Everglide Lightning Silver V3 vs. Outemu Brown
An in-depth look at the Everglide Lightning Silver V3 and the Outemu Brown switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When it comes to mechanical keyboard switches, the Everglide Lightning Silver V3, a linear switch, and the Outemu Brown, a tactile switch, stand out among the rest. The Lightning Silver V3 boasts a clacky and high-pitched sound signature, providing a unique typing experience that is silky and seamless. Additionally, its light diffuser enhances RGB illumination, making it a visually appealing option for those looking to add vibrancy to their keyboard setup. On the other hand, the Outemu Brown switch offers a tactile typing experience without any specific standout features. While the Lightning Silver V3 is ideal for those who enjoy a distinct sound and smooth keystrokes, the Outemu Brown may appeal to users looking for a more traditional tactile feel. 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
48g
Actuation force
53g
Bottom-out force
60g
Bottom-out force
65g
Pre-travel
1.50 mm
Pre-travel
1.20 mm
Total travel
3.40 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
Polycarbonate
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Mount type
Plate (3-pin)
Spring
Lengthened gold-plated spring
Spring
Stainless steel
Housing materials
The Everglide Lightning Silver V3 and the Outemu Brown both utilize polycarbonate in their top housing, resulting in a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound profile. This is due to polycarbonate's stiffness, which enhances the clarity and resonance of the sound produced. Additionally, the translucency of polycarbonate makes it ideal for switches with RGB lighting, as it allows for a more vibrant and visually appealing glow. On the other hand, the Everglide Lightning Silver V3 differentiates itself with a polycarbonate bottom housing, while the Outemu Brown features a nylon bottom housing. The nylon bottom housing of the Brown switch contributes to a deeper and fuller sound profile, as nylon is a softer plastic that absorbs more sound, resulting in a duller and rounder sound compared to polycarbonate.
In terms of acoustics, the bottom housing of a switch has more influence on the bottom-out sound and feel when pressed down, while the top housing affects the sound when a key is released. This means that the Everglide Lightning Silver V3 with its polycarbonate bottom housing will provide a sharper and crisper bottom-out sound, complementing the qualities of its polycarbonate top housing. On the other hand, the Outemu Brown's nylon bottom housing will offer a deeper and fuller bottom-out sound, enhancing the overall typing experience with a rounder and duller sound profile. Despite their differences in housing materials, both switches are designed to optimize sound quality and typing feel, catering to different preferences and needs of mechanical keyboard users.
Overall, the choice between the Everglide Lightning Silver V3 and the Outemu Brown ultimately comes down to personal preference in sound profile and typing experience. While both switches feature polycarbonate top housing for a sharp and clear sound profile, the Lightning Silver V3 stands out with its polycarbonate bottom housing for a more resonant bottom-out sound. On the other hand, the Outemu Brown's nylon bottom housing offers a deeper and fuller sound profile, creating a different tactile feedback compared to the Lightning Silver V3. Whether you prioritize a sharper sound profile or a fuller sound experience, both switches deliver high-quality performance with their unique housing materials.
Weight
The Everglide Lightning Silver V3 linear switch and the Outemu Brown tactile switch both fall under the medium to medium-heavy range in terms of actuation force and bottom out force. The Lightning Silver V3 requires a slightly lighter actuation force of 48 grams compared to the Brown's 53 grams. Similarly, the Lightning Silver V3 has a lighter bottom out force of 60 grams, whereas the Brown has a heavier bottom out force of 65 grams. The difference in force between the two switches may result in a slightly lighter typing experience with the Lightning Silver V3 and a more substantial push feel with the Outemu Brown. Ultimately, choosing between the two switches will depend on personal preference for a lighter or heavier typing experience.
Travel distance
The Everglide Lightning Silver V3 linear switch has a travel distance of 3.4 mm, making it slightly shorter than the Outemu Brown tactile switch, which has a travel distance of 4 mm. Despite this difference, both switches fall within the range of commonly used travel distances for mechanical keyboard switches. Gamers looking for faster response times may prefer the Lightning Silver V3 due to its shorter travel distance, while those who prefer a more pronounced key press may opt for the Outemu Brown with its longer travel distance. Ultimately, the choice between the two switches will come down to personal preference and typing style.
Price comparison
Which switch is more bang for your buck?
The Everglide Lightning Silver V3 has an MSRP of $5.55 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Lightning Silver V3 for $4.10.
The Outemu Brown comes in at $3.10 per 10 switches.
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 Everglide Lightning Silver V3 linear switch is known for its clacky and high-pitched characteristics, producing a sharp and crisp sound when pressed. This type of sound profile can add a tactile feedback for the user, making typing more engaging and satisfying. On the other hand, the Outemu Brown tactile switch's sound profile is unknown, but it is important to note that the sound produced by a switch can also be influenced by the keyboard's construction and keycaps used.
Moving on to feel, the Everglide Lightning Silver V3 switch is praised for its silky smooth typing experience. This means that users can expect minimal resistance when pressing and releasing keys, resulting in a seamless and comfortable typing feel. As for the Outemu Brown tactile switch, the tactile feedback and actuation force are unknown, but typically tactile switches provide a noticeable bump when the key is actuated, giving users a tactile response during typing sessions.
Considering all the available information, the Everglide Lightning Silver V3 linear switch offers a clacky, high-pitched sound profile and a silky smooth typing experience. On the other hand, the Outemu Brown tactile switch lacks specific information regarding sound and feel qualities. If a user prefers a more tactile typing experience, the Outemu Brown switch may still provide a satisfactory experience, although it is difficult to directly compare without more detailed information. Ultimately, choosing between these two switches will come down to personal preference in terms of sound, feel, and typing experience desired.
Conclusion
To wrap up, when deciding between the Everglide Lightning Silver V3 linear switch and the Outemu Brown tactile switch, consider your preferences for sound and feel. If you enjoy a clacky and high-pitched sound with a silky typing experience, the Lightning Silver V3 may be the better choice for you. On the other hand, if you prefer a medium-heavy tactile feel without a specific sound preference, the Outemu Brown switch could be a suitable option. Ultimately, your decision should be based on your personal typing preferences and what type of typing experience you are looking for in your mechanical keyboard.
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