Everglide Lightning Silver V3 vs. Wuque Studio WS Red
An in-depth look at the Everglide Lightning Silver V3 and the Wuque Studio WS Red switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When considering mechanical keyboard switches, the Everglide Lightning Silver V3 and the Wuque Studio WS Red both offer unique features and benefits to enhance your typing experience. The Lightning Silver V3 stands out for its clacky and high-pitched sound signature, providing a smooth and seamless typing experience with the added bonus of RGB illumination from its light diffuser. On the other hand, the WS Red boasts a bouncy and responsive feel thanks to its 22mm double-stage spring, combined with a heavier actuation force for a more satisfying typing experience. While each switch has its own strengths and characteristics, it ultimately comes down to personal preference and typing style. However, let's dive in a bit deeper beyond generalities so you can best decide on the switch that suits your needs.
By the numbers
Technical specifications
Actuation force
48g
Actuation force
N/A
Bottom-out force
60g
Bottom-out force
67g
Pre-travel
1.50 mm
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Total travel
3.40 mm
Total travel
3.80 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
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 double-stage spring
Housing materials
The Everglide Lightning Silver V3 features a polycarbonate top housing, which is known for creating a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound profile. This material is relatively stiffer compared to other plastics, resulting in a clearer and more resonant sound. In terms of aesthetics, polycarbonate is often used in clear housings and is ideal for switches with RGB lighting. On the other hand, the Wuque Studio WS Red utilizes a nylon top housing, which produces a deeper and fuller sound profile. Nylon is a softer plastic that absorbs more sound, giving it a duller and rounder sound compared to polycarbonate.
Moving on to the bottom housing, the Lightning Silver V3 once again uses polycarbonate, which offers the same characteristics of creating a sharp, crisp sound profile due to its stiffness. Like the top housing, the bottom housing also impacts the overall sound experience when typing on the switch. Conversely, the WS Red employs a nylon bottom housing, maintaining the deeper and fuller sound profile associated with this material. The softer nature of nylon absorbs more sound, resulting in a different tactile and auditory experience compared to polycarbonate.
In summary, while both switches utilize different housing materials for the top and bottom, the Everglide Lightning Silver V3 and Wuque Studio WS Red offer contrasting sound profiles. The polycarbonate housings of the Lightning Silver V3 produce a sharp and clear sound, while the nylon housings of the WS Red create a deeper and fuller sound. However, regardless of the housing material used, both switches offer distinct tactile and auditory experiences that cater to different preferences in mechanical keyboard enthusiasts.
Weight
The Everglide Lightning Silver V3 linear switch has a lighter actuation force of 48 grams compared to the Wuque Studio WS Red linear switch, which has an unknown actuation force. However, the bottom out force of the Lightning Silver V3 is 60 grams, which is lighter than the WS Red's bottom out force of 67 grams. This means that the Lightning Silver V3 would provide a lighter typing experience overall, making it more suitable for longer typing sessions or gaming sessions where you want to prevent fatigue. On the other hand, the WS Red's heavier bottom out force might appeal to those looking for a more solid and substantial typing feel. So, if you prefer a lighter typing experience, the Everglide Lightning Silver V3 would be the better choice, while the Wuque Studio WS Red would be more suitable for those who prefer a heavier key press.
Travel distance
The Everglide Lightning Silver V3 linear switch has a travel distance of 3.4 mm, while the Wuque Studio WS Red linear switch has a travel distance of 3.8 mm. In this case, the Lightning Silver V3 has a shorter travel distance compared to the WS Red. Gamers who prefer faster response times may lean towards the Lightning Silver V3 due to its shorter travel distance, while those who enjoy a more substantial keypress may opt for the WS Red with its longer travel distance. Both switches offer different tactile experiences based on their travel distances, with the Lightning Silver V3 providing a quicker, more responsive feel and the WS Red offering a more deliberate keypress. Ultimately, the choice between the two will depend on personal preference and typing style.
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 Wuque Studio WS Red comes in at $3.50 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 is known for its clacky and high-pitched sound profile, providing a sharp and snappy sound when pressed. On the other hand, the Wuque Studio WS Red linear switch offers a more classic sound signature due to its material blend, with a bouncy and responsive typing experience. If you prefer a sharper and crisper sound, the Lightning Silver V3 may be the preferred choice, while the WS Red offers a more familiar and satisfying typing experience. Keep in mind that sound can also be influenced by the keyboard board and keycaps used.
In terms of feel, the Lightning Silver V3 is praised for its silky smooth typing experience, minimizing resistance when pressing and releasing keys. The WS Red, with its 22mm double-stage spring, provides a bouncy and substantial typing feel due to a heavier actuation force. Both switches offer unique typing experiences, with the Lightning Silver V3 focusing on smoothness and the WS Red delivering a more substantial and responsive feel. Depending on personal preference, either switch can provide a comfortable typing experience.
Overall, the Everglide Lightning Silver V3 linear switch and the Wuque Studio WS Red linear switch offer distinct sound and feel qualities, catering to different preferences in keyboard switches. While the Lightning Silver V3 excels in providing a clacky and high-pitched sound with a silky smooth typing experience, the WS Red offers a bouncy and substantial feel with a classic sound signature. Experimenting with both switches on different keyboards and setups will allow you to determine which one best suits your typing style and preferences. Ultimately, both switches promise a satisfying typing experience, ensuring that you'll get similar results in terms of quality and performance.
Conclusion
To sum up, if you are looking for a mechanical keyboard switch with a medium bottom out force that provides a clacky and high-pitched sound signature, as well as a silky and seamless typing experience, the Everglide Lightning Silver V3 is the way to go. On the other hand, if you prefer a slightly heavier bottom out force with a bouncy and responsive typing experience that offers a satisfying and substantial feel while still retaining a classic sound signature, the Wuque Studio WS Red switch would be a better choice for you. Consider your sound and feel preferences along with the desired bottom out force when selecting between these two switches to find the perfect fit for your typing needs.
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