Durock Light Tactile vs. Outemu Silent Grey

Overview

When it comes to mechanical keyboard switches, the Durock Light Tactile and the Outemu Silent Grey both offer unique experiences for users. The Light Tactile switch from Durock stands out for its gentle tactility, providing a soft and pleasant typing experience with a jelly-like sound signature. On the other hand, the Outemu Silent Grey switch is known for being quiet yet highly tactile, offering a satisfying typing experience with a pronounced bump and smooth keystroke. While the Light Tactile switch is categorized as 'Neutral', 'Mild', 'Polished', the Silent Grey switch lacks specific categorization. Each switch has its own strengths and appeal, so choosing between them comes down to personal preference. However, let's dive in a bit deeper beyond generalities so you can best decide on the best switch for you.

By the numbers

Durock Light Tactile Tactile

Outemu Silent Grey Tactile

$5.50

$4.25 per 10

$3.10 per 10

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Housing materials

In comparing the housing materials of the Durock Light Tactile and the Outemu Silent Grey, both switches utilize polycarbonate for their top housing. This choice results in a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound profile, as polycarbonate is known for its stiffness which leads to a clear and resonant sound. Additionally, the translucent nature of polycarbonate is ideal for switches that incorporate RGB lighting. However, where the Light Tactile stands out is with its nylon bottom housing, which provides a deeper and fuller sound profile due to nylon's softer nature that absorbs more sound. In contrast, the Silent Grey also features a nylon bottom housing, offering similar sound properties as the Light Tactile.

While both the Light Tactile and Silent Grey switches share the same material for their top housing in polycarbonate, the difference lies in their bottom housing. The Light Tactile's nylon bottom housing imparts a more rounded and dull sound profile, thanks to the softness of the nylon material. On the other hand, the Silent Grey's nylon bottom housing mirrors these qualities, providing a similar depth and fullness to the typing experience. This disparity in bottom housing material showcases how the characteristics of each housing material can impact the overall sound and feel of a switch.

Ultimately, the choice between the Durock Light Tactile and the Outemu Silent Grey will come down to personal preference in terms of sound profile and typing experience. Both switches offer the benefits of polycarbonate top housing for a sharper sound and clear aesthetics, while their nylon bottom housing provides a unique depth and fullness to the sound profile. Whether you prefer the crisper sound of the Light Tactile or the rounder sound of the Silent Grey, each switch offers a distinct typing experience that can cater to different preferences in mechanical keyboard enthusiasts.

Weight

The Durock Light Tactile and Outemu Silent Grey tactile switches both have similar actuation and bottom out forces, with the Light Tactile being slightly heavier at 52 grams actuation and 67 grams bottom out, compared to the Silent Grey's 50 grams actuation and 65 grams bottom out. Both switches fall into the medium-heavy category in terms of force. For those who prefer a lighter typing experience, the Outemu Silent Grey may be the better choice as it has slightly lower force requirements. However, for those who enjoy a more substantial typing feel, the Durock Light Tactile would be the preferable option. Ultimately, the decision between the two switches will come down to personal preference in terms of typing force.

Travel distance

Both the Durock Light Tactile switch and the Outemu Silent Grey switch have a travel distance of 4mm, making them equal in this aspect. This means that when pressing down on a key with either of these switches, users can expect a consistent and uniform travel distance that provides a satisfying tactile feedback. With the travel distances being the same, users can expect similar typing experiences with both switches, ensuring that they can enjoy a comfortable and responsive typing experience regardless of which switch they choose.

Price comparison

Typing experience

Overall, when comparing the Durock Light Tactile switch and the Outemu Silent Grey switch, they both offer a quiet typing experience, but with different levels of tactility and sound profiles. The Light Tactile switch provides a softer, more gentle tactile feedback with a jelly-like sound signature, while the Silent Grey switch offers a pronounced bump and smooth keystroke, making it satisfying and silent. The Light Tactile switch is also described as having a neutral sound profile and a mild, polished feel, making it a versatile option suitable for various typing environments. On the other hand, the Silent Grey switch's sound profile and feel are unknown. In conclusion, both switches have their own unique qualities that appeal to different preferences, so choosing between them would depend on whether you prefer a gentler tactility with a neutral sound profile or a more pronounced bump with a silent typing experience. Ultimately, both switches will provide a high-quality typing experience for newcomers to mechanical keyboards.

Conclusion

In closing, when considering whether to choose the Durock Light Tactile switch or the Outemu Silent Grey switch, it ultimately comes down to your personal preferences. If you prefer a gentle and unique tactility with a jelly-like sound signature, the Light Tactile switch would be the ideal choice for you. On the other hand, if you are looking for a quiet and highly tactile typing experience with a pronounced bump, then the Outemu Silent Grey switch may be more to your liking. Both switches offer different characteristics in terms of sound and feel, so it's important to consider what aspects are most important to you in a mechanical keyboard switch. Ultimately, the decision is yours based on what typing experience you are seeking.

Mentioned in this article

Durock Light Tactile Tactile

$5.50

$4.25 per 10

Learn more

Outemu Silent Grey Tactile

$3.10 per 10

Learn more