Everglide Lightning Silver V3 vs. Gateron Smoothie Silver
An in-depth look at the Everglide Lightning Silver V3 and the Gateron Smoothie Silver switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When it comes to choosing the perfect mechanical keyboard switch, two standout options are the Everglide Lightning Silver V3 and the Gateron Smoothie Silver, both of which are linear switches designed to enhance your typing experience in different ways. The Lightning Silver V3 is renowned for its clacky and high-pitched sound signature, offering a unique auditory feedback along with a silky, seamless feel while typing. Additionally, its innovative light diffuser improves RGB lighting, making it an attractive choice for gamers and enthusiasts who enjoy visual flair. Conversely, the Gateron Smoothie Silver prioritizes speed and smoothness with its all-POM composition and shorter travel distance, delivering a thocky sound that many typists appreciate for its satisfying acoustics. While both switches excel at providing a linear feel, the Lightning Silver V3 leans towards a more vibrant and audible feedback, whereas the Smoothie Silver focuses on rapid actuation and an incredibly smooth keypress. 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
N/A
Pre-travel
1.50 mm
Pre-travel
1.20 mm
Total travel
3.40 mm
Total travel
3.40 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
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
22mm extended double-stage spring
Housing materials
The housing materials of the Everglide Lightning Silver V3 and the Gateron Smoothie Silver present a distinct contrast in auditory characteristics and tactile experiences. The Lightning Silver V3 employs polycarbonate for both its top and bottom housings, a choice that results in a sound profile that is sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper. This stiffer plastic brings clarity and resonance, making it particularly suited for scenarios where RGB lighting is involved, enhancing its aesthetic appeal. The consistent use of polycarbonate in both sections ensures that the sound and feel of the keypress are aligned, producing a more cohesive auditory experience across both the actuation and bottoming-out stages.
Conversely, the Gateron Smoothie Silver features a top housing made from POM, while its bottom housing is also POM, resulting in a significantly different sound profile. POM material tends to create a sound that is deeper and more muted compared to polycarbonate, offering a unique auditory experience with its own pleasing characteristics. As such, the Smoothie Silver's design suggests a preference for a more subdued sound, which may appeal to users who find the crisper tones of polycarbonate to be too pronounced. The depth of sound provided by the POM top housing contrasts with the Lightning Silver's sharper profile and introduces a different feel to the keypress mechanics.
Despite these differences, both switch varieties deliver an enjoyable typing experience, albeit with nuances in sound and resonance. If users prefer the attributes of either switch, they will still find satisfaction, although the auditory output will differ significantly. The Gateron Smoothie Silver will present a more muted and warmer experience, ideal for those who seek to minimize noise, while Everglide's offering remains more vibrant and direct, perfect for highlighting RGB lighting. Ultimately, the choice between these materials will come down to personal preference, as each housing contributes distinctively to the overall aesthetic and tactile feedback of the switches.
Weight
The Everglide Lightning Silver V3 and the Gateron Smoothie Silver linear switches present a compelling comparison in terms of actuation and bottom out forces. The Lightning Silver V3 boasts an actuation force of 48 grams and a bottom out force of 60 grams, categorizing it as a medium-weight switch. In contrast, the Gateron Smoothie Silver features a slightly lighter actuation force of 45 grams, making it more suitable for users seeking a lighter touch, particularly beneficial for long typing sessions or extended gaming. However, the bottom out force for the Smoothie Silver is unknown, leaving a gap in our ability to fully compare the two switches. This means while the Everglide switch provides a definitive measurement for both actuation and bottom out forces, the Gateron switch's overall force performance remains somewhat ambiguous. Consequently, users who prioritize a substantial typing experience may lean towards the heavier Lightning Silver V3 due to its defined resistance, whereas those who favor a lighter, more effortless pressing action might find the Smoothie Silver appealing, assuming its bottom out force aligns with their preferences.
Travel distance
Both the Everglide Lightning Silver V3 and the Gateron Smoothie Silver linear switches have an identical travel distance of 3.4 mm, meaning that users will experience similar actuation results when pressing down on either switch. This equal travel distance contributes to a consistent feel across both options, making them suitable for users who prefer a smooth and responsive typing experience. Since the switches share the same travel distance, it can be concluded that they offer comparable performance in terms of keypress 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 Gateron Smoothie Silver has an MSRP of $3.00 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Smoothie Silver for $2.60.
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
The sound profile of the Everglide Lightning Silver V3 linear switch is characterized by a clacky and high-pitched tone, producing a sharp and snappy audio feedback that is ideal for those who appreciate a more crisp and bright auditory sensation during typing. This can create an engaging typing experience for users who favor a pronounced sound signature. On the other hand, the Gateron Smoothie Silver linear switch is noted for its thocky sound. While the specific description of the Smoothie Silver's audio feedback isn’t provided, the thocky characteristic suggests a more muted and deeper sound compared to the Lightning Silver V3, appealing to users who prefer a less sharp auditory feedback that still evokes a substantial feel when typing.
When examining the feel of these switches, the Lightning Silver V3 is praised for its silky smoothness. The design ensures that each keystroke minimizes resistance, offering users an exceptionally smooth typing experience, ideal for those who type for extended periods or seek tactile comfort. Meanwhile, the Smoothie Silver's feel is not explicitly detailed, leaving some ambiguity regarding its typing experience. However, with the description of these switches as “all-POM,” it may imply a certain level of smoothness inherent to the material, offering an efficient and responsive typing experience that typically accompanies linear switches.
In summary, the Everglide Lightning Silver V3 and Gateron Smoothie Silver linear switches present distinct sound characteristics and likely differing tactile experiences. The Lightning Silver V3 caters to users who enjoy a clackier and higher-pitched auditory feedback along with an exceptionally smooth typing feel. In contrast, the Smoothie Silver, with its thocky sound, may provide a more subdued auditory experience, although the exact tactile qualities of the Smoothie Silver remain unknown. Ultimately, the choice between these switches will depend on your sound preference and desired typing sensation; both switches will deliver smooth performance, but their sonic signatures will vary significantly.
Conclusion
To sum up, when choosing between the Everglide Lightning Silver V3 linear switch and the Gateron Smoothie Silver linear switch, consider your personal preferences for sound, feel, and key actuation. If you enjoy a more auditory typing experience with a clacky and high-pitched sound profile, then the Lightning Silver V3 is the way to go. Its 60-gram bottom-out force provides a balanced resistance that contributes to a satisfying feel, while its unique light diffuser adds flair to your RGB setup. On the other hand, if you prioritize smoothness and speed over auditory feedback, the Gateron Smoothie Silver may better suit your needs. This switch is designed for quick actuation with its short travel distance and offers an incredibly smooth typing experience, perfect for gaming and fast-paced typing without the distraction of sound. Ultimately, consider how you use your keyboard: for a lively, tactile experience, opt for the Lightning Silver V3; for a sleek, silent, and swift interaction, choose the Smoothie Silver.
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