HC Studio Crabapple vs. Outemu Silent Grey
An in-depth look at the HC Studio Crabapple and the Outemu Silent Grey switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When considering mechanical keyboard switches, two popular options to explore are the HC Studio Crabapple and the Outemu Silent Grey. The crabapple is a linear switch crafted entirely from POM, providing a frictionless typing journey with a distinct dry smoothness and subtle texture felt with each downstroke. Its sound signature is mild and understated, making it ideal for those who prefer a more subdued typing experience. On the other hand, the Outemu Silent Grey is a tactile switch known for its quiet and highly tactile typing experience. With a pronounced bump and smooth keystroke, these switches offer something satisfying and silent for users. The Crabapple is best categorized as smooth, mild, subdued, and textured, while the Silent Grey lacks categorization information. However, let's explore beyond generalities so you can make the best decision for you.
By the numbers
Technical specifications
Actuation force
37g
Actuation force
50g
Bottom-out force
45g
Bottom-out force
65g
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Pre-travel
1.60 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
POM
Top housing material
Polycarbonate
Bottom housing material
POM
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Mount type
Plate (3-pin)
Spring
Lengthened single-staged spring
Spring
Stainless steel
Housing materials
The housing materials of the HC Studio Crabapple and the Outemu Silent Grey switches offer different sound profiles and tactile experiences. The Crabapple's POM top housing creates a deeper and more muted sound, while the Silent Grey's polycarbonate top housing produces a sharper and crisper sound. The use of polycarbonate also allows for RGB lighting to shine through, enhancing the aesthetic appeal of the switch. Additionally, the Crabapple's POM bottom housing contributes to a pleasing sound profile, while the Silent Grey's nylon bottom housing produces a deeper and fuller sound. The softer nylon material absorbs more sound, resulting in a duller and rounder sound compared to the POM material.
While both the Crabapple and the Silent Grey switches have unique sound profiles based on their housing materials, they each offer a different tactile experience as well. The stiffer polycarbonate top housing of the Silent Grey switch provides a clear and resonant sound when pressing down on a key, while the softer nylon bottom housing creates a deeper sound profile. In contrast, the POM top and bottom housing of the Crabapple switch contribute to a consistent deeper and more muted sound profile overall. The differing materials used in the top and bottom housings of each switch offer a split experience when typing, with the bottom housing impacting the bottom-out sound and feel, and the top housing influencing the sound when releasing a key.
In conclusion, the choice of housing materials in mechanical switches such as the HC Studio Crabapple and the Outemu Silent Grey can greatly impact the overall sound and tactile experience of typing. The use of POM in the Crabapple switch creates a unique and pleasing sound profile, while polycarbonate in the Silent Grey switch offers a sharper and crisper sound. Additionally, the Nylon bottom housing in the Silent Grey switch provides a deeper and fuller sound compared to the POM bottom housing of the Crabapple. Understanding the properties of different housing materials can help enthusiasts and users make informed decisions based on their preferences for sound and feel when choosing mechanical switches for their keyboards.
Weight
The HC Studio Crabapple linear switch and the Outemu Silent Grey tactile switch have notable differences in their actuation and bottom out forces. The Crabapple has a lighter actuation force of 37 grams and a bottom out force of 45 grams, making it ideal for users who prefer a lighter typing experience. In contrast, the Silent Grey has a heavier actuation force of 50 grams and a bottom out force of 65 grams, providing users with a more substantial and tactile typing feel. Those who favor a lighter touch for extended typing sessions may prefer the Crabapple, while those who enjoy a more pronounced tactile feedback may lean towards the Silent Grey. Both switches offer unique experiences due to their varying actuation and bottom out forces, ensuring that users can find an option that suits their typing preferences.
Travel distance
The HC Studio Crabapple linear switch has a travel distance of 3.6 mm, while the Outemu Silent Grey tactile switch has a travel distance of 4 mm. In this case, the Silent Grey has a longer travel distance compared to the Crabapple. The shorter travel distance of the Crabapple may appeal to gamers looking for a faster response time, while the longer travel distance of the Silent Grey may provide a more satisfying typing experience for those who prefer a deeper key press. Both switches offer different tactile experiences based on their travel distances, so it ultimately comes down to personal preference when choosing between the two.
Price comparison
Which switch is more bang for your buck?
The HC Studio Crabapple has an MSRP of $5.90 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Crabapple for $4.70.
The Outemu Silent Grey 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
When it comes to sound, the HC Studio Crabapple linear switch provides a subdued typing experience, with a dampened sound that is not completely silent but offers a more subtle sound signature compared to many other switches. On the other hand, the Outemu Silent Grey tactile switch is known for offering a quiet typing experience, making it a great choice for those who prioritize a silent workspace. It is worth noting 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 of the switches, the Crabapple linear switch is crafted from POM, offering a frictionless typing experience with a dry smoothness that minimizes any sense of resistance or friction. The switch also has a mild tactile feedback with a subtle texture felt with each keystroke. In contrast, the Outemu Silent Grey tactile switch features a pronounced tactile bump and smooth keystroke, providing a satisfying typing experience for those who enjoy tactile feedback. Unfortunately, specific information about the tactile feel of the Crabapple switch is not provided.
In conclusion, both the HC Studio Crabapple linear switch and the Outemu Silent Grey tactile switch offer unique qualities that cater to different preferences in mechanical keyboard switches. While the Crabapple switch excels in providing a frictionless and smooth typing experience with a subdued sound profile, the Silent Grey switch stands out for its quiet operation and pronounced tactile feedback. Ultimately, the choice between these switches will depend on the individual's preference for sound, feel, and overall typing experience.
Conclusion
In closing, when deciding between the HC Studio Crabapple linear switch and the Outemu Silent Grey tactile switch, you should consider your preference for keypress weight, typing experience, and noise level. If you prefer a lighter keypress with a smooth and frictionless typing experience, then the Crabapple switch would be the ideal choice for you. On the other hand, if you prefer a medium-heavy keypress with a pronounced tactile bump and a quieter typing experience, then the Outemu Silent Grey switch would be more suited to your preferences. Ultimately, your choice should be based on what feels most comfortable and enjoyable for your typing needs.
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