Everglide Crystal Violet vs. Everglide Sunset Yellow

Overview

When it comes to mechanical keyboard switches, two popular options to consider are the Everglide Crystal Violet and the Everglide Sunset Yellow. The Crystal Violet is a tactile switch, designed with a light operating force of 45g, making it perfect for those who prefer a relaxed and stepped tactile typing experience. With a pleasingly mellow sound profile leaning towards the lower-pitched spectrum, these switches offer a subtle and non-intrusive auditory experience. This is partly due to the special use of ABS in their housings, resulting in a creamy, low-pitched, and mild sound. On the other hand, the Sunset Yellow is a linear switch, offering a captivating sound profile reminiscent of mahjong tiles colliding. With a rich, bassy, and decadent sound, typing becomes an indulgent experience. These switches have a medium-weight, making them suitable for a wide range of users. The combination of a unique POM stem and a proprietary factory lube method contributes to a distinct gliding feel, while the very short travel and long-pole stem ensure a sharper and highly responsive typing experience. However, let's dive in a bit deeper beyond generalities so you can best decide on the best switch for you.

By the numbers

Everglide Crystal Violet Tactile

Everglide Sunset Yellow Linear

$7.08

$4.19 per 10

$3.09 per 10

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Housing materials

The Everglide Crystal Violet and the Everglide Sunset Yellow differ in terms of their housing materials. The Crystal Violet features an ABS top housing, which is a relatively rare plastic to be used in switch housings. This results in a low-pitched sound profile when typing on switches featuring ABS. In contrast, the Sunset Yellow has a POM top housing, which creates a pleasing and unique sound. The sound profile of the POM housing is on the deeper side and relatively more muted. Therefore, when it comes to the sound produced, the Crystal Violet's ABS top housing offers a lower pitch while the Sunset Yellow's POM top housing produces a deeper and more subdued sound.

Moving on to the bottom housing, both the Crystal Violet and the Sunset Yellow utilize ABS material. However, the impact of the bottom housing on the bottom-out sound and feel is more pronounced. Consequently, typing on switches featuring ABS bottom housing in both models would result in a relatively low-pitched sound profile. In terms of material, they are similar. However, the overall typing experience and sound produced might differ due to the unique characteristics of the top housing materials.

In summary, the Everglide Crystal Violet and the Everglide Sunset Yellow share the same bottom housing material, ABS, which provides a low-pitched sound profile when typing. However, their top housing materials differ, with the Crystal Violet featuring ABS and the Sunset Yellow featuring POM. This results in distinct sound profiles, with the Crystal Violet producing a relatively lower pitch and the Sunset Yellow offering a deeper and more muted sound. While the bottom housing primarily affects the bottom-out sound and feel, the top housing plays a significant role in the sound when releasing a key.

Weight

When comparing the actuation force and bottom out force of the Everglide Crystal Violet tactile switch and the Everglide Sunset Yellow linear switch, both switches fall under the medium-light category. The Crystal Violet has an actuation force of 45 grams and a bottom out force of 55 grams, slightly heavier than the Sunset Yellow. The Sunset Yellow, on the other hand, has an actuation force of 43 grams and a bottom out force of 51 grams. While the difference in force is relatively small, it is worth noting that the Crystal Violet requires a slightly stronger push to trigger a keystroke and to fully bottom out compared to the Sunset Yellow. However, both forces are still considered medium-light. For those who prefer a lighter typing experience for longer periods of time, either switch would suffice. However, those who prefer a more substantial typing feel may lean towards the Crystal Violet due to its slightly heavier actuation and bottom out force. Overall, both switches offer similar results for those seeking a medium-light weight option.

