Gateron Glory Yellow vs. Outemu Silent Ocean

Overview

When choosing a mechanical keyboard switch, enthusiasts often find themselves comparing options that offer distinct advantages, like the Gateron Glory Yellow and the Outemu Silent Ocean. The Glory Yellow stands out with its heavier touch, providing a smooth keystroke and a satisfying travel distance that many typists and gamers appreciate for its feedback and tactile response. This makes it an excellent choice for those who enjoy a more substantial feel under their fingers, enhancing their overall typing experience. On the other hand, the Outemu Silent Ocean prioritizes quietness and smoothness, making it an ideal selection for users seeking a less disruptive experience in shared spaces or during late-night gaming sessions. While both switches fall under the linear category, catering to preferences for uninterrupted keystrokes, they offer contrasting sensations that can greatly influence your typing or gaming performance. However, let's dive in a bit deeper beyond generalities so you can best decide on the right switch for you.

By the numbers

Gateron Glory Yellow Linear

Outemu Silent Ocean Linear

$4.50

$4.19 per 10

$3.10 per 10

Learn moreLearn more

Housing materials

When analyzing the housing materials of the Gateron Glory Yellow and the Outemu Silent Ocean, a distinct contrast emerges, particularly in their top housings. The Gateron Glory Yellow utilizes a nylon top housing, known for its ability to produce a deeper, fuller sound profile. Nylon’s relatively softer nature allows it to absorb sound more effectively, yielding a sound that is duller and more rounded. In contrast, the Outemu Silent Ocean features a polycarbonate top housing, which is characterized by its stiffer composition. This leads to a higher-pitched and crisper sound profile, providing a clearer resonance when keys are released. Therefore, the choice of housing material significantly manifests in the auditory experience of each switch, with the Glory Yellow giving a more muted sound compared to the sharpness of the Silent Ocean.

Examining the bottom housing of both switches reveals an interesting similarity. Both the Glory Yellow and Silent Ocean harness nylon for their bottom housings, leading to a cohesive sound profile in this regard. As nylon is known for creating a deeper and fuller sound, both switches will exhibit these characteristics during actuation. When pressed, the bottom housing is primarily responsible for the bottom-out sound and feel, meaning that both switches can deliver a satisfying tactile experience upon key press, even though the overall sound profile may differ when the keys are released. The shared nylon material in the bottom housing creates a degree of audio continuity and user experience consistency for individuals who seek better actuation feedback, regardless of the differences in each switch's sound on release.

Ultimately, the distinction between the Glory Yellow and Silent Ocean primarily lies in their top housing materials, which dictate the sound on release, whereas the similar nylon bottom housings offer a shared trait of deeper sound characteristics during key presses. Thus, while the auditory experiences during key release differ significantly, users can expect similar tactile feedback and bottom-out sound quality from both switches. Those looking to optimize their typing experience may find that the Glory Yellow caters to those who appreciate a softer auditory experience, while the Silent Ocean is ideal for those seeking a more articulate sound profile. This nuanced interplay of materials emphasizes how individual preferences can gravitate towards one switch or the other based on the desired typing dynamics and acoustical properties.

Weight

The Gateron Glory Yellow linear switch and the Outemu Silent Ocean linear switch differ notably in their actuation and bottom out forces. The Glory Yellow requires an actuation force of 50 grams, while the Silent Ocean is lighter at 45 grams for actuation, making it the more suitable option for typists and gamers who prefer less resistance for extended use. However, the Silent Ocean has a bottom out force of 65 grams, which means it provides a firmer resistance when fully pressed down, contributing to a more substantial typing feel. In contrast, the bottom out force for the Glory Yellow is unknown, leaving its full pressing experience ambiguous. Therefore, while both switches cater to different preferences—with the Silent Ocean being lighter for actuation but heavier at bottom out—those who favor a lighter typing experience will likely gravitate towards the Gateron Glory Yellow if they prioritize actuation, despite the lack of information on bottom out. Conversely, the Outemu Silent Ocean offers a well-defined tactile experience when bottoming out.

Travel distance

Both the Gateron Glory Yellow linear switch and the Outemu Silent Ocean linear switch have a travel distance of 4 mm, indicating that they share an identical keypress depth. This similarity means that users can expect the same feel and response when pressing either switch, leading to a comparable typing experience. Since both switches have the same travel distance, it can be concluded that switching between them will not result in any noticeable difference in key travel.

Price comparison

Typing experience

When it comes to sound, the Gateron Glory Yellow switches produce a relatively quiet and smooth sound profile that is reminiscent of other linear switches, allowing for subtle feedback without the harshness of clicky options. The key press is satisfying but won’t disturb those around you, making it suitable for both office and home environments. The Outemu Silent Ocean switches are designed specifically for those who prioritize a quieter experience, featuring dampening mechanisms that significantly reduce the sound produced during key presses. While the Silent Ocean may offer an even more muted sound, the ambient noise will still be largely influenced by the mechanical keyboard's construction, including factors like the choice of board and keycaps.

In terms of feel, the Gateron Glory Yellow switches are characterized by a smooth keystroke with a satisfying travel distance that many find enjoyable, offering a consistent linear feedback throughout the key press. The movement is fluid, giving a comfortable experience for both typing and gaming. On the other hand, the feel of the Outemu Silent Ocean switches remains largely unknown; however, it can be inferred that it aims for a similar smooth linear action that reduces any jarring sensations during keystrokes, ideal for prolonged typing sessions.

In conclusion, both the Gateron Glory Yellow and Outemu Silent Ocean switches prioritize a smooth linear experience, making them great choices for users who value quiet and fluid key presses. While the Glory Yellow stands out for its satisfying sound and feel, the Silent Ocean excels in keeping noise to a minimum. Ultimately, personal preference will determine which switch better suits your typing style, but both options promise an enjoyable and quiet keyboard experience.

Conclusion

To conclude, choosing between the Gateron Glory Yellow and the Outemu Silent Ocean switches ultimately depends on your specific preferences and use cases. If you favor a smooth keystroke with a comfortable travel distance and enjoy a lighter touch for rapid typing or gaming, the Gateron Glory Yellow might be your ideal choice. Its design facilitates fast actuations, making it excellent for gamers seeking quick responses. However, if you prefer a more tactile experience with a medium-heavy actuation force that provides feedback without being overly stiff, the Outemu Silent Ocean could be a better fit. This switch is also an excellent option if you prioritize a quieter typing experience, ideal for shared workspaces or late-night gaming sessions. Ultimately, considering your typing style, sound preferences, and the context in which you'll use the keyboard will lead you to the right switch for your needs.

Mentioned in this article

Gateron Glory Yellow Linear

$4.50

$4.19 per 10

Learn more

Outemu Silent Ocean Linear

$3.10 per 10

Learn more