Akko V3 Crystal Pro vs. Outemu Yellow Silver
An in-depth look at the Akko V3 Crystal Pro and the Outemu Yellow Silver switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When comparing the Akko V3 Crystal Pro and the Outemu Yellow Silver mechanical keyboard switches, it becomes evident that both offer unique features that cater to different preferences. The V3 Crystal Pro stands out for its fully polycarbonate construction, providing a bright and chirpy sound signature along with a silky smooth typing experience, making it an ideal choice for those who value bounciness and polished feel. On the other hand, the Outemu Yellow Silver switch boasts a light actuation force and neutral sound profile, appealing to gamers and typists looking for speediness and responsiveness. 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
48g
Actuation force
45g
Bottom-out force
60g
Bottom-out force
55g
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Pre-travel
1.30 mm
Total travel
3.80 mm
Total travel
4.00 mm
Factory lubed
Yes
Factory lubed
No
Stem construction
Partial box
Stem construction
Partial box
Stem material
Polycarbonate
Stem material
POM
Top housing material
Polycarbonate
Top housing material
Polycarbonate
Bottom housing material
Polycarbonate
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Mount type
Plate (3-pin)
Mount type
Plate (3-pin)
Spring
18mm spring
Spring
Stainless steel
Housing materials
The housing materials of the Akko V3 Crystal Pro and the Outemu Yellow Silver both utilize polycarbonate for the top housing, providing a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound profile. This is due to polycarbonate's stiffness, which creates a more resonant sound. Additionally, the translucency of polycarbonate makes it ideal for switches with RGB lighting, enhancing the visual appeal of the keyboard. On the other hand, the Yellow Silver stands out with its nylon bottom housing, offering a deeper and fuller sound profile. Nylon's softer nature absorbs more sound, resulting in a duller and rounder sound compared to polycarbonate.
Despite their housing material differences, both the V3 Crystal Pro and the Yellow Silver switches showcase unique characteristics. The polycarbonate top housing in both switches contributes to a clear and resonant sound profile, emphasizing the higher frequencies for a sharper typing experience. However, the nylon bottom housing in the Yellow Silver delivers a deeper and fuller sound, providing a more substantial typing feedback. These differences in housing materials create distinct typing experiences, catering to different preferences based on sound and feel.
In terms of overall performance, the housing materials play a significant role in shaping the sound and feel of each keystroke. While the V3 Crystal Pro's polycarbonate top and bottom housing offer a consistent sharp and crisp sound profile, the Yellow Silver's combination of polycarbonate top and nylon bottom housing creates a unique balance between clarity and depth in sound. Ultimately, the choice between these switches will come down to personal preference for sound profile and typing feel, with both options offering distinct advantages based on their housing materials.
Weight
When comparing the Akko V3 Crystal Pro linear switch and the Outemu Yellow Silver linear switch, it becomes apparent that they both fall into the medium category in terms of actuation and bottom out forces. The V3 Crystal Pro requires 48 grams of force to actuate and 60 grams to bottom out, while the Yellow Silver requires 45 grams to actuate and 55 grams to bottom out. This makes the Yellow Silver slightly lighter in both categories. For those who prefer a lighter typing experience to reduce fatigue during long typing sessions or gaming marathons, the Yellow Silver may be the better choice. However, for those who enjoy a more substantial typing feel with a bit of resistance, the V3 Crystal Pro may be more suitable. Overall, both switches offer a balance between actuation force and bottom out force, providing a comfortable typing experience for different preferences.
Travel distance
In comparing the travel distance of the Akko V3 Crystal Pro linear switch and the Outemu Yellow Silver linear switch, the V3 Crystal Pro has a shorter travel distance of 3.8 mm compared to the Yellow Silver's 4 mm. The V3 Crystal Pro falls closer to the shorter end of the spectrum, which might appeal to those looking for faster response times, such as gamers. On the other hand, the Yellow Silver offers a slightly deeper travel distance, which could be preferable for those who enjoy a more tactile feel when typing. Both switches fall within the range of traditional travel distances, but the slight variation in millimeters may influence the overall typing experience for different preferences. Ultimately, the choice between the two switches will depend on whether the user values a shorter, quicker key press or a slightly longer, more pronounced key press. Both switches offer a different typing experience, but can still provide satisfactory results for keyboard users.
Price comparison
Which switch is more bang for your buck?
The Akko V3 Crystal Pro has an MSRP of $4.22 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the V3 Crystal Pro for $3.30.
The Outemu Yellow Silver comes in at $3.40 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 Akko V3 Crystal Pro linear switch is known for its chirpy sound profile, adding a unique squeak to each keypress, a sharp contrast to the neutral sound of the Outemu Yellow Silver switch. When it comes to the feel, the V3 Crystal Pro offers a bouncy and polished typing experience, giving a spring-like feedback and a smooth key travel. On the other hand, the feel of the Yellow Silver switch is not described in the provided information. Overall, the Akko V3 Crystal Pro switch presents a bright and chirpy sound with a silky smooth feel, while the Outemu Yellow Silver switch offers a neutral sound and an unknown feel. Depending on your preference for sound and feel, each switch may cater to different typing experiences.
Conclusion
In summary, if you are looking for a switch with a bright and chirpy sound signature, as well as a silky smooth typing experience, the Akko V3 Crystal Pro linear switch would be the ideal choice for you. On the other hand, if you prefer a switch with a light actuation force and a neutral sound profile that is perfect for gaming and typing with speed and responsiveness, the Outemu Yellow Silver linear switch would be more suited to your preferences. Ultimately, the decision between these two switches will depend on your personal typing style and preferences in terms of sound and feel.
Mentioned in this article
