Gateron Ink Yellow vs. Everglide Sunset Yellow

Overview

When it comes to choosing a mechanical keyboard switch, two popular options to consider are the Gateron Ink Yellow and the Everglide Sunset Yellow. The Ink Yellow is best known for its shorter travel, offering a typing experience that falls between that of a laptop and a standard mechanical keyboard. This switch showcases a pleasant smoothness and clackiness, making it a great choice for those looking for a neutral and mild feel during typing sessions. On the other hand, the Sunset Yellow switches stand out with their captivating sound profile, reminiscent of mahjong tiles colliding. With a rich, bassy, and decadent sound, typing becomes an indulgent experience. Additionally, the unique POM stem and proprietary factory lube method contribute to a distinct gliding feel, while the combination of very short travel and a long-pole stem ensures a sharper and highly responsive typing experience. Both switches offer polished finishes, but have their own distinct qualities. However, let's dive in a bit deeper beyond these generalities so you can best decide on the perfect switch for your needs.

By the numbers

Gateron Ink Yellow Linear

Everglide Sunset Yellow Linear

$7.50

$7.35 per 10

$3.09 per 10

Learn moreLearn more

Housing materials

The housing materials of the Gateron Ink Yellow and the Everglide Sunset Yellow switches have notable differences in their sound profiles. The Ink Yellow features a proprietary INK blend top housing that produces a satisfying, thin, and higher-pitched sound, often described as clacky. In contrast, the Sunset Yellow's POM top housing creates a deeper and relatively more muted sound profile. When it comes to the bottom housings, both switches utilize the same proprietary INK blend material, resulting in a similar pointed and relatively high-pitched sound profile. However, the bottom housing of the Sunset Yellow switch, made from POM, adds a touch of uniqueness to its sound with a deeper tone.

Apart from the sound profile, the housing materials also affect the feel of the switches. While the Ink Yellow incorporates the INK blend material for both top and bottom housing, the Everglide Sunset Yellow employs a combination of POM for the top housing and the proprietary INK blend for the bottom housing. This distinction leads to a difference in the overall tactile experience. Pressing down on the Ink Yellow switch will provide a feel characteristic of the INK blend material, which has a pointed and relatively high-pitched impact. On the other hand, the Sunset Yellow switch's bottom housing, made from the proprietary INK blend, will contribute to the switch's bottom-out sound and feel.

It is worth noting that the top housing material can also influence the sound when keys are released. Therefore, in terms of the sound when letting go of a key, the Ink Yellow's proprietary INK blend top housing and the Sunset Yellow's POM top housing will bring about distinct results. The Ink Yellow's top housing, characterized by a pointed and relatively high-pitched sound profile, is likely to produce a clacky sound upon key release. Meanwhile, the Sunset Yellow's POM top housing, described as creating a relatively more muted sound, will likely result in a smoother and less pronounced sound when keys are let go. However, the bottom housing material does not have a significant impact on the release sound, as the top housing plays a more influential role in this aspect.

Weight

When comparing the actuation force and bottom out force of the Gateron Ink Yellow linear switch and the Everglide Sunset Yellow linear switch, it is evident that there are significant differences between the two. The Ink Yellow has a heavier actuation force of 60 grams and a bottom out force of 67 grams, which provides a more substantial typing experience. In contrast, the Sunset Yellow features a lighter actuation force of 43 grams and a bottom out force of 51 grams, making it ideal for longer periods of typing or gaming sessions. Despite their differences, both switches fall within the medium range of actuation and bottom out forces. Therefore, users can expect similar results in terms of typing performance, with the Ink Yellow offering a slightly heavier touch than the Sunset Yellow. Ultimately, the choice between the two would depend on personal preferences, with those seeking a lighter typing experience opting for the Sunset Yellow and those desiring a stronger push feel favoring the Ink Yellow.

