Everglide Oreo vs. Jwick Semi-Silent Linear
An in-depth look at the Everglide Oreo and the Jwick Semi-Silent Linear switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
Introducing two distinct mechanical keyboard switches: the Everglide Oreo and the Jwick Semi-Silent Linear. The Everglide Oreo, a tactile switch, captivates users with its delectable treat-like experience for the fingertips. It features a crisp and responsive tactile bump at the top, followed by a delightfully cushioned sensation when bottoming out. This switch strikes the perfect balance between satisfying keystrokes and a comfortable typing experience, all while emitting a subtle and mellow sound profile.
On the other hand, the Jwick Semi-Silent Linear stands out as an innovative release, notable for its whisper-quiet topping-out sound and clacky bottom-out sound. With a silky smooth type feel, this linear switch avoids being over-polished, providing a unique typing experience. Categorized as accented, chirpy, and stepped, and subdued, neutral, mild, snappy, buttery, and polished respectively, these switches offer distinct advantages to users. However, let's dive deeper beyond generalities so you can make the best decision in choosing the switch that suits your preferences.
By the numbers
Technical specifications
Actuation force
45g
Actuation force
N/A
Bottom-out force
55g
Bottom-out force
62g
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Total travel
4.00 mm
Total travel
3.70 mm
Factory lubed
Yes
Factory lubed
Yes
Stem construction
Standard
Stem construction
Partial box
Stem material
POM
Stem material
POM
Top housing material
Polycarbonate
Top housing material
Polycarbonate
Bottom housing material
Polycarbonate
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Spring
Gold-plated
Spring
Stainless steel
Housing materials
The Everglide Oreo and the Jwick Semi-Silent Linear differ in terms of their housing materials. While both switches feature a polycarbonate top housing, the Oreo incorporates a polycarbonate bottom housing, whereas the Semi-Silent Linear utilizes a nylon bottom housing.
Both switches share the benefits of using polycarbonate in their top housing. Polycarbonate is a relatively stiff plastic that creates a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound profile. This material is especially advantageous for users who plan to incorporate RGB lighting, as its translucency allows for better light transmission. Therefore, whether it is the Oreo or the Semi-Silent Linear, you can expect similar sound profiles and lighting effects from their polycarbonate top housings.
However, the difference arises when it comes to their bottom housings. The Oreo's polycarbonate bottom housing maintains the same qualities as the top housing, offering a stiffer plastic material for clearer and more resonant sound. On the other hand, the Jwick Semi-Silent Linear utilizes a nylon bottom housing. Nylon is a softer plastic that absorbs more sound, resulting in a deeper and fuller sound profile. This difference in bottom housing material between the two switches will contribute to distinct bottom-out sound and feel experiences.
In summary, the Everglide Oreo and the Jwick Semi-Silent Linear share similarities in their polycarbonate top housings, delivering sharp and crisp sound profiles suitable for RGB lighting. However, the Oreo's polycarbonate bottom housing emphasizes the same characteristics, while the Semi-Silent Linear's nylon bottom housing elicits a deeper and fuller sound. Ultimately, the choice between the two switches will depend on personal preferences regarding sound and feel.
Weight
When comparing the Everglide Oreo tactile switch and the Jwick Semi-Silent Linear linear switch, there are some notable differences in their actuation force and bottom out force. The Oreo has an actuation force of 45 grams, which means that it requires a relatively light touch to trigger a keystroke. In contrast, the actuation force of the Semi-Silent Linear is unavailable, so it's difficult to directly compare the two in this regard.
Moving on to the bottom out force, the Oreo requires 55 grams of force to fully press the key down, providing a medium-light typing experience. On the other hand, the Semi-Silent Linear has a bottom out force of 62 grams, which indicates a slightly heavier typing experience.
Weight is an important factor to consider for keyboard users, as it can impact typing comfort and endurance. Those who prefer a lighter switch might find the Oreo more suitable, as it allows for longer typing or gaming sessions without causing excessive fatigue. However, for those who enjoy a more substantial typing experience with a stronger push feel, the slightly heavier bottom out force of the Semi-Silent Linear might be preferable.
Ultimately, while the actuation force of the Oreo is known, the same information for the Semi-Silent Linear is unavailable. Therefore, a direct comparison between their actuation forces cannot be made. However, based on the provided information, it can be concluded that the Oreo is lighter in terms of both actuation and bottom out force compared to the Semi-Silent Linear.
