Cherry Nixie vs. Everglide Tourmaline Blue
An in-depth look at the Cherry Nixie and the Everglide Tourmaline Blue switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
The Cherry Nixie and Everglide Tourmaline Blue are both linear switches that offer unique typing experiences. The Cherry Nixie is revered for its substantial heft and textured feel, providing a traditional yet modern typing experience with low-pitched sound. On the other hand, the Everglide Tourmaline Blue stands out with its deep and thocky sound profile, combined with a bouncy feel due to its lengthened single-stage spring. While the Cherry Nixie is categorized as 'Textured', 'Thocky', and 'Low-pitched', the Tourmaline Blue is categorized as 'Buttery', 'Easy-to-press', 'Mild', and 'Neutral'. Both switches offer different advantages, appealing to users with various preferences. 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
63.5g
Actuation force
59g
Bottom-out force
80g
Bottom-out force
67g
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
Nylon
Top housing material
Polycarbonate
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Bottom housing material
Polycarbonate
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Spring
Gold-plated
Spring
Gold-plated
Housing materials
The Cherry Nixie and Everglide Tourmaline Blue switches both offer unique characteristics based on their housing materials. The Nixie utilizes a nylon top housing, which creates a deeper and fuller sound profile due to the softer nature of nylon that absorbs more sound. In contrast, the Tourmaline Blue features a polycarbonate top housing, resulting in a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound profile. While the Nixie provides a duller and rounder sound, the Tourmaline Blue delivers a more clear and resonant sound, especially useful for RGB lighting due to its translucency.
Moving on to the bottom housing materials, the Cherry Nixie's nylon bottom housing also contributes to a deeper and fuller sound profile, similar to its top housing. Meanwhile, the Everglide Tourmaline Blue incorporates a polycarbonate bottom housing to enhance the sharp and crisp sound profile of the switch. This difference in material affects the overall feel and sound of the switches, with the Tourmaline Blue offering a more clear and resonant sound experience compared to the Nixie's softer and more absorbent sound profile.
When considering the impact of the top and bottom housing materials on the switches, it is essential to note how each material influences the sound and feel of typing. The characteristics of the bottom housing material are more prominent when bottoming out a key, affecting the overall typing experience. On the other hand, the top housing contributes more to the sound when releasing a key, giving each switch its distinct sound profile. While the Nixie and Tourmaline Blue differ in their housing materials, their unique qualities provide users with diverse options catering to their sound preferences and typing experience.
Weight
When comparing the actuation force and bottom out force of the Cherry Nixie linear switch and the Everglide Tourmaline Blue linear switch, it is clear that the Nixie is heavier in both respects. The Nixie has an actuation force of 63.5 grams and a bottom out force of 80 grams, making it a solid and substantial option for those who prefer a stronger push feel. In contrast, the Tourmaline Blue has an actuation force of 59 grams and a bottom out force of 67 grams, which is slightly lighter than the Nixie. The Nixie would be better suited for users who prefer a more significant typing experience, while the Tourmaline Blue would be ideal for those who prefer a slightly lighter touch. Both switches offer a unique typing experience, with the Nixie providing a heavier feel and the Tourmaline Blue offering a more moderate option. Ultimately, the choice between the two switches would depend on personal preference for typing force and feel.
Travel distance
The Cherry Nixie linear switch and the Everglide Tourmaline Blue linear switch both have the same travel distance of 4 mm. This means that when pressing down on a key with either of these switches, you will experience a consistent travel distance of 4 mm. As a result, the feel of pressing down on keys with these switches will be very similar, given their equal travel distances. This makes the Cherry Nixie and the Everglide Tourmaline Blue switches comparable in terms of the travel distance experienced by the user.
Price comparison
Which switch is more bang for your buck?
The Cherry Nixie has an MSRP of $6.00 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Nixie for $4.19.
The Everglide Tourmaline Blue has an MSRP of $6.86 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Tourmaline Blue for $3.89.
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 Cherry Nixie linear switch is known for its thocky and low-pitched characteristics, providing a deep and rich typing experience that resonates with a satisfying "thud" or "knock" sound. On the other hand, the Everglide Tourmaline Blue linear switch offers a more neutral sound profile, suitable for various users and environments due to its moderate actuation force requirement. Both switches deliver pleasing auditory feedback, with the Nixie leaning towards a deeper, bass-heavy tone compared to the more balanced sound of the Tourmaline Blue.
Moving on to feel, the Cherry Nixie switch is renowned for its textured typing experience, offering noticeable friction with each keystroke that some users may prefer for its tactile feedback. In contrast, the Everglide Tourmaline Blue switch provides a buttery and easy-to-press feel with a mild typing experience that is gentle on the fingers and comfortable for extended typing sessions. While the Nixie offers a textured sensation, the Tourmaline Blue prioritizes smoothness and effortless keystrokes, making it accessible and enjoyable for a wide range of users.
In conclusion, the Cherry Nixie and Everglide Tourmaline Blue linear switches each bring unique qualities to the table in terms of sound and feel. The Nixie excels in providing a thocky and textured typing experience with a low-pitched sound profile, while the Tourmaline Blue offers a more neutral sound and a buttery, easy-to-press feel. Both switches are ideal choices depending on your preferences for sound and typing sensation, ensuring a satisfying and enjoyable mechanical keyboard experience. Whether you opt for the Nixie or the Tourmaline Blue, you can expect similar high-quality results that cater to different preferences within the keyboard community.
Conclusion
In closing, when deciding between the Cherry Nixie linear switch and the Everglide Tourmaline Blue linear switch, consider your preference for typing experience. If you enjoy a heavier typing feel with a textured and low-pitched sound, the Cherry Nixie may be the ideal choice for you. On the other hand, if you prefer a medium-heavy keypress with a buttery, easy-to-press feel and a neutral sound profile, the Everglide Tourmaline Blue could be the perfect fit. Ultimately, your decision should be based on your personal preference for typing experience and sound profile.
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