Everglide Moyu Black (Dark Jade) vs. Gateron Silent Ink Black
An in-depth look at the Everglide Moyu Black (Dark Jade) and the Gateron Silent Ink Black switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When it comes to mechanical keyboard switches, two popular options to consider are the Everglide Moyu Black (Dark Jade) and the Gateron Silent Ink Black. Both switches offer unique features that cater to different preferences. The Moyu Black is best known for its sharp tactile feel, enhanced by a strong downstroke and an even sharper upstroke bump, providing a hypertactile sensation. The PBT top and bottom housing also contribute to a premium typing experience. On the other hand, the Silent Ink Black switch is perfect for those who require a quieter typing environment. It offers a cushion-like bottom-out feel and minimal audio feedback, making it an ideal choice for those who need to maintain a peaceful workspace. However, let's dive deeper beyond these generalities so you can better decide on the best switch for your specific needs.
By the numbers
Technical specifications
Actuation force
50g
Actuation force
60g
Bottom-out force
67g
Bottom-out force
70g
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
Yes
Stem construction
Standard
Stem construction
Standard
Stem material
POM
Stem material
POM
Top housing material
PBT
Top housing material
Proprietary INK blend
Bottom housing material
PBT
Bottom housing material
Proprietary INK blend
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Spring
Gold-plated
Spring
Color coated
Housing materials
The Everglide Moyu Black (Dark Jade) and the Gateron Silent Ink Black differ in the housing materials used for their top and bottom housings. The Moyu Black (Dark Jade) utilizes a PBT top housing, while the Silent Ink Black features Gateron's proprietary INK blend top housing. The PBT top housing of the Moyu Black offers a neutral sound profile, neither crisp nor dull. In contrast, the INK blend top housing of the Silent Ink Black provides a pointed and relatively high-pitched sound profile that is often described as clacky. Thus, the sound produced when releasing a key will differ between these two switches.
Moving on to the bottom housings, both the Moyu Black (Dark Jade) and the Silent Ink Black incorporate PBT in their construction. This material choice results in a neutral sound profile for both switches. Therefore, when pressing down on these switches, the impact on the bottom-out sound and feel will be similar. However, it is worth noting that the Silent Ink Black's bottom housing, like its top housing, contains Gateron's INK blend, which may contribute to a slightly different sound characteristic compared to the Moyu Black.
In summary, the Everglide Moyu Black (Dark Jade) and the Gateron Silent Ink Black differ in their top housing materials, with the Moyu Black featuring PBT and the Silent Ink Black utilizing Gateron's proprietary INK blend. This discrepancy results in distinct sound profiles when releasing a key. However, both switches share the same PBT bottom housings, providing a similar neutral sound profile when pressed down. Therefore, while they may have some contrasting characteristics, they also offer comparable results in terms of their housing materials and resulting sound profiles.
Weight
When comparing the Everglide Moyu Black (Dark Jade) tactile switch to the Gateron Silent Ink Black linear switch, there are notable similarities and differences in their actuation and bottom out forces. The Moyu Black has a lighter actuation force of 50 grams compared to the Silent Ink Black's 60 grams, indicating that less pressure is needed to trigger a keystroke with the Moyu Black. However, both switches have a medium-heavy bottom out force, with the Moyu Black at 67 grams and the Silent Ink Black at 70 grams. This means that once the key is pressed all the way down, a significant amount of force is required to bottom out.
Considering weight, some users may prefer the lighter actuation force of the Moyu Black, as it allows for longer typing sessions without experiencing fatigue. This makes it an ideal choice for work or extended gaming sessions. On the other hand, individuals seeking a more substantial typing experience may prefer the Silent Ink Black, which requires a stronger push feel due to its heavier actuation force. This can provide a satisfying tactile feedback and may be preferred by those who enjoy a more pronounced keystroke.
Overall, while the Moyu Black features a lighter actuation force, it is important to note that both switches have a similar bottom out force, suggesting that the typing experience when pressing the keys down fully will be equally substantial. However, it is worth considering personal preferences and typing needs when choosing between these switches, as the variations in actuation force can greatly impact the overall typing experience and endurance.
