Kailh Sage vs. Everglide Sunset Yellow
An in-depth look at the Kailh Sage and the Everglide Sunset Yellow switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When it comes to choosing a mechanical keyboard switch, two options that stand out are the Kailh Sage and the Everglide Sunset Yellow. The Sage is a clicky switch, known for its invigorating and sharp typing experience. With a heavy weight and refreshingly sharp clickiness, these switches offer a satisfying tactile feedback. On the other hand, the Sunset Yellow is a linear switch, recognized for its captivating sound profile resembling the collision of mahjong tiles. With a rich, bassy, and decadent sound, typing becomes an indulgent experience. These Creamsicle-colored switches have a medium-weight, making them suitable for a wide range of users. The POM stem and proprietary factory lube method contribute to a distinct gliding feel, while the combination of very short travel and a long-pole stem ensures a sharper and highly responsive typing experience. However, let's dive in a bit deeper beyond generalities so you can best decide on the perfect switch for you.
By the numbers
Technical specifications
Actuation force
N/A
Actuation force
43g
Bottom-out force
70g
Bottom-out force
51g
Pre-travel
1.70 mm
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Total travel
3.60 mm
Total travel
3.20 mm
Factory lubed
No
Factory lubed
Yes
Stem construction
Standard
Stem construction
Standard
Stem material
POM
Stem material
Ly
Top housing material
Polycarbonate
Top housing material
POM
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Bottom housing material
POM
Mount type
Plate (3-pin)
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Spring
Stainless steel
Spring
Single-staged lengthened 20mm spring
Housing materials
The housing materials of the Kailh Sage and the Everglide Sunset Yellow differ in terms of the top housing. The Sage features a polycarbonate top housing, which creates a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound profile. This is due to the stiffness of polycarbonate, resulting in a more clear and resonant sound. Additionally, the translucent nature of polycarbonate makes it ideal for use with RGB lighting. In contrast, the Sunset Yellow's POM top housing produces a unique and pleasing sound with a deeper tone. The sound profile of POM is relatively more muted, providing a distinct auditory experience. Although different, both materials contribute to the overall sound profile of the switch, albeit with different qualities.
When it comes to the bottom housing, the Sage incorporates a nylon material, while the Sunset Yellow utilizes POM. Nylon is renowned as a classic switch housing material, delivering a deeper and fuller sound. Its softer nature allows for increased sound absorption, resulting in a duller and rounder sound profile. Similarly, the POM bottom housing of the Sunset Yellow contributes to a deep and muted sound. Both materials offer their unique auditory characteristics to the switches, creating an enjoyable typing experience.
While the top and bottom housings of the Sage and the Sunset Yellow differ, their overall impact on the switch's sound and feel varies depending on the action. When pressing down on either switch, the qualities of the bottom housing are more noticeable, influencing the bottom-out sound and feel. Conversely, upon releasing a key, the top housing plays a more significant role in determining the sound produced. Therefore, although the housing materials differ, the Sage and the Sunset Yellow offer similar results in terms of their overall sound profiles, with the differences primarily observed in the specific qualities of the sound.
Weight
When comparing the actuation force and bottom out force of the Kailh Sage clicky switch and the Everglide Sunset Yellow linear switch, there are notable differences. Firstly, in terms of actuation force, the Sage's exact measurement is unavailable, while the Sunset Yellow requires 43 grams of force to trigger a keystroke. This indicates that the Sunset Yellow has a lighter actuation force compared to the Sage.
Furthermore, when it comes to bottom out force, the Sage requires 70 grams to fully press down, giving it a medium-heavy feel. Conversely, the Sunset Yellow has a lighter bottom out force of 51 grams, categorizing it as medium-light. This means that the Sage provides a more substantial typing experience due to its heavier bottom out force compared to the Sunset Yellow.
Considering the importance of weight, those who prefer a lighter switch may opt for the Sunset Yellow, as it allows for longer typing periods and is suitable for extended gaming sessions or work settings. On the other hand, individuals who desire a more robust push feel while typing would benefit from the Sage's heavier bottom out force.
