I am a big boy and I like heavy switches. As a linear gang member they are perfect, smooth pretty and for now reliable. The lube is okay. I recommend putting them into a keyboard (if it is hotswap) and then just applying more lube if certain switches need it.
Hoooooooooly cow these are smooth. Like smoother than smooth. You think Durock linears are smooth? You ain't felt smooth. Slap some of these bad boys into your board and prepare for a linear experience unlike anything else. Mine were even perfectly factory lubed and the housing tolerances were perfect, meaning you don't have to do any extra work to them. They're totally stock, and they're totally sick.
This town is big, there's lots of competition, but somehow the Everglide Aqua Kings just have that X factor that few other linears have. I was replacing a set of Gateron Milky Yellow Pros on a GMMK Pro base. No matter if it was factory lube or if I gave them my once over, the Gateron switches had this incredibly unpleasant "squelch" when bottoming out, as if they were way over-lubed. I swapped them out for the Aqua Kings, and my goodness... With a tape, gasket and PE foam mod... The MARBLE on this thing, wow. You could put this keyboard in the Louvre next to the Venus de Milo. No scratching, easy to pull and swap switches (gaterons broke my switch puller, that's how difficult they were). The feel at 55g is awesome, obviously personal preference there. But they just have such a sublime sound and feel. They're so good I put them in my second build!
These are really good budget options, great for RGB. I think this is a pretty good linear with the 67g, I prefer heavier linears for sound and feel. These are a decent "heavy" linear but a really good in between for people who want to have heavier without going over 70g
Not really anything to complain about on these other than be careful resting your fingers on keys and it feels easy to double press if you're not an avid keyboard user
I love these, and think they’re a great addition to my collection. I got the 62g, but if I had a chance to do it over…I’d go with the 67g. I think they’re just fine with the factory lube. I didn’t find them scratchy.
I recently tried using these switches with an acrylic keyboard and I must say, they not only look great but also feel great. If you are looking for some reliable switches to use with an acrylic keyboard, I would definitely recommend them.
These are where my quest to find the perfect linear switch ended, but of course your mileage may vary. Here's what I was looking for, after trying more switches than I'd care to list:
Mid-weight (I found the Oil Kings too heavy)
Standard travel (~2mm actuation travel, 4mm total travel)
Smooth (who's looking for a scratchy linear?!)
Cool name (kidding but it didn't hurt)
These switches, in their 55g variation, confidently ticked every one of those boxes for me and I've continued using them for far longer than anything else I've tried. There was a period where I was changing my switches multiple times a week, and it's been nice to give my hands and keyboard a break from that wear and tear.
The Aqua Kings hit a sweet spot of smoothness, resistance, and travel. They just kind of get out of your way. For me, much of the appeal of linears over tactiles and clickies is that you're not thinking about your switches all the time: you kind of forget about them in use. Naturally, I'm writing this review on them (installed in a Keychron Q11) and noticing just how good and unobtrusive they really are. I find it very hard to imagine anyone hating or even disliking these switches. If I have one critique, it's that the return action of the spring could be a little bit faster. Compared to other excellent linears I've tried (Oil Kings, Gateron Red/Yellow, Kailh Box Cream), they're a bit leisurely on the way back up, but it's possible some people may prefer less snappy return.
A couple other notes:
I've had no QC issues with them. Every switch has been perfect, which you may interpret as me being a philistine who can't feel inconsistencies in factory lube (and you'd be right). :)
As other reviewers have mentioned, the fact that they're totally clear makes them ideal for any and all RGB effects.
I can't comment on the sound because it's not something I pay much attention to, and linear switches all sound about the same to me.
All in all, I highly recommend these switches if you're looking for some smooth, mellow linears!