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Everglide Tourmaline Blue vs. Wuque Studio WS Red

An in-depth look at the Everglide Tourmaline Blue and the Wuque Studio WS Red switches—which one is the best fit for you?

Overview

If you're in the market for a mechanical keyboard switch, two popular options to consider are the Everglide Tourmaline Blue and the Wuque Studio WS Red. The Tourmaline Blue is a linear switch that is loved for its deep and thocky sound profile, which creates a satisfying typing experience. With its lengthened single-stage spring, this switch provides a bouncy feel with each keystroke, making it a joy to use. The Tourmaline Blues strike a nice balance with their standard spring weight, ensuring accessibility to a wide range of users. On the other hand, the WS Red is a linear switch that also offers a bouncy and responsive typing experience. With a 22mm double-stage spring, this switch adds a touch of weight to each keystroke, resulting in a satisfying and substantial typing feel. Both switches have their unique features and advantages, making them worth considering. 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

59g

Actuation force

N/A

Bottom-out force

67g

Bottom-out force

67g

Pre-travel

2.00 mm

Pre-travel

2.00 mm

Total travel

4.00 mm

Total travel

3.80 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

Nylon

Bottom housing material

Polycarbonate

Bottom housing material

Nylon

Mount type

PCB (5-pin)

Mount type

PCB (5-pin)

Spring

Gold-plated

Spring

22mm double-stage spring

Housing materials

The Everglide Tourmaline Blue and the Wuque Studio WS Red differ in their housing materials, with the Tourmaline Blue featuring a polycarbonate top and bottom housing, while the WS Red has a nylon top and bottom housing. The polycarbonate material used in the Tourmaline Blue's housing creates a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound profile. This is due to polycarbonate being a relatively stiffer plastic, which leads to a more clear and resonant sound profile. In contrast, the WS Red's nylon housing elicits a deeper and fuller sound profile. Nylon is a softer plastic that absorbs more sound, resulting in a duller and rounder sound.

Despite their differences, both the Tourmaline Blue and WS Red housing materials serve their own distinctive purposes. The polycarbonate top housing of the Tourmaline Blue, thanks to its translucency, is particularly useful for those who plan to use RGB lighting. The clear nature of polycarbonate allows the RGB lighting to shine through, adding a visually appealing aspect to the switch. Meanwhile, the nylon top housing of the WS Red, being a classic switch housing material, offers a traditional and reliable choice for those seeking a more subdued and mellow typing experience.

When it comes to the bottom housings, the impact on the bottom-out sound and feel is influenced by their respective materials. The Tourmaline Blue's polycarbonate bottom housing, with its stiffness and clarity, contributes to a sharper, crisper bottom-out sound. On the other hand, the WS Red's nylon bottom housing, being softer and more sound-absorbing, produces a smoother and rounder bottom-out sound. Therefore, depending on personal preferences, one may prefer the distinct characteristics offered by the bottom housing of either the Tourmaline Blue or the WS Red.

Weight

When comparing the actuation force and bottom out force of the Everglide Tourmaline Blue linear switch and the Wuque Studio WS Red linear switch, there are a few differences to note. The Tourmaline Blue has an actuation force of 59 grams, providing a medium-heavy push feel, while the actuation force of the WS Red is unavailable. However, both switches have a bottom out force of 67 grams, indicating a medium-heavy typing experience.

Weight is an important factor to consider when choosing a switch, as it can impact typing comfort and endurance. Those who prefer a lighter typing experience may opt for the Tourmaline Blue switch, as its lower actuation force allows for longer periods of typing without fatigue. This makes it ideal for use in work settings or during extended gaming sessions. On the other hand, individuals who prefer a more substantial push feel may be drawn to the WS Red switch, as its actuation force is not specified but still offers the same bottom out force as the Tourmaline Blue.

While the actuation force of the WS Red switch is unknown, it can be assumed that it would provide similar results to the Tourmaline Blue in terms of the typing experience, due to their identical bottom out forces. Both switches fall into the medium-heavy category, offering a tactile sensation and a satisfying keystroke. Ultimately, the choice between the two switches will come down to personal preference, with the Tourmaline Blue leaning towards a lighter typing experience and the WS Red potentially providing a slightly stronger push feel.

