HMX Lucky vs. Outemu Silent Grey

Overview

When exploring the world of mechanical keyboards, the choice of switch can significantly influence your typing experience. The HMX Lucky switch, a linear option, is celebrated for its softer, glittery nylon housing and lightweight design, delivering a typing experience that is both neutral and deeply satisfying. Users often describe these switches as 'clacky,' 'bouncy,' 'silky,' and 'polished,' making them ideal for those who prefer smooth keystrokes without any tactile feedback. In contrast, the Outemu Silent Grey switch caters to those who value silence and a pronounced tactile experience. With its pronounced bump and smooth keystroke, this switch is engineered for a quiet yet satisfying typing rhythm, characterized by terms such as 'muted,' 'thocky,' 'low-pitched,' and 'sharp.' Ultimately, whether you lean towards the lightweight fluidity of the Lucky or the quiet tactile feel of the Silent Grey, both switches offer unique benefits to enhance your typing experience. However, let's dive in a bit deeper beyond generalities so you can best decide on the switch that's right for you.

By the numbers

HMX Lucky Linear

Outemu Silent Grey Tactile

$3.50

$2.99 per 10

$3.10 per 10

Learn moreLearn more

Housing materials

When comparing the housing materials of the HMX Lucky and the Outemu Silent Grey, two distinct characteristics stand out, particularly in the top housing. The Lucky features a nylon top housing that contributes to a deeper and fuller sound profile when typing. This is attributed to nylon’s softer texture, which absorbs sound more effectively than harder plastics. As a result, keyboards using the HMX Lucky switch tend to produce a duller and rounder sound, offering a pleasant acoustic experience for users who appreciate a more subdued typing sound. In contrast, the Outemu Silent Grey employs a polycarbonate top housing, known for its stiffer composition that generates a higher-pitched and crisper sound profile. The clarity and resonance provided by polycarbonate can make a significant difference, especially for those who prefer a more pronounced auditory feedback during typing.

In the bottom housing, however, both switches share a common material: nylon. This consistency allows both the HMX Lucky and the Outemu Silent Grey to deliver similar sound qualities in terms of depth and fullness when the switch is bottomed out. The nylon bottom housing absorbs sound effectively, leading to a uniform acoustic experience that highlights the same characteristics in both switches. Even though the overall sound profiles when typing differ because of the top housings, the nylon partnership in the bottom section ensures that users can expect a satisfying, rounded sound upon actuation, regardless of the switch they choose.

Ultimately, the contrasting use of nylon and polycarbonate in the top housings of the Lucky and Silent Grey plays a pivotal role in defining their unique sound signatures. While the Lucky offers a softer and more muted sound due to its nylon top, the Outemu Silent Grey’s polycarbonate top enables sharper auditory feedback, catering to different preferences among users. Nevertheless, since both switches utilize nylon in the bottom housing, they provide a cohesive experience that remains consistent in terms of feel and sound when the key is pressed down. Thus, selection between the two would ideally depend on users' preference for sound profile during the actuation and release of each key, while the bottom housing ensures a familiar experience across both switches.

Weight

The HMX Lucky linear switch and the Outemu Silent Grey tactile switch present notable differences in their actuation and bottom out forces, which can affect user preference and overall typing experience. The Lucky switch features a light actuation force of 37 grams and a bottom out force of 43 grams, making it suitable for users who appreciate less resistance during long typing sessions or extended gaming periods. In contrast, the Silent Grey switch has a heavier actuation force of 50 grams and a bottom out force of 65 grams, appealing to those who favor a more substantial, tactile feedback in their typing experience. Thus, the Lucky switch is the lighter option, while the Silent Grey is the heavier one. This difference in weight highlights the varied preferences among users; lighter switches are ideal for prolonged use, whereas heavier switches are preferred for a firmer feel.

Travel distance

The HMX Lucky linear switch features a travel distance of 3.8 mm, while the Outemu Silent Grey tactile switch has a slightly longer travel distance of 4 mm. This difference means that the Silent Grey switch offers a more pronounced depth when pressed, making it suitable for users who appreciate a substantial keystroke feel. On the other hand, the Lucky switch's shorter 3.8 mm travel caters to those seeking quicker response times, often favored by gamers for its agility. Consequently, if you prefer a more abrupt and responsive feel, the Lucky switch would be the better option. Conversely, for users who enjoy a fuller key press, the Silent Grey with its longer travel distance is the ideal choice.

Price comparison

Typing experience

The sound produced by the HMX Lucky linear switch is characterized as clacky, providing a sharp and snappy auditory feedback that is crisp, bright, and percussive. This lively sound can be quite engaging, especially for those who enjoy a more pronounced acoustic indication of their key presses. In contrast, the Outemu Silent Grey tactile switch offers a muted sound signature, designed to minimize the typical noise associated with mechanical switches. While the Silent Grey combines a thocky quality that delivers a deep, rich sound with a low-pitched tone, its overall auditory experience is significantly quieter and less intrusive, making it ideal for environments where noise reduction is a priority.

When considering the feel of these switches, the HMX Lucky is noted for its bouncy, silky, and polished characteristics. Users can expect a spring-like feedback, which gives a lively sensation during typing, combined with a remarkably smooth experience that minimizes any resistance when pressing and releasing keys. This contributes to a refined and satisfying tactile journey. On the other hand, the Silent Grey tactility stands out with its sharp feedback, featuring a distinctly strong tactile bump that can be felt with each keypress. While the Lucky's response is more fluid and elastic, the Silent Grey's feedback is more focused and pronounced, catering to different preferences in tactile sensation.

In summary, the HMX Lucky linear switch and Outemu Silent Grey tactile switch present distinct yet satisfying typing experiences reflecting their design intents. The Lucky’s clacky sound and bouncy, smooth feel make it enjoyable for lively typing, whereas the Silent Grey’s muted, thocky sounds paired with a sharp tactile bump provide a quieter yet satisfying experience. Ultimately, the choice between these switches will hinge on whether one prioritizes an engaging auditory experience with lighter tactile feedback or a quieter typing environment complemented by noticeable tactile sensations.

Conclusion

To sum up, your choice between the HMX Lucky linear switch and the Outemu Silent Grey tactile switch should be guided by your personal preferences in tactile feedback and sound levels. If you're someone who enjoys a lighter, more playful typing experience, the Lucky switch, with its 43g bottom-out force, delivers a smooth and bouncy feel with a clacky sound that adds a lively character to your keystrokes. This makes it ideal for those who prioritize a fast and enjoyable typing experience, whether for gaming or casual typing. Conversely, if you value a more subdued auditory experience and crave a pronounced tactile feedback, the Silent Grey switch, featuring a higher 65g bottom-out force, might be your go-to option. It provides a rich, thocky sound while maintaining a sharp tactile bump that can enhance your typing accuracy, making it an excellent choice for office environments or quiet settings. Ultimately, your decision should hinge on whether you prefer the lightweight, vibrant feel of the Lucky or the satisfying, muted assurance of the Silent Grey – both bring unique qualities to your keyboard experience.

Mentioned in this article

HMX Lucky Linear

$3.50

$2.99 per 10

Learn more

Outemu Silent Grey Tactile

$3.10 per 10

Learn more