In conclusion, while the exact actuation force of the Sage is unknown, it is evident that the Sunset Yellow has a lighter actuation force and bottom out force compared to the Sage. Depending on personal preferences, individuals can select the appropriate switch that suits their desired typing experience.
Travel distance
The Kailh Sage clicky switch has a travel distance of 3.6 mm, while the Everglide Sunset Yellow linear switch has a travel distance of 3.2 mm. Both switches have shorter travel distances compared to the traditional 4.0 mm, indicating a trend towards shorter distances in recent times. Gamers, in particular, prefer switches with shorter travel distances for faster response times. If you prioritize responsiveness, the Sunset Yellow switch would be the better option with its slightly shorter distance. However, for those who prefer a deeper feel when pressing down on a key, the Kailh Sage switch with its longer travel distance would be the preferred choice. Ultimately, the decision between the two switches comes down to personal preference for either quicker response times or a more substantial keypress experience.
Price comparison
Which switch is more bang for your buck?
For 10 switches, the Kailh Sage comes in at $6.25, whereas the Everglide Sunset Yellow comes in at $3.09.
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 Kailh Sage clicky switch offers a "crunchy" typing experience, reminiscent of stepping on piles of crisp and crunchy autumn leaves. On the other hand, the Everglide Sunset Yellow linear switch provides a captivating sound profile resembling the collision of mahjong tiles. It offers a rich, bassy, and decadent sound during key presses, with a lower frequency range associated with deep bass tones. However, it is important to note that the sound of a switch can also be influenced by factors such as the keyboard and keycaps used.
When it comes to feel, the Kailh Sage switch provides an invigorating typing sensation. It offers pronounced feedback, a moderate to firm actuation force, and a snappy and reactive feel, creating an immersive typing experience. Additionally, it features a sharp tactile bump that can be distinctly felt with each keypress. On the other hand, the Everglide Sunset Yellow switch offers a range of qualities, including a creamy and buttery typing experience. This is achieved through factory lubrication or specific materials, resulting in a smooth and silky sensation when gliding fingers across the keys. It also offers a frictionless and polished feel, minimizing resistance and providing a sleek and refined typing experience.
Taking all the available information into consideration, the Kailh Sage clicky switch and the Everglide Sunset Yellow linear switch offer distinct qualities in terms of sound and feel. The Sage switch provides a crunchy sound and an invigorating and sharp tactile feel, while the Sunset Yellow switch offers a bassy sound profile and a creamy, frictionless, and polished typing experience. Depending on personal preferences, one may prefer the unique clickiness of the Sage switch or the captivating sound and smoothness of the Sunset Yellow switch. Both switches offer a distinct typing experience, allowing users to choose according to their desired sound and feel.
Conclusion
In closing, when choosing between the Kailh Sage clicky switch and the Everglide Sunset Yellow linear switch, it ultimately comes down to personal preference and typing style.
If you enjoy a distinct clicky typing experience with a medium-heavy bottom out force, the Sage switch may be the perfect fit for you. Its invigorating feel and sharp tactile feedback create an immersive typing sensation. Additionally, the crunchy sound profile adds to the overall experience, resembling the sound of stepping on piles of autumn leaves.
On the other hand, if you prefer a smoother and buttery typing experience with a medium-light bottom out force, the Sunset Yellow switch might be more suitable. The creamy and frictionless feel of these switches, along with their rich and bassy sound profile, make typing a delightfully indulgent experience. The POM stem and proprietary factory lube method contribute to a distinct gliding feel, and the short travel with a long-pole stem ensures highly responsive typing.
Ultimately, the decision between the Sage clicky switch and the Sunset Yellow linear switch depends on whether you prioritize the clicky sound and sharp tactile feedback of the Sage or the smooth and buttery feel and rich, bassy sound profile of the Sunset Yellow. Consider your typing preferences and choose the switch that aligns best with your desired typing experience.
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