Outemu Lime vs. Durock Sea Glass

Overview

When it comes to mechanical keyboard switches, two popular options that stand out are the Outemu Lime and the Durock Sea Glass. The Lime switches are well-known for their lightweight design and approachable tactility, making them ideal for tactile enthusiasts who prefer a feather-light typing experience with a touch of tactility. These switches also offer the added benefit of being silenced, providing a quiet and pleasant typing experience. On the other hand, the Sea Glass switches by Durock are distinguished by their captivating selection of pastel colors and proprietary material blend. Typing on the Sea Glass switches offers a distinct dryness, wispiness, and airiness, while still maintaining a smooth and frictionless feel. Despite their 62g bottom-out force, these switches feel surprisingly weightless, defying expectations. Additionally, they produce a uniquely hollow sound signature. Both switches offer their own unique characteristics and advantages; however, let's dive in a bit deeper beyond generalities so you can best decide on the switch that suits you best.

By the numbers

Outemu Lime Tactile

Durock Sea Glass Linear

$3.40 per 10

$5.80

$4.87 per 10

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Housing materials

The housing materials used in the Outemu Lime and the Durock Sea Glass switches exhibit differences in their sound profiles and properties. The Lime features a nylon top and bottom housing, which creates a deeper and fuller sound due to the nylon's softness and ability to absorb sound. This results in a duller and rounder sound experience. In contrast, the Sea Glass incorporates a unique blend of Polymer nylon and UHMWPE in both its top and bottom housing. This blend offers a pleasant sound profile that is not particularly sharp but leans towards being brighter.

Considering the top housing, the Lime's nylon top housing absorbs more sound than the Sea Glass's blend, resulting in a deeper and fuller sound profile. This can create a more subdued typing experience, particularly when releasing the key. On the other hand, the Sea Glass's top housing contributes to a brighter sound when letting go of a key. While not particularly sharp, it adds a touch of brightness to the overall sound.

Shifting focus to the bottom housing, the qualities of the Lime's nylon bottom housing and the Sea Glass's blend are more pronounced when pressing down on the switch. The softer nature of the Lime's housing generates a deeper and fuller bottom-out sound and feel. In contrast, the Sea Glass's unique blend provides a more balanced impact, neither too sharp nor too dull. This contributes to a pleasant tactile experience while typing.

Despite their differences, both the Lime and Sea Glass housing materials offer their own distinct advantages. The Lime's nylon housing delivers a deeper, fuller sound profile and a subdued typing experience, making it suitable for those who prefer a mellower sound. Meanwhile, the Sea Glass's blend provides a brighter sound without being sharp, creating a more balanced and enjoyable typing experience. Whether you choose the Lime or the Sea Glass, you can expect high-quality housing materials that contribute to a satisfying typing sound and feel.

Weight

When comparing the actuation force and bottom out force of the Outemu Lime tactile switch and the Durock Sea Glass linear switch, we can see some noticeable contrasts. The Lime switch has a lighter actuation force of 35 grams, which means it requires less force to trigger a keystroke compared to the Sea Glass switch's actuation force of 45 grams. Both switches have a light to medium bottom out force, with the Lime switch requiring 45 grams and the Sea Glass switch requiring 62 grams. This makes the Lime switch a lighter option overall, suitable for those who prefer a lighter typing experience for extended periods of time. On the other hand, the Sea Glass switch offers a stronger push feel with its heavier actuation and bottom out forces, providing a more substantial typing experience. Despite the differences, individuals who prefer a similar level of force for both actuation and bottoming out can achieve comparable results with either switch.

Travel distance

When comparing the travel distance of the Outemu Lime tactile switch and the Durock Sea Glass linear switch, it is clear that the Lime has a shorter travel distance of 3.3 mm, while the Sea Glass has a longer travel distance of 3.8 mm. The Lime falls on the lower end of the spectrum, with a distance closer to the shallower 3.0 mm limit, while the Sea Glass is slightly closer to the traditional 4.0 mm travel distance. This difference in travel distance can have an impact on the typing experience. Gamers, for instance, tend to prefer shorter travel distances as it allows for faster response times, making the Lime a potential top choice for them. On the other hand, those who prefer a more substantial depth and a less abrupt feel may favor the Sea Glass with its longer travel distance. Ultimately, the decision between the two switches will depend on personal preference and desired typing experience.

