Everglide Crystal Violet vs. HMX Xinhai
An in-depth look at the Everglide Crystal Violet and the HMX Xinhai switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When it comes to mechanical keyboard switches, the Everglide Crystal Violet and the HMX Xinhai offer two distinct typing experiences. The Crystal Violet is a tactile switch, perfect for those who enjoy a light operating force of 45g and a relaxed, stepped tactile typing experience. It provides a gentle and comfortable feel with a mellow, lower-pitched sound profile. On the other hand, the Xinhai is a linear switch crafted with a unique PA12 top housing and a POM stem for a crisper, higher-pitched resonance. It offers a blend of subtle sophistication and precise performance. While the Crystal Violet is categorized as creamy, low-pitched, mild, neutral, stepped, the Xinhai is categorized as bouncy, clacky, creamy. Each switch has its own unique qualities that cater to different preferences. 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
37g
Bottom-out force
55g
Bottom-out force
45g
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Total travel
4.00 mm
Total travel
3.40 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
Nylon
Bottom housing material
ABS
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Spring
Gold-plated
Spring
22mm single-stage spring
Housing materials
The Everglide Crystal Violet utilizes ABS for both its top and bottom housings, resulting in a relatively low-pitched sound profile when typing. In contrast, the HMX Xinhai features a polycarbonate top housing, creating a sharper and higher-pitched sound profile. The use of polycarbonate in the Xinhai's top housing also allows for the incorporation of RGB lighting due to its translucency. On the other hand, the Xinhai's nylon bottom housing produces a deeper and fuller sound profile compared to the ABS bottom housing of the Crystal Violet. The softer nature of nylon absorbs more sound, creating a duller and rounder sound overall.
One key difference between the two switches lies in the materials used for their top housings. While the Crystal Violet utilizes ABS, which is common in keycaps but relatively rare in switch housings, the Xinhai opts for polycarbonate. This results in a noticeable difference in sound profiles, with the polycarbonate top housing of the Xinhai producing a crisper and more resonant sound compared to the ABS top housing of the Crystal Violet. Additionally, the translucency of polycarbonate makes it the material of choice for RGB lighting effects.
When considering the overall typing experience, the Everglide Crystal Violet and HMX Xinhai showcase how the choice of housing materials can impact sound and feel. The split between ABS and nylon in the Crystal Violet and the polycarbonate and nylon in the Xinhai highlights how the qualities of each material are distributed within the switch. The bottom housing influences the bottom-out sound and feel, while the top housing has a greater impact on the sound when releasing a key. Both switches offer unique sound profiles based on their housing materials, providing users with different typing experiences based on their preferences for sound and feel.
Weight
The Everglide Crystal Violet tactile switch and the HMX Xinhai linear switch both offer unique characteristics in terms of actuation and bottom out forces. The Crystal Violet has a slightly heavier actuation force of 45 grams compared to the Xinhai's lighter 37 grams. Similarly, the Crystal Violet has a higher bottom out force of 55 grams, while the Xinhai has a lower 45 grams. This makes the Crystal Violet slightly heavier overall compared to the Xinhai, which is lighter. Those who prefer a more substantial typing experience may opt for the Crystal Violet, while those looking for a lighter touch may prefer the Xinhai. Both switches offer different weight options, providing users with the choice to tailor their typing experience to their preferences.
Travel distance
The Everglide Crystal Violet tactile switch has a travel distance of 4 mm, while the HMX Xinhai linear switch has a travel distance of 3.4 mm. This makes the Xinhai the shorter option and the Crystal Violet the longer option. The 4.0 mm travel distance of the Crystal Violet is more traditional, offering a deeper keystroke feel, while the 3.4 mm travel distance of the Xinhai is shallower, making it a preferred choice for gamers seeking faster response times. Ultimately, the choice between the two switches comes down to personal preference for either a more responsive and shorter travel distance or a deeper and longer keystroke feel.
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 HMX Xinhai has an MSRP of $3.50 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Xinhai for $2.99.
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 known for its low-pitched and mellow sound profile, creating a gentle auditory experience suitable for various settings. On the other hand, the HMX Xinhai linear switch offers a distinctively crisp and higher-pitched resonance, providing a more clacky and percussive sound when pressed. Both switches offer unique sound profiles that cater to different preferences, with the Crystal Violet leaning towards a more subtle and soothing tone, while the Xinhai delivers a sharper and more pronounced sound.
When it comes to feel, the Crystal Violet switch is described as creamy, mild, and stepped, offering a smooth and buttery typing experience with a gentle tactile response that is easy on the fingers. In contrast, the Xinhai switch is characterized as bouncy and creamy, providing a spring-like feedback sensation and a silky typing experience. While both switches offer a creamy feel, the Crystal Violet switch is more focused on a mild and stepped tactile experience, whereas the Xinhai switch emphasizes a bouncy and lively feedback.
In conclusion, the Everglide Crystal Violet tactile switch excels in providing a gentle and comfortable typing experience with a mellow sound profile, ideal for those seeking a relaxed tactile feel. On the other hand, the HMX Xinhai linear switch offers a unique blend of crisp and higher-pitched resonance with a bouncy and spring-like feel, catering to users looking for a more lively and distinct typing experience. Depending on personal preferences for sound and feel, both switches offer their own unique qualities that can enhance the overall typing experience. By selecting either switch, users can achieve similar levels of quality and satisfaction depending on their individual preferences.
Conclusion
To sum up, if you prioritize a relaxed and stepped tactile typing experience with a medium-light bottom out force, the Everglide Crystal Violet switches would be the ideal choice for you. These switches offer a gentle and comfortable feel with a mellow, low-pitched sound profile. On the other hand, if you prefer a light bottom out force and enjoy a more precise and clacky typing experience, the HMX Xinhai switches would be more suited to your preferences. These switches provide a unique blend of subtle sophistication with a PA12 top housing for softer acoustics and a POM stem for a crisp, higher-pitched resonance. Ultimately, the decision between Everglide Crystal Violet and HMX Xinhai switches boils down to your preference for typing feel and sound profile.
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