Haimu Neo White vs. Everglide Rice Pudding
An in-depth look at the Haimu Neo White and the Everglide Rice Pudding switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When it comes to selecting the perfect mechanical keyboard switch, the choice often comes down to personal preference and typing style. The Haimu Neo White, a linear switch, is celebrated for its medium weight and slightly reduced total travel, offering a unique typing feel that many users find appealing. Its use of a Ly stem contributes to a remarkably smooth actuation, creating an overall satisfying experience. On the other hand, the Everglide Rice Pudding switch features a hall effect mechanism that combines smooth operation with a rich, deep sound. This switch provides a balanced typing experience that is both precise and enjoyable, making it an enticing option for enthusiasts, particularly due to its compatibility with Wooting's innovative keyboards, which adds versatility to its allure. Both switches cater to distinct preferences—whether you prioritize a linear and smooth feel or a more acoustically engaging 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
N/A
Actuation force
38g
Bottom-out force
58g
Bottom-out force
48g
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Pre-travel
N/A
Total travel
3.60 mm
Total travel
3.50 mm
Factory lubed
Yes
Factory lubed
Yes
Stem construction
Standard
Stem construction
Standard
Stem material
Ly
Stem material
POM
Top housing material
Polycarbonate
Top housing material
Polycarbonate
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Spring
Double-staged spring
Spring
Custom stainless steel
Housing materials
The Haimu Neo White and the Everglide Rice Pudding switches both utilize polycarbonate for their top housings, leading to similar sound characteristics and aesthetic qualities. The rigidity of polycarbonate results in a sound profile that is sharper and crisper, fostering a clear resonance that can enhance the overall auditory experience when typing. Furthermore, the translucent nature of polycarbonate allows for vivid RGB lighting effects to shine through, ensuring that both switches not only perform well in terms of sound but also present an appealing visual aspect. As a result, users can expect a comparable clarity in sound when engaging with either switch, making them an excellent choice for enthusiasts looking to optimize their typing or gaming setup.
On the other hand, both switches incorporate nylon for their bottom housings, which contributes distinctly to the sound profile during key presses. Nylon’s softer composition serves to absorb sound waves more effectively than harder plastics, resulting in a deeper and fuller auditory experience. This characteristic is crucial, as the bottom housing primarily influences the bottom-out sound and the tactile feedback felt when a key is pressed down. As both the Neo White and Rice Pudding employ nylon in their bottom housings, users can expect a consistently rounded sound quality, enhancing the tactile satisfaction across both products.
Overall, while both the Haimu Neo White and Everglide Rice Pudding switches share commonalities in their top and bottom housing materials, the combination allows for a harmonious blend of sound profiles. The polycarbonate top provides the articulation of sound when releasing the keys, while the nylon bottom enriches the experience by delivering a fuller sound upon activation. This complementary pairing ensures that despite different branding and design choices, both switches are designed to offer a well-rounded auditory feedback experience, making them suitable for a wide range of applications, from typists to gamers.
Weight
Comparing the Haimu Neo White linear switch and the Everglide Rice Pudding hall effect switch reveals notable differences in their actuation and bottom out forces. The Neo White lacks a specified actuation force, but it does have a medium bottom out force of 58 grams. In contrast, the Rice Pudding features a light actuation force of 38 grams and a bottom out force of 48 grams. This indicates that the Rice Pudding is the lighter of the two options, making it more suitable for extended typing durations due to its reduced resistance. Meanwhile, the Neo White, with its heavier bottom out force, offers a more substantial feel for those who prefer a stronger push during typing. As a result, while the Rice Pudding provides a more effortless typing experience, the Neo White may appeal to users seeking a more tactile feedback.
Travel distance
When comparing the travel distances of the Haimu Neo White linear switch and the Everglide Rice Pudding hall effect switch, the Neo White measures 3.6 mm, while the Rice Pudding measures slightly less at 3.5 mm. This means that if you're looking for a switch that offers a bit more depth and a more pronounced feel when typing or gaming, the Neo White would be the preferable choice due to its longer travel distance. On the other hand, those who prefer a slightly shorter travel distance for quicker responses may find the Rice Pudding more suitable. Although both switches fall within the realm of relatively short travel distances, the Neo White still offers a marginally greater depth, appealing to users who prefer a balance between responsiveness and a fulfilling keystroke experience.
Price comparison
Which switch is more bang for your buck?
The Everglide Rice Pudding has an MSRP of $8.00 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Rice Pudding for $6.79.
The Haimu Neo White comes in at $2.70 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 Haimu Neo White switch is characterized by its neutral acoustic profile, which makes it versatile for various environments, whether at home or in an office setting. Its sound output is not overly loud or muted, striking a balance that suits both beginners and seasoned typists alike. On the other hand, while the specific sound qualities of the Everglide Rice Pudding switch are not detailed, its reputation for delivering a deep sound suggests it may provide a more resonant auditory experience, likely enhancing the overall enjoyment for those who appreciate a richer sound signature in their typing. However, it's important to remember that the sound can also be influenced by the keyboard's construction and the choice of keycaps, which means these switches could perform differently depending on the setup.
In terms of feel, the Neo White switch offers a mild typing experience, making it approachable for users who prefer less pronounced characteristics in their switches. The combination of its medium weight and slightly reduced travel creates a smooth, satisfying actuation that caters to a wide range of typing styles. The Rice Pudding switch, while lacking explicit feel descriptors, is known for its smooth operation and balanced typing experience, suggesting it also prioritizes comfort without being overly aggressive. This alignment in feel means that users of both switches can expect a satisfying typing experience, though their preferences might lead them to with one or the other based on unique sensibilities.
In conclusion, both the Haimu Neo White and Everglide Rice Pudding switches present appealing qualities that cater to different aspects of keyboard enjoyment. Whether you lean towards the balanced, neutral sound and mild feel of the Neo White or the smooth operation and deep sound of the Rice Pudding, both options promise to deliver a fulfilling typing experience. Ultimately, the choice between these two switches should revolve around personal preference regarding sound and tactile feedback, allowing users to select the option that resonates most with their typing style and environment.
Conclusion
To conclude, both the Haimu Neo White linear switch and the Everglide Rice Pudding hall effect switch offer unique advantages tailored to different preferences and use cases. If you prefer a typing experience that strikes a balance between moderate resistance and smooth actuation, particularly for tasks that require a blend of comfort and responsiveness, the Neo White is an excellent choice. Its medium weight of 58 grams makes it suitable for users who thrive on a gentle yet satisfying tactile sensation while typing or gaming. On the other hand, if you’re looking for something lighter and more versatile, especially if you plan to explore innovative input methods through Wooting keyboards, the Rice Pudding with its 48-gram force provides a delightful balance of smoothness and acoustic pleasure. Its design ensures that you experience a deep and satisfying sound profile, which could elevate your typing experience, whether you're in intense gaming sessions or casual typing. Ultimately, your decision between these switches will hinge on your desired typing feel and sound preferences, as well as your usage context—be it professional, casual, or gaming-focused.