Dareu Firefly vs. Everglide Sakura Pink
An in-depth look at the Dareu Firefly and the Everglide Sakura Pink switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When choosing between mechanical keyboard switches, two popular options to consider are the Dareu Firefly and the Everglide Sakura Pink. The Firefly is a tactile switch that offers a unique twist on traditional clicky switches, providing a quiet and light actuation with a subtle hint of clickiness. On the other hand, the Sakura Pink is a linear switch known for its incredibly light 35g actuation force, making it ideal for delicate typists. While the Firefly is praised for its easy-to-press and chirpy feel, the Sakura Pink is lauded for its buttery, creamy, and frictionless operation, as well as its playful poppy sound. Both switches offer a smooth typing experience, but cater to different preferences in terms of actuation force and sound profile. 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
40g
Actuation force
35g
Bottom-out force
N/A
Bottom-out force
45g
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Total travel
4.00 mm
Total travel
4.00 mm
Factory lubed
Yes
Factory lubed
Yes
Stem construction
Partial box
Stem construction
Standard
Stem material
POM
Stem material
POM
Top housing material
Polycarbonate
Top housing material
Polycarbonate
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Bottom housing material
Polycarbonate
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Spring
Stainless steel
Spring
Stainless steel
Housing materials
The Dareu Firefly and Everglide Sakura Pink both feature polycarbonate top housings, which create a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound profile. This is due to the relatively stiff nature of polycarbonate, which leads to a more clear and resonant sound. Additionally, the translucency of polycarbonate is especially useful for switches that plan to incorporate RGB lighting. However, the Firefly's nylon bottom housing provides a deeper and fuller sound profile compared to the Sakura Pink's polycarbonate bottom housing. Nylon's softer nature absorbs more sound, creating a duller and rounder sound when typing on switches that use this material for the bottom housing.
While the polycarbonate top housings of the Dareu Firefly and Everglide Sakura Pink offer similar sound profiles, their differences lie in the bottom housing material. The nylon bottom housing of the Firefly elicits a deeper and fuller sound when typing, while the polycarbonate bottom housing of the Sakura Pink contributes to a sharper and crisper sound profile. This split in housing materials means that the qualities of each material will be felt differently depending on whether you're pressing down on a key or releasing it. The impact of the bottom housing is more noticeable in the bottom-out sound and feel, while the top housing plays a larger role in the sound when releasing a key.
In conclusion, while both the Dareu Firefly and Everglide Sakura Pink feature polycarbonate top housings for a sharp and clear sound profile, their bottom housing materials differ in sound characteristics. The Firefly's nylon bottom housing offers a deeper and fuller sound, while the Sakura Pink's polycarbonate bottom housing contributes to a sharper sound profile. Understanding how each housing material affects the overall sound experience can help keyboard enthusiasts choose the switch that best suits their preferences for typing feel and sound.
Weight
The Dareu Firefly tactile switch has a lighter actuation force of 40 grams compared to the Everglide Sakura Pink linear switch, which has an actuation force of 35 grams. However, the Sakura Pink linear switch has a heavier bottom out force of 45 grams, while the bottom out force of the Firefly switch is unknown. This means that while the Firefly switch requires less force to initiate a keystroke, the Sakura Pink switch will provide a more substantial typing experience due to the heavier bottom out force. Depending on personal preference, some users may prefer the lighter actuation force of the Firefly switch for extended typing sessions, while others may appreciate the heavier bottom out force of the Sakura Pink switch for a more tactile typing feel. Ultimately, the choice between the two switches will depend on the individual's typing preferences and needs.
Travel distance
Both the Dareu Firefly tactile switch and the Everglide Sakura Pink linear switch have a travel distance of 4 mm. This means that when pressing down on a key equipped with either switch, the distance the switch travels from the top to the bottom will be the same. In terms of comparing and contrasting the two switches, their travel distances are equal, resulting in a similar tactile experience when using either switch. Consequently, users can expect a consistent typing or gaming experience in terms of key travel regardless of which switch they choose.
Price comparison
Which switch is more bang for your buck?
The Dareu Firefly has an MSRP of $6.59 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Firefly for $3.76.
The Everglide Sakura Pink has an MSRP of $6.86 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Sakura Pink for $3.89.
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
When it comes to sound, the Dareu Firefly switch offers a chirpy acoustic signature, providing a unique and slightly squeaky sound that sets it apart. In contrast, the Everglide Sakura Pink switch produces a muted sound, softer and quieter than traditional clicky switches. Both switches offer different auditory experiences, with the Firefly being more distinctive and the Sakura Pink being more subtle and understated.
In terms of feel, the Firefly switch is characterized by its easy-to-press nature, offering a low actuation force that makes typing effortless and comfortable. On the other hand, the Sakura Pink switch is described as buttery and creamy, providing a smooth and seamless typing experience with minimal resistance. Both switches aim to enhance typing comfort, with the Firefly offering a light and responsive feel and the Sakura Pink focusing on a frictionless and fluid typing sensation.
Overall, the Dareu Firefly tactile switch and the Everglide Sakura Pink linear switch offer different subjective qualities in terms of sound and feel. While the Firefly provides a unique chirpy sound and easy-to-press feel, the Sakura Pink delivers a muted sound and buttery, creamy typing experience. Both switches cater to specific preferences, with the Firefly standing out for its distinctiveness and the Sakura Pink promoting a smooth and effortless typing session. Ultimately, both switches offer a pleasant typing experience, ensuring that users can enjoy a satisfying and comfortable time with their mechanical keyboards.
Conclusion
To sum up, when deciding between the Dareu Firefly tactile switch and the Everglide Sakura Pink linear switch, consider your preferences for actuation force, sound, and typing feel. If you prefer a light actuation force and a playful poppy sound, the Sakura Pink switches may be the right choice for you. They offer a smooth and effortless typing experience with a frictionless operation. On the other hand, if you prefer a quiet switch with a light actuation force and a hint of clickiness, the Firefly switches could be more suitable. Ultimately, both switches offer unique characteristics that cater to different preferences, so choose based on what aligns best with your typing style and preferences.
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