Everglide Sunset Yellow vs. HMX Xinhai
An in-depth look at the Everglide Sunset Yellow and the HMX Xinhai switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When it comes to mechanical keyboard switches, two standout options are the Everglide Sunset Yellow and the HMX Xinhai, both linear switches. The Sunset Yellow is renowned for its Creamsicle-colored design and captivating sound profile reminiscent of mahjong tiles colliding, making typing a truly indulgent experience. With a medium-weight and unique Ly stem, these switches offer a distinct gliding feel and highly responsive typing experience. On the other hand, the Xinhai switch is crafted with a PA12 top housing for softer acoustics and a POM stem for a crisp, higher-pitched resonance, embodying subtle sophistication and precise performance. While the Sunset Yellow is characterized as 'Bassy', 'Creamy', 'Frictionless', 'Polished', and 'Thocky', the Xinhai is known for being 'Bouncy', 'Clacky', and 'Creamy'. 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
43g
Actuation force
37g
Bottom-out force
51g
Bottom-out force
45g
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Total travel
3.20 mm
Total travel
3.40 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
Nylon
Bottom housing material
POM
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Spring
Single-staged lengthened 20mm spring
Spring
22mm single-stage spring
Housing materials
The Everglide Sunset Yellow utilizes POM for both its top and bottom housing, resulting in a consistent sound profile that is deep and relatively muted. In contrast, the HMX Xinhai features a polycarbonate top housing and a nylon bottom housing, creating a unique combination of sharper, higher-pitched sound on top and a deeper, fuller sound on the bottom. While the Sunset Yellow offers a consistent and pleasing sound experience throughout, the Xinhai provides a more dynamic and varied sound profile depending on which part of the switch is being utilized.
Both the Everglide Sunset Yellow and the HMX Xinhai prioritize the importance of housing materials in creating their distinct sound profiles. The POM top housing of the Sunset Yellow offers a deep and muted sound, while the polycarbonate top housing of the Xinhai delivers a sharper and crisper sound. In terms of the bottom housing, the nylon material used in the Xinhai provides a deeper and fuller sound compared to the POM bottom housing of the Sunset Yellow. While each switch has its own unique sound characteristics, they both show how different housing materials can impact the overall typing experience.
In summary, the Everglide Sunset Yellow and the HMX Xinhai demonstrate how housing materials play a crucial role in determining the sound profile of a switch. The Sunset Yellow's consistent POM housing creates a pleasing and unique sound, while the Xinhai's combination of polycarbonate and nylon housings offers a more dynamic range of sound profiles. Both switches showcase the importance of top and bottom housing materials in influencing the overall typing experience, with each material bringing its own set of qualities to the sound produced. Ultimately, whether opting for a consistent sound or a more varied one, the choice of housing material can greatly impact the user's typing satisfaction.
Weight
The Everglide Sunset Yellow linear switch has a slightly heavier actuation force and bottom out force compared to the HMX Xinhai linear switch. The Sunset Yellow requires 43 grams of force to actuate and 51 grams of force to bottom out, making it medium-light in terms of weight. In contrast, the Xinhai only needs 37 grams of force to actuate and 45 grams of force to bottom out, giving it a lighter feel. Those who prefer a more substantial typing experience may lean towards the Sunset Yellow due to its heavier forces, while those who enjoy a lighter touch may prefer the Xinhai. Both switches offer a different typing experience based on actuation and bottom out force, catering to users with varying preferences.
Travel distance
The Everglide Sunset Yellow linear switch has a travel distance of 3.2 mm, which is shorter than the HMX Xinhai linear switch with a travel distance of 3.4 mm. In terms of travel distance, the Xinhai provides a slightly longer distance for key presses compared to the Sunset Yellow. This slight difference may not be very noticeable to the average user, but for those who are more sensitive to the feel of key presses, it could be a deciding factor. Both switches fall within the range of shorter travel distances, which are favored by gamers for faster response times. Ultimately, the choice between the two switches will come down to personal preference for key press depth and responsiveness.
Price comparison
Which switch is more bang for your buck?
The HMX Xinhai has an MSRP of $3.50 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Xinhai for $2.99.
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 linear switch offers a bassy and thocky sound profile, which provides a deep and rich auditory experience resembling mahjong tiles colliding. On the other hand, the HMX Xinhai linear switch possesses a clacky sound, producing a sharp and snappy sound upon key presses. Both switches offer distinct sound profiles, with the Sunset Yellow having a more bass-heavy and decadent tone, while the Xinhai provides a crisp, bright, and percussive sound. Depending on personal preference and the keyboard setup, users can enjoy a satisfying auditory experience with either switch.
In regards to feel, the Everglide Sunset Yellow offers a creamy, frictionless, and polished typing experience, with a smooth and buttery sensation due to the factory-applied lubricant and specific materials used in the switch. The keys glide effortlessly, providing a luxurious typing experience for users. Conversely, the HMX Xinhai switch is described as bouncy and creamy, offering a spring-like feedback sensation and a silky typing experience. Both switches focus on providing a smooth and refined typing feel, with the Sunset Yellow emphasizing frictionless and polished qualities, while the Xinhai highlights a bouncy and elastic feedback for a lively typing experience.
Overall, the Everglide Sunset Yellow linear switch and the HMX Xinhai linear switch offer unique and desirable qualities for mechanical keyboard enthusiasts. While the Sunset Yellow provides a bassy and thocky sound profile coupled with a creamy and polished typing feel, the Xinhai showcases a clacky sound with a bouncy and creamy typing experience. Depending on individual preferences for sound and feel, users can expect a delightful typing experience with either switch. Ultimately, both switches offer distinct characteristics that cater to different preferences, ensuring a satisfying typing experience for newcomers looking to explore the world of mechanical keyboards.
Conclusion
In closing, when choosing between the Everglide Sunset Yellow linear switch and the HMX Xinhai linear switch, it ultimately comes down to your personal preferences and typing experience. If you enjoy a medium-light bottom out force, a rich and bassy sound profile reminiscent of mahjong tiles colliding, and a smooth, frictionless, and polished typing feel, then the Everglide Sunset Yellow switch may be the perfect choice for you. On the other hand, if you prefer a lighter bottom out force, a crisp and clacky sound profile, and a bouncy and creamy typing feel with elastic feedback, then the HMX Xinhai switch could be more suited to your typing style. Consider the unique characteristics and qualities of each switch to determine which one aligns with your preferences and enhances your typing experience.
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