Everglide Sakura Pink vs. HMX Swift
An in-depth look at the Everglide Sakura Pink and the HMX Swift switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When it comes to choosing between mechanical keyboard switches, the Everglide Sakura Pink and the HMX Swift are two popular options to consider. The Sakura Pink is a linear switch that is best known for its super light 35g actuation force, making it perfect for delicate typists who prefer a gentle touch. With a smooth and effortless typing experience, these switches offer a buttery, creamy feel and produce a delightfully poppy sound, adding a playful touch to your keyboarding sessions. On the other hand, the HMX Swift, also a linear switch, stands out with its deeper sound profile and silky smoothness, thanks to its full nylon housings and delicate 42g actuation force. While HMX switches are typically known for a brighter sound signature, the Swifts offer a unique bouncy and clacky feel. Each switch has its own unique characteristics and appeal, but diving deeper into their specific features and qualities will help you decide on the best switch for your needs.
By the numbers
Technical specifications
Actuation force
35g
Actuation force
42g
Bottom-out force
45g
Bottom-out force
50g
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Total travel
4.00 mm
Total travel
3.90 mm
Factory lubed
Yes
Factory lubed
Yes
Stem construction
Standard
Stem construction
Standard
Stem material
POM
Stem material
Ly
Top housing material
Polycarbonate
Top housing material
Nylon
Bottom housing material
Polycarbonate
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Spring
Stainless steel
Spring
22mm extended spring
Housing materials
In comparing the housing materials of the Everglide Sakura Pink and the HMX Swift, the use of polycarbonate in the Sakura Pink's housing creates a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound profile. This is due to polycarbonate being a relatively stiffer plastic, which results in a more clear and resonant sound. On the other hand, the Swift's nylon housing elicits a deeper and fuller sound profile, as nylon is a softer plastic that absorbs more sound, creating a duller and rounder sound. While both materials have their unique sound characteristics, the Sakura Pink's polycarbonate housing is likely to provide a clearer and brighter sound compared to the Swift's nylon housing.
In terms of aesthetics, the Sakura Pink's translucent polycarbonate top housing is ideal for those who plan to use RGB lighting, as it allows the lighting to shine through. On the other hand, the Swift's nylon top housing may not be as visually appealing for those looking for a more vibrant and colorful keyboard setup. However, both materials offer their own unique advantages in terms of sound quality, with the polycarbonate providing a sharper sound profile and the nylon offering a deeper sound experience. Overall, the choice between the two housing materials ultimately depends on the user's preference for sound and visual aesthetics.
When considering the impact of top and bottom housings on switch performance, it is important to note that each housing material brings its own characteristics to the overall sound and feel of the switch. The Sakura Pink's polycarbonate top and bottom housing will provide a consistent sharp and clear sound profile throughout the keystroke, while the Swift's nylon top and bottom housing will offer a deeper and fuller sound experience. Despite the differences in housing materials, both switches are likely to offer a satisfying typing experience, with the Sakura Pink delivering a crisper sound and the Swift providing a more rounded sound profile. Ultimately, the choice between the two switches will come down to personal preference for sound and feel.
Weight
When comparing the actuation force and bottom out force of the Everglide Sakura Pink linear switch and the HMX Swift linear switch, it is clear that both switches have relatively light actuation and bottom out forces. The Sakura Pink has an actuation force of 35 grams and a bottom out force of 45 grams, while the Swift has an actuation force of 42 grams and a bottom out force of 50 grams. Both switches offer a lighter typing experience, which can be ideal for longer typing sessions or extended gaming use. However, for those who prefer a bit more resistance and feedback in their keystrokes, the Swift may be the slightly heavier option due to its slightly higher actuation and bottom out forces. Overall, both switches provide a comfortable and responsive typing experience, but the Swift may appeal more to those who prefer a bit more resistance in their keystrokes.
Travel distance
The Everglide Sakura Pink linear switch has a travel distance of 4 mm, while the HMX Swift linear switch has a travel distance of 3.9 mm. Both switches are relatively close in terms of travel distance, with the Sakura Pink being slightly longer than the Swift. The difference of 0.1 mm may not be noticeable to some users, but for those who prefer a slightly shorter travel distance, the Swift may be the preferred choice. Gamers, in particular, tend to favor shorter travel distances for quicker response times. However, those who enjoy a more substantial keypress may find the Sakura Pink to be more satisfying due to its slightly longer travel distance. Ultimately, the choice between the two switches will depend on personal preference and typing style.
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 HMX Swift has an MSRP of $3.50 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Swift for $2.99.
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 Everglide Sakura Pink switch offers a muted typing experience, producing a softer and quieter sound compared to other switches. On the other hand, the HMX Swift switch provides a clacky sound, which is sharp, snappy, and percussive when pressed. Depending on your preferences, the Sakura Pink switch might be more suitable for those looking for a quieter typing experience, while the Swift switch may appeal to individuals who enjoy a more pronounced and lively sound while typing.
When it comes to the feel of the switches, the Sakura Pink switch is described as buttery, creamy, easy-to-press, and frictionless. This indicates that users can expect a smooth, fluid, and effortless typing experience with minimal resistance or friction when pressing the keys. On the other hand, the HMX Swift switch is noted for being easy-to-press, feathery, bouncy, and creamy. This suggests that the Swift switch offers a light, spring-like feedback sensation that is comfortable for extended typing sessions. Both switches provide a responsive and low-impact typing feel, catering to individuals who prefer a lighter touch when typing.
In conclusion, the Everglide Sakura Pink linear switch and the HMX Swift linear switch offer distinct qualities in terms of sound and feel. The Sakura Pink switch provides a muted sound and a buttery, effortless typing experience, while the Swift switch offers a clacky sound and a light, bouncy feel. Depending on your personal preferences for sound and typing feel, either switch could provide a satisfying typing experience. Keep in mind that the overall typing experience will also be influenced by other factors such as the keyboard's construction and keycaps used, so experimentation may be necessary to find the perfect fit for your needs.
Conclusion
In closing, when deciding between the Everglide Sakura Pink linear switch and the HMX Swift linear switch, consider your typing preferences and needs. If you value an extremely light actuation force and a smooth, frictionless typing experience with a playful sound profile, the Sakura Pink switches may be the perfect choice for you. On the other hand, if you prefer a slightly deeper sound profile with a smooth and buttery keystroke feel at a slightly higher actuation force, the HMX Swift switches could be more to your liking. Ultimately, both switches offer unique characteristics that cater to different typing styles, so it's essential to choose based on your personal preferences for the best typing experience.
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