Everglide Lightning Silver V3 vs. KTT Sea Salt Lemon
An in-depth look at the Everglide Lightning Silver V3 and the KTT Sea Salt Lemon switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When considering mechanical keyboard switches, the Everglide Lightning Silver V3 and the KTT Sea Salt Lemon both offer unique features for enthusiasts to consider. The Lightning Silver V3 is praised for its clacky and high-pitched sound signature, providing a satisfying typing experience. Additionally, the light diffuser adds a colorful touch to any keyboard setup. On the other hand, the Sea Salt Lemon, known for its smooth and buttery typing experience, features a progressive spring and dry-lube design by KTT. While the Lightning Silver V3 leans towards a more lively and intense typing experience, the Sea Salt Lemon offers a more mellow and neutral feel. 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
53g
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
No
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
13mm progressive spring
Housing materials
One key difference between the Everglide Lightning Silver V3 and the KTT Sea Salt Lemon is in their bottom housing materials. The Lightning Silver V3 features a polycarbonate bottom housing, while the Sea Salt Lemon uses a nylon bottom housing. Polycarbonate is known for its stiffness, which results in a clear and resonant sound profile when typing. On the other hand, nylon is a softer plastic that absorbs more sound, leading to a deeper and fuller sound profile. This means that typing on the Lightning Silver V3 may produce a crisper sound due to the polycarbonate bottom housing, while the Sea Salt Lemon may offer a more rounded sound experience with its nylon bottom housing.
In terms of their top housing materials, both the Everglide Lightning Silver V3 and the KTT Sea Salt Lemon feature polycarbonate top housings. This material is known for creating a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound profile. Additionally, polycarbonate is translucent, making it ideal for switches that want to utilize RGB lighting. With both switches having the same top housing material, users can expect similar sound characteristics and aesthetics related to the clear polycarbonate construction. The use of polycarbonate in the top housing contributes to a more pronounced sound profile and can enhance the visual appeal of the switches when paired with RGB lighting.
Overall, the choice between the Everglide Lightning Silver V3 and the KTT Sea Salt Lemon may come down to personal preference in terms of sound profile and typing experience. While both switches share the use of polycarbonate in their top housing, the difference in bottom housing materials - polycarbonate for the Lightning Silver V3 and nylon for the Sea Salt Lemon - can result in distinct typing sound profiles. The Lightning Silver V3 may offer a sharper and crisper typing experience, while the Sea Salt Lemon may provide a deeper and fuller sound. Ultimately, users looking for a switch with specific sound characteristics may find that the choice between these two switches lies in the bottom housing material used.
Weight
The actuation force of the Everglide Lightning Silver V3 linear switch is 48 grams, while the KTT Sea Salt Lemon linear switch requires 45 grams. Both switches have a medium actuation force. However, when it comes to bottom out force, the Lightning Silver V3 requires 60 grams, making it heavier compared to the Sea Salt Lemon which bottom out at 53 grams, a medium-light force. For those who prefer a lighter touch to type for longer periods, the Sea Salt Lemon may be the better option. On the other hand, if a stronger push feel is desired for a more substantial typing experience, the Lightning Silver V3 would be the ideal choice. Ultimately, the choice between the two switches depends on personal preference and typing style.
Travel distance
The Everglide Lightning Silver V3 linear switch has a travel distance of 3.4 mm, making it shorter than the KTT Sea Salt Lemon linear switch with a travel distance of 4 mm. The Lightning Silver V3 offers a shallower keypress, ideal for gamers looking for a faster response time, while the Sea Salt Lemon provides a more substantial keypress depth, which may be preferred by some users. Both switches fall within the range of traditional travel distances, with the Lightning Silver V3 leaning towards the shorter end and the Sea Salt Lemon towards the longer end. Ultimately, the choice between the two switches will depend on individual preferences for keypress depth and responsiveness.
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 Sea Salt Lemon comes in at $2.80 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 stands out for its clacky and high-pitched characteristics, which provide a sharp and snappy typing experience with a crisp and bright sound profile. In contrast, the KTT Sea Salt Lemon linear switch offers a low-pitched and neutral sound, giving a more bass-heavy and mellow tone that is suitable for a variety of environments. Both switches offer unique sound qualities that cater to different preferences, with the Lightning Silver V3 providing a more distinctive and percussive sound, while the Sea Salt Lemon offers a more moderate and versatile option.
In terms of feel, the Everglide Lightning Silver V3 switch is praised for its silky smooth typing experience, offering minimal resistance and enhancing the overall smoothness of typing. On the other hand, the KTT Sea Salt Lemon switch is described as providing a mild typing experience, offering a gentle feel that is approachable to most users. Both switches offer a comfortable typing experience, with the Lightning Silver V3 emphasizing smoothness and the Sea Salt Lemon providing a more balanced and middle-ground feel.
Overall, the Everglide Lightning Silver V3 and KTT Sea Salt Lemon linear switches offer unique sound and feel characteristics that cater to different preferences. While the Lightning Silver V3 excels in delivering a clacky and high-pitched sound with a silky smooth typing experience, the Sea Salt Lemon provides a low-pitched and neutral sound with a mild and gentle typing feel. Depending on your preferences for sound and feel, either of these switches would be a great choice for a mechanical keyboard setup.
Conclusion
In closing, when deciding between the Everglide Lightning Silver V3 linear switch and the KTT Sea Salt Lemon linear switch, consider the characteristics that best suit your preferences. If you enjoy a clacky and high-pitched sound with a silky typing experience, the Lightning Silver V3 may be the perfect choice for you. On the other hand, if you prefer a smoother and more mild typing experience with a lower bottom out force, the Sea Salt Lemon could be the ideal option. Ultimately, your decision should be based on what feels most comfortable and enjoyable for you while typing.
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