HMX Deep Navy vs. Everglide Rice Pudding

Overview

When choosing a mechanical keyboard switch, two noteworthy options to consider are the HMX Deep Navy, a linear switch, and the Everglide Rice Pudding, a Hall effect switch. The Deep Navy is celebrated for its immersive and sharp sound profile, crafted with full nylon construction to deliver a silky smooth experience with each keystroke, making it an appealing choice for those who prioritize auditory feedback and a seamless typing feel. On the other hand, the Everglide Rice Pudding switches offer a unique blend of smoothness and depth in sound, providing a balanced typing experience that many users find both satisfying and precise. Furthermore, the Rice Pudding switches stand out with their compatibility with Wooting's innovative keyboards, catering to tech enthusiasts who value versatility and advanced functionality in their typing experience. While both switches bring their own strengths to the table, let’s dive in a bit deeper beyond generalities so you can best determine which switch aligns with your preferences and typing needs.

By the numbers

HMX Deep Navy Linear

Everglide Rice Pudding Hall Effect

$3.50

$2.79 per 10

$8.00

$6.79 per 10

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Housing materials

When comparing the housing materials of the HMX Deep Navy and the Everglide Rice Pudding, a clear distinction arises in the choice of plastics used for their top housings. The Deep Navy utilizes nylon, a classic switch material known for its softer characteristics. This results in a deeper and fuller sound profile during typing due to nylon’s ability to absorb sound, leading to a rounder auditory experience. In contrast, the Rice Pudding employs polycarbonate for its top housing, which contributes to a crisper and higher-pitched sound. The rigidity of polycarbonate not only amplifies the clarity of the keystrokes but also enhances resonance, making it particularly well-suited for setups utilizing RGB lighting where the translucency can shine through.

However, both switches feature nylon for their bottom housings, providing a shared attribute that impacts the overall sound and feel of typing on them. As with the Deep Navy's bottom housing, the Rice Pudding's nylon bottom also reinforces the deeper tone during bottom-out actions, further emphasizing the fuller sound profile. The nylon's ability to muffle and absorb sound creates a consistent experience between the two models at this level. This similarity in the bottom housing does ensure that the overall sound provides a balanced foundation, regardless of the differences in the top housing materials.

Ultimately, the unique combination of materials in each switch results in an interesting interplay of sound profiles. While the top housing materials distinctly influence the high-end clarity and resonance—where the Deep Navy leans towards a fuller sound and the Rice Pudding delivers a sharper tone—the bottom nylon component ensures both switches maintain a cohesive auditory depth. Therefore, despite their contrasting top housing elements, users can expect some common characteristics, resulting in a deeper typing experience that highlights both the nuances of the switching mechanisms and the specific strengths of the materials employed in their construction.

Weight

When comparing the HMX Deep Navy linear switch and the Everglide Rice Pudding hall effect switch, both exhibit relatively light actuation and bottom out forces that cater to users seeking comfort during extended typing or gaming sessions. The Deep Navy has an actuation force of 40 grams and a bottom out force of 45 grams, while the Rice Pudding features a slightly lower actuation force of 38 grams but a slightly higher bottom out force of 48 grams. Although both switches provide a similar overall feel, the lighter actuation force of the Rice Pudding makes it marginally easier to press down, which can be advantageous for users favoring lighter touch responses. On the other hand, the Deep Navy offers a more balanced experience with a slightly firmer bottoming out sensation due to its higher bottom out force. Therefore, while both switches are suited for those who prefer lighter options, the Rice Pudding is the lighter of the two, whereas the Deep Navy presents a more substantial feel at bottom out, appealing to those who prefer a stronger push sensation.

Travel distance

When comparing the travel distances of the HMX Deep Navy linear switch and the Everglide Rice Pudding hall effect switch, the Deep Navy features a travel distance of 3.6 mm, while the Rice Pudding has a slightly shorter travel distance of 3.5 mm. This makes the Rice Pudding the more responsive option, as shorter travel distances typically offer quicker actuation, which is often favored by gamers seeking faster response times. On the other hand, the Deep Navy provides a bit more depth, which may appeal to users who prefer a more substantial feel when pressing down on a key. Thus, while both switches are relatively close in travel distance, the Deep Navy’s longer 3.6 mm distance may offer a more comforting tactile experience, whereas the Rice Pudding's 3.5 mm travel distance caters to those looking for snappier performance.

Price comparison

Typing experience

The HMX Deep Navy linear switch is characterized by a rich, sharp sound profile that enhances the auditory experience while typing. It is crafted from full nylon, which tends to produce a satisfying acoustic resonance that many users appreciate. In contrast, the Everglide Rice Pudding hall effect switch boasts a deep sound that is both satisfying and precise, creating a balanced auditory environment during use. While both switches offer distinct sound signatures, personal preferences for pitch and resonance will ultimately determine which one feels more appealing to the individual. It's important to note that the overall sound experience can also vary greatly depending on the type of keyboard and keycaps used in conjunction with each switch.

When examining the feel of these switches, the Deep Navy is recognized for its silky smoothness with every keystroke, attributed to its Ly stem design. This provides a seamless and fluid typing experience, which many typists find enjoyable. The Rice Pudding switch also focuses on smooth operation, offering a balanced tactile feedback that contributes to a satisfying typing experience. While both switches excel in providing a smooth feel, the personal preference might lean towards the Deep Navy for those who seek an exceptionally nuanced action, whereas the Rice Pudding offers a solid, reliable response that many enthusiasts appreciate.

In summary, both the HMX Deep Navy linear switch and the Everglide Rice Pudding hall effect switch have unique qualities that cater to different user preferences. The Deep Navy excels in its rich, sharp sound and silky smoothness, while the Rice Pudding provides a deep, satisfying sound with a balanced operation. Your choice between the two will largely depend on your tactile and auditory preferences, as both switches promise a rewarding typing experience while offering different takes on sound and feel.

Conclusion

To conclude, your choice between the HMX Deep Navy linear switch and the Everglide Rice Pudding hall effect switch should largely depend on your personal preferences when it comes to sound, feel, and intended use. If you enjoy a lighter keypress accompanied by a rich, sharp sound profile and silky smoothness, then the Deep Navy switch could be your ideal option. Their lower bottom-out force of 45 grams makes them particularly suited for fast-paced typing or gaming, where agility is crucial. On the other hand, if you seek a more balanced typing experience with a slight bump in bottom-out force at 48 grams, the Rice Pudding switch is tailored for you. It provides a satisfying tactile feedback along with a deeper sound, catering to enthusiasts who appreciate both performance and versatility, especially as these switches are compatible with Wooting keyboards for those wanting to explore advanced features. Ultimately, your decision will hinge on whether you prioritize the smoother action and lighter touch of the Deep Navy or the robust yet satisfying feel of the Rice Pudding switch.

Mentioned in this article

HMX Deep Navy Linear

$3.50

$2.79 per 10

Learn more

Everglide Rice Pudding Hall Effect

$8.00

$6.79 per 10

Learn more