Travel distance

The Everglide Crystal Violet tactile switch has a travel distance of 4 mm, which is the more traditional option. On the other hand, the Everglide Sunset Yellow linear switch has a shorter travel distance of 3.2 mm. This difference in travel distance makes the Crystal Violet switch slightly longer. The choice between these two switches ultimately depends on personal preference. If you prioritize faster response times, the Sunset Yellow switch with its shorter travel distance would be the better option. However, if you prefer a more substantial feel and a deeper key press, the Crystal Violet switch with its longer travel distance would be the preferred choice. It is important to consider your individual preferences when deciding between these two switches.

Price comparison

Typing experience

In terms of sound, the Crystal Violet switches have a low-pitched and neutral sound profile. Low-pitched switches tend to have a more bass-heavy and mellow tone, while neutral switches have a moderate sound profile that suits most users' preferences. The sound of the Crystal Violets is pleasantly mellow and leans towards the lower-pitched spectrum, creating a subtle and non-intrusive auditory experience. This is partly due to the rare use of ABS in their housings. On the other hand, the Sunset Yellow switches have a bassy and thocky sound profile. Bassy switches offer a deeper and richer sound, resembling the depth and richness associated with bass tones. Thocky switches produce a satisfying and deep sound when pressed and released. Overall, while the two switches have different sound profiles, both provide enjoyable auditory experiences.

In terms of feel, both switches share similar qualities. Both the Crystal Violet and Sunset Yellow switches are described as creamy, offering a smooth and buttery typing experience. This is often due to the application of lubricant in the factory or specific materials used in the switches. Typing on these switches provides a silky sensation, as your fingers effortlessly glide across the keys with ease. Additionally, both switches are known for their mild characteristics. Mild switches offer a gentle typing experience that is approachable to most users. They strike a balance between being too pronounced and too subtle, creating a comfortable and satisfying typing feel. However, there is a slight difference in their feel. The Crystal Violet switches are described as stepped, meaning they have a two-stage tactile feel with some pre-travel and/or post-travel. On the other hand, the Sunset Yellow switches are described as frictionless and polished, emphasizing their extremely smooth and effortless typing experience with reduced friction and a sleek key travel.

Taking all the information into consideration, the Everglide Crystal Violet and Sunset Yellow switches offer distinct qualities in terms of sound and feel. The Crystal Violet switches provide a mellow and neutral sound with a creamy and stepped feel. On the other hand, the Sunset Yellow switches offer a bassy and thocky sound with a creamy, frictionless, and polished feel. Both switches provide a smooth and buttery typing experience, making them suitable for those who prioritize comfort and ease of use. While they may differ in certain aspects, the similarities in terms of the creamy feel ensure that users can expect similar levels of typing satisfaction from either switch. Ultimately, the choice between the Everglide Crystal Violet and Sunset Yellow switches would depend on personal preferences for sound and specific typing experiences desired.

Conclusion

In closing, if you are looking for a relaxed and stepped tactile typing experience, the Everglide Crystal Violet switches would be the ideal choice for you. With a gentle and comfortable feel, these switches offer a medium-light bottom out force of 55 grams. The sound profile of the Crystal Violet switches is pleasantly mellow, leaning towards the lower-pitched spectrum, providing a subtle and non-intrusive auditory experience. Moreover, the use of ABS in the switches' housings contributes to their unique sound. On the other hand, if you are seeking a captivating sound profile reminiscent of mahjong tiles colliding, the Everglide Sunset Yellow switches would be more suitable for you. With a rich, bassy, and decadent sound, typing becomes an indulgent experience. These linear switches have a medium-light bottom out force of 51 grams, making them suitable for a wide range of users. The unique POM stem and proprietary factory lube method add to the distinct gliding feel and highly responsive typing experience of the Sunset Yellow switches. Ultimately, the choice between the Crystal Violet and Sunset Yellow switches depends on whether you prioritize a relaxed and stepped tactile feel or a captivating and bassy sound profile, respectively.

Mentioned in this article

Everglide Crystal Violet Tactile

$7.08

$4.19 per 10

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Everglide Sunset Yellow Linear

$3.09 per 10

Learn more