Kailh Sage vs. Everglide Sakura Pink
An in-depth look at the Kailh Sage and the Everglide Sakura Pink switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When it comes to choosing a mechanical keyboard switch, two popular options to consider are the Kailh Sage and the Everglide Sakura Pink. The Kailh Sage is a clicky switch known for its invigorating and sharp typing experience. With a heavy weight and refreshingly sharp clickiness, it provides a satisfying tactile feedback. On the other hand, the Everglide Sakura Pink is a linear switch that offers a completely different typing experience. With a feather-light 35g actuation force, it is perfect for delicate typists who prefer an easy-to-press switch. It has a gliding type feel and a frictionless operation, providing a smooth and effortless typing experience. Additionally, the Sakura Pink produces a delightfully poppy sound, reminiscent of bubble wrap being popped, adding a playful touch to your keyboarding sessions. However, let's dive in a bit deeper beyond these generalities so you can make the best decision on which switch suits your preferences and typing style.
By the numbers
Technical specifications
Actuation force
N/A
Actuation force
35g
Bottom-out force
70g
Bottom-out force
45g
Pre-travel
1.70 mm
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Total travel
3.60 mm
Total travel
4.00 mm
Factory lubed
No
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
Nylon
Bottom housing material
Polycarbonate
Mount type
Plate (3-pin)
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Spring
Stainless steel
Spring
Stainless steel
Housing materials
Comparing the housing materials of the Kailh Sage and the Everglide Sakura Pink, it is evident that both switches utilize polycarbonate for their top housings. This choice of material offers a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound profile when typing, thanks to polycarbonate's stiffness and resonant properties. Additionally, the translucency of polycarbonate makes it particularly beneficial for switches with RGB lighting. Therefore, users can expect similar results in sound quality and aesthetics when using either the Sage or Sakura Pink switches.
However, where the two switches differ is in their bottom housing materials. The Sage employs a nylon bottom housing, while the Sakura Pink features a polycarbonate bottom housing. Typing on switches with a nylon bottom housing produces a deeper and fuller sound profile. Nylon's softness absorbs more sound, resulting in a duller and rounder sound. On the other hand, the polycarbonate bottom housing of the Sakura Pink contributes to a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound profile. Polycarbonate's relative stiffness enhances clarity and resonance in the switch's sound.
When using switches with different top and bottom housing materials, the qualities of each material are distributed between the top and bottom of the switch. The bottom housing has a more significant impact on the bottom-out sound and feel, giving users a tactile experience when pressing down on the switch. Conversely, the top housing influences the sound when releasing a key. Therefore, while both the Sage and Sakura Pink switches deliver similar results in terms of their polycarbonate top housings, the choice of nylon for the Sage's bottom housing and polycarbonate for the Sakura Pink's bottom housing leads to slight variations in sound and tactile feedback.
Weight
When comparing the actuation force and bottom out force of the Kailh Sage clicky switch and the Everglide Sakura Pink linear switch, there are notable differences. The actuation force of the Sage is unavailable, while the Sakura Pink has an actuation force of 35 grams, which is relatively light. In terms of bottom out force, the Sage requires 70 grams, which is medium-heavy, while the Sakura Pink requires 45 grams, making it lighter.
For those who prefer a lighter typing experience, the Sakura Pink switch would be a suitable choice as its lower actuation force allows for a quicker keystroke response. This can be advantageous for extended typing periods, making it an ideal option for work or long gaming sessions where endurance is important. On the other hand, the Sage switch offers a more substantial typing experience with its heavier actuation and bottom out force. This provides a satisfying push feel, which some users may prefer for a more responsive and tactile typing experience.
In summary, while the actuation and bottom out forces of the Kailh Sage and Everglide Sakura Pink switches differ, they offer distinct advantages for different preferences. The Sakura Pink switch is lighter overall, making it suitable for prolonged usage, while the Sage switch provides a heavier and more substantial typing experience.
Travel distance
The Kailh Sage clicky switch and the Everglide Sakura Pink linear switch have different travel distances. The Sage has a travel distance of 3.6 mm, while the Sakura Pink has a travel distance of 4 mm. The Sakura Pink, with its 4 mm travel distance, falls within the range of the most traditional travel distances, providing a satisfying depth for those who prefer a more substantial feel when pressing down on a key. On the other hand, the Kailh Sage, with its slightly shorter travel distance of 3.6 mm, offers a more responsive experience, which is particularly favored by gamers who value faster response times. Both switches cater to different preferences, with the Sakura Pink providing a deeper, more hearty press and the Sage offering a quicker, more agile response. Choose the switch that aligns with your preference for either a deeper feel or a more responsive touch.
Price comparison
Which switch is more bang for your buck?
The Everglide Sakura Pink has an MSRP of $6.86 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Sakura Pink for $3.89.
The Kailh Sage comes in at $6.25 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
The Kailh Sage clicky switch is best known for its distinct clicky typing experience. It has a heavy weight and a refreshingly sharp clickiness. When typing on the Sage, you can expect a crunchy sound, similar to stepping on piles of crisp and crunchy autumn leaves. In terms of feel, the Sage offers an invigorating and sharp tactile experience. It has pronounced feedback, a moderate to firm actuation force, and a snappy and reactive feel. Its strong and crisp tactile bump can be felt distinctly with each keypress.
On the other hand, the Everglide Sakura Pink linear switch is known for its super light feel and feather-light 35g actuation force. It is perfect for delicate typists who prefer a lighter touch. The Sakura Pinks provide a smooth and effortless typing experience, with a gliding type feel and frictionless operation. The sound produced by these switches is described as muted, offering a softer and quieter typing experience compared to regular or clacky switches. It produces a poppy sound, reminiscent of popping bubble wrap, which adds a playful touch to your keyboarding sessions.
Overall, the Kailh Sage clicky switch and the Everglide Sakura Pink linear switch offer different subjective qualities. The Sage provides a heavy, sharp and clicky typing experience with a crunchy sound, while the Sakura Pink offers a light, smooth and effortless typing experience with a muted sound. However, it's important to highlight that the sound and feel of a switch can also be influenced by other factors such as the keyboard board and keycaps used. Both switches provide unique experiences that would cater to different preferences, but if you're looking for a similar light and smooth typing experience, the Sakura Pink would be a suitable choice.
Conclusion
In closing, when considering whether to choose the Kailh Sage clicky switch or the Everglide Sakura Pink linear switch, it all comes down to personal preferences and typing style. If you enjoy a heavier switch with a pronounced clicky sound, the Kailh Sage would be the better choice for you. The Sage offers an invigorating and sharp typing experience, with a medium-heavy actuation force of 70 grams. The crunchy and distinct clickiness of the Sage switches adds a satisfying tactile feedback to each keystroke.
On the other hand, if you prefer a lighter and quieter switch, the Everglide Sakura Pink would be more suitable. With a light actuation force of 45 grams, the Sakura Pink offers an easy-to-press and frictionless typing experience. The buttery and creamy sensation of these switches, combined with the delightful poppy sound reminiscent of bubble wrap being popped, creates a smooth and effortless typing experience.
Ultimately, it's important to consider your own preferences for typing feel, sound, and actuation force when choosing between these two switches. Both the Kailh Sage and Everglide Sakura Pink have their own unique features that cater to different typing styles. So, whether you prefer a heavy and clicky typing experience or a light and smooth typing experience, you can find the perfect switch that suits your needs. In the end, the choice is yours.
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