Everglide Crystal Violet vs. Gateron G Pro 3.0 Red
An in-depth look at the Everglide Crystal Violet and the Gateron G Pro 3.0 Red switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When it comes to mechanical keyboard switches, two popular options to consider are the Everglide Crystal Violet, a tactile switch, and the Gateron G Pro 3.0 Red, a linear switch. The Crystal Violet offers a gentle and comfortable typing experience with its light operating force of 45g, making it ideal for those seeking a relaxed and stepped tactile feel. In terms of sound, these switches produce a pleasantly mellow and lower-pitched tone, creating a subtle and non-intrusive auditory experience. On the other hand, the G Pro Red from Gateron's G Pro line-up is a budget-friendly linear switch that delivers a smooth typing experience. With a medium-light actuation force, it strikes a balance between responsiveness and ease of use. Additionally, the G Pro Red features a frosted light diffuser, allowing for brighter and more vibrant RGB lighting effects. Its medium-high pitch provides a satisfying auditory experience. However, let's dive in a bit deeper beyond these generalities so you can best decide on the keyboard switch that suits your preferences and needs.
By the numbers
Technical specifications
Actuation force
45g
Actuation force
45g
Bottom-out force
55g
Bottom-out force
50g
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
ABS
Top housing material
Polycarbonate
Bottom housing material
ABS
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Spring
Gold-plated
Spring
20.5mm lengthened stainless steel spring
Housing materials
The Everglide Crystal Violet and the Gateron G Pro 3.0 Red differ in terms of their housing materials, leading to variations in sound profiles and aesthetics. The Crystal Violet features an ABS top housing, which is a relatively rare choice for switch housings. This ABS material gives the Crystal Violet a low-pitched sound profile when typing, providing a satisfying typing experience. In contrast, the G Pro 3.0 Red utilizes a polycarbonate top housing. The polycarbonate material creates a sharper and higher-pitched sound profile, offering a crisper typing sound. Additionally, the translucent nature of polycarbonate allows for the integration of RGB lighting, enhancing the visual appeal of the switch.
Moving on to the bottom housings, both switches diverge once again. The Crystal Violet's ABS bottom housing aligns with its top housing, resulting in a consistent low-pitched sound profile. Conversely, the G Pro 3.0 Red employs a nylon bottom housing. Nylon is utilized in many classic switch housing materials and is known for eliciting a deeper and fuller sound profile. Due to its softer nature, nylon absorbs more sound, creating a duller and rounder sound when compared to harder plastics. Thus, the G Pro 3.0 Red generates a different acoustic experience with its nylon bottom housing compared to the Crystal Violet's ABS housing.
Although the Everglide Crystal Violet and the Gateron G Pro 3.0 Red utilize different materials for their top and bottom housings, they both exhibit unique qualities. When pressing down on the switch, the qualities of the bottom housing become more pronounced as they have a greater influence on the bottom-out sound and feel. Whereas, the top housing plays a more significant role in the sound produced when releasing a key. Despite the differences, both the Crystal Violet and the G Pro 3.0 Red offer satisfying typing experiences, albeit with contrasting sound profiles and aesthetics.
Weight
When comparing the actuation force and bottom out force of the Everglide Crystal Violet tactile switch and the Gateron G Pro 3.0 Red linear switch, there are a few key differences to note. The Crystal Violet has an actuation force of 45 grams, meaning that this is the force required to trigger a keystroke. In contrast, the G Pro 3.0 Red also has an actuation force of 45 grams, indicating that both switches require the same amount of force to initiate a keystroke.
However, when it comes to the bottom out force, the Crystal Violet has a slightly heavier force at 55 grams, while the G Pro 3.0 Red has a lighter force of 50 grams. This means that while both switches require the same force to trigger a keystroke, the Crystal Violet switch will provide a slightly more substantial typing experience due to its higher bottom out force.
Weight is an important factor to consider for some users, as a lighter switch allows for longer typing periods, making it ideal for work or extended gaming sessions. Conversely, some individuals prefer a stronger push feel, as it gives them a more satisfying typing experience. For those seeking a heavier force, the Crystal Violet switch would be the better option. However, if a lighter force is desired, the G Pro 3.0 Red switch would be the suitable choice.
