Durock Blue Lotus vs. Outemu Red Panda
An in-depth look at the Durock Blue Lotus and the Outemu Red Panda switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
Introducing the Durock Blue Lotus and the Outemu Red Panda, two mechanical keyboard switches that cater to different preferences and typing styles. The Blue Lotus, a tactile switch, is renowned for its striking combination of tactile intensity and swift responsiveness. With a slightly reduced travel distance of 3.7mm, these switches provide a marked tactile feel and snappy keystrokes, making them perfect for those seeking a satisfying typing experience. Additionally, the Blue Lotus switches feature a detachable light column, adding vibrant and glowing RGB illumination to your keyboard. On the other hand, the Red Panda, also a tactile switch, offers a different typing experience. It provides a light to medium amount of tactility along with a bassier bottom-out sound and a clackier top-out sound, reminiscent of raindrops. Categorized as 'Thocky' and 'Mild', the Red Panda switches offer a unique auditory experience while typing. However, let's dive in a bit deeper beyond generalities so you can best decide on the switch that suits your personal preferences and typing style.
By the numbers
Technical specifications
Actuation force
55g
Actuation force
50g
Bottom-out force
65g
Bottom-out force
60g
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Pre-travel
1.80 mm
Total travel
3.70 mm
Total travel
3.30 mm
Factory lubed
Yes
Factory lubed
No
Stem construction
Standard
Stem construction
Partial box
Stem material
POM
Stem material
POM
Top housing material
Modified PC & UPE Blend
Top housing material
Polycarbonate
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Mount type
Plate (3-pin)
Spring
Gold-plated long spring
Spring
Stainless steel
Housing materials
The housing materials of the Durock Blue Lotus and the Outemu Red Panda differ in their composition. The Blue Lotus features a modified PC and UPE blend for its top housing, which gives it a unique and premium feel. In contrast, the Red Panda utilizes a polycarbonate top housing, known for creating a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound profile. While both switches use different materials for their top housing, they both offer distinct advantages. The Blue Lotus's modified PC and UPE blend provides a luxurious tactile experience, while the Red Panda's polycarbonate offers enhanced sound clarity and is particularly beneficial for switches with RGB lighting.
When it comes to the bottom housing materials, the Blue Lotus boasts a nylon construction, which is known for eliciting a deeper and fuller sound profile. This is due to nylon's softer plastic composition, allowing it to absorb sound and create a rounder and duller tone. Similarly, the Red Panda also utilizes a nylon bottom housing, which contributes to a deeper and fuller sound profile. Both switches benefit from the use of nylon in their bottom housings, ensuring a satisfying typing experience with rich and resonant sounds.
It is important to note that the impact of the housing materials differs based on whether they are used for the top or bottom housing of a switch. When pressing down on a switch, the qualities of the bottom housing, such as the material used, will have a more significant effect on the bottom-out sound and feel. Conversely, the top housing, with its chosen material, will have a greater influence on the sound produced when a key is released. Therefore, while the Blue Lotus and Red Panda may have variations in their housing materials, they both yield similar results in terms of overall sound profiles and typing experience.
Weight
When comparing the Durock Blue Lotus tactile switch and the Outemu Red Panda tactile switch, there are noticeable differences in their actuation force and bottom out force. The Blue Lotus has an actuation force of 55 grams, while the Red Panda requires a slightly lighter touch with an actuation force of 50 grams. On the other hand, the bottom out force of the Blue Lotus is 65 grams, which is slightly heavier compared to the Red Panda's bottom out force of 60 grams. In terms of weight, the Blue Lotus offers a slightly more substantial typing experience with its medium-heavy actuation and bottom out forces. However, both switches provide a medium level of resistance, making them suitable for users who prefer a balance between a lighter touch and a more substantial typing feel. So, while the force required to trigger a keystroke differs slightly between the two switches, they both deliver comparable results in terms of overall resistance.
Travel distance
The travel distance of the Durock Blue Lotus tactile switch is 3.7 mm, while the travel distance of the Outemu Red Panda tactile switch is slightly shorter at 3.3 mm. With a traditional travel distance being 4.0 mm, both switches fall below this standard. This suggests that both switches offer a shorter travel distance, which gamers usually prefer for faster response times. However, it is important to note that the shorter travel distance of the Outemu Red Panda switch may provide even quicker response times compared to the Durock Blue Lotus switch. On the other hand, for those who prefer a more substantial depth when pressing down on a key, the Durock Blue Lotus switch with its longer travel distance may be a preferred option. Overall, it ultimately comes down to personal preference - if you prioritize responsiveness, the slightly shorter travel distance of the Outemu Red Panda switch would be suitable, while those who enjoy a more satisfying depth may lean towards the Durock Blue Lotus switch.
Price comparison
Which switch is more bang for your buck?
The Durock Blue 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 Blue Lotus for $4.57.
The Outemu Red Panda comes in at $3.40 per 10 switches.
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
The Blue Lotus switch from Durock is known for its tactile intensity and swift responsiveness. It has a slightly reduced travel distance of 3.7mm, compared to the standard 4mm, resulting in a snappy feel. The Blue Lotus switch is perfect for those who enjoy a marked tactile feel. Additionally, it features a detachable light column for vibrant RGB illumination, adding to its visual appeal. On the other hand, the Red Panda switch offers a light-medium amount of tactility. It produces a bassier, raindrop-like bottom-out sound and a clackier, higher-pitched top-out sound when typing.
When it comes to sound, the Blue Lotus switch has a bassy profile, giving a deeper and richer sound during key presses. On the other hand, the Red Panda switch is described as thocky, meaning it produces a deep, rich, and satisfying sound when pressed and released. It's important to note that the sound of a switch can also be influenced by other factors such as the keyboard board and keycaps used.
In terms of feel, the Blue Lotus switch is described as accented, snappy, and stepped. It provides a prominent amount of tactility without being overwhelming or subtle. The switch feels responsive and alive due to its longer or dual-staged springs. It also has a stepped feel, meaning it has two stages of tactile feedback with some pre-travel and/or post-travel. On the other hand, the Red Panda switch offers a mild typing experience that is gentle and approachable. It falls in a safe middle-ground zone in terms of sound and feel.
In conclusion, the Durock Blue Lotus switch and Outemu Red Panda switch offer different subjective qualities. The Blue Lotus switch provides a snappy feel, marked tactile intensity, and comes with vibrant RGB illumination. It has a bassy sound profile. On the other hand, the Red Panda switch offers a mild typing experience with a raindrop-like bottom-out sound and clackier top-out sound. Both switches have their own unique characteristics and can provide satisfying typing experiences, but they cater to different preferences.
Conclusion
To conclude, if you are looking for a tactile switch with a marked tactile feel and vibrant RGB illumination, the Durock Blue Lotus switches are a great choice. With a slightly reduced travel and a bottom out force of 65 grams, these switches provide a snappy and accented typing experience. The sound profile of the Blue Lotus switches is described as bassy, offering a deeper and richer sound during key presses. On the other hand, if you prefer a lighter typing experience with a softer sound, the Outemu Red Panda switches are a suitable option. With a bottom out force of 60 grams, these switches provide a light-medium amount of tactility and a thocky sound. The Red Panda switches are categorized as mild, offering a gentle and approachable typing experience. Ultimately, the choice between the Blue Lotus and Red Panda switches depends on your preference for tactile intensity, sound profile, and typing feel. Both switches have their own unique characteristics, allowing you to find a switch that suits your personal typing preferences.
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