Bsun Dragon Fruit vs. Outemu Silent Grey
An in-depth look at the Bsun Dragon Fruit and the Outemu Silent Grey switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When considering mechanical keyboard switches, the BSUN Dragon Fruit and Outemu Silent Grey stand out as popular choices among tactile switch enthusiasts. The Dragon Fruit is renowned for its long pole stem that ensures a sharp bottom-out and the most significant tactile feedback in its lineup. Paired with a clacky sound signature, this switch offers a lively and engaging typing experience. On the other hand, the Outemu Silent Grey provides a quiet yet highly tactile typing experience with a pronounced bump and smooth keystroke. While the Dragon Fruit is categorized as 'Accented', 'Invigorating', 'Sharp', and 'Snappy', the Silent Grey's categories remain unspecified. Each switch has its unique characteristics that appeal to different preferences, making them worthy choices for discerning keyboard users. 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
50g
Bottom-out force
65g
Bottom-out force
65g
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Pre-travel
1.60 mm
Total travel
3.40 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
Polycarbonate
Top housing material
Polycarbonate
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Mount type
Plate (3-pin)
Mount type
Plate (3-pin)
Spring
Stainless steel
Spring
Stainless steel
Housing materials
In comparing the housing materials of the Bsun Dragon Fruit and the Outemu Silent Grey, both switches feature polycarbonate as their top housing material. Polycarbonate is known for creating a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound profile due to its stiffness, which leads to a clear and resonant sound when typing. Aesthetically, polycarbonate is ideal for switches with clear housings, as it allows for RGB lighting to shine through. Therefore, both the Dragon Fruit and the Silent Grey switches will offer similar sound profiles and visual appeal when it comes to their top housings.
However, the key point of differentiation between these two switches lies in their bottom housing materials. The Bsun Dragon Fruit utilizes nylon for its bottom housing, which produces a deeper and fuller sound profile when typing. As a softer plastic, nylon absorbs more sound than harder plastics, resulting in a duller and rounder sound. Conversely, the Outemu Silent Grey also features a nylon bottom housing, providing a similar experience in terms of sound profile and feel when compared to the Dragon Fruit.
Overall, while both the Bsun Dragon Fruit and the Outemu Silent Grey switches share similar top housing materials in polycarbonate, the choice of nylon for their bottom housings slightly distinguishes the sound profiles they offer. The Dragon Fruit's nylon bottom housing creates a deeper and fuller sound, while the Silent Grey's nylon bottom housing also contributes to a rich typing experience. Ultimately, the impact of each housing material on the overall sound and feel of the switch will depend on the individual preferences of the user.
Weight
The Bsun Dragon Fruit tactile switch and the Outemu Silent Grey tactile switch both have a bottom out force of 65 grams, providing a medium-heavy typing experience. However, the Dragon Fruit has a lighter actuation force of 45 grams, while the Silent Grey has a slightly heavier actuation force of 50 grams. This means that the Dragon Fruit may feel lighter to the touch when initially pressing the key, while the Silent Grey may require a bit more force to register a keystroke. Both switches offer a tactile typing experience with a satisfying bump, but the slight difference in actuation force may make a distinction for users who prefer a lighter or heavier typing feel. Ultimately, whether you choose the Dragon Fruit or Silent Grey will depend on your personal preference for actuation force and bottom out force when typing.
Travel distance
The Bsun Dragon Fruit tactile switch has a travel distance of 3.4 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 Dragon Fruit. The 4.0mm travel distance is more traditional, providing a deeper key press feel, which can be preferred by some users. On the other hand, the 3.4mm travel distance of the Dragon Fruit offers a shorter, more responsive key press, which may be favored by gamers looking for faster response times. Ultimately, the choice between the two switches will depend on personal preference for travel distance and key press feel.
Price comparison
Which switch is more bang for your buck?
The Bsun Dragon Fruit has an MSRP of $4.70 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Dragon Fruit for $3.83.
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
In terms of sound, the BSUN Dragon Fruit switch is characterized by a clacky sound signature, adding a lively and engaging element to the typing experience. On the other hand, the Outemu Silent Grey switch is designed to offer a quiet typing experience, perfect for those seeking a more subtle and noise-free environment. The sound produced by a switch is also influenced by other factors such as the keyboard itself and the keycaps used, so individual preferences may vary.
When it comes to feel, the BSUN Dragon Fruit switch is known for its accented, invigorating, sharp, and snappy tactile feedback. This means that users can expect a medium tactile experience with a prominent level of tactility that is both satisfying and engaging. The keystrokes are characterized by a strong and crisp tactile bump that can be felt distinctly with each press, providing a responsive and immersive typing sensation. On the other hand, the specific feel of the Outemu Silent Grey switch is not explicitly described in the provided information.
Overall, the BSUN Dragon Fruit switch stands out for its sharp and pronounced tactile feedback, paired with a clacky sound signature that enhances the typing experience. On the other hand, the Outemu Silent Grey switch offers a quiet typing experience with a satisfying tactile bump. Depending on individual preferences for sound and feel, both switches cater to different needs – whether it be a lively and engaging typing experience with the Dragon Fruit, or a quiet and tactile typing experience with the Silent Grey. Ultimately, choosing between the two switches will come down to personal preference and the specific typing experience desired.
Conclusion
To sum up, when choosing between the BSUN Dragon Fruit tactile switch and the Outemu Silent Grey tactile switch, you should consider the typing experience you prefer. If you enjoy a sharp, definitive bottom-out with significant tactile feedback and a clacky sound signature, the Dragon Fruit switch would be the better choice for you. On the other hand, if you are looking for a quiet and highly tactile typing experience with a pronounced bump and smooth keystroke, the Silent Grey switch would be more suitable for your needs. Ultimately, it boils down to your personal preference in terms of sound, feel, and typing experience when selecting between these two switches.
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