Everglide Aqua King (V3) vs. Outemu Silent Yellow Jade
An in-depth look at the Everglide Aqua King (V3) and the Outemu Silent Yellow Jade switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When considering mechanical keyboard switches, the Everglide Aqua King (V3) and the Outemu Silent Yellow Jade offer distinct experiences for users. The Aqua King (V3) boasts a linear design that provides a smooth and frictionless typing experience, likened to skating on freshly resurfaced ice. On the other hand, the Outemu Silent Yellow Jade switch offers a tactile typing experience with a satisfying "thocky" sound, thanks to its unique translucent jade yellow housing and punchy tactile bump. While the Aqua King (V3) is praised for its subdued, creamy, and polished feel, the Silent Yellow Jade is appreciated for its silence and tactility. 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
46g
Actuation force
50g
Bottom-out force
62g
Bottom-out force
65g
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Total travel
4.00 mm
Total travel
3.30 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
Stainless steel
Housing materials
In comparing the housing materials of the Everglide Aqua King (V3) and the Outemu Silent Yellow Jade, it is evident that both switches utilize different materials for their top and bottom housings. The Aqua King (V3) features a polycarbonate top housing, which offers a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound profile due to its relatively stiffer nature. On the other hand, the Silent Yellow Jade incorporates a nylon top housing, resulting in a deeper and fuller sound profile thanks to nylon's softer characteristics. While both materials contribute to enhancing the overall sound of the switches, they produce distinct auditory experiences for the user.
Moreover, the bottom housings of both switches also differ, with the Aqua King (V3) boasting a polycarbonate bottom housing and the Silent Yellow Jade featuring a nylon bottom housing. The polycarbonate bottom housing of the Aqua King (V3) contributes to a clear and resonant sound profile, while the nylon bottom housing of the Silent Yellow Jade absorbs more sound, creating a duller and rounder sound. These material distinctions highlight how the bottom housing can significantly impact the bottom-out sound and feel of each switch, offering users varying tactile experiences based on the material used.
Although the housing materials of the Everglide Aqua King (V3) and the Outemu Silent Yellow Jade offer different sound profiles and tactile experiences, they both contribute to enhancing the overall performance of the switches. While the Aqua King (V3) utilizes polycarbonate for its top and bottom housings for a sharper and clearer sound profile, the Silent Yellow Jade leverages nylon for a deeper and fuller sound experience. Despite the differences in material composition, both switches aim to provide users with a unique typing experience, showcasing how housing materials play a crucial role in determining the overall feel and sound of mechanical switches.
Weight
The Everglide Aqua King (V3) linear switch and the Outemu Silent Yellow Jade tactile switch both fall into the medium weight category when it comes to actuation and bottom out forces, with the Aqua King being slightly lighter. The Aqua King has an actuation force of 46 grams and a bottom out force of 62 grams, while the Silent Yellow Jade has an actuation force of 50 grams and a bottom out force of 65 grams, making it slightly heavier. Those who prefer a lighter touch may lean towards the Aqua King for longer typing or gaming sessions, while those who prefer a stronger push feel may opt for the Silent Yellow Jade for a more substantial typing experience. In terms of results, users can expect similar performance from both switches due to their comparable actuation and bottom out forces. Ultimately, the choice between the two switches will depend on personal preference for typing feel and weight preference.
Travel distance
When comparing the travel distance of the Everglide Aqua King (V3) linear switch and the Outemu Silent Yellow Jade tactile switch, it is clear that the Aqua King has a longer travel distance at 4 mm compared to the Silent Yellow Jade's 3.3 mm. This means that the Aqua King will provide a slightly deeper key press experience than the Silent Yellow Jade. If you prefer a more traditional travel distance, the Aqua King may be the better option for you. However, if you are looking for a shallower key press for faster response times, the Silent Yellow Jade might be more suitable. Overall, the choice between the two switches will come down to personal preference and what type of typing or gaming experience you are looking for.
Price comparison
Which switch is more bang for your buck?
The Everglide Aqua King (V3) has an MSRP of $7.18 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Aqua King (V3) for $5.44.
The Outemu Silent Yellow Jade comes in at $3.10 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
When it comes to sound, the Everglide Aqua King (V3) linear switch offers a subdued typing experience, producing a dampened sound when pressed. On the other hand, the Outemu Silent Yellow Jade tactile switch is known for its quiet operation with a satisfying "thocky" sound. The difference in sound between the two switches is quite distinct, with the Aqua King providing a more subtle and subdued sound compared to the audible feedback of the Silent Yellow Jade.
Moving on to the feel of the switches, the Everglide Aqua King (V3) linear switch is praised for its creamy, frictionless, silky, and polished typing experience. Users describe it as feeling like gliding fingers across the keys effortlessly, with minimal resistance or friction. On the other hand, the Outemu Silent Yellow Jade tactile switch lacks specific descriptors for feel in the provided information.
In conclusion, while the Everglide Aqua King (V3) linear switch excels in providing a smooth and frictionless typing experience with a subdued sound, the Outemu Silent Yellow Jade tactile switch offers a quiet yet tactile typing experience with a punchy bump, though lacking specific feel descriptors. Both switches offer unique qualities that cater to different preferences, so choosing between the two would depend on whether you prioritize sound, feel, or a combination of both in your mechanical keyboard experience. Ultimately, both switches can provide a satisfactory typing experience, with the Aqua King delivering a more serene sound profile and smoothed-out feel, while the Silent Yellow Jade offers tactile feedback with a quiet operation.
Conclusion
To sum up, if you are looking for a smooth and frictionless typing experience reminiscent of ice skating on freshly resurfaced ice, the Everglide Aqua King (V3) linear switch would be the ideal choice for you. On the other hand, if you prefer a quiet and tactile typing experience with a satisfying "thocky" sound, the Outemu Silent Yellow Jade tactile switch would be the perfect option. Ultimately, your decision should be based on whether you prioritize a silky, creamy typing feel or a quiet, tactile switch with a distinctive sound. Consider your typing preferences and environment to choose the switch that best suits your needs.
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