Everglide Sunset Yellow vs. Everglide Tourmaline Blue
An in-depth look at the Everglide Sunset Yellow and the Everglide Tourmaline Blue switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
The Everglide Sunset Yellow and the Everglide Tourmaline Blue are two mechanical keyboard switches with unique characteristics that cater to different preferences. The Sunset Yellow switches are best known for their captivating sound profile reminiscent of mahjong tiles colliding, offering a rich, bassy, and decadent typing experience. With their medium-weight and distinct gliding feel, these switches are suitable for a wide range of users. On the other hand, the Tourmaline Blue switches provide a deep and thocky sound profile, immersing users in a satisfying typing experience. With a bouncy feel and standard spring weight, these switches strike a balance that makes them enjoyable and accessible to many. However, let's dive in a bit deeper beyond generalities so you can best decide on the ideal switch for you.
By the numbers
Technical specifications
Actuation force
43g
Actuation force
59g
Bottom-out force
51g
Bottom-out force
67g
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Total travel
3.20 mm
Total travel
4.00 mm
Factory lubed
Yes
Factory lubed
Yes
Stem construction
Standard
Stem construction
Standard
Stem material
Ly
Stem material
POM
Top housing material
POM
Top housing material
Polycarbonate
Bottom housing material
POM
Bottom housing material
Polycarbonate
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Spring
Single-staged lengthened 20mm spring
Spring
Gold-plated
Housing materials
The Everglide Sunset Yellow and the Everglide Tourmaline Blue have distinct differences in their housing materials. The Sunset Yellow features a POM (polyoxymethylene) top housing, which creates a deep and relatively muted sound profile. In contrast, the Tourmaline Blue's polycarbonate top housing produces a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound profile. Additionally, the polycarbonate material allows for translucency, making it ideal for those who plan to use RGB lighting in their keyboard setup. While the sound profiles differ between the two, both materials offer unique and pleasing sounds, ensuring a satisfying typing experience.
Moving on to the bottom housing, the Sunset Yellow and the Tourmaline Blue also display distinct characteristics. The Sunset Yellow's POM bottom housing contributes to the deeper and more muted sound profile, similar to its top housing. On the other hand, the Tourmaline Blue's polycarbonate bottom housing maintains the sharpness, higher-pitched tones, and crispness that are typical of the material. The bottom housing plays a significant role in the bottom-out sound and feel of the switch, so the choice of housing material can greatly impact the tactile experience.
It is worth noting that when a switch has different housing materials for its top and bottom, the unique qualities of each material are divided between the two parts. Therefore, the bottom housing has a more significant effect on the bottom-out sound and feel, while the top housing influences the sound when the key is released. Although the Everglide Sunset Yellow and Tourmaline Blue have contrasting housing materials, they both offer pleasing and unique sound profiles, ensuring an enjoyable typing and gaming experience.
Weight
When comparing the Everglide Sunset Yellow linear switch and the Everglide Tourmaline Blue linear switch, there are notable differences in their actuation force and bottom out force. The Sunset Yellow switch has an actuation force of 43 grams, making it lighter compared to the Tourmaline Blue switch, which requires 59 grams to trigger a keystroke. This indicates that the Sunset Yellow switch is more suitable for those who prefer a lighter typing experience. Similarly, the bottom out force of the Sunset Yellow switch is 51 grams, while the Tourmaline Blue switch requires 67 grams to fully press down. This reinforces the fact that the Sunset Yellow switch is lighter overall. For individuals who enjoy extended typing sessions or long gaming sessions, the lighter actuation and bottom out forces of the Sunset Yellow switch might be more desirable. However, for those who prefer a more substantial typing feel and a stronger push, the Tourmaline Blue switch's heavier forces may be a preferable choice. Ultimately, the choice between these switches will depend on individual preferences and requirements.
Travel distance
The Everglide Sunset Yellow linear switch and the Everglide Tourmaline Blue linear switch have contrasting travel distances. The Sunset Yellow has a travel distance of 3.2 mm, which is shorter than the Tourmaline Blue's 4 mm travel distance. A 4.0mm travel distance is considered the most traditional, while 3.0mm is the most shallow. However, shorter travel distances have gained popularity, especially among gamers who prioritize faster response times. If you prefer a more responsive feel, the Sunset Yellow with its shorter travel distance would be the better choice. On the other hand, some individuals may find shorter travel distances to feel abrupt, and if you prefer a deeper key press, the Tourmaline Blue with its longer travel distance would be more suitable. Ultimately, the choice between these switches depends on personal preferences and the desired typing or gaming experience.
Price comparison
Which switch is more bang for your buck?
The Everglide Tourmaline Blue has an MSRP of $6.86 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Tourmaline Blue for $3.89.
The Everglide Sunset Yellow comes in at $3.09 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
In terms of sound, the Everglide Sunset Yellow switches are best known for their rich, bassy, and decadent sound profile reminiscent of mahjong tiles colliding. This provides a captivating and indulgent typing experience. On the other hand, the Everglide Tourmaline Blue switches offer a deep and thocky sound profile that immerses you in a satisfying typing experience. Both switches deliver impressive sound quality, but the Sunset Yellow has a bassier sound, while the Tourmaline Blue has a more neutral sound. The sound of a switch is also influenced by other factors such as the keyboard and keycaps used.
Moving on to the feel of the switches, the Everglide Sunset Yellow switches are described as creamy, frictionless, and polished. They offer a smooth and buttery typing experience, with a silky sensation as your fingers glide effortlessly across the keys. The Tourmaline Blue switches, on the other hand, are described as buttery, easy-to-press, and mild. They provide a seamless and uniform typing sensation with minimal resistance, making typing effortless and comfortable. Both switches offer a smooth and enjoyable typing experience, with the Sunset Yellow being slightly more frictionless and polished, while the Tourmaline Blue is easier to press.
Considering all the available information, the Everglide Sunset Yellow and Tourmaline Blue switches each have their own unique qualities.
For sound, the Sunset Yellow offers a bassier and more captivating sound profile reminiscent of mahjong tiles colliding, while the Tourmaline Blue provides a deep and thocky sound experience.
In terms of feel, the Sunset Yellow offers a creamy, frictionless, and polished typing experience, while the Tourmaline Blue provides a buttery, easy-to-press, and mild typing sensation.
Ultimately, both switches are suitable for a wide range of users, and the choice between them depends on personal preferences. If you enjoy a deeper and richer sound with a smoother feel, the Sunset Yellow is the way to go. If you prefer a satisfying thocky sound with an easy-to-press feel, the Tourmaline Blue is a great choice. It's important to note that the sound and feel of these switches can also be influenced by other factors such as your choice of keyboard and keycaps.
Conclusion
To sum up, if you're looking for a switch with a captivating sound profile and a medium-weight that suits a wide range of users, the Everglide Sunset Yellow linear switch is a great choice. These Creamsicle-colored switches offer a rich, bassy, and decadent sound that makes typing feel indulgent. The unique 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. On the other hand, if you prefer a switch with a deep and thocky sound profile, the Everglide Tourmaline Blue linear switch is the way to go. With a lengthened single-stage spring, these switches provide a bouncy feel with each keystroke. The Tourmaline Blues strike a balance with their standard spring weight, making them enjoyable and accessible to a wide range of users. Ultimately, the choice between the two switches depends on your preference for sound and feel. Whether you prefer the bassy sound and unique gliding feel of the Sunset Yellow or the thocky sound and bouncy feel of the Tourmaline Blue, both switches offer an exceptional typing experience.