Price comparison

Typing experience

When it comes to sound, the Lime switch offers a neutral and muted profile. This means that it produces a moderate level of sound, making it suitable for various environments. The muted characteristic of the Lime switch helps minimize the typical noise associated with mechanical keyboards, ensuring a quieter typing experience. On the other hand, there is no specific information available about the sound profile of the Sea Glass switch. It is important to note that the sound of a switch can also be affected by factors such as the keyboard and keycaps being used.

In terms of feel, the Lime switch provides a mild, feathery, subtle, and polished typing experience. The mild characteristic ensures a gentle and approachable typing feel, suitable for most users. Being feathery, the Lime switch is extremely light to press, reducing finger fatigue and strain during extended typing sessions. The subtle resistance and non-resonant sound signature make it suitable for shared spaces. Additionally, the polished finish of the Lime switch results in a smooth and refined typing experience with reduced friction and smooth key travel.

Similarly, the Sea Glass switch offers a mild and feathery typing experience. It provides a gentle and approachable feel, making it comfortable for most users. The feathery characteristic ensures that the switch is exceptionally light to press, reducing finger strain and fatigue during extended typing sessions. Furthermore, the Sea Glass switch is described as frictionless, offering an extremely smooth and effortless typing experience.

Overall, the Lime switch stands out for its lightweight feel, approachable tactility, and muted sound profile. It caters to tactile enthusiasts who prefer a feathery typing experience with a touch of tactility. On the other hand, the Sea Glass switch series stands out for its captivating pastel colors and unique dryness, wispiness, and airiness in typing. Despite its weightlessness and frictionless nature, the Sea Glass switch maintains smoothness. The Sea Glass switches also have a distinct hollow sound signature.

In terms of subjective qualities, the Lime switch offers a more varied description of its feel and sound, covering different aspects such as mild, feathery, subtle, and polished. The Sea Glass switch, on the other hand, mainly focuses on being mild, feathery, and frictionless, with additional information about its distinct hollow sound signature.

Based on the available information, it is possible to achieve similar results in terms of a light and gentle typing experience with reduced fatigue and strain on the fingers by using either the Lime or Sea Glass switches. However, the Lime switch provides more specific details on its tactile nature and muted sound profile, while the Sea Glass switch provides a unique dry and airy typing experience with a hollow sound signature.

Conclusion

To sum up, if you are seeking a lightweight switch with a touch of tactility and a silenced typing experience, the Outemu Lime tactile switch is the way to go. These switches have a bottom out force of 45 grams, providing a feathery light typing experience that is perfect for those who prefer a gentle typing feel. The Lime switches are also described as mild, feathery, subtle, and polished, offering a smooth and refined finish that reduces friction and enhances the overall typing experience. They are suitable for both beginners and advanced users, whether for gaming, school, or work, and produce a softer and quieter sound compared to regular switches.

On the other hand, if you are captivated by a distinct dryness, wispiness, and airiness in your typing experience, the Durock Sea Glass linear switch is a great choice. Despite its 62g bottom-out force, these switches possess a weightlessness that defies expectations, making typing effortless and reducing finger fatigue during extended sessions. The Sea Glass switches are described as frictionless, mild, feathery, and easy-to-press, offering an extremely smooth and effortless typing experience with minimal resistance. Typing on these switches also reveals a uniquely hollow sound signature that adds to their appealing characteristics.

Ultimately, the choice between the Outemu Lime tactile switch and the Durock Sea Glass linear switch depends on your preferences for tactility, weight, and sound. Whether you prioritize a lightweight and silenced typing experience with a touch of tactility or a distinct dry and smooth typing experience, both switches offer their own unique qualities to enhance your mechanical keyboard setup.

Mentioned in this article

Outemu Lime Tactile

$3.40 per 10

Learn more

Durock Sea Glass Linear

$5.80

$4.87 per 10

Learn more