Everglide Lightning Silver V3 vs. TTC Silent Red
An in-depth look at the Everglide Lightning Silver V3 and the TTC Silent Red switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When it comes to mechanical keyboard switches, the Everglide Lightning Silver V3 and the TTC Silent Red offer unique features catering to different preferences. The Lightning Silver V3 is known for its clacky and high-pitched sound signature, providing a tactile typing experience and enhanced RGB illumination with its light diffuser. On the other hand, the Silent Red switch is praised for its buttery and muted sound profile, perfect for quiet environments like offices or shared living spaces. While the Lightning Silver V3 offers a silky typing experience, the Silent Red provides a smooth and consistent feel throughout. 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
63.5g
Pre-travel
1.50 mm
Pre-travel
1.90 mm
Total travel
3.40 mm
Total travel
3.70 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
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
Stainless steel
Housing materials
The Everglide Lightning Silver V3 and TTC Silent Red both feature polycarbonate top housings, which create a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound profile due to the stiffness of the plastic. This allows for a more clear and resonant sound, perfect for those who enjoy a tactile typing experience. Additionally, the translucency of polycarbonate makes it ideal for switches with RGB lighting, as it allows the light to shine through brightly and evenly. On the other hand, the Silent Red's nylon bottom housing offers a deeper and fuller sound profile, thanks to the softer plastic absorbing more sound and creating a duller, rounder tone.
In terms of sound and feel, the Everglide Lightning Silver V3 and TTC Silent Red differ in their housing materials. The Lightning Silver V3's polycarbonate bottom housing continues to enhance the sharp, higher-pitched sound profile characteristic of polycarbonate, while also contributing to the overall feel of typing on the switch. In contrast, the Silent Red's nylon bottom housing adds a different dimension to the typing experience, creating a deeper sound and potentially a softer bottom-out feel. This difference in housing materials allows for a unique typing experience with each switch, catering to different preferences for sound and tactile feedback.
Overall, while the Lightning Silver V3 and TTC Silent Red share similarities in their polycarbonate top housings and the clear, resonant sound profiles they create, their bottom housings introduce a notable contrast. The Everglide Lightning Silver V3 emphasizes a sharper and crisper sound with its polycarbonate bottom housing, while the TTC Silent Red provides a deeper and fuller sound with its nylon bottom housing. Depending on personal preferences for sound and feel, users can choose between the two switches to achieve the typing experience that best suits their needs. Ultimately, both switches offer a high-quality build and unique characteristics that cater to different typing styles and preferences.
Weight
The Everglide Lightning Silver V3 linear switch and the TTC Silent Red linear switch both offer a similar typing experience with their medium actuation forces. However, the Lightning Silver V3 requires a lighter actuation force of 48 grams compared to the Silent Red's 45 grams. On the other hand, when it comes to bottom out force, the Lightning Silver V3 has a slightly lighter force of 60 grams, while the Silent Red has a heavier bottom out force of 63.5 grams. This means that the Lightning Silver V3 switch may be more preferred by those who prefer a lighter typing feel for extended periods of typing or gaming, while the Silent Red switch may appeal to those who prefer a more substantial and heavier typing experience. Ultimately, the choice between the two switches will depend on personal preference for actuation and bottom out force.
Travel distance
When comparing the travel distance of the Everglide Lightning Silver V3 linear switch and the TTC Silent Red linear switch, the Lightning Silver V3 has a shorter travel distance of 3.4 mm compared to the Silent Red's 3.7 mm. This means that the Lightning Silver V3 offers a slightly quicker response time due to the shorter travel distance, making it more ideal for gamers looking for fast-paced actions. On the other hand, the Silent Red provides a slightly deeper keypress experience with its longer travel distance, which may be preferred by those who enjoy a more substantial feel when typing. Both switches fall within the range of shorter travel distances that are popular in the market today, catering to different preferences for keypress sensations. Overall, the choice between the two switches would depend on whether you prioritize speed and responsiveness or a more tactile typing experience.
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 TTC Silent Red has an MSRP of $5.28 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Silent Red for $4.38.
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 experience that produces sharp and crisp sounds when pressed. This unique sound profile can add a bright and percussive element to your typing sessions. On the other hand, the TTC Silent Red provides a muted sound profile that minimizes the noise typically associated with mechanical keyboards, making it ideal for quiet environments like offices or shared living spaces.
In terms of feel, the Lightning Silver V3 is known for its silky smooth typing experience, offering minimal resistance and a seamless keypress. This can provide a luxurious sensation while typing, enhancing overall comfort. The TTC Silent Red, on the other hand, offers a buttery and mild typing experience that is smooth, effortless, and uniform. Additionally, the polished finish of the switch adds to the sleek typing experience by reducing friction and providing smooth key travel.
Taking all this information into account, it is clear that the Everglide Lightning Silver V3 and the TTC Silent Red offer distinct qualities in terms of sound and feel. While the Lightning Silver V3 provides a clacky and high-pitched sound with a silky typing experience, the TTC Silent Red offers a muted sound profile with a buttery and polished feel. Depending on personal preference for sound and typing sensation, either switch can provide a satisfying experience for newcomers to the world of mechanical keyboards. Ultimately, both switches offer quality options that can cater to different preferences while delivering a premium typing experience.
Conclusion
To sum up, when deciding between the Everglide Lightning Silver V3 linear switch and the TTC Silent Red linear switch, consider the factors of sound and feel. If you are looking for a switch with a clacky and high-pitched sound signature that enhances RGB illumination and offers a silky typing experience, then the Lightning Silver V3 would be the ideal choice for you. On the other hand, if you prefer a switch that delivers a smooth and seamless typing experience with a muted sound profile, perfect for office or shared living spaces, then the TTC Silent Red would be more suitable. Ultimately, your decision should be based on your personal preference for sound and feel when typing.
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