HMX Lotus vs. Everglide Sunset Yellow
An in-depth look at the HMX Lotus and the Everglide Sunset Yellow switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When comparing the HMX Lotus and the Everglide Sunset Yellow mechanical keyboard switches, both linear switches offer a medium weight that is suitable for a variety of users. The Lotus switches provide a bright, resonant sound and a super bouncy feeling with a 50g bottom out weight, making every keystroke a delight. On the other hand, the Sunset Yellow switches offer a rich, bassy sound profile reminiscent of mahjong tiles colliding, creating an indulgent typing experience. The unique features of the Sunset Yellow switches, such as the Ly stem and proprietary factory lube method, contribute to a distinct gliding feel and highly responsive typing experience. 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
45g
Actuation force
43g
Bottom-out force
50g
Bottom-out force
51g
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Total travel
3.50 mm
Total travel
3.20 mm
Factory lubed
Yes
Factory lubed
Yes
Stem construction
Standard
Stem construction
Standard
Stem material
POM
Stem material
Ly
Top housing material
Nylon
Top housing material
POM
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Bottom housing material
POM
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Spring
22mm single-staged spring
Spring
Single-staged lengthened 20mm spring
Housing materials
The housing materials of the HMX Lotus and Everglide Sunset Yellow switches both aim to create a deeper and fuller sound profile during typing. The Lotus uses nylon for both the top and bottom housing, while the Sunset Yellow employs POM for both components. Both nylon and POM are softer plastics that absorb more sound than harder plastics, resulting in a duller and rounder sound. However, the Sunset Yellow's POM material is described as creating a more muted sound compared to the Lotus's nylon, which may appeal to users looking for a quieter typing experience.
One key difference between the housing materials of the HMX Lotus and Everglide Sunset Yellow switches is the unique sound profile they produce. The Lotus's nylon top housing is said to elicit a deeper and fuller sound, making typing on these switches stand out for its sound quality. In contrast, the Sunset Yellow's POM top housing creates a more pleasing and unique sound that is on the deeper side and relatively more muted. This distinct sound profile can cater to different preferences in typing experience, with the Lotus offering a deeper sound and the Sunset Yellow providing a more muted sound for users to enjoy.
When considering the impact of the top and bottom housing materials on the overall typing experience, it's important to note how each component affects the sound and feel of the switch. The qualities of the bottom housing, whether it's nylon or POM, will play a significant role in the bottom-out sound and feel when pressing down on a key. On the other hand, the top housing material will have a greater impact on the sound when releasing a key. While both the HMX Lotus and Everglide Sunset Yellow switches focus on creating a deeper and fuller sound profile with their housing materials, the specific characteristics and unique sound profiles of nylon and POM set them apart in terms of typing experience.
Weight
The HMX Lotus linear switch has a slightly lighter actuation force and bottom out force compared to the Everglide Sunset Yellow linear switch. The Lotus requires 45 grams to actuate and 50 grams to bottom out, while the Sunset Yellow needs 43 grams to actuate and 51 grams to bottom out. This difference in force may result in a slightly different typing experience for users. Some may prefer the lighter feel of the Lotus for extended typing or gaming sessions, while others may prefer the slightly heavier feel of the Sunset Yellow for a more substantial typing experience. Both switches offer a smooth linear feel, so users can expect similar results in terms of key travel and responsiveness despite the slight variation in force. Ultimately, the decision between the two switches may come down to individual preference for a lighter or slightly heavier typing experience.
Travel distance
The travel distance of the HMX Lotus linear switch is 3.5 mm, while the Everglide Sunset Yellow linear switch has a travel distance of 3.2 mm. In this case, the Lotus has a slightly longer travel distance compared to the Sunset Yellow. For those who prefer a deeper key press and more feedback, the longer travel distance of the Lotus may be more suitable. On the other hand, the Sunset Yellow with its shorter travel distance may be preferred by those looking for a quicker response time, such as gamers. Both switches offer a different tactile experience based on their travel distance, so the choice between the two would ultimately come down to personal preference.
Price comparison
Which switch is more bang for your buck?
The HMX Lotus has an MSRP of $3.49 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Lotus for $2.99.
The Everglide Sunset Yellow comes in at $3.09 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
In terms of sound, the HMX Lotus linear switch offers a bright, resonant sound that provides a super bouncy feeling with every keystroke. On the other hand, the Everglide Sunset Yellow linear switch provides a rich, bassy sound profile reminiscent of mahjong tiles colliding, making typing an indulgent experience. The Lotus switch is characterized by a bright and bouncy sound, while the Sunset Yellow switch offers a deeper and richer sound with a satisfying thocky feel. Both switches offer unique sound profiles that can enhance the typing experience, with the Sunset Yellow switch providing a more bassy and decadent sound compared to the Lotus switch.
When it comes to the feel of the switches, the HMX Lotus linear switch offers a medium weight of 50g bottom out and a super bouncy feeling that makes every keystroke a delight. On the other hand, the Everglide Sunset Yellow linear switch features a unique Ly stem and proprietary factory lube method that contribute to a distinct gliding feel. The Sunset Yellow switch is described as creamy, frictionless, and polished, providing a smooth and buttery typing experience with minimal resistance and a sleek finish. In comparison, the Lotus switch's feel is not clearly described in the information provided, so it is difficult to make a direct comparison in terms of feel.
Overall, both the HMX Lotus linear switch and the Everglide Sunset Yellow linear switch offer unique qualities in terms of sound and feel. The Lotus switch provides a bouncier sound and feel experience, while the Sunset Yellow switch offers a richer and more indulgent sound profile with a smooth and buttery typing feel. Depending on personal preferences for sound and feel, either switch could be a great choice for a mechanical keyboard enthusiast looking for a unique and enjoyable typing experience. Ultimately, both switches offer high-quality performance and can provide a satisfying typing experience for users.
Conclusion
To sum up, when choosing between the HMX Lotus linear switch and the Everglide Sunset Yellow linear switch, consider the bottom out force and sound profile that best suits your preferences. If you prefer a lighter bottom out force at 50 grams and enjoy a bright, resonant sound with a super bouncy feeling, the Lotus switch may be the ideal choice for you. On the other hand, if you prefer a slightly heavier bottom out force at 51 grams and enjoy a rich, bassy sound with a creamy, frictionless, and polished feel for a smooth and effortless typing experience, the Sunset Yellow switch might be more to your liking. Ultimately, your decision should be based on what type of typing experience you value most, whether it be a light and bouncy feel or a rich and indulgent sound profile.
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