Everglide Lightning Silver V3 vs. HMX Vintage Citrus
An in-depth look at the Everglide Lightning Silver V3 and the HMX Vintage Citrus switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When it comes to choosing the perfect mechanical keyboard switch, two notable contenders are the Everglide Lightning Silver V3 and the HMX Vintage Citrus, both of which are linear switches that cater to different user preferences. The Lightning Silver V3 stands out with its clacky and high-pitched sound signature, providing a unique auditory experience along with a silky, seamless typing feel. Its innovative light diffuser enhances RGB illumination, making it a vibrant addition to any keyboard setup, perfect for those who appreciate aesthetics alongside performance. On the other hand, the Vintage Citrus is tailored specifically for gamers, featuring an exceptionally low actuation force of just 1mm, which allows for rapid and fluid keyboard inputs—a vital characteristic for competitive play. This switch also offers a bright, clacky sound profile and an invigorating feel that can enhance the gaming experience. While both switches share a clacky sound and seamless feel, their unique attributes cater to different usages: the Lightning Silver V3 shines in aesthetics and versatility, while the Vintage Citrus excels in speed and responsiveness. However, let's dive in a bit deeper beyond generalities so you can best decide on the ideal switch for your needs.
By the numbers
Technical specifications
Actuation force
48g
Actuation force
48g
Bottom-out force
60g
Bottom-out force
53g
Pre-travel
1.50 mm
Pre-travel
1.00 mm
Total travel
3.40 mm
Total travel
3.00 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
Nylon
Bottom housing material
Polycarbonate
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Spring
Lengthened gold-plated spring
Spring
22mm single-staged spring
Housing materials
The Everglide Lightning Silver V3 and HMX Vintage Citrus utilize distinctly different housing materials that profoundly affect their sound profiles and tactile feedback. The Lightning Silver V3 features polycarbonate for both its top and bottom housings, which results in a sharper, more resonant sound profile. Polycarbonate, known for its rigidity, enhances clarity and provides a crisper acoustic experience. This makes the Lightning Silver V3 ideal for users who prioritize a more pronounced sound and wish to utilize RGB lighting, as the material's translucency showcases the colors effectively.
In contrast, the HMX Vintage Citrus employs nylon for both the top and bottom housings. Nylon is recognized for its ability to produce a deeper and fuller sound profile due to its softer nature, which allows it to absorb more sound. Users of the Vintage Citrus can expect a more subdued typing experience, characterized by a rounder and warmer sound. While the polycarbonate of the Lightning Silver V3 promotes a bright and clear auditory feedback, the nylon of the Vintage Citrus cushions the impact of keystrokes, leading to a more muted and mellow sound.
Despite these differences in material, both switches can achieve satisfying typing experiences, although through different acoustic qualities. The construction of the Lightning Silver V3, with both housings made from polycarbonate, delivers a consistent and high-pitched sound whether releasing or bottoming out the key. Meanwhile, the Vintage Citrus, with nylon materials, offers a split sound experience: the top housing contributes to the sound during release, while the bottom housing focuses on the sound and feel when the key is engaged. Users will appreciate that each switch caters to distinct preferences, whether they lean towards the clear resonance of polycarbonate or the warm embrace of nylon.
Weight
When comparing the Everglide Lightning Silver V3 linear switch to the HMX Vintage Citrus linear switch, both switches have the same actuation force of 48 grams, meaning users will experience a similar feel when triggering a keystroke on either switch. However, the bottom out forces differ, with the Lightning Silver V3 having a stronger bottom out force of 60 grams compared to the Vintage Citrus's 53 grams. This results in the Vintage Citrus being the lighter of the two switches, offering a softer landing feel when bottoming out, which can be more comfortable for extended typing or gaming sessions. In contrast, the Lightning Silver V3's heavier bottom out may appeal to users who prefer a more substantial tactile feedback as they press their keys down, making it a suitable choice for those who appreciate a stronger push feel in their typing experience. Overall, while both switches are equal in actuation force, their different bottom out forces cater to varied preferences among users.
Travel distance
When comparing the travel distances of the Everglide Lightning Silver V3 linear switch and the HMX Vintage Citrus linear switch, there's a notable difference. The Lightning Silver V3 has a travel distance of 3.4 mm, while the Vintage Citrus features a shorter travel distance of 3.0 mm. This means that if you opt for the Vintage Citrus, you'll experience quicker actuation, which can be advantageous for gamers seeking faster response times. Conversely, the Everglide Lightning Silver V3 offers a more pronounced depth with its longer travel distance, which may provide a more satisfying tactile feedback for those who prefer a deeper keystroke. Ultimately, if you're looking for a snappier response, the Vintage Citrus is the shorter option, while the Lightning Silver V3 caters to those who appreciate a more pronounced 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 HMX Vintage Citrus has an MSRP of $3.49 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Vintage Citrus for $2.79.
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 profiles of both the Everglide Lightning Silver V3 and the HMX Vintage Citrus linear switch share a similarity in their clacky characteristics, producing a bright and percussive auditory experience. The Lightning Silver V3 is distinguished by not only producing clacky sounds but also has a high-pitched tone, making it particularly sharp and crisp; this is perfect for users who prefer less bass-heavy acoustics. The Vintage Citrus, while also clacky, does not emphasize the high-pitched aspect, making it potentially more versatile in settings where subtler sound is appreciated. However, both switches will provide distinct sharp and snappy sounds, benefiting from the overall keyboard configuration which may further influence this quality.
When it comes to feel, the Lightning Silver V3 is noted to offer a silky, seamless typing experience, lending itself well to a smooth interaction with the keys. In contrast, the Vintage Citrus is designed with speed in mind, featuring a particularly low actuation force of just 1mm, which, combined with its snappy and invigorating feedback, results in an immersive and reactive typing sensation. The snappiness and pronounced feedback of the Vintage Citrus can invigorate the typing experience significantly more than the Lightning Silver V3, which, while smooth, may not provide the same level of tactile responsiveness. Therefore, if you are seeking a more immediate and pronounced feel, the Vintage Citrus would be the go-to choice, but if you prefer a fluid, glassy transition, the Lightning Silver V3 excels in that regard.
In summary, both the Everglide Lightning Silver V3 and the HMX Vintage Citrus linear switches offer unique sound and feel qualities that cater to different preferences among keyboard enthusiasts. While both deliver a bright and sharp sound profile with clacky traits, the Lightning Silver V3 stands out for its high-pitched element. On the keyboard feel front, the Lightning Silver V3 provides a smooth experience, whereas the Vintage Citrus offers a snappy, responsive interaction perfect for rapid keystrokes. Ultimately, your choice between the two will depend on whether you prioritize sound sharpness or tactile responsiveness in your typing or gaming experience.
Conclusion
To sum up, choosing between the Everglide Lightning Silver V3 and the HMX Vintage Citrus linear switches ultimately depends on your specific needs and preferences. If you value a medium bottom-out force and seek an engaging typing experience with a clacky, high-pitched sound, the Lightning Silver V3 is the way to go. This switch excels in scenarios where RGB illumination is also a priority, thanks to its unique light diffuser feature. However, if your focus is primarily on gaming, especially with rapid-fire inputs, the Vintage Citrus is designed for speed, boasting an exceptionally low actuation force of just 1mm and a snappy, invigorating feel that allows for quick response times. Both switches provide a clacky sound profile, but the Vintage Citrus tends to offer a more responsive typing experience. Therefore, your choice should be guided by whether you prefer a dynamic and colorful keyboard experience with the Lightning Silver V3 or a highly responsive gaming switch with the Vintage Citrus.
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