Huano Grape Orange vs. Everglide Rice Pudding
An in-depth look at the Huano Grape Orange and the Everglide Rice Pudding switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When it comes to choosing the right mechanical keyboard switch, the Huano Grape Orange and the Everglide Rice Pudding offer distinct advantages catering to different preferences. The Grape Orange, a linear switch, is celebrated for its exceptionally light actuation force of just 40g, providing an effortless typing experience that is perfect for prolonged use without fatigue. This characteristic makes it particularly appealing for those who prioritize speed and minimal resistance, such as gamers or typists who enjoy a smooth, uninterrupted keystroke. In contrast, the Everglide Rice Pudding, a hall effect switch, balances smooth operation with a satisfying auditory profile, delivering a typing experience that feels both pleasing and precise. Additionally, its compatibility with Wooting's innovative keyboards makes it an attractive option for enthusiasts who desire versatility and high performance. While both switches offer unique benefits, their distinct characteristics cater to different user needs. However, let's dive in a bit deeper beyond generalities so you can best decide on the switch that's right for you.
By the numbers
Technical specifications
Actuation force
40g
Actuation force
38g
Bottom-out force
50g
Bottom-out force
48g
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Pre-travel
N/A
Total travel
3.60 mm
Total travel
3.50 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
Nylon
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Spring
22mm single-stage spring
Spring
Custom stainless steel
Housing materials
Both the Huano Grape Orange and the Everglide Rice Pudding utilize polycarbonate for their top housing, which significantly contributes to their sound profiles. The polycarbonate material is known for its stiffer composition, resulting in a sharper and crisper sound when a key is pressed. This shared feature allows both switches to exhibit a high-pitched and resonant auditory experience, particularly advantageous for those who appreciate a more detailed sound while typing. Furthermore, the translucency of polycarbonate enhances the aesthetic appeal of both switches, making them ideal candidates for RGB lighting setups, as the light can shine through effectively, adding a vibrant visual element to the typing experience.
In contrast, the bottom housing of both the Grape Orange and Rice Pudding switches is crafted from nylon, a material recognized for its ability to produce a deeper and more rounded sound profile. The distinctive characteristics of nylon, being softer than polycarbonate, enable it to absorb more sound, which results in a duller auditory feedback upon key presses. This difference in housing materials suggests that while the top housing contributes to the initial keystroke sound, the nylon bottom housing plays a crucial role in the overall typing feel, especially during the "bottom-out" phase. Thus, the combination of polycarbonate and nylon results in a harmonious balance between clarity from the top and depth from the bottom.
Ultimately, the similarities in the top housing materials for both switches ensure that users will achieve comparable sound characteristics, providing a crisp and clear auditory experience. On the other hand, the distinct bottom housing materials introduce contrasting auditory profiles when typing, with the Grape Orange delivering a rounder sound due to the nylon's absorptive properties. Together, these variations in housing contribute to a nuanced typing experience, allowing users to enjoy the best of both worlds: the sharpness of polycarbonate combined with the warmth of nylon. This thoughtful engineering behind the two switch types exemplifies the significance of material selection in achieving desired acoustic and tactile qualities.
Weight
The Huano Grape Orange linear switch and the Everglide Rice Pudding hall effect switch both offer light actuation forces, making them suitable for users who prefer a softer touch for extended typing or gaming sessions. The Grape Orange has an actuation force of 40 grams and a bottom out force of 50 grams, while the Rice Pudding has a slightly lighter actuation force of 38 grams and a bottom out force of 48 grams. This makes the Rice Pudding the lighter option overall. Both switches provide a comfortable typing experience, but the Grape Orange offers a slightly more substantial feel with its higher bottom out force. While both switches are designed for lighter use, the differences in their forces can lead to varying levels of feedback during typing, with the Grape Orange offering a bit more resistance when bottoming out compared to the Rice Pudding. Overall, if you’re looking for a lighter switch, the Rice Pudding is the better choice, while those who enjoy a firmer bottoming out experience may gravitate towards the Grape Orange.
Travel distance
The travel distance of the Huano Grape Orange linear switch is 3.6 mm, while the Everglide Rice Pudding hall effect switch has a slightly shorter travel distance of 3.5 mm. This means that if you opt for the Grape Orange, you'll experience a bit more depth when pressing down on the key, which can provide a more substantial feel for those who appreciate a hearty keystroke. On the other hand, the Rice Pudding's shorter travel distance may appeal more to gamers who favor quicker response times and prefer the snappiness that comes with reduced travel. While both switches offer relatively short travel distances compared to the traditional 4.0 mm standard, the Grape Orange's 3.6 mm is the longer option, providing a touch more depth that could enhance tactile feedback for certain users.
Price comparison
Which switch is more bang for your buck?
The Huano Grape Orange has an MSRP of $3.00 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Grape Orange for $2.79.
The Everglide Rice Pudding has an MSRP of $8.00 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Rice Pudding for $6.79.
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 sound profile of the Huano Grape Orange switch remains largely unmentioned in the provided information, which leaves a gap in its auditory characteristics. In contrast, the Everglide Rice Pudding switches are noted for their deep sound that contributes to a satisfying acoustic experience. This thoughtful engineering results in a balance of auditory feedback that many typists appreciate. It's worth noting that sound can vary significantly based on the keyboard build and the type of keycaps used, so while the Rice Pudding offers a defined auditory quality, we don't have specifics for the Grape Orange to make a direct comparison.
When it comes to the feel of these two switches, the Grape Orange is celebrated for its exceptionally light and effortless typing experience, characterized by an ultra-low actuation force of just 40g. This makes the Grape Orange perfect for prolonged typing sessions, allowing users to type quickly without fatigue. On the other hand, the Rice Pudding switch provides a smooth operation, suggesting a refined keystroke experience that is satisfying and precise. While both switches offer a compelling typing experience, the distinct actuation force of the Grape Orange and the smoothness of the Rice Pudding may cater to different preferences in how users want their keyboards to respond.
In conclusion, the Huano Grape Orange and Everglide Rice Pudding switches offer appealing qualities tailored to different types of users. The Grape Orange excels in providing a light typing feel suitable for long periods of use, while the Rice Pudding stands out for its satisfying deep sound and smooth operation. Though the sound profile of the Grape Orange remains a mystery, enthusiasts may enjoy experimenting with both switches, keeping in mind that the final experience will be influenced by keyboard choice and keycaps.
Conclusion
To conclude, the choice between the Huano Grape Orange linear switch and the Everglide Rice Pudding hall effect switch ultimately depends on your specific typing preferences and needs. If you enjoy a remarkably light and effortless typing experience, especially during long sessions, the Grape Orange switch will serve you well. Its ultra-low actuation force of 40g allows for quick and fluid typability, making it an excellent choice for those who value speed and comfort without much exertion. However, if you're seeking a more balanced and satisfying typing experience that combines smooth operation with a deeper sound, the Rice Pudding switch may be the ideal fit for your keyboard. It not only maintains a similarly light bottom-out force but also provides versatility, particularly if you’re using a Wooting keyboard or are keen on exploring different performance aspects. Overall, your decision should align with whether you prioritize sheer ease of typing or a more tactile and sonorous feedback in your mechanical keyboard experience.
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