Huano Acacia vs. Outemu Milk Tea

Overview

When it comes to choosing the right mechanical keyboard switch, the Huano Acacia and the Outemu Milk Tea are two popular options that cater to different preferences. The Huano Acacia, a linear switch, offers a smooth, uninterrupted keystroke experience, making it ideal for gamers and those who prefer rapid, fluid typing without tactile feedback. With its medium-light weight, generous factory lubrication, and minimal stem wobble, the Acacia provides an excellent typing experience right out of the box, promoting speed and ease of use. In contrast, the Outemu Milk Tea, recognized for its tactile switch characteristics, delivers a distinct bump at the actuation point, allowing typists to feel when a key has been pressed without needing to bottom out. This feedback can enhance typing accuracy and typing satisfaction, especially for those who enjoy a more traditional typing experience. Both switches have their merits, depending on whether you prioritize smoothness or tactile feedback in your typing experience. However, let's dive in a bit deeper beyond generalities so you can best decide on the ideal switch for you.

By the numbers

Huano Acacia Linear

Outemu Milk Tea Tactile

$3.39 per 10

$3.10 per 10

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Housing materials

When comparing the housing materials of the Huano Acacia and the Outemu Milk Tea switches, one striking similarity is the use of nylon for the bottom housing in both switches. This material choice lends a consistent auditory characteristic to each, producing a deeper and fuller sound profile. The soft nature of nylon allows it to absorb sound effectively, creating a more muted and rounded tone when typing. Thus, despite any differences in the top housing, the presence of nylon at the bottom ensures that both switches will deliver a similar depth of sound, enhancing the overall typing experience by providing a solid and well-rounded acoustic foundation.

In contrast, the top housing materials differ significantly between the two switches, which plays a pivotal role in shaping their sound profiles. The Huano Acacia utilizes polycarbonate, a stiffer plastic known for generating a sharper and crisper sound signature. This rigidity allows for clearer resonance, particularly in conjunction with RGB lighting due to its translucent quality. On the other hand, the Outemu Milk Tea employs a newer material known as Ly, which is designed to accentuate bright sound profiles. The Milk Tea's top housing delivers resonant clacks that contribute to a lively and dynamic auditory experience, markedly different from the more subdued characteristics of the Acacia's polycarbonate.

In summary, while both the Huano Acacia and the Outemu Milk Tea share the classic nylon material for their bottom housings, their top housings introduce distinct sound attributes. The Acacia’s polycarbonate top emphasizes clarity and brightness, optimized for RGB lighting, whereas the Milk Tea's Ly top is engineered to deliver vibrancy and resonant sounds. This division ensures that pressing each switch yields different sound experiences, with the bottom housing grounding the fuller, deeper sounds provided by nylon. Consequently, users can expect a rich and varied auditory experience, influenced by both the materials and their placements within the switch design.

Weight

The Huano Acacia linear switch and the Outemu Milk Tea tactile switch present an interesting comparison in terms of actuation force and bottom-out force. Both switches have the same actuation force of 45 grams, which means they will provide a similar feel when it comes to the initial keystroke, making them suitable for long typing sessions without much fatigue. However, the Acacia switch has a bottom-out force of 55 grams, indicating a firmer resistance when fully pressed down, offering a more substantial typing feel. In contrast, the bottom-out force for the Milk Tea switch is not mentioned, leaving its resistance when fully engaged unknown. This lack of information suggests that the Milk Tea may not provide a defined tactile feedback at the bottom, which could appeal to users who prefer a softer landing. Overall, the Huano Acacia is the heavier switch with a more defined bottom-out experience, while the Outemu Milk Tea, with its unspecified bottom-out force, is comparatively lighter by default since it has no specified resistance at full press.

Travel distance

The Huano Acacia linear switch has a travel distance of 3.5 mm, while the Outemu Milk Tea tactile switch features a longer travel distance of 4 mm. This means that the Acacia provides a slightly shorter travel distance compared to the Milk Tea. For gamers or users who prefer a more responsive feel, the Acacia's shorter travel distance may be more appealing as it allows for faster key presses. Conversely, those who appreciate a more pronounced tactile feedback and a deeper keypress experience might find the Milk Tea's longer 4 mm travel distance more satisfying. Ultimately, the choice between the two switches may depend on individual preferences regarding responsiveness versus depth in key travel.

Price comparison

Typing experience

In terms of sound, the Huano Acacia linear switch is characterized by a relatively quiet operation. With its smooth and steady keystrokes, it produces a subtle sound that is non-intrusive, making it an excellent choice for environments where noise sensitivity is crucial. On the other hand, the Outemu Milk Tea tactile switch has an undefined sound profile, which leaves its auditory characteristics open to interpretation. However, it’s important to remember that a switch's sound can be influenced by factors like the keyboard’s construction and the type of keycaps used, so the specific auditory experience may vary.

When considering the feel, the Huano Acacia switch offers a medium-light actuation that is both responsive and easy to press, enhanced by generous factory lubrication which minimizes friction and allows for a fluid typing experience. This switch is designed to provide an exceptionally pleasant tactile interaction right from the start. Conversely, the feel of the Outemu Milk Tea tactile switch is also unspecified, which means its tactile feedback and actuation force remain a topic of curiosity. For anyone looking to gauge their experience with tactile feedback, it may require personal testing to determine how satisfying this switch feels compared to others in its category.

In conclusion, the Huano Acacia linear switch presents a well-rounded experience with its quiet sound and smooth feel, making it appealing for typists who prioritize comfort and discretion. The Outemu Milk Tea tactile switch, while lacking specific qualitative descriptors, may nonetheless offer a unique tactile experience worth exploring. Ultimately, both switches may deliver different experiences, and individuals will find that trying them firsthand is the best way to determine which aligns with their personal preferences.

Conclusion

To conclude, choosing between the Huano Acacia linear switch and the Outemu Milk Tea tactile switch ultimately hinges on your typing preferences and usage scenario. If you favor a smooth and consistent keystroke with minimal resistance, the Acacia switch would be an excellent choice. Its medium-light actuation force of 55 grams makes it easy to type quickly, and coupled with its generous factory lubrication, you’ll experience a satisfying, quiet response that's ideal for both gaming and typing. On the other hand, if you appreciate a tactile feedback that gives you a slight bump at the actuation point, even though the specifics for the Milk Tea's characteristics are not provided here, tactile switches generally offer distinct feedback that can enhance typing rhythm and satisfaction. Depending on your needs, if tactile feedback isn’t critical for your tasks—like in fast-paced gaming scenarios—you might lean towards the Acacia. Conversely, if you enjoy a more traditional typing experience with those discernible bumps, the Milk Tea would suit you better. Ultimately, consider how each switch aligns with your priorities in terms of comfort, feedback, and sound to make the most informed decision.

Mentioned in this article

Huano Acacia Linear

$3.39 per 10

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Outemu Milk Tea Tactile

$3.10 per 10

Learn more