Huano Elf vs. Everglide Sunset Yellow

Overview

When it comes to choosing the perfect mechanical keyboard switch, the Huano Elf and Everglide Sunset Yellow offer distinct experiences that cater to different preferences. The Huano Elf is celebrated for its POK top housing, which enhances acoustics and provides a deep sound signature complemented by a medium-light actuation force that many typists find satisfying. This switch is ideal for those who prioritize a balanced actuation that allows for an enjoyable typing experience without being overly strenuous. On the other hand, the Everglide Sunset Yellow entices users with its unique Creamsicle hue and a sound profile reminiscent of mahjong tiles colliding, delivering a rich, bassy, and indulgent auditory experience. With a medium-weight feel, it accommodates a variety of typing styles while its distinctive Ly stem and proprietary factory lubrication offer an exceptionally smooth gliding sensation. This switch's combination of short travel and long-pole stem ensures a highly responsive experience that appeals to gamers and typists alike. However, let's dive in a bit deeper beyond generalities so you can best decide on the ideal switch for your needs.

By the numbers

Huano Elf Linear

Everglide Sunset Yellow Linear

$3.50

$3.29 per 10

$3.09 per 10

Learn moreLearn more

Housing materials

When comparing the housing materials of the Huano Elf and the Everglide Sunset Yellow, significant differences emerge, particularly in their top housing construction. The Elf is designed with a POK top housing, known for its impressive low coefficient of friction (0.04), which contributes to exceptionally smooth keystrokes. This material proves to be significantly more durable, exhibiting wear resistance that is 14 times stronger than POM, making it a top contender for high-performance switches. In contrast, the Sunset Yellow features a POM top housing, which presents a slightly different tactile experience due to its lower friction coefficient of 0.03. While POM is a well-regarded material in its own right, it does not match the durability of POK; however, it maintains a reputation for producing consistent and pleasing sound profiles, showcasing a balance between maneuverability and auditory experience.

When considering the bottom housings, both the Huano Elf and the Everglide Sunset Yellow utilize different materials, which affects the overall performance and sound profile. The Elf employs a nylon bottom housing, celebrated for its ability to absorb sound and create a deep, rich auditory experience. This softer plastic contributes to a rounder sounding profile, enhancing the overall feeling of the switch. The Sunset Yellow, in contrast, utilizes a POM bottom housing, which also produces a deeper and more muted sound. Despite the material differences, both housings capture a fullness in sound, illustrating a similarity in the auditory sensations they aim to deliver. However, the nylon's inherent softness means it may result in a slightly less pronounced sound compared to the POM.

Ultimately, the combined effects of the top and bottom housing materials will dictate the typing experience of both switches. The Elf’s housing dynamics lead to a compelling blend of smoothness and auditory clackiness due to the POK top and nylon bottom, promoting a pronounced tactile response that many users find satisfying. The Everglide Sunset Yellow delivers a more subdued yet pleasing experience through its POM top and bottom housing, ensuring consistency in sound while prioritizing a muted resonance. While the alloys used in their construction differ — with the Elf emphasizing durability and smoothness, and the Sunset Yellow offering sound consistency — both switches produce results that cater to different preferences in typing feel and auditory characteristics.

Weight

When comparing the Huano Elf linear switch and the Everglide Sunset Yellow linear switch, there is a slight difference in actuation force, with the Elf requiring 42 grams to register a keystroke, while the Sunset Yellow needs 43 grams. This makes the Huano Elf the lighter option, potentially making it more suitable for users who favor a lighter touch for extended typing or gaming sessions. In contrast, the Sunset Yellow, with its higher actuation force, offers a marginally heavier push feel, which some users may find provides a more substantial typing experience. Additionally, the Sunset Yellow's bottom out force is specified at 51 grams, indicating that it requires more force to fully depress the key than the Elf, whose bottom out force is unknown. Overall, if users desire a lighter switch, the Huano Elf is the preferred choice, whereas those who appreciate a heavier, more tactile experience might lean towards the Everglide Sunset Yellow.

Travel distance

When comparing the travel distances of the Huano Elf linear switch and the Everglide Sunset Yellow linear switch, we find that the Elf has a travel distance of 3.6 mm, while the Sunset Yellow has a shorter travel distance of 3.2 mm. This makes the Sunset Yellow more responsive and suitable for gamers seeking quick key actuations, as shorter travel distances generally allow for faster response times. On the other hand, the Huano Elf, with its longer travel distance, provides a more pronounced depth in keystrokes, which some users may find more satisfying and comfortable during extended typing sessions. Ultimately, if you prioritize responsiveness, the Everglide Sunset Yellow would be more appealing, while those who enjoy a firmer feel may lean towards the Huano Elf.

Price comparison

Typing experience

When it comes to sound, the Huano Elf linear switch presents an intriguing acoustic quality with its POK top housing that enhances the overall sound signature, delivering a deep tone that contributes to a satisfying auditory experience. While the exact characterization of the Elf's sound isn't specified, it can be inferred that it offers a distinctively pleasant typing experience without harshness. On the other hand, the Everglide Sunset Yellow is known for its captivating and bassy sound profile, evoking the gentle thock of mahjong tiles colliding. This deep, rich sound is complemented by its thocky characteristics, making each key press resonate with a satisfying thud, appealing to users who appreciate a more indulgent auditory experience when typing.

In terms of feel, the Huano Elf switch boasts a medium-light actuation force that provides a balanced typing experience, though the specific nuances of its tactile feedback are not detailed. This can lead to a satisfying yet effortless typing journey. Conversely, the Sunset Yellow is characterized by a creamy and frictionless feel, offering a smooth and buttery glide across the keys. This sensation is enhanced by its proprietary factory lube method and unique Ly stem design, ensuring that users experience minimal resistance and a polished typing surface, delivering a more luxurious typing experience.

Combining these insights, both the Huano Elf and Everglide Sunset Yellow switches cater to different preferences, specifically in their sound and feel. While the Elf is noted for its deep sound profile that provides a satisfying auditory experience, the Sunset Yellow excels with a rich, thocky sound and a buttery typing feel. If you're seeking a more subdued yet pleasant sound with a balanced actuation, the Elf might appeal to you. However, if you desire a deeper sound with a creamy, frictionless experience, then the Sunset Yellow could be your choice. Ultimately, both switches promise fulfilling experiences, allowing users to enjoy the rich landscapes of sound and feel in their mechanical keyboards.

Conclusion

To conclude, choosing between the Huano Elf linear switch and the Everglide Sunset Yellow linear switch boils down to your personal preferences and typing style. If you're looking for a switch that emphasizes a deep sound signature and offers a uniquely pleasant typing experience, the Elf may be the right choice for you. It is particularly suited for those who appreciate enhanced acoustics, as its POK top housing delivers satisfying feedback without overwhelming force requirements. On the other hand, if you prefer a switch with a richer, bassy sound reminiscent of mahjong tiles colliding and a highly responsive feel, the Sunset Yellow would be ideal. Its medium-light actuation force allows for a comfortable experience across various typing styles, while the creamy and frictionless characteristics make it a great choice for both gaming and productivity. Ultimately, you should consider how you prioritize sound, feedback, and typing sensation to make the best decision for your mechanical keyboard setup.

Mentioned in this article

Huano Elf Linear

$3.50

$3.29 per 10

Learn more

Everglide Sunset Yellow Linear

$3.09 per 10

Learn more