Huano Caramel Latte vs. Outemu Lotus
An in-depth look at the Huano Caramel Latte and the Outemu Lotus switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When choosing a mechanical keyboard switch, the Huano Caramel Latte and Outemu Lotus both present unique characteristics that can enhance your typing experience. The Huano Caramel Latte is renowned for its medium weight of 50g bottom out, delivering a bright and clacky sound profile that adds an enjoyable auditory feedback to every keystroke, while ensuring a smooth and fluid typing experience. This makes it an excellent choice for users who appreciate a tactile engagement combined with a satisfying sound. On the other hand, the Outemu Lotus, while lacking a defined standout feature in the information provided, typically draws users in with its reliable performance and affordability, making it a solid option for those seeking a budget-friendly linear switch without compromising on quality. 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
35g
Bottom-out force
55g
Bottom-out force
50g
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Total travel
3.60 mm
Total travel
3.30 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
Nylon
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
The Huano Caramel Latte and the Outemu Lotus switches utilize distinctly different materials for their top housings, leading to varied tactile and auditory experiences. The Caramel Latte features a POK top housing, known for its remarkable durability and a smooth typing experience. With a coefficient of friction of 0.04, it offers a texture that allows for gliding keystrokes, enhancing the overall typing experience with a clacky sound profile. In contrast, the Outemu Lotus employs a nylon top housing. Nylon, being a softer plastic, absorbs sound more effectively and contributes to a deeper and fuller auditory experience. While POK emphasizes clarity and smoothness, nylon provides a warmer, rounder tonal quality. Thus, the top housing materials significantly affect the perception of sound and feel in each switch.
Both switches share nylon for their bottom housing, which affects the overall typing experience more than the top housing. The use of nylon in both switches creates a unified auditory baseline, as it muffles and dampens sound, delivering a mellow bottom-out sound that many typists prefer. Despite the different materials used in the top housing, the nylon bottom ensures that both the Caramel Latte and the Lotus will produce a satisfying, deep sound when keys are pressed. As such, even though one switch may focus on clarity and smoothness and the other on warmth, their shared bottom housing allows for a consistent sonic foundation.
In summary, while the top housings of the Huano Caramel Latte and Outemu Lotus switches utilize different materials—POK for the former and nylon for the latter—both switches share the same nylon material for the bottom housing. This similarity not only ensures a comparable sound profile in terms of depth and fullness but also creates a distinct contrast in tactile feedback and auditory experience when typing. Ultimately, the combination of these housing materials leads to unique characteristics, with the Caramel Latte leaning toward a more crisp and clacky feel, while the Lotus emphasizes a smoother, warmer typing experience.
Weight
The Huano Caramel Latte linear switch and the Outemu Lotus linear switch exhibit notable differences in their actuation and bottom out forces, influencing user experience in distinct ways. The Caramel Latte features an actuation force of 45 grams and a bottom out force of 55 grams, categorizing it as medium-light. In contrast, the Lotus switch boasts a lighter actuation force of 35 grams and a bottom out force of 50 grams, making it a more suitable choice for those who prefer an easier keystroke without much resistance. Consequently, users seeking a lightweight typing option may gravitate towards the Outemu Lotus for longer gaming sessions or work-related tasks, as its lower forces can help reduce finger fatigue. In terms of weight, the Caramel Latte is heavier overall compared to the Lotus, making it a better fit for individuals who favor a firmer typing experience that provides more tactile feedback. Thus, while both switches offer linear actuation, the different actuation and bottom out forces cater to varied preferences in typing feel and comfort.
Travel distance
When comparing the travel distances of the Huano Caramel Latte linear switch and the Outemu Lotus linear switch, there is a notable difference. The Huano Caramel Latte features a travel distance of 3.6 mm, while the Outemu Lotus has a shorter travel distance of 3.3 mm. This makes the Lotus the shorter option, appealing to those who favor quicker, more responsive keystrokes, which are often preferred by gamers for faster response times. Conversely, the Caramel Latte, with its longer travel distance, may be better suited for individuals who appreciate a deeper, more substantial feel when pressing down on a key. Ultimately, the choice between these two switches will depend on whether you prioritize speed and responsiveness or prefer a more traditional, hearty depth in your typing experience.
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 Lotus 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
In terms of sound, the Huano Caramel Latte linear switch produces a bright, clacky sound profile that adds a layer of auditory feedback to each keystroke, making the typing experience more engaging and enjoyable. This acoustic characteristic enhances the sensation of each keypress, especially on a well-built keyboard that complements its sound signature. Unfortunately, no specific sound profile is available for the Outemu Lotus linear switch, leaving its auditory qualities as an unknown factor for potential users.
When it comes to feel, the Caramel Latte switch delivers a super smooth typing experience, with a medium weight of 50g at bottom out, which balances resistance and ease of pressing effectively. This smoothness minimizes any tactile distractions, allowing for fluid typing. Similarly, the feel of the Outemu Lotus linear switch is also an unknown element, making it difficult to draw direct comparisons in terms of how pleasurable or responsive the keypresses may be.
Overall, while the Huano Caramel Latte linear switch stands out with its bright sound and smooth typing experience, the Outemu Lotus lacks available information on its qualities, leaving potential users to speculate about its performance. If you're drawn to the Caramel Latte's characteristics, you can expect a satisfying typing experience, but understanding the Outemu Lotus would require further exploration or hands-on testing.
Conclusion
To wrap up, when you're deciding between the Huano Caramel Latte linear switch and the Outemu Lotus linear switch, it ultimately comes down to your personal preferences for typing feel and sound profile. If you enjoy a medium-light feel with a bit more resistance—ideal for precision typing or gaming where control is key—the Caramel Latte's 55-gram bottom-out force makes it a suitable choice. It features a smooth typing experience that can enhance both your productivity and enjoyment, particularly if you appreciate a bright and clacky sound profile. On the other hand, if you prefer a lighter touch and want a softer keystroke, the Outemu Lotus's 50-gram bottom-out force might be more up your alley. This switch is a great option if you favor fast-paced typing or gaming, as the lighter action can facilitate quicker key presses. Ultimately, if sound and tactile feedback are important to you, the Huano Caramel Latte will likely provide a more satisfying experience, while the Outemu Lotus is better if you seek a lightweight switch for speed and agility. Make your choice based on what feels best for your typing style and the overall experience you wish to achieve.
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