Huano Caramel Latte vs. Outemu Gold
An in-depth look at the Huano Caramel Latte and the Outemu Gold switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When it comes to choosing the right mechanical keyboard switches, the Huano Caramel Latte and the Outemu Gold present two distinct options that cater to different preferences. The Caramel Latte, renowned for its medium weight of 50g bottom out and a bright, clacky sound profile, offers an exceptionally smooth typing experience that can make prolonged typing sessions enjoyable and effortless. On the other hand, the Outemu Gold switch, characterized as a clicky switch, typically delivers a more tactile and audible feedback with each keystroke, appealing to those who appreciate the satisfying "click" sound and feel when typing. While the Caramel Latte is ideal for users seeking a seamless and quiet experience, the Outemu Gold attracts those who enjoy a more interactive approach to typing. However, let's dive in a bit deeper beyond generalities so you can best decide on the right switch for you.
By the numbers
Technical specifications
Actuation force
45g
Actuation force
45g
Bottom-out force
55g
Bottom-out force
60g
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Pre-travel
1.80 mm
Total travel
3.60 mm
Total travel
4.00 mm
Factory lubed
Yes
Factory lubed
Yes
Stem construction
Standard
Stem construction
Standard
Stem material
POM
Stem material
POM
Top housing material
POK
Top housing material
Polycarbonate
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Mount type
Plate (3-pin)
Spring
22mm single-staged spring
Spring
Stainless steel
Housing materials
When comparing the Huano Caramel Latte and Outemu Gold switches, it's essential to examine the distinct materials utilized in their top housings. The Caramel Latte features a POK (polyketone) top housing, known for its smooth, clacky performance due to a coefficient of friction of 0.04. This material offers exceptional durability, with 14 times greater wear resistance than POM, in addition to superior shock resistance compared to Nylon and POM. In contrast, the Outemu Gold utilizes polycarbonate for its top housing, a material recognized for its clarity and crisp sound profile. Polycarbonate's stiffness contributes to a sharper sound, making it particularly beneficial for switches featuring RGB lighting due to its translucence. Despite their differences in sound profiles and acoustic characteristics, both materials excel in creating a pleasant typing experience—POK through its smooth, durable nature, and polycarbonate by offering a clear and resonant sound.
Examining the bottom housings reveals a striking similarity between the two switches, as both the Caramel Latte and Outemu Gold are equipped with nylon materials. Nylon is lauded for its ability to absorb sound, producing a deeper and fuller sound profile. This shared bottom housing material means that when typing on either switch, users will experience a rounder sound due to nylon's softer composition. Consequently, the profound sound characteristics attributed to the nylon bottom housing remain consistent across both models, providing a distinguished auditory experience regardless of the top housing material.
In terms of performance, the combination of the unique top housing materials with the common nylon bottoms influences the overall feel and sound during activation. While the Caramel Latte's POK top promotes smoothness and durability, enhancing the typing experience when releasing the keys, the Outemu Gold's polycarbonate design emphasizes clarity and resonance with the presence of RGB lighting. Ultimately, even though the top housings differ significantly, the enduring properties of nylon in both switches contribute to a harmonious typing experience that feels familiar to users of either model. Thus, while the Caramel Latte and Outemu Gold offer variance in their sound profiles based on top material, the shared nylon bottom creates a foundation that ensures a comparable tactile quality.
Weight
The Huano Caramel Latte linear switch and the Outemu Gold clicky switch demonstrate some similarities and differences in their actuation and bottom out forces. Both switches have an actuation force of 45 grams, making them equally light in terms of the force needed to trigger a keystroke. This can be beneficial for users who prefer a lighter switch for extended typing periods or gaming sessions. However, when it comes to the bottom out force, the Caramel Latte requires 55 grams, while the Gold switch has a higher bottom out force of 60 grams. As a result, the Caramel Latte switch is overall lighter, providing a softer landing sensation, whereas the Outemu Gold, with its heavier bottom out force, offers a slightly more substantial typing experience. Ultimately, users seeking a lighter touch should opt for the Caramel Latte, while those who prefer a more pronounced feel may gravitate towards the Outemu Gold.
Travel distance
The Huano Caramel Latte linear switch has a travel distance of 3.6 mm, while the Outemu Gold clicky switch features a slightly longer travel distance of 4.0 mm. This difference means that the Caramel Latte will provide a quicker response due to its shorter travel distance, making it a suitable choice for gamers seeking rapid key presses. Conversely, the Outemu Gold, with its 4.0 mm travel distance, offers a deeper feel that some users may prefer for a more substantial tactile experience while typing. Overall, the Caramel Latte is the shorter option and achieves a snappier response, whereas the Gold offers a more traditional and hearty depth typical of mechanical switches.
Price comparison
Which switch is more bang for your buck?
The Huano Caramel Latte has an MSRP of $3.00 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Caramel Latte for $2.75.
The Outemu Gold comes in at $3.10 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 Huano Caramel Latte linear switch produces a bright, clacky sound profile that can enhance the auditory experience of typing. This distinctive sound can add an engaging element to your keyboard usage, making each keystroke feel lively and dynamic. On the other hand, the Outemu Gold switch, while known for being clicky, does not have any specific sound characteristics outlined, which leaves an unknown element regarding how prominently it would showcase its clickiness in practice. It’s important to consider that the final sound experience can vary considerably based on the switch's interaction with the keyboard's construction and the choice of keycaps.
When discussing the feel, the Caramel Latte switch has a medium weight of 50g bottom-out force, offering a smooth typing experience that many users find satisfying. The linear nature of this switch allows for seamless key presses without any tactile bump or click, promoting a slick flow while typing. In contrast, the Outemu Gold switch, while also aligning with the clicky category, lacks defined descriptors for its feel. This leads to a gap in understanding how it might compare in terms of comfort or typing feedback against the Caramel Latte.
In summary, the Huano Caramel Latte switch stands out with a clear sound profile and a smooth, weighted typing feel that many users appreciate. The Outemu Gold switch, while categorized as clicky, presents an ambiguity in both its sound and feel characteristics that leaves much to be desired in comparison. Ultimately, if you prefer a bright, engaging auditory feedback and a smooth typing experience, the Caramel Latte would be the solid choice. Conversely, if you're drawn to the clicky nature but can overlook its less-defined performance aspects, you may still find satisfaction with the Gold switches.
Conclusion
To conclude, choosing between the Huano Caramel Latte linear switch and the Outemu Gold clicky switch ultimately depends on your typing preferences and use case. If you value a smooth, linear experience that feels light and effortless, the Caramel Latte is an excellent choice. Its medium-light actuation force of 55 grams allows for quick key presses with minimal resistance, perfect for typing long hours or for fast-paced gaming where precision is key. The quiet and soft feedback makes it ideal for shared spaces or environments where sound might be an issue. In contrast, if you enjoy the tactile feedback and satisfying auditory response of a clicky switch, the Outemu Gold is more suitable. With a slightly firmer actuation force of 60 grams, it offers a pronounced click sound and feel, making every keystroke feel distinctly rewarding. This can enhance your typing experience if you prefer to feel and hear your keys activate, which some find gratifying during both typing and gaming sessions. Ultimately, it comes down to whether you prioritize a smooth and quiet experience with the Caramel Latte or crave the tactile and auditory feedback provided by the Gold.
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