Kailh Box White vs. Outemu Silent Green
An in-depth look at the Kailh Box White and the Outemu Silent Green switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When it comes to mechanical keyboard switches, the Kailh Box White and Outemu Silent Green offer distinct typing experiences. The Box White is a clicky switch that is prized for its maximum audio feedback, with a distinctive "stepping on autumn leaves" crunch and accented tactility while typing. On the other hand, the Silent Green is a linear switch that is silent in operation, providing a smooth and quiet typing experience. Those who prefer a resonant, high-pitched, and crunchy feel may lean towards the Box White, while the Silent Green may appeal to those seeking 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
50g
Actuation force
45g
Bottom-out force
60g
Bottom-out force
60g
Pre-travel
1.80 mm
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Total travel
3.60 mm
Total travel
4.00 mm
Factory lubed
Yes
Factory lubed
Yes
Stem construction
Box
Stem construction
Standard
Stem material
POM
Stem material
pom
Top housing material
Polycarbonate
Top housing material
Polycarbonate
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Bottom housing material
Polycarbonate
Mount type
Plate (3-pin)
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Spring
Kailh Box spring
Spring
Stainless steel
Housing materials
In comparing the housing materials of the Kailh Box White and the Outemu Silent Green, both switches use polycarbonate for their top housing. This material choice results in a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound profile due to polycarbonate's stiffness. Additionally, the translucency of polycarbonate is ideal for switches that plan to utilize RGB lighting. However, while both switches share the same top housing material, the Box White features a nylon bottom housing, which offers a deeper and fuller sound profile. In contrast, the Silent Green utilizes a polycarbonate bottom housing, which also contributes to a sharper and crisper sound profile, aligning with its top housing material.
The use of different bottom housing materials in the Box White and Silent Green switches produces distinct typing experiences. With the Box White's nylon bottom housing, users can expect a softer plastic that absorbs more sound, resulting in a duller and rounder sound profile. On the other hand, the Silent Green's polycarbonate bottom housing contributes to a sharper and more resonant sound. This difference in bottom housing materials showcases how the choice of material can impact the overall sound and typing feel of a switch. While the Silent Green's top and bottom housings share the same material, the Box White's differing materials offer a unique typing experience.
Ultimately, the variation in housing materials between the Kailh Box White and Outemu Silent Green switches highlights the importance of material choice in keyboard switches. While both switches utilize polycarbonate for their top housing, the Box White's use of nylon for the bottom housing results in a deeper sound profile compared to the Silent Green's consistent polycarbonate construction. These differences demonstrate how the combination of housing materials can influence the overall sound and feel of a switch, providing users with a range of options to suit their typing preferences. Despite these variations, both switches offer distinctive qualities based on their housing materials, ultimately providing users with a customizable typing experience.
Weight
When comparing the actuation force and bottom out force of the Kailh Box White clicky switch and the Outemu Silent Green linear switch, we find that the Box White has a slightly heavier actuation force of 50 grams compared to the Silent Green's 45 grams, making the Silent Green the lighter option. However, both switches have the same bottom out force of 60 grams, resulting in a similar typing experience in terms of resistance once the key is fully pressed. The weight of a switch is important as it can affect typing comfort and fatigue. Some users may prefer the lighter actuation force of the Silent Green for extended typing sessions, while others may prefer the slightly heavier actuation force of the Box White for a more substantial typing feel. Ultimately, the choice between the two switches comes down to personal preference based on the desired typing experience.
Travel distance
The Kailh Box White clicky switch has a travel distance of 3.6 mm, which is shorter than the Outemu Silent Green linear switch's travel distance of 4 mm. This means that the Box White switch requires less distance to actuate compared to the Silent Green switch. Gamers who prioritize faster response times may prefer the Box White switch due to its shorter travel distance. On the other hand, those who enjoy a more substantial keypress experience may lean towards the Silent Green switch with its longer travel distance. Ultimately, the choice between the two switches will depend on personal preferences regarding keypress depth and responsiveness.
Price comparison
Which switch is more bang for your buck?
For 10 switches, the Kailh Box White comes in at $2.76, whereas the Outemu Silent Green 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 White clicky switch is known for its resonant and high-pitched qualities, providing a clean and sharp auditory experience that can be likened to the sound of stepping on crunchy autumn leaves. On the other hand, the Outemu Silent Green linear switch doesn't have any specific descriptors for sound, so it can be inferred that they offer a quieter typing experience compared to the Box White. The difference in sound between the two switches can greatly impact the overall typing experience, with the Box White providing a more immersive and satisfying audio feedback.
Moving on to the feel of the switches, the Kailh Box White is described as having a polished feel, resulting in a smooth and refined typing experience with reduced friction and smooth key travel. Unfortunately, there is no specific information available for the feel of the Outemu Silent Green switch. Without this information, it can be assumed that the Silent Green switch may not offer the same level of smoothness and refined typing experience as the Box White. The feel of a switch greatly affects the overall comfort and satisfaction of typing on a mechanical keyboard, so it's important to consider this aspect when choosing between different switches.
In conclusion, the Kailh Box White clicky switch and the Outemu Silent Green linear switch offer different subjective qualities in terms of sound and feel. The Box White provides a resonant and high-pitched sound with a polished feel, delivering a tactile and auditory experience that is satisfying for those who enjoy clicky switches. On the other hand, the Silent Green switch offers a quieter typing experience with unknown characteristics for both sound and feel. Ultimately, the choice between these two switches will depend on individual preference for sound, feel, and overall typing experience.
Conclusion
To sum up, when deciding between the Kailh Box White clicky switch and the Outemu Silent Green linear switch, it ultimately comes down to your preferences for typing experience. If you enjoy maximum audio feedback with a crunchy and high-pitched sound profile, as well as a polished and smooth key travel, then the Box White switch would be the ideal choice for you. On the other hand, if you prefer a silent typing experience without any specific sound or feel preferences, then the Silent Green switch may be more suitable for your needs. Consider how important the auditory and tactile feedback is to you when making your decision between these two mechanical keyboard switches.
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