Everglide Aqua King (V3) vs. Gateron Silent Ink Black
An in-depth look at the Everglide Aqua King (V3) and the Gateron Silent Ink Black switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When it comes to choosing a mechanical keyboard switch, two popular options to consider are the Everglide Aqua King and the Gateron Silent Ink Black, both of which are linear switches. The Aqua King is best known for its frictionless and silky feel, providing a typing experience reminiscent of gliding across a freshly resurfaced ice skating rink. Its subdued and creamy characteristics make it a desirable choice for those seeking a smooth and polished typing sensation. On the other hand, the Silent Ink Black is specifically designed for environments that require quieter typing. Its pillow-like bottom-out feel reduces noise and offers a muted typing experience. While these generalities paint a broad picture of each switch's qualities, delving deeper into the specifics will help determine the best switch for your individual preferences and requirements.
By the numbers
Technical specifications
Actuation force
46g
Actuation force
60g
Bottom-out force
62g
Bottom-out force
70g
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
Standard
Stem material
POM
Stem material
POM
Top housing material
Polycarbonate
Top housing material
Proprietary INK blend
Bottom housing material
Polycarbonate
Bottom housing material
Proprietary INK blend
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Spring
Gold-plated
Spring
Color coated
Housing materials
The Everglide Aqua King and the Gateron Silent Ink Black differ in their housing materials, but both provide unique sound profiles. The Aqua King utilizes a polycarbonate top housing, which gives it a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound profile. The stiffer nature of polycarbonate enhances the clarity and resonance of the sound, making it ideal for users who prefer a more distinct typing experience. Additionally, the translucency of the polycarbonate top housing allows for impressive RGB lighting effects, making it visually appealing as well.
On the other hand, the Silent Ink Black features Gateron's proprietary INK blend top housing. This blend produces a pointed and relatively high-pitched sound profile, striking a balance between being sharp and pleasant to the ears. The sound is often described as clacky, providing a satisfying typing experience. While it may not offer the same level of clarity and resonance as the Aqua King's polycarbonate top housing, it still provides a unique sound that many users appreciate.
When it comes to the bottom housing, both switches continue to deliver distinct characteristics. The Aqua King's polycarbonate bottom housing complements the top housing by contributing to the overall sound profile. With a stiffer plastic composition, it adds to the crispness and resonant sound, giving the switch a well-rounded typing experience. Similarly, the Silent Ink Black's proprietary INK blend bottom housing enhances the switch's overall sound, contributing to the satisfying clackiness that users enjoy.
To summarize, the Everglide Aqua King and Gateron Silent Ink Black offer different housing materials that bring their own unique qualities to the switches. The Aqua King's polycarbonate provides a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound profile, making it an excellent choice for those seeking a distinct and visually appealing typing experience. Meanwhile, the Silent Ink Black's proprietary INK blend produces a pointed and clacky sound profile, appealing to users who enjoy a satisfying typing sensation. Though their housing materials differ, both switches strive to deliver a top-notch typing experience with their respective sound profiles.
Weight
When comparing the actuation force and bottom out force of the Everglide Aqua King linear switch and the Gateron Silent Ink Black linear switch, there are notable differences. The Aqua King has a lighter actuation force of 46 grams compared to the Silent Ink Black's 60 grams. This means that the Aqua King requires a lighter touch to trigger a keystroke. However, the Aqua King has a heavier bottom out force of 62 grams compared to the Silent Ink Black's 70 grams. This indicates that the Aqua King provides a more substantial typing experience when fully pressed down.
For those who prefer a lighter typing experience, the Aqua King may be the better choice as its lower actuation force allows for longer periods of comfortable typing, making it suitable for work or extended gaming sessions. On the other hand, the Silent Ink Black is more suitable for those who enjoy a stronger push feel, as its higher actuation force provides a more substantial typing experience.
Despite these differences, both switches fall within the medium to medium-heavy range in terms of actuation force and bottom out force. Therefore, if a user is indifferent to the specific numbers and simply desires a switch within this range, they can expect similar results from either the Aqua King or the Silent Ink Black.
Travel distance
Both the Everglide Aqua King linear switch and the Gateron Silent Ink Black linear switch have the same travel distance of 4 mm. This means that when you press down on a key using either of these switches, you will feel the same distance of travel from the top to the bottom. Therefore, in terms of travel distance, you can expect similar results from both switches.
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 Gateron Silent Ink Black has an MSRP of $8.50 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Silent Ink Black for $8.35.
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 linear switch provides a subdued experience. This means that it produces a dampened sound when pressed, offering a more subtle sound signature compared to most switches. While not completely silent, it still minimizes the noise typically associated with mechanical keyboards. On the other hand, the Gateron Silent Ink Black linear switch is known for its muted sound. This means that it produces a softer and quieter sound compared to regular or clacky switches, further reducing the noise typically associated with mechanical keyboards. Keep in mind that the sound of a switch can also be influenced by other factors such as the keyboard board and keycaps chosen. Therefore, with either switch, you can expect similar results in terms of a quieter typing experience.
Moving on to feel, the Everglide Aqua King linear switch offers a range of subjective qualities. It is described as creamy, frictionless, silky, and polished. This means that when typing on this switch, you can expect a smooth and buttery sensation. It offers an effortless gliding experience, minimizing any sense of resistance or friction. The switch's fluid travel enhances the overall smoothness of the typing feel, and the polished finish contributes to a sleek typing experience. Similarly, the Gateron Silent Ink Black linear switch is also described as silky and polished. This indicates that it provides an exceptionally smooth typing experience with minimal resistance when pressing and releasing keys. The polished finish and reduced friction contribute to a refined and sleek typing experience. In terms of feel, both switches offer similar qualities, ensuring a smooth and effortless typing experience.
Taking all the available information into account, both the Everglide Aqua King linear switch and the Gateron Silent Ink Black linear switch provide excellent subjective qualities. The Aqua King is known for its frictionless typing feel, resembling ice skating on a freshly resurfaced rink, while the Silent Ink Black offers a cushion-like bottom-out feel for quieter environments. Sound-wise, the Aqua King produces a subdued sound, while the Silent Ink Black provides a muted experience. In terms of feel, both switches offer creamy, silky, and polished sensations, ensuring a sleek and smooth typing experience. Therefore, whether you choose the Aqua King or the Silent Ink Black, you can expect a similar result of a quiet and frictionless typing experience.
Conclusion
In closing, when choosing between the Everglide Aqua King linear switch and the Gateron Silent Ink Black linear switch, it ultimately depends on your specific preferences and needs. The Aqua King is perfect for those seeking a frictionless typing experience, akin to gliding on a freshly resurfaced ice skating rink. With a subdued sound, it offers a more subtle and dampened typing experience compared to most switches. On the other hand, the Silent Ink Black is ideal for environments that require quieter typing, providing a pillow-like bottom-out feel with minimal audio feedback. It has a muted sound and offers a smooth and silky typing experience, minimizing resistance when pressing and releasing keys. Both switches can offer a polished finish and reduced friction, resulting in a sleek typing experience. Ultimately, consider whether you value the unique feel of the Aqua King or the quietness of the Silent Ink Black to make the best decision for your mechanical keyboard.
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