Everglide Sakura Pink vs. Gateron Silent Ink Black
An in-depth look at the Everglide Sakura Pink and the Gateron Silent Ink Black switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When it comes to choosing a mechanical keyboard switch, the Everglide Sakura Pink and the Gateron Silent Ink Black are two popular options to consider. The Sakura Pink is a linear switch that is best known for its super light actuation force of 35g, making it perfect for delicate typists. With a gliding type feel and frictionless operation, typing on the Sakura Pink switch is a smooth and effortless experience. Plus, its delightful poppy sound adds a playful touch to your keyboarding sessions. On the other hand, the Silent Ink Black is a linear switch that focuses on providing a quieter typing experience. This switch offers a cushion-like bottom-out feel with minimal audio feedback, making it ideal for environments that require silence. Both switches have their own unique qualities, 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
35g
Actuation force
60g
Bottom-out force
45g
Bottom-out force
70g
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
Proprietary INK blend
Bottom housing material
Polycarbonate
Bottom housing material
Proprietary INK blend
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Spring
Stainless steel
Spring
Color coated
Housing materials
The Everglide Sakura Pink features a polycarbonate top housing, which contributes to a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound profile. This is due to polycarbonate being a stiff plastic, resulting in a clear and resonant sound. Additionally, the translucent nature of polycarbonate makes it ideal for switches with RGB lighting, as it allows the lighting to shine through. On the other hand, the Gateron Silent Ink Black utilizes a proprietary INK blend top housing. This blend offers a pointed and relatively high-pitched sound profile, without being overly sharp. The satisfying thin and higher-pitched sound is often described as clacky. While both top housings offer unique characteristics, they ultimately contribute to a distinct sound experience.
In terms of bottom housings, both the Sakura Pink and the Silent Ink Black utilize a polycarbonate material. This leads to a similar impact on the overall sound profile of the switch. The polycarbonate bottom housing contributes to a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound profile, just like the top housing. The stiffness of polycarbonate ensures a clear and resonant sound, resulting in a satisfying typing experience. With both switches utilizing the same bottom housing material, users can expect similar sound profiles and feel when pressing down on the keys.
It should be noted that the top and bottom housings of a switch play different roles in the overall sound profile. When pressing down on a switch, the qualities of the bottom housing are felt, impacting the bottom-out sound and feel. In the case of the Sakura Pink and the Silent Ink Black, their respective bottom housings' polycarbonate material contributes to the sharp and crisp sound when bottoming out the keys. On the other hand, the top housing material has more influence on the sound when releasing a key. Whether it is the polycarbonate top housing of the Sakura Pink or the proprietary INK blend top housing of the Silent Ink Black, the materials contribute to the overall sound experience, creating distinct auditory feedback.
Weight
When comparing the actuation force and bottom out force of the Everglide Sakura Pink linear switch and the Gateron Silent Ink Black linear switch, there are significant differences to note. The Sakura Pink has a lighter actuation force of 35 grams, making it easier to trigger keystrokes with less effort. In contrast, the Silent Ink Black requires a heavier actuation force of 60 grams, providing a more substantial push feel. Similarly, when it comes to the bottom out force, the Sakura Pink requires 45 grams, while the Silent Ink Black demands a heavier 70 grams. This indicates that the Silent Ink Black offers a more tactile and forceful typing experience compared to the Sakura Pink. Those who prefer a lighter switch for prolonged typing or gaming sessions will find the Sakura Pink preferable, while users seeking a stronger and more substantial typing feel should opt for the Silent Ink Black.
Travel distance
The Everglide Sakura Pink linear switch and the Gateron Silent Ink Black linear switch both have a travel distance of 4 mm. This means that when pressing down on a key, both switches will travel the same distance from the top to the bottom. Therefore, users can expect similar results when activating these switches.
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 Gateron Silent Ink Black has an MSRP of $8.50 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Silent Ink Black for $8.35.
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, both the Everglide Sakura Pink and the Gateron Silent Ink Black switches are classified as muted switches. This means that they produce a softer and quieter sound compared to regular or clacky switches, which helps minimize the noise typically associated with mechanical keyboards. However, it's important to note that the sound of a switch can also be influenced by other factors such as the choice of keyboard and keycaps used.
In terms of feel, the Sakura Pink switch provides a buttery, creamy, easy-to-press, and frictionless typing experience. It offers a smooth and fluid keystroke with a seamless and effortless sensation. The light actuation force of 35g makes typing comfortable and reduces finger fatigue during extended typing sessions. The Sakura Pink switch truly enhances the typing experience by offering a responsive and low-impact feel.
On the other hand, the Gateron Silent Ink Black switch is described as having a silky and polished feel. It provides an exceptionally smooth typing experience with reduced friction and smooth key travel. The pillow-like bottom-out feel adds to the cushioned sensation while typing, resulting in a comfortable and refined typing experience.
In conclusion, while the Everglide Sakura Pink and Gateron Silent Ink Black switches have slightly different descriptors for their sound and feel, both switches provide subjective qualities that are highly desirable for many keyboard enthusiasts. The Sakura Pink switch offers a buttery, easy-to-press, and frictionless feel, along with a delightfully poppy sound. The Silent Ink Black switch, on the other hand, delivers a silky and polished typing experience, with a muted sound that is perfect for quieter typing environments. Overall, both switches provide smooth and effortless typing experiences, and choosing between them would depend on personal preference and the specific requirements of the user. Regardless of the choice, the user can expect to achieve similar satisfying results in terms of sound and feel.
Conclusion
To sum up, if you are a delicate typist looking for a feather-light typing experience with a smooth and effortless feel, the Everglide Sakura Pink linear switch is the perfect choice for you. With an actuation force of only 35g, these switches offer easy-to-press keys that minimize finger fatigue during extended typing sessions. The Sakura Pinks also produce a delightful poppy sound, adding a playful touch to your keyboarding sessions. They are best described as buttery and creamy, providing a seamless and uniform typing sensation. Additionally, if you prefer a muted sound, the Sakura Pink switch will suit your needs.
On the other hand, if you require a quieter typing experience, the Gateron Silent Ink Black linear switch is the way to go. With a bottom out force of 70g, these switches offer a cushion-like bottom-out feel, minimizing audio feedback. They are best described as silky and polished, providing an exceptionally smooth and refined typing experience. Like the Sakura Pink, the Silent Ink Black switch also offers a muted sound, ensuring a quieter environment.
Ultimately, the choice between the Everglide Sakura Pink and the Gateron Silent Ink Black comes down to your personal preferences. If you prioritize a lighter and more playful typing experience, along with a poppy sound, go for the Sakura Pink. If you prioritize a quieter typing experience with a refined and smooth feel, the Silent Ink Black is the better option. Consider your typing style and environment to make the best choice for your mechanical keyboard switch.
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