Travel distance
When comparing the travel distance of the Everglide Oreo tactile switch and the Jwick Semi-Silent Linear linear switch, there is a slight difference between the two. The Everglide Oreo tactile switch has a travel distance of 4 mm, while the Jwick Semi-Silent Linear linear switch has a slightly shorter travel distance of 3.7 mm. This 0.3 mm may not seem significant, but it can make a noticeable difference in the overall typing or gaming experience.
The Everglide Oreo with its 4 mm travel distance falls into the category of a more traditional travel distance, offering a deeper and more substantial feel when pressing down on a key. On the other hand, the Jwick Semi-Silent Linear with its shorter 3.7 mm travel distance caters to those who prefer a more shallow and responsive typing or gaming experience.
Gamers, in particular, often opt for switches with shorter travel distances as it allows for faster response times. By reducing the travel distance, the time it takes for the switch to actuate and register the keystroke is reduced, providing a quicker and more nimble feel. However, it's important to note that shorter travel distances can sometimes feel abrupt or lacking in depth for some individuals who prefer a more hearty typing experience.
In conclusion, if you value a more traditional and substantial feel when pressing down on a key, the Everglide Oreo tactile switch with its 4 mm travel distance would be the ideal choice. However, if you prioritize a quicker and more responsive typing or gaming experience, the Jwick Semi-Silent Linear linear switch with its slightly shorter 3.7 mm travel distance would be more suitable. Whichever option you choose, both switches offer their own unique advantages, ensuring a satisfying typing or gaming experience tailored to your preferences.
Price comparison
Which switch is more bang for your buck?
The Everglide Oreo has an MSRP of $6.86 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Oreo for $4.19.
The Jwick Semi-Silent Linear has an MSRP of $6.50 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Semi-Silent Linear for $5.27.
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 Oreo tactile switch has a subtle and mellow sound profile, creating a pleasant auditory experience while typing. On the other hand, the Jwick Semi-Silent Linear switch offers a semi-silent topping-out sound, which means it produces a whisper-quiet noise when the key reaches its highest point, while still maintaining a clacky sound when bottoming out. This combination of sounds provides a unique experience for users who value both quietness and a slight audible feedback. It's important to note that the overall sound of a switch is also influenced by other factors such as the keyboard board and keycaps used.
When it comes to feel, the Everglide Oreo tactile switch is described as having a crisp and responsive tactile bump at the top, followed by a cushioned sensation when bottoming out. It falls under the category of "accented" switches, offering a medium amount of tactility that is neither overwhelming nor subtle. Additionally, it is referred to as a "stepped" switch, meaning it has two stages of feedback with some pre-travel and/or post-travel. This combination of characteristics provides a satisfying typing experience without being overly intense.
On the other hand, the Jwick Semi-Silent Linear switch is described as offering a smooth and silky type feel. It is categorized as a "mild" switch, providing a gentle typing experience without pronounced characteristics. Additionally, it is also referred to as a "snappy" switch, indicating its high responsiveness and lively typing sensation. It is also mentioned as a "buttery" and "polished" switch, implying that it provides a seamless and effortless keystroke experience with reduced friction and smooth key travel.
Taking into consideration all the available information, it can be concluded that the Everglide Oreo tactile switch and Jwick Semi-Silent Linear switch offer different subjective qualities in terms of sound and feel. The Oreo provides a subtle, mellow sound profile with a crisp and responsive tactile feel, striking a balance between satisfying keystrokes and comfortable typing. On the other hand, the Semi-Silent Linear switch offers a semi-silent topping-out sound while maintaining a clacky bottom-out sound, along with a smooth and gentle typing experience with high responsiveness. Both switches have their unique characteristics that cater to different preferences. However, users seeking a similar experience can expect comparable results in terms of sound and feel from both switches.
Conclusion
To sum up, if you prioritize a satisfying keystroke and a comfortable typing experience, along with a subtle, mellow sound profile, the Everglide Oreo tactile switch is the perfect choice for you. With a medium-light bottom out force of 55 grams, these switches strike the ideal balance between tactility and comfort. Additionally, the Oreo offers an accented feel, providing a prominent amount of tactility without overwhelming or subtlety. On the other hand, if you prefer a silky smooth type feel with a clacky bottom-out sound and a semi-silent topping-out sound, the Jwick Semi-Silent Linear linear switch is the one for you. With a medium bottom out force of 62 grams, these switches offer a safe middle-ground typing experience. Moreover, they provide a mild feel that is approachable to most, along with snappy and buttery characteristics. Ultimately, the choice between the Everglide Oreo and Jwick Semi-Silent Linear switches depends on your preference for tactile feedback, sound profile, and overall typing experience.
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