Everglide Crystal Violet vs. Durock White Lotus
An in-depth look at the Everglide Crystal Violet and the Durock White Lotus switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When it comes to mechanical keyboard switches, two popular options that stand out are the Everglide Crystal Violet and the Durock White Lotus, both tactile switches. The Crystal Violet switches are best known for their light operating force of 45g, offering a relaxed and stepped tactile typing experience. With a pleasantly mellow sound profile leaning towards the lower-pitched spectrum, these switches provide a subtle and non-intrusive auditory experience. The special use of ABS in their housings contributes to their unique feel. On the other hand, the White Lotus switches are designed with the discerning typist in mind, offering a delicate tactility that strikes the perfect balance. They are ideal for work and extended typing sessions without overwhelming the user. Additionally, the removable light column in these switches allows for vibrant RGB lighting effects, adding a captivating glow to your keyboard setup. However, let's dive in a bit deeper beyond generalities so you can best decide on the switch that suits you.
By the numbers
Technical specifications
Actuation force
45g
Actuation force
46g
Bottom-out force
55g
Bottom-out force
56g
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
Modified PC & UPE Blend
Bottom housing material
ABS
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Spring
Gold-plated
Spring
Gold-plated long spring
Housing materials
The Everglide Crystal Violet and the Durock White Lotus differ in their housing materials, particularly in the top and bottom housings. The Crystal Violet features an ABS top housing, which is a relatively rare plastic to be used in switch housings. This ABS housing gives the switches a low-pitched sound profile when typing. In contrast, the White Lotus has a modified PC and UPE Blend top housing, creating a unique and premium feel. The specific blend of materials used in the White Lotus results in a switch with a distinct tactile experience.
Moving on to the bottom housings, the Crystal Violet utilizes an ABS bottom housing, similar to its top housing. This material contributes to the relatively low-pitched sound profile experienced when typing on switches with ABS housing. On the other hand, the Durock White Lotus employs a nylon bottom housing. Nylon is a classic switch housing material known for elicitinng a deeper and fuller sound profile. This is due to nylon being a softer plastic that absorbs more sound than harder plastics, resulting in a duller and rounder sound.
While the top and bottom housings of the Everglide Crystal Violet and the Durock White Lotus differ, they still offer similar results in terms of overall sound and feel. Both switches provide a premium experience, albeit with slight variations. The Crystal Violet's ABS housing contributes to a relatively low-pitched sound profile, while the White Lotus's modified PC and UPE Blend housing offers a unique tactile feel. Additionally, both switches showcase different sound profiles when letting go of a key, with the impact of the top housing being more prominent. Overall, users can expect a high-quality typing experience from either switch, with varying nuances depending on the specific housing materials used.
Weight
When comparing the Everglide Crystal Violet tactile switch and the Durock White Lotus tactile switch, there are slight differences in their actuation force and bottom out force. In terms of actuation force, the Crystal Violet requires 45 grams of force, while the White Lotus requires 46 grams. Although this disparity is minimal, it indicates that the Crystal Violet has a slightly lighter actuation force. However, when it comes to bottom out force, both switches share a similar characteristic, with the Crystal Violet requiring 55 grams and the White Lotus requiring 56 grams. As a result, both switches can provide a medium-light typing experience during bottoming out. For individuals who prefer a lighter switch, the Crystal Violet would be the slightly preferable choice due to its lower actuation force. Conversely, those seeking a more substantial typing experience may lean towards the White Lotus, which has a marginally heavier actuation force. Ultimately, taking into consideration the weight of the switches becomes crucial, as it can impact typing endurance during prolonged use or cater to specific preferences for a stronger push feel.
Travel distance
The Everglide Crystal Violet tactile switch and the Durock White Lotus tactile switch have the same travel distance of 4 mm. This means that when you press down on a key equipped with either of these switches, you will feel the same travel distance. Therefore, the results obtained from using these switches will be similar in terms of the tactile feedback experienced. Both switches offer a consistent and satisfying travel distance for users.
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 Durock White Lotus has an MSRP of $5.60 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the White Lotus for $4.57.
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, both the Everglide Crystal Violet and the Durock White Lotus switches are described as having a low-pitched sound profile. Low-pitched switches typically feature a more bass-heavy and mellow tone compared to higher-pitched switches. This creates a pleasant and non-intrusive auditory experience for both switches. It's important to note that the sound of a switch is also influenced by other factors such as the keyboard board and keycaps used. Therefore, if you were to use either of these switches on a similar board and with similar keycaps, you can expect similar low-pitched sound results.
In terms of feel, the Everglide Crystal Violet switches are described as creamy, mild, and stepped. Creamy switches offer a smooth and buttery typing experience, thanks to lubrication applied in the switch at the factory or specific materials. This results in a silky sensation while typing, with each keystroke feeling effortless and gliding across the keys with ease. The mild characteristic of the Crystal Violet switch ensures that the typing experience is gentle and approachable to most typists. The stepped feature refers to a tactile switch that feels like it has two stages, providing some pre-travel and/or post-travel sensation.
On the other hand, the Durock White Lotus switches are described as easy-to-press, mild, and subtle. Easy-to-press switches offer gentle resistance during key presses, requiring minimal force to activate. This light actuation force enhances typing comfort and reduces finger fatigue during extended typing sessions. The mild characteristic ensures that the sound and feel of the White Lotus switches are approachable to most users. The subtle resistance of these switches provides a light typing feel without being feather-light, making them suitable for shared spaces where a quieter sound signature is desired.
Based on the available information, both the Everglide Crystal Violet and the Durock White Lotus switches offer a pleasant and comfortable typing experience with low-pitched sound profiles. The Crystal Violet switches provide a creamy and stepped feel, while the White Lotus switches offer an easy-to-press and subtle feel. These switches are both designed to deliver a delicate tactility without overwhelming the user, making them ideal for work and extended typing sessions. Additionally, the White Lotus switches feature a removable light column, allowing for vibrant RGB lighting effects. Ultimately, the choice between these switches will depend on personal preference regarding the specific feel and lighting options desired.
Conclusion
To summarize, if you're looking for a relaxed and stepped tactile typing experience with a slightly lower bottom out force, the Everglide Crystal Violet switches would be a great choice for you. These switches offer a gentle and comfortable feel with a mellow, low-pitched sound profile. Additionally, the Crystal Violet switches feature a creamy and mild feel, providing a smooth and buttery typing experience.
On the other hand, if you prefer a delicate tactility that strikes the perfect balance and allows for vibrant RGB lighting effects, the Durock White Lotus switches would be a suitable option. With a slightly higher bottom out force, these switches are ideal for work and extended typing sessions without overwhelming the user. The White Lotus switches offer an easy-to-press typing feel, reducing finger fatigue during long typing sessions. They also have a mild and subtle feel, making them suitable for shared spaces.
Ultimately, the choice between the Everglide Crystal Violet and the Durock White Lotus tactile switches depends on your personal preferences and priorities. Consider factors such as typing experience, sound profile, and lighting effects to make the best decision for your mechanical keyboard setup.
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