Everglide Lightning Silver V3 vs. Outemu Spring Breeze
An in-depth look at the Everglide Lightning Silver V3 and the Outemu Spring Breeze switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When it comes to choosing a mechanical keyboard switch, the Everglide Lightning Silver V3 and the Outemu Spring Breeze offer distinct experiences. The Lightning Silver V3 is a linear switch known for its clacky and high-pitched sound signature, providing a seamless typing experience with a touch of vibrancy thanks to its light diffuser for RGB illumination. In contrast, the Spring Breeze is a clicky switch that doesn't have any specific standout features mentioned. While the Lightning Silver V3 may appeal to those looking for a smooth and colorful typing experience, the Spring Breeze might be preferred by those who enjoy the audible click feedback. 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
40g
Bottom-out force
60g
Bottom-out force
55g
Pre-travel
1.50 mm
Pre-travel
1.50 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
Nylon
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 features a polycarbonate top housing, providing a sharper, higher-pitched sound profile that is clear and resonant due to the stiffness of the material. In comparison, the Outemu Spring Breeze utilizes a nylon top housing, creating a deeper and fuller sound profile with a duller and rounder tone as nylon is a softer plastic that absorbs more sound. While the Lightning Silver V3's top housing is ideal for RGB lighting due to its translucency, the Spring Breeze's nylon top housing offers a classic feel for typing.
Moving on to the bottom housing, the Everglide Lightning Silver V3 also uses polycarbonate, contributing to a sharp and crisp sound profile similar to the top housing. The Spring Breeze, however, employs a nylon bottom housing, resulting in a deeper and fuller sound that is dampened and rounded due to the softer nature of nylon. Both switches offer unique sound characteristics based on their respective bottom housings, with the Lightning Silver V3 providing a clear resonance and the Spring Breeze offering a more muted tone.
In conclusion, the choice of housing materials in mechanical switches significantly impacts the sound and feel of typing. While the Everglide Lightning Silver V3 uses polycarbonate for both top and bottom housings, resulting in a clear and sharp sound profile, the Outemu Spring Breeze utilizes nylon for a deeper and fuller sound. Whether it's a stiffer polycarbonate or a softer nylon, each material brings unique qualities to the typing experience, demonstrating the importance of housing materials in switch design.
Weight
The Everglide Lightning Silver V3 linear switch has a slightly heavier actuation force of 48 grams compared to the Outemu Spring Breeze clicky switch's 40 grams, making the Lightning Silver V3 require a bit more pressure to trigger a keystroke. However, when it comes to bottom out force, the Lightning Silver V3 also has a higher force of 60 grams compared to the Spring Breeze's 55 grams. This means that while both switches fall into the medium range of actuation and bottom out forces, the Lightning Silver V3 is slightly heavier in both aspects. For those who prefer a lighter typing experience, the Spring Breeze might be the better option, allowing for longer typing sessions without fatigue. On the other hand, for users who enjoy a more substantial typing feel, the Lightning Silver V3 offers a slightly heavier touch for a more tactile experience. Ultimately, the choice between the two switches comes down to personal preference and typing style.
Travel distance
The Everglide Lightning Silver V3 linear switch has a travel distance of 3.4 mm, making it the shorter option compared to the Outemu Spring Breeze clicky switch, which has a travel distance of 4 mm. The Lightning Silver V3 provides a slightly quicker response time due to its shorter travel distance, making it ideal for gamers seeking speed. On the other hand, the Spring Breeze offers a slightly deeper keypress experience with its longer travel distance, which may be preferred by those who enjoy a more pronounced tactile feedback. Both switches have their own advantages and it ultimately comes down to personal preference and typing style when choosing between the two.
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 Spring Breeze 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. These switches produce a sharp and snappy sound that can be described as crisp, bright, and percussive, perfect for those who enjoy a more pronounced typing experience. On the other hand, details about the sound profile of the Outemu Spring Breeze clicky switch are not provided, making it difficult to directly compare the two in this aspect. Keep in mind that the sound of a switch can also be influenced by factors such as the keyboard chassis and keycaps used.
Moving on to the feel, the Everglide Lightning Silver V3 switch is praised for its silky typing experience. This indicates that the switch offers an exceptionally smooth feel when typing, enhancing overall comfort and minimizing resistance when pressing and releasing keys. As for the Outemu Spring Breeze clicky switch, information on the tactile feel is not available, so it is challenging to directly contrast the two in terms of typing sensation. Ultimately, the feel of a switch plays a crucial role in determining the overall typing experience and should be considered when choosing the right switch for your preferences.
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 typing feel. While details about the sound and feel of the Outemu Spring Breeze clicky switch are not provided, it's essential to consider these subjective qualities alongside other factors when selecting a mechanical keyboard switch. Remember that personal preference and typing style play a significant role in determining which switch will best suit your needs, and be sure to test out different switches to find the one that feels and sounds just right for you.
Conclusion
To sum up, if you are looking for a switch with a medium bottom out force and enjoy a clacky, high-pitched sound signature along with a silky typing experience, the Everglide Lightning Silver V3 linear switch would be a great choice for you. On the other hand, if you prefer a slightly lighter bottom out force and are not particular about the sound and feel of the switch, the Outemu Spring Breeze clicky switch could be a more suitable option. Ultimately, the decision between these two switches will depend on your personal preferences for sound, feel, and typing experience.
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