Everglide Moyu Black (Dark Jade) vs. KTT Sea Salt Lemon
An in-depth look at the Everglide Moyu Black (Dark Jade) and the KTT Sea Salt Lemon switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When it comes to choosing a mechanical keyboard switch, two popular options are the Everglide Moyu Black (Dark Jade), a tactile switch, and the KTT Sea Salt Lemon, a linear switch. The Moyu Black (Dark Jade) stands out for its sharp tactile feel and unique blend of PBT top and bottom housing, offering a rare and premium typing experience. With a strong downstroke tactile bump and an even sharper and stronger upstroke bump, these switches provide a hypertactile sensation, accompanied by a satisfyingly sharp, short, snappy, and punchy sound. On the other hand, the Sea Salt Lemon showcases the beauty of a linear switch with its progressive spring and KTT's dry-lube design, resulting in a buttery smooth typing experience. It is notable for its low-pitched, neutral, and mild characteristics. While these general pointers give an initial understanding of each switch, diving deeper into their specific qualities and considering personal preferences will ultimately help in deciding the best switch for you.
By the numbers
Technical specifications
Actuation force
50g
Actuation force
45g
Bottom-out force
67g
Bottom-out force
53g
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Total travel
4.00 mm
Total travel
4.00 mm
Factory lubed
Yes
Factory lubed
No
Stem construction
Standard
Stem construction
Standard
Stem material
POM
Stem material
POM
Top housing material
PBT
Top housing material
Polycarbonate
Bottom housing material
PBT
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Mount type
Plate (3-pin)
Spring
Gold-plated
Spring
13mm progressive spring
Housing materials
The Everglide Moyu Black (Dark Jade) and the KTT Sea Salt Lemon differ in their housing materials, resulting in distinct sound profiles. The Moyu Black features a PBT top housing, which offers a neutral sound profile. It is neither overly crisp nor dull. In contrast, the Sea Salt Lemon utilizes a polycarbonate top housing, resulting in a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound. The stiffer nature of polycarbonate contributes to a clear and resonant sound, making it a popular choice for switches with RGB lighting.
Moving on to the bottom housing, the Moyu Black has a PBT material, similar to its top housing. This consistency maintains a neutral sound profile throughout the switch. Conversely, the Sea Salt Lemon opts for a nylon bottom housing. Nylon is known for producing a deeper and fuller sound due to its softer nature, which absorbs more sound than harder plastics like PBT. This results in a rounder and duller sound in switches with nylon bottom housings.
The distinction between top and bottom housing materials is crucial in determining the sound characteristics of a switch. When pressing down on the switch, the qualities of the bottom housing will be felt, influencing the bottom-out sound and feel. In the case of the Moyu Black, the consistent PBT housing ensures a neutral experience. However, in the Sea Salt Lemon, the nylon bottom housing provides a deeper and fuller bottom-out sound. On the other hand, the top housing material is more influential in the sound produced when releasing a key. The PBT top housing of the Moyu Black maintains a balanced sound, while the polycarbonate top housing of the Sea Salt Lemon results in a sharper and crisper sound upon key release.
Weight
When comparing the Everglide Moyu Black (Dark Jade) tactile switch with the KTT Sea Salt Lemon linear switch, we can observe some differences in their actuation force and bottom out force. The Moyu Black has a slightly higher actuation force of 50 grams compared to the Sea Salt Lemon's 45 grams, making the Moyu Black slightly heavier in terms of triggering a keystroke. Similarly, when it comes to bottoming out, the Moyu Black requires a force of 67 grams, while the Sea Salt Lemon only requires 53 grams. This indicates that the Moyu Black is also heavier in terms of the force needed to press all the way down. However, both switches fall within the medium category, with the Moyu Black being medium-heavy and the Sea Salt Lemon being medium-light. Therefore, those who prefer a lighter feel for longer typing sessions may gravitate towards the Sea Salt Lemon, while those seeking a more substantial typing experience may opt for the slightly heavier Moyu Black.
Travel distance
Both the Everglide Moyu Black (Dark Jade) tactile switch and the KTT Sea Salt Lemon linear switch have a travel distance of 4 mm. Therefore, pressing down on either key will result in a similar tactile experience in terms of the distance the switch travels from the top to the bottom. Both switches offer a consistent and comfortable typing experience with the same travel distance, making them suitable choices for users who prefer a specific key travel distance.
Price comparison
Which switch is more bang for your buck?
The Everglide Moyu Black (Dark Jade) has an MSRP of $12.00 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Moyu Black (Dark Jade) for $7.59.
The KTT Sea Salt Lemon comes in at $2.80 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 Everglide Moyu Black (Dark Jade) tactile switch is known for its resonant and immersive auditory experience. When typing on these switches, you can expect a higher-pitched and clean sound profile, with a sharp and punchy tone. On the other hand, the KTT Sea Salt Lemon linear switch is described as having a low-pitched sound profile, which is more bass-heavy and mellow compared to higher-pitched switches. It provides a neutral sound that is suitable for most purposes, whether you are a beginner or advanced user, and whether you plan to use them at home or work. However, it's important to note that the sound of a switch can also be influenced by other factors such as your choice of keyboard and keycaps.
In terms of feel, the Everglide Moyu Black (Dark Jade) tactile switch is known for its accented and sharp tactile feedback. These switches provide a medium amount of tactility that is neither overwhelming nor subtle, making them a great choice for those who enjoy a prominent tactile bump. The feedback intensity is high, and the tactile bump can be felt distinctly with each keypress. On the other hand, the KTT Sea Salt Lemon linear switch offers a mild and gentle typing experience. It falls in the middle ground, providing a more approachable feel compared to switches with more pronounced characteristics. It offers a smooth and buttery typing experience, thanks to its progressive spring and KTT's dry-lube design.
Overall, the Everglide Moyu Black (Dark Jade) tactile switch and the KTT Sea Salt Lemon linear switch offer different subjective qualities. The Moyu Blacks provide a sharp and impactful typing experience with their strong tactile feedback and distinctive sound profile. On the other hand, the Sea Salt Lemons offer a smooth and gentle feel, with a bass-heavy and mellow sound. Depending on your personal preferences, you can choose between the hypertactile sensation of the Moyu Blacks or the buttery smoothness of the Sea Salt Lemons. However, both switches offer a premium and satisfying typing experience in their own ways, ensuring that you'll get similar results in terms of quality and enjoyment.
Conclusion
To sum up, if you are looking for a distinctive and impactful typing experience, the Everglide Moyu Black (Dark Jade) tactile switch would be the way to go. With its medium-heavy bottom out force and sharp and strong tactile bumps, these switches offer a rare and premium typing experience. The Moyu Blacks provide a snappy and punchy sound with their abrupt and accentuated bottom-out, creating a hypertactile sensation. On the other hand, if you prefer a buttery smooth typing experience without as much tactile feedback, the KTT Sea Salt Lemon linear switch would be a better choice. With its medium-light bottom out force and progressive spring, these switches offer a lovely representation of what a linear switch can be. They also have a low-pitched sound profile, which is more bass-heavy and mellow compared to the higher-pitched Moyu Blacks. Ultimately, the decision between the two switches depends on your preference for tactile feedback and typing experience.
Mentioned in this article