Travel distance

The Everglide Tourmaline Blue linear switch and the Wuque Studio WS Red linear switch have slightly different travel distances. The Tourmaline Blue has a travel distance of 4 mm, which is considered a more traditional distance. On the other hand, the WS Red has a slightly shorter travel distance of 3.8 mm.

The difference in travel distance may not seem significant, but it can have an impact on the typing experience. A shorter travel distance is preferred by gamers who prioritize faster response times. The shorter distance allows for quicker keystrokes, which can be advantageous in fast-paced gaming scenarios. If you value responsiveness and swift inputs, the WS Red switch with its shorter travel distance would be a suitable choice for you.

However, for those who prefer a more substantial feel and a deeper keystroke, the Tourmaline Blue switch with its longer travel distance may be more appealing. Some individuals find shorter travel distances to feel too abrupt and prefer the added depth provided by a longer distance.

Ultimately, the choice between these switches depends on personal preference and the specific requirements of the user. Both switches offer their own advantages, whether it's the faster response times of the WS Red or the more robust typing experience of the Tourmaline Blue.

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 Red comes in at $3.50 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

The Tourmaline Blue switch is best known for its deep and thocky sound profile, providing a satisfying typing experience. It offers a bouncy feel with each keystroke, thanks to its lengthened single-stage spring. This switch strikes a balance with its standard spring weight, making it enjoyable and accessible to a wide range of users. On the other hand, the sound characteristics of the WS Red switch are unknown. However, it is important to note that the sound of a switch can also be influenced by other factors such as the keyboard and keycaps used.

When it comes to feel, the Tourmaline Blue switch offers a buttery and easy-to-press experience. A buttery switch implies a smooth and fluid keystroke, providing a seamless and effortless typing sensation. It also offers gentle resistance, requiring minimal force to activate, which enhances typing comfort and reduces fatigue during extended typing sessions. Overall, the Tourmaline Blue switch offers a mild and approachable typing experience, appealing to a wide range of users. Unfortunately, the feel characteristics of the WS Red switch are unknown.

Taking into account the available information, the Everglide Tourmaline Blue switch offers a deep and thocky sound profile, as well as a bouncy and accessible typing feel. It strikes a balance with its standard spring weight and provides a satisfying and substantial typing experience. On the other hand, the subjective qualities of the Wuque Studio WS Red switch remain unknown, so it is difficult to make a direct comparison. However, based on the information available, it is reasonable to expect a bouncy and responsive typing experience with a heavier actuation force. While the specific sound and feel characteristics of the WS Red switch are uncertain, choosing either switch can provide a similar level of satisfaction and enjoyable typing experience.

Conclusion

To sum up, if you are looking for a switch that offers a deep and thocky sound profile along with a bouncy feel, the Everglide Tourmaline Blue linear switch would be a great choice. With its standard spring weight and medium-heavy bottom out force, it provides an enjoyable and accessible typing experience for a wide range of users. Additionally, the Tourmaline Blue is described as having a neutral sound profile, making it suitable for various purposes. In terms of feel, this switch is known for its buttery, easy-to-press, and mild characteristics, offering a smooth and effortless typing sensation with minimal finger fatigue.

On the other hand, if you prefer a switch with a classic sound signature and a touch of weight to each keystroke, the Wuque Studio WS Red linear switch would be a good option. Its 22mm double-stage spring provides a bouncy and responsive typing experience, while the medium-heavy bottom out force adds a satisfying and substantial feel to each keystroke. Although information about the sound and feel of the WS Red switch is not provided, its classic material blend suggests a familiar sound signature that many keyboard enthusiasts appreciate.

Ultimately, the choice between the Everglide Tourmaline Blue and the Wuque Studio WS Red depends on your preference for sound and feel. If you value a deep and thocky sound profile, along with a bouncy and easy-to-press typing experience, the Tourmaline Blue is the way to go. However, if you prefer a classic sound signature and a touch of weight to your keystrokes, the WS Red is worth considering. Both switches offer their unique qualities and can enhance your overall typing experience.

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