Huano Acacia vs. Outemu Cold Plum

Overview

When it comes to mechanical keyboards, the choice of switches can significantly influence your overall typing experience, and two notable options are the Huano Acacia and the Outemu Cold Plum, both linear switches that cater to different preferences. The Huano Acacia is celebrated for its medium-light weight, generous factory lubrication, and minimal stem wobble, providing a smooth and reliable typing experience right out of the box. Its responsiveness makes it a solid choice for gamers and typists alike who value a seamless keystroke. In contrast, the Outemu Cold Plum switches stand out with their thocky sound profile and fully nylon construction, offering not just a smooth keystroke but also a satisfying auditory feedback that many enthusiasts crave. The Cold Plum appeals to those who appreciate a distinctive typing feel combined with a unique sound that can enhance the overall experience. While both switches are linear and prioritize smoothness, their varied characteristics can cater to different user desires. However, let's dive in a bit deeper beyond generalities so you can best decide on the best switch for you.

By the numbers

Huano Acacia Linear

Outemu Cold Plum Linear

$3.39 per 10

$3.10 per 10

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Housing materials

The Huano Acacia and Outemu Cold Plum switches each utilize different materials for their top housing, which significantly affects their sound profiles. The Acacia's top housing is made from polycarbonate, a material known for its stiffness. This stiffness contributes to a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound when typing due to its resonant qualities. Furthermore, polycarbonate's transparent nature makes it particularly advantageous for RGB lighting applications, as it enhances the aesthetic experience with vibrant color displays. In contrast, the Cold Plum switch features a nylon top housing, which is softer and absorbs sound more effectively. As a result, the Cold Plum produces a deeper and fuller sound profile, presenting a rounder acoustic experience that contrasts with the Acacia's crispness, highlighting the impact of material choice on auditory feedback.

Moving to the bottom housing, both the Acacia and Cold Plum switches are constructed with nylon, leading to similarities in their performance. Nylon, as a classic housing material, offers a deep and fuller sound profile due to its sound-absorbing qualities. In this aspect, both switches share a common ground as users experience a duller and rounder sound when typing, regardless of the top housing material. Since the bottom housing primarily influences the bottom-out sound and feel when pressing the keys, this shared nylon build ensures a uniform tactile experience across both switches while emphasizing how crucial the bottom housing materials are in shaping the switches' overall sound characteristics.

Ultimately, the combination of different materials in the Huano Acacia and Outemu Cold Plum creates unique sound profiles influenced by their respective top housings. The Acacia's polycarbonate top offers a bright and resonant quality, while the Cold Plum's nylon top yields a softer, rounder sound. However, both switches utilize nylon for the bottom housing, leading to a shared acoustic foundation that ties together their performance. This interplay between the distinct top housing materials and the uniformity of the nylon bottom housing exemplifies how sound and feel in mechanical switches can vary significantly based on material choices, highlighting the importance of understanding the roles that these materials play in delivering the desired user experience.

Weight

When comparing the Huano Acacia linear switch and the Outemu Cold Plum linear switch, there are notable differences in both actuation and bottom out forces that cater to different user preferences. The Acacia features a lighter actuation force of 45 grams and a bottom out force of 55 grams, making it a suitable choice for those who favor prolonged typing sessions with less strain. In contrast, the Cold Plum switch has a heavier actuation force of 60 grams and a bottom out force of 70 grams, providing a more substantial and tactile feel that some users may prefer for a robust typing experience. Thus, while the Acacia is better for users seeking comfort and ease during extensive use, the Cold Plum is ideal for those who like a firmer key press. Overall, individuals seeking a lighter switch should opt for the Acacia, whereas those desiring a heavier switch will find the Cold Plum more fitting.

Travel distance

When comparing the travel distances of the Huano Acacia linear switch and the Outemu Cold Plum linear switch, the Acacia boasts a travel distance of 3.5 mm, while the Cold Plum measures slightly shorter at 3.3 mm. This difference of 0.2 mm indicates that the Acacia offers a deeper keystroke, which might appeal to users who prefer a more substantial feel when pressing keys. In contrast, the Cold Plum's shorter travel distance may provide a quicker response time, making it a favorable choice for gamers accustomed to rapid keystrokes. For those who prioritize responsiveness in their typing or gaming experience, the Outemu Cold Plum may be more suitable, whereas those who enjoy a more tactile depth might lean toward the Huano Acacia. Overall, while both switches cater to different preferences, users can expect a noticeable distinction in feel and response due to the varying travel distances.

Price comparison

Typing experience

In terms of sound, the Huano Acacia linear switch tends to provide a quieter typing experience compared to the Outemu Cold Plum. The Acacia's sound profile is relatively muted, making it suitable for environments where noise might be an issue. Conversely, the Cold Plum is characterized by its thocky sound, which delivers a more pronounced auditory feedback that enthusiasts often find enjoyable. This distinction means that while both switches can offer pleasant acoustics, the Acacia will likely appeal to users seeking discretion, while the Cold Plum caters to those who relish a more vibrant sound during their typing sessions.

When it comes to feel, the Acacia linear switch is appreciated for its medium-light resistance, generous factory lubrication, and minimal stem wobble, which contribute to a smooth and consistent keystroke right from the box. The overall experience is designed to be user-friendly and satisfying, making it suitable for extensive typing sessions. On the other hand, the Cold Plum switch, with its fully nylon construction, also boasts a smooth keystroke, but it adds to the experience with a distinct tactile feedback that feels rewarding during use. While both switches provide a smooth typing experience, the nuanced differences in their construction create unique sensations that cater to slightly different preferences among users.

In conclusion, both the Huano Acacia and Outemu Cold Plum linear switches offer unique qualities that may influence a newcomer’s choice. The Acacia stands out with its quieter operation and immediate comfort thanks to its lubrication and stability. In contrast, the Cold Plum provides a more pronounced sound profile and a satisfying feel that appeals to tactile enthusiasts. Ultimately, while they can deliver enjoyable typing experiences, the choice between them comes down to whether one prioritizes a discreet operation or a more engaging auditory feedback.

Conclusion

To wrap up, when choosing between the Huano Acacia linear switch and the Outemu Cold Plum linear switch, your preferences and typing style will ultimately guide your decision. If you lean towards a lighter touch and appreciate a keyboard that feels smooth right out of the box, the Acacia is an excellent choice with its medium-light bottom-out force of 55 grams. This makes it suitable for extended typing sessions without causing finger fatigue, particularly beneficial if you're frequently editing documents or coding. The generous factory lubrication and minimal stem wobble contribute to a seamless typing experience, ensuring that you can focus on your tasks rather than the keyboard itself. On the other hand, if you prefer a more substantial keystroke and enjoy a thocky sound profile that provides auditory feedback, the Outemu Cold Plum switch, with its medium-heavy bottom-out force of 70 grams, would be more to your liking. This switch's fully nylon construction not only enhances durability but also adds to the overall sound and feel, creating an engaging typing experience that appeals to enthusiasts. In essence, if you're seeking a balance of lightness and ease, go for the Acacia; if you desire a more weighted, acoustically satisfying experience, the Cold Plum is your best bet.

Mentioned in this article

Huano Acacia Linear

$3.39 per 10

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Outemu Cold Plum Linear

$3.10 per 10

Learn more