United States: Free shipping on orders over $49

Everglide Lightning Silver V3 vs. Outemu Gold

An in-depth look at the Everglide Lightning Silver V3 and the Outemu Gold switches—which one is the best fit for you?

Overview

When it comes to choosing between mechanical keyboard switches, the Everglide Lightning Silver V3 and the Outemu Gold offer two distinct typing experiences. The Lightning Silver V3 is a linear switch known for its clacky and high-pitched sound signature, providing a smooth and seamless typing experience. Additionally, its light diffuser adds a vibrant touch to any keyboard setup with enhanced RGB illumination. On the other hand, the Outemu Gold is a clicky switch that may not have a specific standout feature, but it delivers a satisfying click with each keystroke. 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

45g

Bottom-out force

60g

Bottom-out force

60g

Pre-travel

1.50 mm

Pre-travel

1.80 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 Gold switches both utilize polycarbonate top housing, which creates a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound profile. This is due to polycarbonate being a relatively stiffer plastic, resulting in a clear and resonant sound profile. Additionally, the translucency of polycarbonate makes it ideal for switches intended for RGB lighting. On the other hand, the Outemu Gold switches feature nylon bottom housing, which produces a deeper and fuller sound profile. Nylon, being a softer plastic, absorbs more sound and creates a duller and rounder sound compared to polycarbonate.

While both switches have polycarbonate top housings offering similar characteristics, the difference lies in the bottom housing material. The Everglide Lightning Silver V3's polycarbonate bottom housing provides a consistent sound profile throughout the key press, allowing for a more resonant and clear typing experience. Conversely, the Outemu Gold's nylon bottom housing absorbs more sound and contributes to a deeper and fuller sound when typing on the switches. This split in housing materials results in a unique typing experience for each switch, with the bottom housing impacting the bottom-out sound and feel, and the top housing influencing the sound when releasing a key.

In conclusion, the choice between the Everglide Lightning Silver V3 and the Outemu Gold switches ultimately comes down to personal preference in sound profile and typing experience. While both switches offer polycarbonate top housings for a sharp and clear sound, the difference in bottom housing materials gives each switch its unique characteristics. Whether you prefer a crisper sound with the Everglide Lightning Silver V3 or a deeper sound with the Outemu Gold, both switches provide a satisfying typing experience based on the combination of their housing materials.

Weight

When comparing the actuation and bottom out forces of the Everglide Lightning Silver V3 linear switch and the Outemu Gold clicky switch, it is clear that both switches have a similar bottom out force of 60 grams, providing a consistent typing experience in terms of resistance. However, the Lightning Silver V3 has a slightly higher actuation force of 48 grams compared to the Gold's 45 grams, making it slightly heavier to trigger a keystroke. This difference in actuation force may result in a slightly more substantial typing feel for those who prefer a bit more resistance. Overall, both switches offer a medium-weight typing experience, with the Lightning Silver V3 leaning towards the heavier side for actuation force. This distinction may be noticeable to users who prioritize a particular level of resistance in their typing experience.

Travel distance

In comparing the travel distance of the Everglide Lightning Silver V3 linear switch and the Outemu Gold clicky switch, it is evident that the Lightning Silver V3 with a travel distance of 3.4 mm is shorter than the Gold switch with a travel distance of 4 mm. The Lightning Silver V3 offers a slightly quicker keypress due to its shorter travel distance, making it ideal for gamers seeking faster response times. On the other hand, the Outemu Gold switch provides a deeper keypress experience due to its longer travel distance, which may be preferred by those who enjoy a more substantial feel when typing. Ultimately, the choice between the two will depend on personal preference and the specific typing or gaming needs of the user.

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 Gold 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 sound signature, which provides a sharp and snappy typing experience that can be described as crisp, bright, and percussive. On the other hand, the Outemu Gold clicky switch does not have a specified sound description available. Keep in mind that the actual sound of a switch can also be influenced by other factors such as the keyboard board and keycaps used.

Moving on to feel, the Everglide Lightning Silver V3 switch is praised for its silky smooth typing experience, offering minimal resistance when pressing and releasing keys. This attribute enhances the overall smoothness of typing and ensures a seamless typing experience. Unfortunately, the Outemu Gold clicky switch does not have a feel description available.

In conclusion, the Everglide Lightning Silver V3 linear switch stands out for its clacky and high-pitched sound profile as well as its silky smooth feel, providing a vibrant and seamless typing experience. On the other hand, the Outemu Gold clicky switch lacks detailed information on its sound and feel characteristics. If you are looking for a switch with similar sound and feel qualities to the Lightning Silver V3, you may consider exploring other linear switches with known clacky and high-pitched sound profiles and silky smooth feel descriptions.

Conclusion

To sum up, when considering whether to choose the Everglide Lightning Silver V3 linear switch or the Outemu Gold clicky switch, it ultimately depends on your preference 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 best choice for you. On the other hand, if you prefer a clicky switch without any specific sound or feel preferences, the Outemu Gold switch could be a suitable option. Ultimately, it boils down to personal preference and the typing experience you are looking for. Make sure to test out both switches before making a decision to ensure you choose the one that best suits your needs.

Mentioned in this article