Travel distance
The Everglide Moyu Black (Dark Jade) tactile switch and the Gateron Silent Ink Black linear switch both have the same travel distance of 4 mm. This means that when you press down on a key with either of these switches, you will feel the key travel a distance of 4 mm from the top to the bottom. Both switches offer a similar tactile feedback and give a satisfying keystroke experience. Whether you choose the Moyu Black or the Silent Ink Black, you can expect a consistent travel distance that allows for precise typing or gaming performance.
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 Gateron Silent Ink Black has an MSRP of $8.50 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Silent Ink Black for $8.35.
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 Moyu Black (Dark Jade) tactile switch is known for its sharp tactile feel. It features a strong downstroke tactile bump and an even sharper and stronger upstroke bump, creating a hypertactile sensation. When typing, the downstroke bump produces a satisfyingly sharp, short, snappy, and punchy sound. The Moyu Blacks have a medium-heavy feel and an abrupt and accentuated bottom-out, providing a distinctive and impactful typing experience.
On the other hand, the Gateron Silent Ink Black linear switch is cherished for its silent operation. It offers a cushy, pillow-like bottom-out feel with minimal audio feedback. The Silent Ink Black produces a softer and quieter sound compared to regular or clacky switches. This makes it an ideal choice for environments that necessitate quieter typing.
In terms of sound, the Moyu Black (Dark Jade) has a resonant sound profile, which is characterized by a higher-pitched sound and an immersive auditory experience. The sound profile is clean and sharp. On the other hand, the Silent Ink Black has a muted sound profile, producing a softer and quieter sound compared to regular or clacky switches. It minimizes the noise typically associated with mechanical keyboards. However, it's important to note that the sound of a switch can also be influenced by factors such as the choice of board and keycaps used.
In terms of feel, the Moyu Black (Dark Jade) offers an accented tactile experience. This means it provides a prominent amount of tactility that is neither overwhelming nor subtle. Its strong and crisp tactile bump can be distinctly felt with each keypress. On the other hand, the Silent Ink Black offers a silky and polished typing experience. It is exceptionally smooth to type on, minimizing resistance when pressing and releasing keys. The switch has a smooth and refined finish, resulting in reduced friction and smooth key travel.
In conclusion, the Moyu Black (Dark Jade) tactile switch and the Gateron Silent Ink Black linear switch offer different subjective qualities. The Moyu Black provides a sharp tactile feel with a resonant sound profile, while the Silent Ink Black offers a cushiony bottom-out feel with a muted sound profile. Both switches have their own unique characteristics that cater to different preferences. It's important to consider factors such as personal typing style, desired sound level, and overall typing experience when choosing between these switches.
Conclusion
In summary, when considering the choice between the Everglide Moyu Black (Dark Jade) tactile switch and the Gateron Silent Ink Black linear switch, there are a few key factors to consider.
If you prioritize a unique and impactful typing experience, the Moyu Black (Dark Jade) switch is the way to go. With its medium-heavy feel and sharp, snappy tactile bump, these switches offer a distinct and satisfying typing sensation. The even sharper and stronger upstroke bump creates a hypertactile sensation, further enhancing the typing experience. Additionally, the Moyu Blacks feature a PBT top and bottom housing, providing a premium and rare typing experience.
On the other hand, if a quieter typing experience is your main concern, the Gateron Silent Ink Black switch is worth considering. These switches offer a cushiony bottom-out feel with minimal audio feedback. The silenced version of the Ink Black switch is perfect for environments that require a quieter mechanical keyboard.
In terms of sound, the Moyu Black (Dark Jade) provides a resonant and sharp sound profile, adding to the auditory experience. On the other hand, the Silent Ink Black offers a muted sound, minimizing the noise typically associated with mechanical keyboards.
Considering the feel, the Moyu Black (Dark Jade) switch is described as accented and sharp, providing a strong and crisp tactile bump that can be distinctly felt with each keypress. In contrast, the Silent Ink Black switch is described as silky and polished, offering an exceptionally smooth and refined typing experience with reduced friction.
Ultimately, the choice between these two switches will depend on your priorities. If you crave a unique and impactful typing experience with a strong tactile bump, the Moyu Black (Dark Jade) is the way to go. However, if a quiet and smooth typing experience is what you're after, the Gateron Silent Ink Black is the better choice.
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