Everglide Lightning Silver V3 vs. Outemu Milk Tea
An in-depth look at the Everglide Lightning Silver V3 and the Outemu Milk Tea switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When it comes to mechanical keyboard switches, the Everglide Lightning Silver V3 and the Outemu Milk Tea stand out as popular options. The Lightning Silver V3, a linear switch, is renowned for its clacky and high-pitched sound signature, making each keystroke feel satisfying. On the other hand, the Outemu Milk Tea, a tactile switch, offers a different typing experience with its responsive bump feedback. The Lightning Silver V3 is perfect for those who enjoy a smooth and seamless typing experience, while the Milk Tea is ideal for those who prefer a more tactile feel while typing. 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
N/A
Pre-travel
1.50 mm
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Total travel
3.40 mm
Total travel
4.00 mm
Factory lubed
Yes
Factory lubed
Yes
Stem construction
Partial box
Stem construction
Partial box
Stem material
POM
Stem material
POM
Top housing material
Polycarbonate
Top housing material
Ly
Bottom housing material
Polycarbonate
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Spring
Lengthened gold-plated spring
Spring
Stainless steel
Housing materials
In comparing the housing materials of the Everglide Lightning Silver V3 and the Outemu Milk Tea, we see that they both offer unique sound profiles based on their respective materials. The Lightning Silver V3's polycarbonate top and bottom housing creates a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound profile, due to its relatively stiffer plastic composition. In contrast, the Milk Tea's Ly top housing offers a bright sound signature, while its nylon bottom housing provides a deeper and fuller sound profile, thanks to its softer and more sound-absorbent nature. While both switches offer distinct sound profiles, the Lightning Silver V3's polycarbonate housing focuses on clarity and resonance, while the Milk Tea's combination of Ly and nylon materials offers a blend of bright and full sound qualities.
Despite their differences, the Lightning Silver V3 and the Milk Tea provide unique typing experiences due to their distinct housing materials. The use of polycarbonate in the Lightning Silver V3's top housing creates a transparent and aesthetically pleasing look, especially when paired with RGB lighting. On the other hand, the Milk Tea's nylon bottom housing offers a classic and durable material choice that enhances the typing experience with a deeper and fuller sound profile. While the Lightning Silver V3 emphasizes sharper and crisper sound qualities, the Milk Tea focuses on resonant clacks and absorbing more sound for a duller and rounder sound experience. Both switches offer a diverse range of sound profiles, catering to different preferences and typing styles.
In considering the impact of the top and bottom housing materials on the overall typing experience, it is important to note how each material contributes to the sound and feel of the switch. The top housing of a switch, such as the polycarbonate top housing in the Lightning Silver V3 or the Ly top housing in the Milk Tea, plays a significant role in the sound when releasing a key. In contrast, the bottom housing, like the polycarbonate bottom housing in the Lightning Silver V3 or the nylon bottom housing in the Milk Tea, influences the bottom-out sound and feel when pressing down on a key. By understanding the qualities each housing material brings to the switch, users can appreciate the nuanced differences in sound and feel that make each switch unique in its typing experience.
Weight
The Everglide Lightning Silver V3 linear switch has a slightly heavier actuation force of 48 grams compared to the Outemu Milk Tea tactile switch with an actuation force of 45 grams. However, the Lightning Silver V3 also has a higher bottom out force of 60 grams, whereas the bottom out force of the Milk Tea is unknown. The actuation force of the Milk Tea is lighter, making it a good choice for those who prefer lighter switches for extended typing or gaming sessions. On the other hand, the Lightning Silver V3 provides a more substantial typing experience with its higher actuation and bottom out forces, appealing to users who prefer a stronger push feel. Ultimately, the choice between the two will depend on personal preference and whether the user prefers 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 shorter than the Outemu Milk Tea tactile switch, which has a travel distance of 4 mm. The difference of 0.6 mm may not seem significant, but it can affect the overall feel and responsiveness of the switch. Gamers who prioritize fast response times may prefer the Lightning Silver V3 due to its shorter travel distance, which allows for quicker keystrokes. On the other hand, those who enjoy a more substantial keypress may lean towards the Milk Tea switch with its longer travel distance. Both switches offer distinct experiences based on their travel distances, catered to different preferences. Ultimately, selecting between the two will depend on personal preference for key feel and response time.
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 Milk Tea 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 offers a clacky and high-pitched sound signature that is sharp, snappy, and crisp. This sound profile adds a lively element to typing sessions, making each keystroke a satisfying auditory experience. On the other hand, the Outemu Milk Tea switch's sound qualities are unknown, so it's difficult to directly compare the two in this aspect. However, it's important to consider that sound perception can be influenced by various factors such as keyboard construction, keycap material, and typing technique.
Moving on to feel, the Everglide Lightning Silver V3 is lauded for its silky smooth typing experience, characterized by minimal resistance and a seamless keypress feel. This attribute enhances the overall typing comfort and contributes to a fluid and effortless typing session. Conversely, information on the tactile feel of the Outemu Milk Tea switch is unavailable, making it challenging to provide a direct comparison between the two switches in this regard. However, if the Milk Tea switch also offers a smooth and tactile typing experience similar to the Lightning Silver V3, users can expect a high level of typing satisfaction and comfort.
In conclusion, the Everglide Lightning Silver V3 linear switch stands out for its clacky, high-pitched sound signature and silky smooth typing feel. While the sound and tactile qualities of the Outemu Milk Tea switch remain unknown, users can anticipate a vibrant and engaging auditory experience with the Lightning Silver V3, coupled with a seamless and effortless typing feel. Ultimately, the choice between these two switches may come down to personal preference in sound and feel preferences, as both switches are designed to enhance the overall typing experience.
Conclusion
To wrap up, when choosing between the Everglide Lightning Silver V3 linear switch and the Outemu Milk Tea tactile switch, consider your preferences for typing experience. If you prioritize a clacky and high-pitched sound signature with a medium bottom out force, then the Lightning Silver V3 may be the right choice for you. On the other hand, if you prefer a switch with no specified bottom out force and tactile feedback, the Milk Tea switch could be more suited to your typing style. Ultimately, the decision comes down to personal preference in terms of sound, feel, and typing experience. Happy typing!
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