Gateron Ink Box Black vs. Everglide Sakura Pink
An in-depth look at the Gateron Ink Box Black and the Everglide Sakura Pink switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When it comes to mechanical keyboard switches, there are a plethora of options available to cater to different typing preferences. The Gateron Ink Box Black and the Everglide Sakura Pink are two popular linear switches that offer distinct experiences. The Ink Box Black is renowned for its smooth and creamy feel, giving typists a satisfyingly polished typing experience. Its clacky and high-pitched sound signature adds a touch of excitement to every keystroke. On the other hand, the Sakura Pink switches are known for their super light 35g actuation force, making them perfect for delicate typists. With a gliding type feel and frictionless operation, they provide an effortless and easy-to-press typing experience. The Sakura Pinks produce a delightful popping sound, reminiscent of bubble wrap being popped, adding a playful touch to your keyboarding sessions. However, let's dive in a bit deeper beyond these generalities so you can best decide on the perfect switch for your typing needs.
By the numbers
Technical specifications
Actuation force
60g
Actuation force
35g
Bottom-out force
70g
Bottom-out force
45g
Pre-travel
1.80 mm
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Total travel
3.60 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
Proprietary INK blend
Top housing material
Polycarbonate
Bottom housing material
Proprietary INK blend
Bottom housing material
Polycarbonate
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Spring
Stainless steel
Spring
Stainless steel
Housing materials
The housing materials of the Gateron Ink Box Black and the Everglide Sakura Pink switches differ in terms of composition and resulting sound profile. The Ink Box Black features a proprietary INK blend top and bottom housing, which produces a pointed and relatively high-pitched clacky sound. In contrast, the Sakura Pink utilizes polycarbonate for both its top and bottom housing, resulting in a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound profile. This material difference contributes to their distinct auditory experiences.
The choice of housing material also affects the aesthetic aspect of the switches. While the INK blend in the Ink Box Black is not translucent, the polycarbonate used in the Sakura Pink's housing allows for a clear and see-through appearance. This makes the Sakura Pink particularly ideal for users who plan to incorporate RGB lighting, as the translucency of polycarbonate enhances the lighting effects. In this regard, the Sakura Pink has an advantage over the Ink Box Black.
Although their housing materials differ, both switches create a satisfying thin and higher-pitched sound upon actuation. Both the INK blend and polycarbonate contribute to the overall clacky sound profile, albeit with subtle variations. Therefore, if you are seeking a similar auditory experience, either switch will deliver comparable results. However, for those prioritizing RGB lighting aesthetics, the Sakura Pink's polycarbonate top housing would be the preferred choice.
Weight
When comparing the actuation force and bottom out force of the Gateron Ink Box Black linear switch and the Everglide Sakura Pink linear switch, there are notable differences. The Ink Box Black has a higher actuation force of 60 grams compared to the Sakura Pink's lighter actuation force of 35 grams. Similarly, the bottom out force of the Ink Box Black is 70 grams, while the Sakura Pink has a lighter bottom out force of 45 grams. These variances in force indicate that the Ink Box Black provides a heavier and more substantial typing experience, ideal for those who prefer a stronger push feel. On the other hand, the Sakura Pink offers a lighter experience, which allows for comfortable typing over longer periods of time. Both switches have their advantages, with the Ink Box Black catering to those seeking a more tactile and robust typing experience, while the Sakura Pink is better suited for those looking for a lighter and smoother key press.
Travel distance
When comparing the travel distance of the Gateron Ink Box Black linear switch and the Everglide Sakura Pink linear switch, it is clear that there is a difference between the two. The Ink Box Black has a travel distance of 3.6 mm, while the Sakura Pink has a slightly longer travel distance of 4 mm. In terms of traditional travel distances, the Sakura Pink falls within the more commonly seen 4.0 mm range, while the Ink Box Black is slightly shorter at 3.6 mm. Gamers who value faster response times often prefer switches with shorter travel distances, making the Ink Box Black a favorable choice in this regard. However, for those who prefer a more substantial and satisfying key press, the longer travel distance of the Sakura Pink may be more appealing. Ultimately, the choice between the two switches depends on individual preferences for responsiveness and depth.
Price comparison
Which switch is more bang for your buck?
The Gateron Ink Box Black has an MSRP of $8.50 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Ink Box Black for $7.65.
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
The Gateron Ink Box Black linear switch is best known for its incredibly smooth and creamy feel, providing an exceptional typing experience. The sound signature of this switch is reminiscent of a spray paint can being shaken, producing a sharp and snappy sound when pressed. It can be described as clacky and high-pitched, adding a crisp and bright element to your keyboarding sessions. On the other hand, the Everglide Sakura Pink linear switch offers a feather-light 35g actuation force, making it perfect for delicate typists. It provides a gliding type feel and frictionless operation, resulting in a smooth and effortless typing experience. The Sakura Pink switch produces a delightfully poppy sound, akin to popping bubble wrap, adding a playful touch to your keyboarding sessions. The sound of a switch is also dependent on other factors such as your choice of board and keycaps.
In terms of sound, the Ink Box Black offers a clacky and high-pitched sound when pressed, providing a sharp and crisp auditory experience. On the other hand, the Sakura Pink produces a softer and quieter sound, described as muted. The muted sound of the Sakura Pink switch minimizes the noise typically associated with mechanical keyboards, creating a more subtle and understated typing sound.
When it comes to feel, the Ink Box Black switch offers a silky and polished typing experience. The smoothness of these switches enhances the overall feel and minimizes resistance when pressing and releasing keys. The Sakura Pink, on the other hand, provides a buttery and creamy typing experience. These switches offer a seamless, effortless, and uniform sensation, allowing your fingers to glide across the keys with ease. They are also easy to press, requiring minimal force to activate and reducing finger fatigue during extended typing sessions. The Sakura Pink switch can be described as frictionless, offering an extremely smooth and effortless typing experience with no sense of resistance or friction when pressing the keys.
In conclusion, the Gateron Ink Box Black and the Everglide Sakura Pink switches offer different subjective qualities in terms of sound and feel. The Ink Box Black provides a clacky and high-pitched sound, while the Sakura Pink offers a muted and playful sound. In terms of feel, the Ink Box Black is silky and polished, while the Sakura Pink is buttery, creamy, easy-to-press, and frictionless. These switches provide unique typing experiences, catering to different preferences and typing styles. However, both switches ensure a smooth and effortless typing experience, resulting in a satisfying user experience.
Conclusion
To sum up, if you are looking for a medium-heavy switch with a sharp and snappy sound, the Gateron Ink Box Black linear switch would be a great choice. These switches are incredibly smooth and creamy, offering a polished and silky typing experience. With a bottom out force of 70 grams, they provide a bit more resistance for those who prefer a heavier feel. The sound signature of the Ink Box Black is clacky and high-pitched, reminiscent of a spray paint can being shaken. On the other hand, if you prefer a lighter switch with a quieter sound, the Everglide Sakura Pink linear switch is the way to go. These super light switches have a bottom out force of 45 grams, making them perfect for delicate typists. The Sakura Pinks offer a buttery and easy-to-press feel, providing a smooth and effortless typing experience. The sound signature of the Sakura Pink is muted, minimizing the noise typically associated with mechanical keyboards. Ultimately, the choice between the two switches depends on your preferences for weight, sound, and feel.
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