Kailh Box Royal vs. Outemu Silent White
An in-depth look at the Kailh Box Royal and the Outemu Silent White switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When it comes to mechanical keyboard switches, the Kailh Box Royal and Outemu Silent White offer unique experiences for users with different preferences. The Box Royal is praised for its extreme tactility, providing a sharp and binary typing feel that is sure to please those who enjoy a more pronounced tactile response. With a higher-pitched sound profile, these switches are perfect for users who prefer a clicky and tactile typing experience. On the other hand, the Outemu Silent White is a linear switch that delivers a smooth and quiet typing experience, making it ideal for those who prefer a more subtle and noiseless keystroke. While the Box Royal is characterized by its aggressive tactility and high-pitched sound, the Silent White offers a more subdued typing experience. However, let's dive in a bit deeper beyond generalities so you can best decide on the best switch for you.
By the numbers
Technical specifications
Actuation force
45g
Actuation force
45g
Bottom-out force
70g
Bottom-out force
60g
Pre-travel
1.80 mm
Pre-travel
1.60 mm
Total travel
3.60 mm
Total travel
3.30 mm
Factory lubed
No
Factory lubed
Yes
Stem construction
Box
Stem construction
Standard
Stem material
POM
Stem material
pom
Top housing material
Nylon
Top housing material
Polycarbonate
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Mount type
Plate (3-pin)
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Spring
Stainless steel
Spring
Stainless steel
Housing materials
The housing materials of the Kailh Box Royal and the Outemu Silent White switches offer distinct sound profiles due to their different compositions. The Box Royal features a nylon top housing, providing a deeper and fuller sound that is somewhat duller and rounder in comparison to the Silent White's polycarbonate top housing. The polycarbonate material of the Silent White creates a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound, offering a more clear and resonant typing experience. While the Box Royal emphasizes a softer plastic for sound absorption, the Silent White focuses on a stiffer plastic for enhanced clarity and resonance.
In terms of the bottom housing, both the Kailh Box Royal and the Outemu Silent White switches utilize nylon material, resulting in similar deep and full sound profiles with a duller and rounder quality. The choice of nylon for the bottom housing allows both switches to maintain consistency in sound characteristics, despite the differences in their top housings. This similarity in bottom housing material ensures that users can expect a comparable typing experience in terms of sound and feel for both the Box Royal and Silent White switches.
Overall, the combination of different housing materials in the Kailh Box Royal and Outemu Silent White switches results in a unique typing experience for each. The split between the top and bottom housing materials influences the sound profile when both pressing down on a key and releasing it. While the Box Royal provides a deeper and fuller sound with its nylon top and bottom housings, the Silent White offers a sharper and crisper sound with its polycarbonate top housing and nylon bottom housing. Ultimately, the choice between these switches will depend on individual preferences for sound characteristics and typing feel.
Weight
The Kailh Box Royal tactile switch and the Outemu Silent White linear switch have similar actuation forces, both requiring 45 grams of force to trigger a keystroke. However, the Box Royal has a heavier bottom out force of 70 grams compared to the Silent White's 60 grams, making it a medium-heavy switch while the Silent White is considered medium. This means that the Box Royal offers a more substantial typing experience with a stronger push feel, ideal for those who prefer a heavier touch. On the other hand, the Silent White provides a lighter typing experience, making it suitable for longer typing sessions or extended gaming sessions where fatigue may be a concern. Ultimately, the decision between the two switches comes down to personal preference regarding actuation and bottom out force.
Travel distance
The Kailh Box Royal tactile switch has a travel distance of 3.6 mm, which is slightly longer than the travel distance of the Outemu Silent White linear switch at 3.3 mm. Both switches fall within the range of shorter travel distances preferred by gamers for faster response times. However, the Box Royal offers a bit more depth for those who prefer a more substantial press. Ultimately, the choice between the two switches will depend on personal preference for travel distance and the specific feel desired when typing or gaming.
Price comparison
Which switch is more bang for your buck?
For 10 switches, the Kailh Box Royal comes in at $6.25, whereas the Outemu Silent White comes in at $3.10.
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
When it comes to sound, the Kailh Box Royal tactile switch is known for its high-pitched profile, producing a sharp and crisp sound when pressed. On the other hand, the sound profile of the Outemu Silent White linear switch is unknown. It's essential to consider that the sound of a switch can also be influenced by other factors such as the keyboard and keycaps being used.
Moving on to the feel, the Kailh Box Royal tactile switch is renowned for its sharp tactility, providing a strong and distinct tactile bump with each keypress. In contrast, the tactile feel of the Outemu Silent White switch is not specified. If you prefer a highly tactile typing experience, the Box Royal switches could be the perfect choice for you.
In conclusion, the Kailh Box Royal tactile switch offers a sharp and aggressive tactility with a relatively higher-pitched sound profile, making it an excellent option for those who enjoy a prominent tactile feedback while typing. The Outemu Silent White linear switch lacks specific information regarding its sound and feel, but it may provide a smoother typing experience without the audible click associated with tactile switches. Ultimately, the decision between these two switches will depend on your personal preference for tactile feedback and sound profile.
Conclusion
In closing, when deciding between the Kailh Box Royal tactile switch and the Outemu Silent White linear switch, consider your preferences for tactility and sound. If you prefer a sharp, aggressive tactility with a higher-pitched sound profile, the Box Royal may be the better choice for you. On the other hand, if you prefer a smoother, quieter typing experience with a medium bottom out force, the Silent White switch could be more suitable. Ultimately, your choice will depend on whether you prioritize tactility or silence in your mechanical keyboard switches.
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