Everglide Tourmaline Blue vs. Wuque Studio WS Onion
An in-depth look at the Everglide Tourmaline Blue and the Wuque Studio WS Onion switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
The Everglide Tourmaline Blue and the Wuque Studio WS Onion are two popular mechanical keyboard switches, both offering unique features and a satisfying typing experience. The Tourmaline Blue is known for its deep and thocky sound profile, enveloping users in a pleasing typing experience. With a lengthened single-stage spring, it provides a bouncy feel with each keystroke. The standard spring weight strikes a balance, making it enjoyable and accessible to a wide range of users. On the other hand, the WS Onion features a polycarbonate top housing and a nylon bottom housing, resulting in a buttery smooth feel that is deeply satisfying. It offers a crisp and responsive feel, accompanied by a neutral sound profile. Both switches offer a buttery typing experience and are categorized as "buttery" and "neutral," but let's dive in a bit deeper beyond generalities so you can best decide on the best switch for your needs.
By the numbers
Technical specifications
Actuation force
59g
Actuation force
N/A
Bottom-out force
67g
Bottom-out force
63.5g
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
Partial box
Stem material
POM
Stem material
POM
Top housing material
Polycarbonate
Top housing material
Polycarbonate
Bottom housing material
Polycarbonate
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Spring
Gold-plated
Spring
WS CL635 Gold Plated Stainless Spring
Housing materials
The Everglide Tourmaline Blue and the Wuque Studio WS Onion both utilize polycarbonate as their top housing material. This commonality means that they will produce similar results in terms of sound profile. The polycarbonate top housing in both switches creates a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound. It is worth noting that polycarbonate is a relatively stiffer plastic, contributing to a clearer and more resonant sound profile. Additionally, the translucency of polycarbonate makes it particularly beneficial for switches that incorporate RGB lighting. Overall, the Tourmaline Blue and WS Onion share the advantage of using polycarbonate for their top housing, resulting in a comparable sound experience.
While the top housing of the Everglide Tourmaline Blue and the Wuque Studio WS Onion may offer similar qualities, their bottom housing materials differ. The Tourmaline Blue features polycarbonate for its bottom housing, while the WS Onion utilizes nylon. This variation in materials impacts the sound profile produced by each switch. The Tourmaline Blue's polycarbonate bottom housing contributes to a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound, similar to its top housing. In contrast, the WS Onion's nylon bottom housing elicits a deeper and fuller sound profile. Nylon's relatively softer nature absorbs more sound, resulting in a duller and rounder sound. Therefore, the bottom housing of each switch plays a significant role in determining the overall sound experience.
It is important to note that the Everglide Tourmaline Blue and the Wuque Studio WS Onion showcase how the qualities of the top and bottom housing materials can be divided within a switch. When pressing down on either switch, the qualities of the bottom housing become pronounced, impacting the bottom-out sound and feel. In contrast, the top housing has a more significant influence on the sound produced when releasing a key. Therefore, while both switches may share similarities in their use of polycarbonate for the top housing, the differentiation in their bottom housing materials leads to distinguishable sound profiles during both key press and release.
Weight
When comparing the actuation force and bottom out force of the Everglide Tourmaline Blue linear switch and the Wuque Studio WS Onion linear switch, there are some notable similarities and differences. 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 actuation force of the WS Onion is currently unavailable, which makes it difficult to draw a direct comparison. However, the WS Onion does have a bottom out force of 63.5 grams, also falling under the medium-heavy category. In terms of weight, the Tourmaline Blue is lighter, allowing for longer typing periods and extended gaming sessions. For those seeking a more substantial typing experience with a stronger push feel, the WS Onion and its similar bottom out force would be a suitable choice. While the actuation force of the WS Onion remains unknown, its comparable bottom out force suggests that users can expect similar results in terms of force requirements for triggering keystrokes.
Travel distance
The Everglide Tourmaline Blue linear switch and the Wuque Studio WS Onion linear switch have the same travel distance of 4 mm. This means that both switches travel a distance of 4 mm from the top to the bottom when pressed. As a result, users can expect similar tactile feedback and typing experience when using either switch. Whether it's the Tourmaline Blue or the WS Onion, both switches offer a consistent travel distance that ensures a satisfying key press.
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 Wuque Studio WS Onion has an MSRP of $7.00 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the WS Onion for $5.53.
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, both the Everglide Tourmaline Blue and the Wuque Studio WS Onion switches have a neutral sound profile. This means that they have a moderate actuation force requirement and a moderate sound profile, making them suitable for most intents and purposes. The sound produced by these switches will also be influenced by other factors such as the choice of keyboard board and keycaps used.
Moving on to feel, both switches offer a buttery smooth keystroke experience. The Tourmaline Blue switch is described as having a seamless, effortless, and uniform typing sensation. It is also easy-to-press, requiring minimal force to activate, which makes typing effortless and comfortable, reducing finger fatigue during extended typing sessions. Additionally, the Tourmaline Blue offers a mild typing experience that is approachable to most users, falling within the safe middle-ground zone.
Similarly, the WS Onion is also described as providing a buttery smooth keystroke experience. It offers a polished finish, resulting in a sleek typing experience with reduced friction and smooth key travel. Like the Tourmaline Blue, the WS Onion switch provides a seamless and effortless typing sensation.
In conclusion, both the Everglide Tourmaline Blue and Wuque Studio WS Onion switches offer a satisfying typing experience with their respective sound and feel qualities. They both have a neutral sound profile and deliver a buttery smooth keystroke experience. While the Tourmaline Blue emphasizes an easy-to-press and mild typing experience, the WS Onion highlights a polished finish for a sleek typing experience. If you are looking for similar results in terms of sound and feel, both switches can provide a comparable typing experience. Ultimately, the choice between the two will depend on personal preferences and the specific characteristics desired.
Conclusion
To sum up, if you are looking for a medium-heavy switch with a deep and thocky sound profile, the Everglide Tourmaline Blue linear switch is a great choice. With its bouncy feel and enjoyable typing experience, it caters to a wide range of users. On the other hand, if you prefer a buttery smooth keystroke feel and a neutral sound profile, the Wuque Studio WS Onion linear switch is a fantastic option. Its polycarbonate top housing and nylon bottom housing contribute to a crisp and responsive typing experience. Both switches have a moderate actuation force requirement and offer a smooth and fluid keystroke experience. Ultimately, the choice between the Everglide Tourmaline Blue and the Wuque Studio WS Onion will depend on your specific preferences and desired typing experience.