Everglide Lightning Silver V3 vs. Dareu Snow
An in-depth look at the Everglide Lightning Silver V3 and the Dareu Snow switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When considering mechanical keyboard switches, two popular options to compare are the Everglide Lightning Silver V3 and the Dareu Snow. The Lightning Silver V3 is praised for its clacky and high-pitched sound profile, providing a satisfying typing experience. On the other hand, the Dareu Snow stands out with its innovative POK material construction, delivering a smoother and deeper sound while typing. The Lightning Silver V3 features a light diffuser for enhanced RGB illumination, adding a touch of vibrancy to your keyboard setup. Conversely, the Snow switch offers a bouncy and low-pitched feel, making it a unique choice for those seeking a different typing experience. However, let's dive in a bit deeper beyond these generalities to help you determine the best switch for your specific preferences.
By the numbers
Technical specifications
Actuation force
48g
Actuation force
50g
Bottom-out force
60g
Bottom-out force
60g
Pre-travel
1.50 mm
Pre-travel
1.30 mm
Total travel
3.40 mm
Total travel
3.30 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
Stainless steel
Housing materials
In comparing the housing materials of the Everglide Lightning Silver V3 and the Dareu Snow, we can see that both switches use high-quality materials for their top housings. The Lightning Silver V3 utilizes polycarbonate, which creates a sharp, high-pitched sound profile, especially when paired with RGB lighting. On the other hand, the Snow features POK material, known for its smoothness and durability, contributing to a clacky sound profile. While both materials excel in different aspects, they both offer unique qualities that enhance the overall typing experience.
Moving on to the bottom housing, we see another point of differentiation between the two switches. The Lightning Silver V3 continues to use polycarbonate for its bottom housing, maintaining a clear and resonant sound profile. In contrast, the Snow incorporates nylon for its bottom housing, resulting in a deeper and fuller sound when typing. The choice of bottom housing material can greatly impact the bottom-out sound and feel of a switch, showcasing how even small differences can create noticeable differences in the typing experience.
Overall, the combination of top and bottom housing materials in a switch can greatly affect the sound and feel of typing. While the Everglide Lightning Silver V3 and the Dareu Snow use different materials for their top and bottom housings, they each offer unique qualities that contribute to the overall typing experience. Whether you prefer a sharper and crisper sound profile from polycarbonate or a smoother and clacky sound from POK and nylon, both switches provide a high-quality typing experience with their choice of housing materials.
Weight
The Everglide Lightning Silver V3 and the Dareu Snow linear switches both have a bottom out force of 60 grams, providing a medium typing experience. However, the Lightning Silver V3 has a slightly lighter actuation force of 48 grams compared to the Snow's 50 grams. This difference may result in a slightly lighter touch when typing on the Lightning Silver V3. For those who prefer a lighter touch for extended typing or gaming sessions, the Lightning Silver V3 may be the preferred choice. On the other hand, those who enjoy a slightly stronger push feel for a more substantial typing experience may lean towards the Dareu Snow. Overall, both switches provide a medium typing experience with slight variations in actuation force.
Travel distance
The Everglide Lightning Silver V3 linear switch boasts a travel distance of 3.4 mm, while the Dareu Snow linear switch has a slightly shorter travel distance of 3.3 mm. Both switches fall within the range of shorter travel distances, which are popular among gamers seeking faster response times. However, the slight difference in travel distance between the two switches may not be noticeable to most users. Both switches offer a shorter travel distance compared to traditional switches, making them ideal for those looking for a more responsive typing experience. Ultimately, whether you choose the Lightning Silver V3 or the Snow switch will depend on your personal preference for travel distance.
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 Dareu Snow has an MSRP of $7.78 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Snow for $5.76.
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
In terms of sound, the Everglide Lightning Silver V3 linear switch is characterized by a clacky and high-pitched sound signature, offering a sharp and snappy sound with a bright and percussive quality when pressed. On the other hand, the Dareu Snow linear switch provides a deeper sound profile with a thocky and neutral sound, featuring a rich and satisfying tone as well as a moderate sound profile suitable for various tasks. While both switches offer distinct sound qualities, the Lightning Silver V3 leans towards a crisper and brighter sound, while the Snow delivers a deeper and more mellow tone.
Moving on to the feel, the Everglide Lightning Silver V3 linear switch is praised for its silky typing experience, providing an exceptionally smooth feel that enhances the overall typing comfort by minimizing resistance when pressing and releasing keys. In contrast, the Dareu Snow linear switch offers a bouncy feel, giving a spring-like feedback sensation that adds liveliness to keystrokes. Both switches aim to provide a satisfying typing experience, with the Lightning Silver V3 emphasizing smoothness while the Snow focuses on a lively rebound effect.
Taking all the available information into consideration, choosing between the Everglide Lightning Silver V3 and the Dareu Snow linear switches ultimately comes down to personal preference in sound and feel. If you prefer a clacky and high-pitched sound with a silky typing feel, the Lightning Silver V3 would be the ideal choice. On the other hand, if you lean towards a deeper sound profile with a bouncy and lively typing experience, the Dareu Snow would be a great option. Despite their differences, both switches are designed to enhance your overall typing experience, ensuring that you'll get satisfying results with either choice.
Conclusion
In closing, when deciding between the Everglide Lightning Silver V3 linear switch and the Dareu Snow linear switch, consider your preference for sound and feel. If you enjoy a clacky and high-pitched sound with a silky smooth typing experience, the Lightning Silver V3 may be the ideal choice for you. On the other hand, if you prefer a deeper thocky sound and a bouncy feedback sensation, the Dareu Snow switch could be more to your liking. Ultimately, your decision should be based on your personal typing preferences and the overall typing experience you desire. Choose the switch that aligns best with your preferences to enhance your keyboard setup and typing experience.
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