Everglide Lightning Silver V3 vs. Huano Sakura (V2)
An in-depth look at the Everglide Lightning Silver V3 and the Huano Sakura (V2) switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When it comes to elevating your typing experience, the choice of mechanical keyboard switches can make all the difference, especially between the Everglide Lightning Silver V3 and the Huano Sakura. The Lightning Silver V3, crafted by Haimu, stands out with its clacky, high-pitched sound signature and a silky, seamless feel, making it a preferred option for those who enjoy an auditory feedback and a vibrant RGB illumination thanks to its unique light diffuser. On the other hand, the Huano Sakura provides a feather-light touch with medium acoustics, making it an excellent choice for users who prioritize comfort during long typing sessions without the distraction of loud switches. While each switch offers a unique typing experience—one emphasizing sound and visual appeal and the other comfort and subtlety—your ultimate choice will depend on your personal preferences for audible feedback versus extended typing comfort. 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
35g
Bottom-out force
60g
Bottom-out force
45g
Pre-travel
1.50 mm
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Total travel
3.40 mm
Total travel
3.60 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
POK
Bottom housing material
Polycarbonate
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Spring
Lengthened gold-plated spring
Spring
23mm single-stage spring
Housing materials
The Everglide Lightning Silver V3 and Huano Sakura switches utilize distinct materials for their top housings, resulting in differing sound signatures and tactile experiences. The Lightning Silver V3 features a polycarbonate top housing known for its stiffness, which contributes to a higher-pitched and crisper sound profile. This quality makes it particularly compatible with RGB lighting due to its translucence, allowing light to pass through effectively while enhancing the aesthetic appeal. In contrast, the Huano Sakura employs a POK top housing, which, while providing a smoother typing experience thanks to its lower friction coefficient, offers a clacky sound profile. The differences in material yield unique auditory characteristics; the polycarbonate delivers sharper sounds, while the POK material contributes to a smoother interface without losing the engaging acoustics.
In terms of the bottom housing, the Everglide Lightning Silver V3 adheres to the same polycarbonate material used in its top housing, generating a cohesive acoustic response characterized by a clear and resonant sound profile. The strength of the polycarbonate ensures durability, resulting in a consistent feel throughout the key press. On the other hand, the Huano Sakura's nylon bottom housing introduces a different tactile quality. Nylon is known for its softer nature, absorbing sound more effectively and consequently creating a deeper, fuller auditory experience when the key bottoms out. This divergence illustrates how the bottom housing can significantly influence the overall feel and sound of a switch, complementing the top housing’s characteristics.
While the Lightning Silver V3 and Huano Sakura differ in key housing materials, this variance allows for a unique expression of sound and feel based on the combination of the top and bottom housing materials. The Lightning Silver V3 offers a consistent, crisp sound profile throughout the key press, while the Sakura presents a juxtaposition of smoothness and depth due to its mixed materials. Ultimately, the distinct choices in housing materials result in complementary properties that cater to different user preferences, allowing for personalized typing experiences that can be both engaging and enjoyable.
Weight
When comparing the Everglide Lightning Silver V3 linear switch to the Huano Sakura linear switch, we see a distinct difference in both actuation and bottom out forces. The Lightning Silver V3 has an actuation force of 48 grams and a bottom out force of 60 grams, which places it in the medium range. In contrast, the Sakura switch offers a lighter typing experience with an actuation force of just 35 grams and a bottom out force of 45 grams. This means that the Lightning Silver V3 requires more force to actuate and bottom out compared to the Sakura switch. As such, typists who favor a lighter touch and easier keystrokes for extended typing sessions may prefer the Sakura switch, while those who enjoy a more substantial feel and tactile feedback might gravitate towards the heavier Lightning Silver V3. Overall, the differences in actuation and bottom out forces suggest that users will experience a contrasting typing sensation, aligning with their personal preferences for lighter or heavier switches.
Travel distance
When comparing the Everglide Lightning Silver V3 linear switch and the Huano Sakura linear switch in terms of travel distance, the Lightning Silver V3 measures at 3.4 mm, while the Sakura boasts a slightly longer travel distance of 3.6 mm. This indicates that the Lightning Silver V3 is the shorter switch, which can provide quicker responsiveness, making it particularly appealing for gamers looking for faster response times. Conversely, the Sakura, with its greater travel distance, may appeal to those who prefer a more substantial feel and depth when typing or gaming. Ultimately, your choice between these two switches will depend on your personal preference for responsiveness versus tactile depth.
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 Huano Sakura (V2) comes in at $4.59 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 switches stand out with their clacky and high-pitched audio profile. This sharp and percussive sound provides an engaging typing experience that many users find enjoyable and perhaps satisfying. The crisper sound attributed to these switches offers a refreshing contrast to the deeper tones of some other linear switches. On the other hand, the Huano Sakura switches are known for their medium acoustics, although their specific sound characteristics are not elaborated upon. Generally, this suggests that the Sakura switches likely produce a less prominent sound compared to the Lightning Silver V3, making them more suitable for environments where noise is a concern. Ultimately, users seeking a lively and pronounced auditory feedback may prefer the Lightning Silver V3, while those wanting a more subdued acoustics may find the Sakura appealing.
In terms of feel, the Lightning Silver V3 provides a silky smooth typing experience that many would describe as exceptionally pleasant. The switch minimizes resistance when pressing and releasing keys, allowing for a seamless and effortless execution of keystrokes. This smoothness is ideal for typists or gamers who engage in long sessions. Unfortunately, the feel characteristics of the Huano Sakura switches are not specified. However, given the general reputation of linear switches known for their smooth action, it stands to reason that the Sakura switches could also deliver a reasonably comfortable typing experience, albeit with potentially different nuances.
In summary, the Everglide Lightning Silver V3 switches are characterized by their clacky, high-pitched sound and a silky smooth typing feel, making them an exciting choice for those who enjoy pronounced audio feedback and fluid keystrokes. In contrast, the Huano Sakura switches offer medium acoustics and might appeal to those seeking a quieter experience, though their tactile feel remains unspecified. Overall, while both switches serve different preferences, they can provide satisfying results depending on what qualities you prioritize in your mechanical keyboard experience.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the choice between the Everglide Lightning Silver V3 and the Huano Sakura linear switch largely depends on your personal preferences and intended use. If you enjoy a more tactile and acoustic experience with a clacky, high-pitched sound, the Lightning Silver V3 might be the better fit for you. This switch is excellent for those who appreciate the joyful sensation of typing and desire a vibrant RGB effect for their keyboard setup. With a medium bottom-out force of 60 grams, it offers a good balance between responsiveness and comfort, making it suitable for both gaming and typing tasks. Conversely, if you prefer a lighter touch that facilitates longer typing sessions without fatigue, the Sakura switch, with its 45 grams of bottom-out force, would be ideal. Its medium acoustic profile and smooth feel make it excellent for extensive typing, as it provides a whisper-quiet experience that is less likely to be distracting. Ultimately, consider how you plan to use your keyboard—whether for rapid gaming scenarios or prolonged writing sessions—and choose the switch that aligns best with your typing style and sound preference.
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