Everglide Tourmaline Blue vs. TTC Venus
An in-depth look at the Everglide Tourmaline Blue and the TTC Venus switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When it comes to mechanical keyboard switches, the Everglide Tourmaline Blue and the TTC Venus both offer unique characteristics that cater to different preferences. The Tourmaline Blue is celebrated for its deep and thocky sound profile, providing a satisfying typing experience with its bouncy feel due to the lengthened single-stage spring. On the other hand, the TTC Venus stands out with its innovative internal structure, offering a seamless glide paired with a distinctive "Q-texture" resistance for a smooth and engaging typing experience. While the Tourmaline Blue is praised for its accessibility and enjoyable standard spring weight, the Venus promises rapid typing with its very light actuation and muted sound signature. However, let's dive in a bit deeper beyond generalities so that you can choose the best switch for your specific needs and preferences.
By the numbers
Technical specifications
Actuation force
59g
Actuation force
45g
Bottom-out force
67g
Bottom-out force
52g
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Pre-travel
1.80 mm
Total travel
4.00 mm
Total travel
3.80 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
POM
Bottom housing material
Polycarbonate
Bottom housing material
Polycarbonate
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Spring
Gold-plated
Spring
Lengthened 20.5mm spring
Housing materials
In comparing the housing materials of the Everglide Tourmaline Blue and the TTC Venus, it is evident that both switches utilize polycarbonate in their top housings. This choice of material results in a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound profile for both switches. Additionally, the translucency of polycarbonate allows for the use of RGB lighting, enhancing the aesthetic appeal of the switches. However, the Tourmaline Blue's polycarbonate top housing produces a sound profile that is more resonant and clear, while the Venus's POM top housing creates a deeper and more muted sound profile.
Moving on to the bottom housing, the Everglide Tourmaline Blue features a polycarbonate bottom housing, similar to its top housing. This results in a consistent sound profile throughout the switch's operation, with a clear and resonant tone. On the other hand, the TTC Venus incorporates a POM bottom housing, contributing to a deeper and more muted sound profile compared to the Tourmaline Blue. The bottom housing material plays a significant role in the bottom-out sound and feel of the switch when pressed down.
While both switches share similarities in their top housing material, the differences in their bottom housing materials result in unique sound profiles and tactile experiences. The split characteristics of the housing materials provide distinct qualities to each switch when pressed and released. The Tourmaline Blue's polycarbonate bottom housing offers a clear and resonant sound, while the Venus's POM bottom housing creates a deeper and more muted sound. Overall, the housing materials play a crucial role in defining the sound and feel of each switch, making them suitable for different preferences and use cases.
Weight
In comparing the Everglide Tourmaline Blue linear switch and the TTC Venus linear switch, it is evident that the Tourmaline Blue requires a heavier actuation force and bottom out force compared to the Venus. The Tourmaline Blue has an actuation force of 59 grams and a bottom out force of 67 grams, making it a medium-heavy switch. On the other hand, the Venus has a lighter actuation force of 45 grams and a bottom out force of 52 grams, categorizing it as a medium-light switch. Those who prefer a lighter touch when typing or gaming may find the Venus switch more comfortable for extended use, while individuals who prefer a more solid and substantial typing experience may lean towards the Tourmaline Blue. Overall, the actuation force and bottom out force of a switch play a significant role in determining the typing feel and experience for users, so selecting the right switch weight is crucial to optimizing keyboard performance.
Travel distance
The Everglide Tourmaline Blue linear switch has a travel distance of 4 mm, while the TTC Venus linear switch has a slightly shorter travel distance of 3.8 mm. This means that the Venus switch offers a slightly shallower press compared to the Tourmaline Blue. If you are someone who values faster response times, the Venus switch may be the better option for you due to its shorter travel distance. However, if you prefer a more substantial key press with a bit more depth, the Tourmaline Blue switch would be the more suitable choice. Ultimately, the decision between the two switches comes down to personal preference in terms of key feel and responsiveness.
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 TTC Venus has an MSRP of $7.99 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Venus for $5.09.
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 Everglide Tourmaline Blue switch offers a thocky and satisfying typing experience while the TTC Venus switch provides a low-pitched, muted, and subdued sound profile. The Tourmaline Blue is neutral in sound, suitable for various users and environments, whereas the Venus switch has a unique matte sensation with a smooth and engaging auditory embrace. Both switches aim to provide a pleasant sound experience, but the Tourmaline Blue leans towards a deeper and richer tone, while the Venus switch offers a more mellow and bass-heavy sound.
In terms of feel, the Everglide Tourmaline Blue switch is described as buttery, easy-to-press, and mild, giving users a smooth and gentle typing experience with minimal force required. On the other hand, the TTC Venus switch offers a buttery, gummy, frictionless, mild, and polished feel, providing a unique typing experience with a smooth and refined finish. Both switches focus on delivering a seamless and effortless keystroke sensation, with the Tourmaline Blue emphasizing easy pressing and mild characteristics, while the Venus switch highlights a gummy bottom-out feel and polished smoothness.
Overall, while the Everglide Tourmaline Blue linear switch offers a deep and thocky sound profile with a bouncy feel, suitable for a wide range of users, the TTC Venus linear switch showcases a unique internal configuration with a seamless glide and captivating Q-texture for a smooth and engaging typing experience. Depending on personal preferences for sound and feel, both switches provide distinctive qualities that cater to different typing styles and preferences. Ultimately, whether choosing the Tourmaline Blue or Venus switch, users can expect a satisfying and enjoyable typing experience with each keystroke.
Conclusion
Ultimately, when choosing between the Everglide Tourmaline Blue linear switch and the TTC Venus linear switch, consider your preferences and typing style. If you enjoy a bouncy feel with a medium-heavy bottom out force and a deep, thocky sound profile, the Tourmaline Blue might be the ideal choice for you. On the other hand, if you prefer a smoother, nearly frictionless glide with a lighter bottom out force and a unique "Q-texture" sensation, the TTC Venus switch could be more suited to your typing preferences. Both switches offer a delightful typing experience with their own distinct characteristics, so it ultimately comes down to personal preference in choosing the one that aligns best with your typing style and preferences.
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