Everglide Sakura Pink vs. KTT Sea Salt Lemon
An in-depth look at the Everglide Sakura Pink and the KTT Sea Salt Lemon switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When it comes to mechanical keyboard switches, two popular options that offer a smooth and satisfying typing experience are the Everglide Sakura Pink and the KTT Sea Salt Lemon, both linear switches. The Sakura Pink is best known for its super light actuation force of 35g, making it ideal for delicate typists. With a gliding type feel and frictionless operation, it provides an effortless typing experience. Additionally, the Sakura Pinks produce a delightful poppy sound, reminiscent of bubble wrap being popped, adding a playful touch to your keyboarding sessions. On the other hand, the Sea Salt Lemon by KTT offers a buttery smooth experience, thanks to its progressive spring and dry-lube design. It is categorized as low-pitched, neutral, and mild, offering a pleasing typing sensation. However, let's dive in a bit deeper beyond these generalities so you can best decide on the ideal switch for your typing preferences.
By the numbers
Technical specifications
Actuation force
35g
Actuation force
45g
Bottom-out force
45g
Bottom-out force
53g
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
No
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
Nylon
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Mount type
Plate (3-pin)
Spring
Stainless steel
Spring
13mm progressive spring
Housing materials
The housing materials of the Everglide Sakura Pink and the KTT Sea Salt Lemon switches share some similarities. Both switches feature a polycarbonate top housing that creates a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound profile. This is due to the stiffness of polycarbonate, which allows for a clearer and more resonant sound. Aesthetically, the translucency of polycarbonate is especially useful for those who plan to use RGB lighting, as it enhances the visual appeal of the switches. Therefore, if you are looking for a switch that offers these qualities with the added benefit of RGB lighting, both the Sakura Pink and Sea Salt Lemon would provide similar results.
However, the housing materials differ when it comes to the bottom housing. The Sakura Pink utilizes polycarbonate for the bottom housing, which will have an impact on the bottom-out sound and feel. Conversely, the Sea Salt Lemon incorporates a nylon bottom housing. Nylon is known for producing a deeper and fuller sound profile due to its softer nature. Nylon also absorbs more sound than harder plastics, resulting in a duller and rounder sound. Therefore, if you are seeking a switch with a more distinct and impactful bottom-out sound, the Sakura Pink with its polycarbonate bottom housing would be a better choice. On the other hand, if you prefer a switch with a deeper and fuller sound, the Sea Salt Lemon's nylon bottom housing would be more suitable.
In summary, both the Everglide Sakura Pink and the KTT Sea Salt Lemon switches offer the acoustically advantageous polycarbonate top housing. They both excel in creating a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound profile. However, their bottom housings differ in material, with the Sakura Pink using polycarbonate and the Sea Salt Lemon featuring nylon. The polycarbonate bottom housing provides a stronger impact on the bottom-out sound and feel, while the nylon bottom housing elicits a deeper and fuller sound. With these distinctions in mind, you can choose the switch that best suits your preference for sound and tactile feedback.
Weight
When comparing the actuation force and bottom out force of the Everglide Sakura Pink linear switch and the KTT Sea Salt Lemon linear switch, there are noticeable differences. The Sakura Pink has a lighter actuation force of 35 grams compared to the Sea Salt Lemon's 45 grams. This means that the Sakura Pink switch requires less force to trigger a keystroke, providing a more sensitive and responsive typing experience. On the other hand, the Sakura Pink also has a lighter bottom out force of 45 grams compared to the Sea Salt Lemon's 53 grams. This indicates that the Sakura Pink switch requires less force to fully press down the key, which may be beneficial for users who prefer a lighter typing feel or need to type for extended periods without experiencing as much fatigue.
Although there is a difference in both the actuation force and bottom out force between the two switches, it is important to note that both can still provide satisfying results depending on personal preferences. The lighter actuation and bottom out forces of the Sakura Pink switch offer a smoother and quicker typing experience, while the slightly heavier forces of the Sea Salt Lemon switch may appeal to those seeking a more substantial or pronounced keystroke feel. Ultimately, the choice between these switches depends on individual preferences and requirements, whether it be a preference for a lighter or heavier typing experience.
Travel distance
The Everglide Sakura Pink linear switch and the KTT Sea Salt Lemon linear switch have the same travel distance of 4 mm. This means that when you press down on a key with either switch, you will feel the switch travel a distance of 4 mm from the top to the bottom. Therefore, in terms of travel distance, both switches will offer similar results.
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 KTT Sea Salt Lemon comes in at $2.80 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
When it comes to sound, the Sakura Pink and Sea Salt Lemon switches offer different experiences. The Sakura Pink switches have a muted sound, producing a softer and quieter noise compared to regular switches. They emit a delightful poppy sound, reminiscent of popping bubble wrap, adding a playful touch to your typing sessions. On the other hand, the Sea Salt Lemon switches have a low-pitched sound, featuring a more bass-heavy and mellow tone. This creates a soothing and calming typing experience. However, it's important to note that the sound of a switch can also be influenced by other factors such as the keyboard board and keycaps chosen.
In terms of feel, the Sakura Pink switches provide a buttery and creamy typing experience. They offer a smooth and fluid keystroke, providing a seamless and effortless sensation. The easy-to-press nature of these switches, with their gentle resistance and low actuation force, makes typing comfortable and reduces finger fatigue. The Sakura Pink switches are also described as frictionless, meaning that they offer an extremely smooth and effortless typing experience, minimizing any sense of resistance or friction. On the other hand, the Sea Salt Lemon switches are described as mild, offering a gentle typing experience. While lacking the specific descriptors of the Sakura Pink switches, the Sea Salt Lemon switches provide a safe, middle-ground typing feel that is approachable to most.
Taking all the available information into consideration, the Everglide Sakura Pink switches and KTT Sea Salt Lemon switches offer distinct qualities. The Sakura Pink switches are known for their super light actuation force, smooth and effortless typing experience, delightful poppy sound, and frictionless operation. On the other hand, the Sea Salt Lemon switches provide a buttery smooth typing feel, low-pitched sound, and a mild and gentle typing experience. Both switches cater to different preferences and typing styles. While the Sakura Pink may be preferred by those seeking a lighter and more playful typing experience, the Sea Salt Lemon may appeal to individuals looking for a smooth and calming typing feel. It's important to consider personal preferences and requirements when choosing between these switches. However, it's worth mentioning that if the subjective qualities of the switches are similar, you can expect to achieve comparable results in terms of sound and feel.
Conclusion
To sum up, if you're a delicate typist who prefers a light and effortless typing experience, the Everglide Sakura Pink linear switch would be the ideal choice for you. With its super light 35g actuation force, it offers a smooth and frictionless feel, making typing a breeze. The Sakura Pinks also produce a playful and poppy sound, reminiscent of popping bubble wrap. On the other hand, if you prefer a medium-light switch with a buttery smooth typing experience, the KTT Sea Salt Lemon linear switch is the way to go. Its progressive spring and dry-lube design provide a buttery smooth feel, ensuring a comfortable typing experience. The Sea Salt Lemons also offer a low-pitched and neutral sound, making them suitable for various environments. Ultimately, both switches have their unique features and cater to different preferences, so choose the one that aligns with your typing style and preference.
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