In summary, the Everglide Crystal Violet tactile switch has a slightly heavier bottom out force compared to the Gateron G Pro 3.0 Red linear switch, while both switches have the same actuation force. This makes the Crystal Violet switch more suitable for those seeking a more substantial typing experience, while the G Pro 3.0 Red switch is better suited for individuals who prefer a lighter typing feel.
Travel distance
The Everglide Crystal Violet tactile switch and the Gateron G Pro 3.0 Red linear switch both have a travel distance of 4 mm. This means that when you press down on a key equipped with either of these switches, you will experience the same distance of travel. Both switches provide a satisfying tactile feedback or a smooth linear experience respectively, making them popular choices among keyboard enthusiasts. Whether you prefer a tactile switch or a linear switch, you can be assured that the travel distance of both the Everglide Crystal Violet and the Gateron G Pro 3.0 Red will provide a consistent and enjoyable typing experience.
Price comparison
Which switch is more bang for your buck?
The Everglide Crystal Violet has an MSRP of $7.08 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Crystal Violet for $4.19.
The Gateron G Pro 3.0 Red has an MSRP of $2.80 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the G Pro 3.0 Red for $2.77.
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, the Crystal Violet switch is best described as having a low-pitched tone. This means that it produces a more bass-heavy and mellow sound compared to higher-pitched switches. On the other hand, the G Pro 3.0 Red switch also has a neutral sound profile. This means it has a moderate sound with no specific emphasis on bass or treble frequencies. 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. However, based on the available information, both switches offer a pleasant and non-intrusive auditory experience, although with slightly different characteristics.
When it comes to feel, both the Crystal Violet and the G Pro 3.0 Red switches offer a creamy and mild typing experience. This means that they provide a smooth and buttery feel when typing, making it feel like your fingers effortlessly glide across the keys with ease. Additionally, both switches fall into a safe middle-ground zone in terms of their characteristics. The Crystal Violet switch is also described as a stepped switch, which means it has a two-stage feeling with some pre-travel and/or post-travel. This adds a subtle tactile feedback to each keystroke. The G Pro 3.0 Red switch is described as both creamy and polished, indicating a smooth and refined typing experience with reduced friction. Overall, both switches offer a comfortable and approachable typing feel.
In conclusion, the Everglide Crystal Violet tactile switch and the Gateron G Pro 3.0 Red linear switch have some subjective qualities in common. Both switches provide a pleasant auditory experience, with the Crystal Violet leaning towards a low-pitched sound and the G Pro 3.0 Red having a neutral sound profile. In terms of feel, both switches offer a creamy and mild typing experience, with the Crystal Violet also providing a stepped tactile feedback. While there may be slight differences between the two switches, such as the Crystal Violet's use of ABS in its housing and the G Pro 3.0 Red's frosted light diffuser for enhanced RGB lighting effects, overall, you can expect similar results in terms of sound and feel from both switches.
Conclusion
In closing, when deciding between the Everglide Crystal Violet tactile switch and the Gateron G Pro 3.0 Red linear switch, there are a few key factors to consider.
If you prioritize a relaxed and stepped tactile typing experience with a gentle and comfortable feel, the Everglide Crystal Violet is the way to go. With a bottom out force of 55 grams, it falls into the medium-light category and offers a creamy, mild, and stepped typing experience. Additionally, the Crystal Violet switch has a pleasantly mellow, low-pitched sound profile that creates a subtle and non-intrusive auditory experience.
On the other hand, if you are looking for a budget-friendly option that delivers a smooth typing experience, the Gateron G Pro 3.0 Red is a great choice. With a bottom out force of 50 grams, it has a light operating force and strikes a balance between responsiveness and ease of use. The G Pro 3.0 Red switch also features a polished and creamy feel, allowing for a smooth and buttery typing experience.
Ultimately, the decision between the Crystal Violet and the G Pro 3.0 Red comes down to personal preference. If you prioritize a stepped tactile feel with a mellow sound profile, go with the Crystal Violet. If you prefer a budget-friendly option with a smooth and polished typing experience, choose the G Pro 3.0 Red. Consider your typing style and preferences to make the best choice for your mechanical keyboard.
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