Travel distance

The Gateron Ink Yellow linear switch has a travel distance of 3.5 mm, while the Everglide Sunset Yellow linear switch has a slightly shorter travel distance of 3.2 mm. Both switches fall within the range of shorter travel distances, which have become popular, particularly among gamers looking for faster response times. Opting for the shorter travel distance of the Everglide Sunset Yellow switch may provide a more responsive typing experience. However, some individuals may find shorter travel distances to feel abrupt. For those who prefer a more substantial key press, the Gateron Ink Yellow switch with its slightly longer travel distance may offer a more satisfying tactile depth.

Price comparison

Typing experience

In terms of sound, the Gateron Ink Yellow switch is best described as having a neutral and clacky sound profile. Its sound is moderate and suitable for various purposes, whether you are a beginner or an advanced user, and whether you use it at home or work. The sound it produces is crisp, bright, and percussive, giving a satisfying auditory feedback when typing.

On the other hand, the Everglide Sunset Yellow switch offers a bassy and thocky sound profile. The sound it produces is deep, rich, and satisfying, resembling the depth and richness associated with bass tones. Typing on these switches creates a captivating sound experience that can be likened to the collision of mahjong tiles. The combination of the unique POM stem and proprietary factory lube method contributes to the distinct gliding sound.

Moving on to the feel, the Gateron Ink Yellow switch provides a mild and polished typing experience. With its mild characteristics, it offers a gentle typing sensation that is approachable to most users. The polished finish of the switch, either due to materials used or factory lubing, results in reduced friction and smooth key travel. Typing on these switches feels refined and sleek.

Similarly, the Everglide Sunset Yellow switch provides a creamy and frictionless typing experience. The creamy sensation is achieved through the application of lubricant at the factory or specific materials used. This creates a smooth and buttery typing experience where your fingers effortlessly glide across the keys. Additionally, the switch offers frictionless travel, minimizing any sense of resistance or friction when pressing the keys.

Taking all the available information into account, it is clear that both the Gateron Ink Yellow and Everglide Sunset Yellow switches offer unique qualities in terms of sound and feel. While the Ink Yellow provides a neutral and clacky sound with a mild and polished feel, the Sunset Yellow offers a bassy and thocky sound with a creamy and frictionless feel. Therefore, depending on your personal preferences, you can choose between a sharper and percussive typing experience with the Ink Yellow or a rich and indulgent typing experience with the Sunset Yellow. Regardless of your choice, both switches promise an enjoyable typing experience.

Conclusion

In closing, when deciding between the Gateron Ink Yellow linear switch and the Everglide Sunset Yellow linear switch, it ultimately comes down to personal preference and what you prioritize in a keyboard switch.

If you value a typing experience that is between that of a laptop and a standard mechanical keyboard, along with a pleasant smoothness and clackiness, the Ink Yellow switch is a great choice for you. With a medium-heavy bottom out force of 67 grams, it provides a satisfying and solid feel while typing. The sound profile of the Ink Yellow is neutral and clacky, offering a crisp and bright sound when pressed. In terms of feel, the Ink Yellow is described as mild and polished, resulting in a more gentle typing experience with smooth key travel.

On the other hand, if you crave a captivating sound profile reminiscent of mahjong tiles colliding, the Everglide Sunset Yellow switch is worth considering. With a medium-light bottom out force of 51 grams, it provides a lighter typing experience. The unique POM stem and proprietary factory lube method contribute to a distinct gliding feel, while the combination of very short travel and a long-pole stem ensures a sharper and highly responsive typing experience. The Sunset Yellow switch has a bassy and thocky sound profile, offering a rich and satisfying sound during key presses. In terms of feel, the Sunset Yellow is described as creamy, frictionless, and polished, providing a smooth and buttery typing experience.

Ultimately, both switches have their own strengths and advantages, and it's important to consider what you prioritize in terms of typing experience, sound, and feel. By understanding the characteristics of each switch and considering your own preferences, you can make an informed decision that suits your needs and enhances your overall typing experience.

Mentioned in this article

Gateron Ink Yellow Linear

$7.50

$7.35 per 10

Learn more

Everglide Sunset Yellow Linear

$3.09 per 10

Learn more