Everglide Lightning Silver V3 vs. KTT Purple Star
An in-depth look at the Everglide Lightning Silver V3 and the KTT Purple Star 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 KTT Purple Star offer unique qualities to consider. The Lightning Silver V3 is known for its clacky and high-pitched sound signature, providing a seamless typing experience with its silky feel. On the other hand, the KTT Purple Star switches stand out for their buttery smooth typing experience and very light 45g bottom-out, perfect for light typists. While the Lightning Silver V3 offers a vibrant touch with its light diffuser and RGB illumination, the Purple Star provides a neutral sound signature for a more subdued typing experience. 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
43g
Bottom-out force
60g
Bottom-out force
50g
Pre-travel
1.50 mm
Pre-travel
1.80 mm
Total travel
3.40 mm
Total travel
3.50 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
POM
Bottom housing material
Polycarbonate
Bottom housing material
POM
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 KTT Purple Star, it is evident that they utilize different materials for their top and bottom housings. The Lightning Silver V3 features a polycarbonate top housing, which creates a sharper and crisper sound profile. This is due to the stiffness of polycarbonate, which results in a more resonant sound. In contrast, the Purple Star utilizes a POM top housing, known for producing a deeper and more muted sound. While both materials offer distinct sound profiles, the polycarbonate top housing of the Lightning Silver V3 is better suited for RGB lighting due to its translucency.
When it comes to the bottom housing, the differences between the Everglide Lightning Silver V3 and the KTT Purple Star become more apparent. The Lightning Silver V3's polycarbonate bottom housing also contributes to its sharp and crisp sound profile, similar to its top housing. On the other hand, the Purple Star features a POM bottom housing, known for creating a unique and pleasing sound that leans towards the deeper end of the spectrum. These contrasting qualities in the bottom housing materials contribute to the overall sound and feel of each switch when pressed.
Overall, the choice between the Everglide Lightning Silver V3 and the KTT Purple Star ultimately comes down to personal preference in sound profile. While the Lightning Silver V3 offers a sharper and higher-pitched sound profile with its polycarbonate housing materials, the Purple Star provides a deeper and more muted sound with its POM housing materials. Both switches have their own unique characteristics that cater to different preferences in the mechanical keyboard community, showcasing the importance of housing materials in determining the overall sound and feel of a keyboard switch.
Weight
When comparing the actuation force and bottom out force of the Everglide Lightning Silver V3 linear switch and the KTT Purple Star linear switch, there are notable differences to consider. The Lightning Silver V3 has a higher actuation force of 48 grams compared to the Purple Star's lighter 43 grams. However, the bottom out force of the Lightning Silver V3 is also higher at 60 grams, while the Purple Star has a lower bottom out force of 50 grams. This means that the Lightning Silver V3 provides a more substantial typing experience with a heavier bottom out force, while the Purple Star offers a lighter touch for those who prefer a gentler typing feel. Overall, if you prefer a lighter switch for longer typing sessions, the Purple Star may be the better choice, whereas if you prefer a more solid and heavier typing experience, the Lightning Silver V3 could be more suitable.
Travel distance
The Everglide Lightning Silver V3 linear switch has a travel distance of 3.4 mm, while the KTT Purple Star linear switch has a slightly longer travel distance of 3.5 mm. Both switches fall within the range of shorter travel distances, which are favored by gamers for quick response times. The difference in travel distance between the two switches is minimal, so in terms of overall performance, you can expect similar results from both. Ultimately, the choice between the two will come down to personal preference regarding the feel of the switch when pressing down on a key.
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 KTT Purple Star comes in at $4.88 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 Lightning Silver V3 switch is known for its clacky and high-pitched sound, which produces a sharp and crisp noise when pressed. On the other hand, the Purple Star switch offers a more low-pitched sound profile, resulting in a more mellow and bass-heavy tone. If you prefer a sharper and brighter sound, the Lightning Silver V3 would be the better choice, whereas if you prefer a more muted and gentle sound, the Purple Star switch would be more suitable. Ultimately, the sound of the switch can also be influenced by other factors such as the keyboard and keycaps used.
Moving on to feel, the Lightning Silver V3 switch is described as offering a silky and exceptionally smooth typing experience, minimizing resistance when pressing and releasing keys. In contrast, the Purple Star switch provides a mild and easy-to-press typing experience, with gentle resistance and light actuation force for comfortable typing. Both switches aim to provide a smooth and responsive typing feel, with the Lightning Silver V3 leaning towards a smoother overall experience and the Purple Star offering a more middle-ground approach that would be approachable to most users.
In conclusion, the Everglide Lightning Silver V3 linear switch and the KTT Purple Star linear switch offer distinct qualities in terms of sound and feel. The Lightning Silver V3 provides a clacky, high-pitched sound and a silky smooth typing experience, while the Purple Star offers a low-pitched sound with a mild and easy-to-press feel. Depending on your preference for sound and typing experience, you can choose between the sharp and bright characteristics of the Lightning Silver V3 or the more mellow and gentle qualities of the Purple Star. Both switches aim to enhance your typing experience with their unique features and capabilities, ultimately providing you with a satisfying keyboarding experience.
Conclusion
In closing, when considering whether to choose the Everglide Lightning Silver V3 linear switch or the KTT Purple Star linear switch, it ultimately comes down to your preference for typing experience. If you prefer a medium bottom out force and enjoy a clacky, high-pitched sound signature with a silky typing feel, then the Lightning Silver V3 would be the ideal choice for you. On the other hand, if you prefer a lighter bottom out force and a buttery smooth, low-pitched sound signature with a mild and easy-to-press typing feel, then the KTT Purple Star would be more suitable for your needs. Ultimately, your decision should be based on your personal preferences for sound, feel, and typing experience.
Mentioned in this article
