bottom-out force
N/A
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Pre-travel
2.20 mm
Total travel
4.00 mm
Total travel
3.30 mm
Factory lubed
Yes
Factory lubed
Yes
Stem construction
Standard
Stem construction
Partial box
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
Stainless steel
Housing materials
The Everglide Crystal Violet utilizes ABS for both its top and bottom housing, resulting in a relatively low-pitched sound profile when typing. In contrast, the Outemu Tom features a polycarbonate top housing and a nylon bottom housing. The polycarbonate top housing creates a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound profile, especially beneficial for showcasing RGB lighting. On the other hand, the nylon bottom housing of the Tom elicits a deeper and fuller sound profile due to its softer nature, absorbing more sound than harder plastics like ABS.
While both the Crystal Violet and the Tom have different materials for their top and bottom housings, the impact of these materials is felt differently during use. The bottom housing affects the bottom-out sound and feel of the switch, which is more pronounced when pressing down on the key. The top housing, on the other hand, influences the sound when releasing a key. This distinction allows for a unique typing experience with each switch, showcasing the qualities of both the top and bottom housing materials.
In terms of aesthetics, the use of polycarbonate in the Tom's top housing allows for a clear and translucent design, ideal for showcasing RGB lighting effects. In contrast, the Crystal Violet's ABS housing provides a more classic look but with a low-pitched sound profile. Both switches offer a different tactile and auditory experience, with the Tom's nylon bottom housing providing a deeper sound compared to the Crystal Violet's ABS bottom housing. Ultimately, the choice between these switches depends on personal preferences for sound, feel, and aesthetics.
Weight
When comparing the actuation force and bottom out force of the Everglide Crystal Violet tactile switch and the Outemu Tom tactile switch, it is clear that the Crystal Violet is the lighter option with an actuation force of 45 grams and a bottom out force of 55 grams. In contrast, the Tom switch has a heavier actuation force of 55 grams, but the bottom out force is unknown. Both switches provide a tactile typing experience, but the Crystal Violet offers a slightly lighter touch, making it ideal for extended use, whether for work or gaming. Meanwhile, the Tom switch may be preferred by those who enjoy a more substantial push feel. Ultimately, the choice between the two switches will depend on personal preference for actuation and bottom out forces.
Travel distance
The Everglide Crystal Violet tactile switch has a travel distance of 4 mm, making it longer than the Outemu Tom tactile switch, which has a travel distance of 3.3 mm. This means that the Crystal Violet allows for a slightly deeper key press compared to the Tom. Gamers looking for faster response times may prefer the shorter travel distance of the Tom, while those who prefer a more substantial feel when typing might lean towards the Crystal Violet. Both switches offer different experiences based on their travel distances, but ultimately, the choice between the two will depend on personal preference and typing style.
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 Outemu Tom comes in at $3.10 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
The Everglide Crystal Violet tactile switch is praised for its low-pitched and mellow sound profile, which creates a pleasant auditory experience without being too intrusive. This is thanks to the unique use of ABS in the switch housing. On the other hand, the Outemu Tom tactile switch's sound profile is unknown. When it comes to the feel of the switches, the Crystal Violet is often described as creamy, providing a smooth and buttery typing experience. The mild and stepped tactile feel of the Crystal Violet switch offers a comfortable typing sensation with a gentle tactile bump. Unfortunately, information about the feel of the Outemu Tom tactile switch is unavailable.
Based on the known information, if you prefer a light operating force and a relaxed tactile typing experience with a low-pitched sound profile, the Everglide Crystal Violet tactile switch would be a recommended choice. However, if you are looking for a switch with unknown sound and feel qualities, the Outemu Tom tactile switch could be a suitable option to explore for different preferences. Ultimately, both switches offer their own unique characteristics, and the choice between them would depend on personal preference and typing style.
Conclusion
In summary, when deciding between the Everglide Crystal Violet tactile switch and the Outemu Tom tactile switch, consider the characteristics that best align with your preferences and typing style. If you value a light operating force, a gentle tactile typing experience, and a mellow sound profile, the Crystal Violet may be the ideal choice for you. On the other hand, if the specific attributes of the Tom switch are not available or do not align with your preferences, the Crystal Violet may be the more suitable option for your needs. Ultimately, your decision should be based on your individual typing preferences and the overall typing experience you are looking to achieve. Choose wisely based on the features that matter most to you.
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