Everglide Oreo vs. Everglide Tourmaline Blue
An in-depth look at the Everglide Oreo and the Everglide Tourmaline Blue switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
The Everglide Oreo and the Everglide Tourmaline Blue are two mechanical keyboard switches with distinct characteristics that cater to different typing preferences. The Oreo is a tactile switch, offering a crisp and responsive tactile bump at the top, followed by a pleasantly cushioned sensation when bottoming out. With a medium-light tactility, it strikes a perfect balance between a satisfying keystroke and a comfortable typing experience. When typing on the Oreo, you'll notice a subtle and mellow sound profile. On the other hand, the Tourmaline Blue is a linear switch that provides a deep and thocky sound profile, immersing you in a highly satisfying typing experience. With a lengthened single-stage spring, it offers a bouncy feel with each keystroke. The Tourmaline Blue's standard spring weight ensures that it remains enjoyable and accessible to a wide range of users. 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
45g
Actuation force
59g
Bottom-out force
55g
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
Polycarbonate
Top housing material
Polycarbonate
Bottom housing material
Polycarbonate
Bottom housing material
Polycarbonate
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Spring
Gold-plated
Spring
Gold-plated
Housing materials
The Everglide Oreo and Everglide Tourmaline Blue feature polycarbonate as their housing material. This choice of material results in a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound profile for both switches. Polycarbonate is known for its stiffness, which enhances the clarity and resonance of the sound produced. Additionally, the translucency of polycarbonate makes it ideal for switches that utilize RGB lighting. Therefore, both the Oreo and Tourmaline Blue benefit from the use of polycarbonate in their top and bottom housings.
When it comes to the bottom housing, both the Everglide Oreo and the Everglide Tourmaline Blue employ polycarbonate. This means that the qualities associated with polycarbonate are evenly distributed, resulting in a consistent sound profile and feel when pressing down on the switch. The stiffness of polycarbonate enhances the bottom-out sound and feel, giving users a satisfying and crisp experience when actuating the keys.
On the other hand, the top housing of the switches also features polycarbonate. This translates to a similar impact on the sound produced when the keys are released. The stiffness of polycarbonate ensures a clear and resonant sound profile, providing an audible feedback when keys are let go. Whether it is the Everglide Oreo or the Everglide Tourmaline Blue, users can expect a high-pitched and crisp sound when releasing the keys, thanks to the similar polycarbonate top housing.
In conclusion, the Everglide Oreo and Everglide Tourmaline Blue share similar housing materials, specifically polycarbonate, which contributes to a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound profile. The use of polycarbonate in both the top and bottom housings ensures consistent qualities throughout the switch. Pressing down on the keys will deliver the qualities associated with the bottom housing, such as a clear and resonant sound. Releasing the keys will produce a similar impact on sound, thanks to the polycarbonate top housing. Ultimately, whether you choose the Oreo or the Tourmaline Blue, you can expect a comparable performance and sound experience due to the shared housing materials.
Weight
When comparing the Everglide Oreo tactile switch and the Everglide Tourmaline Blue linear switch, there are notable differences in their actuation force and bottom out force. The Oreo has a lighter actuation force of 45 grams, meaning less force is required to trigger a keystroke. In contrast, the Tourmaline Blue has a heavier actuation force of 59 grams, providing a stronger push feel for those who prefer a more substantial typing experience. Similarly, the bottom out force of the Oreo is lighter at 55 grams, while the Tourmaline Blue has a heavier bottom out force of 67 grams. These differences make the Oreo suitable for those who prefer a lighter typing experience, allowing for longer periods of comfortable typing, whether it be for work or extended gaming sessions. On the other hand, the Tourmaline Blue caters to individuals who appreciate the additional resistance and weight in their keystrokes. Overall, both switches offer their own unique characteristics, allowing users to choose between a lighter or heavier actuation and bottom out force based on their preferences.
Travel distance
Both the Everglide Oreo tactile switch and the Everglide Tourmaline Blue linear switch have a travel distance of 4 mm. This means that when you press down on a key with either of these switches, you will experience the same amount of travel distance. Therefore, you can expect similar results in terms of the sensation of pressing down on the keys. It is worth noting that both switches have the same travel distance, so there is no distinction between a shorter or longer distance between the two.
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 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
The Everglide Oreo tactile switch is best known for providing a crisp and responsive tactile bump at the top, followed by a cushioned sensation when bottoming out. This switch offers a medium light tactility, striking a balance between satisfying keystrokes and a comfortable typing experience. When typing on the Oreo, a subtle and mellow sound profile is detected. The Tourmaline Blue linear switch, on the other hand, is known for offering a deep and thocky sound profile, immersing users in a satisfying typing experience. With a lengthened single-stage spring, the Tourmaline Blue provides a bouncy feel with each keystroke. The standard spring weight of these switches makes them enjoyable and accessible to a wide range of users.
In terms of sound, the Oreo switch has a chirpy sound profile, characterized by a little squeak. This unique acoustic signature sets the Oreo apart from other switches. On the other hand, the Tourmaline Blue switch has a neutral sound profile, which is moderate and suitable for most intents and purposes. It is important to note that the sound of a switch is also influenced by factors such as the choice of board and keycaps, so individual results may vary.
In terms of feel, the Oreo switch is described as accented and stepped. It provides a medium tactile experience, with a prominent amount of tactility that is neither overwhelming nor subtle. The stepped nature of the switch means that there is some pre-travel and/or post-travel. On the other hand, the Tourmaline Blue switch is described as buttery, easy-to-press, and mild. It offers a smooth and fluid keystroke experience, with gentle resistance during key presses and a low-impact feel. These qualities make typing on the Tourmaline Blue switch effortless, comfortable, and approachable to most users.
In conclusion, the Everglide Oreo tactile switch and the Tourmaline Blue linear switch have distinct qualities in terms of sound and feel. The Oreo provides a subtle and mellow sound profile, with an accented and stepped feel. On the other hand, the Tourmaline Blue offers a deep and thocky sound profile, with a buttery, easy-to-press, and mild feel. Both switches aim to provide a satisfying typing experience, with the Oreo offering a medium light tactility and the Tourmaline Blue striking a balance with its standard spring weight. Depending on individual preferences, both switches can deliver enjoyable typing experiences with their unique qualities.
Conclusion
To sum up, if you're looking for a switch with a medium-light bottom out force and a satisfying tactile bump, the Everglide Oreo tactile switch is the way to go. These switches provide a comfortable typing experience with a crisp and responsive bump at the top, followed by a cushioned sensation when bottoming out. They offer a subtle, mellow sound profile that won't be too distracting. On the other hand, if you prefer a deeper and thocky sound profile, along with a smooth and fluid keystroke experience, the Everglide Tourmaline Blue linear switch is a great choice. With its lengthened single-stage spring, it provides a bouncy feel with each keystroke. These switches have a slightly higher bottom out force, offering a medium-heavy feel. Whether you're a beginner or advanced user, both switches have qualities that can enhance your typing experience. Ultimately, the choice between the Everglide Oreo and the Everglide Tourmaline Blue will depend on your personal preferences for bottom out force, tactile feedback, sound profile, and typing feel.
Mentioned in this article
