Durock Mamba vs. Outemu Red

Overview

When comparing the Durock Mamba and the Outemu Red mechanical keyboard switches, both are linear switches known for their smooth typing experience. The Durock Mamba stands out with its tribute to Kobe Bryant, offering a unique touch in terms of marketing and design. Users praise the Mamba for its gliding typing sensation and rich auditory experience, making it an attractive choice for those who prefer a polished and mild typing feel. On the other hand, the Outemu Red lacks a specific standout feature but is appreciated for its simplicity and reliability. While both switches offer a linear typing experience, the Durock Mamba is favored for its unique characteristics, while the Outemu Red provides a more basic, no-nonsense approach. 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 Mamba Linear

Outemu Red Linear

$6.50

$5.17 per 10

$3.10 per 10

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Housing materials

The Durock Mamba and the Outemu Red both have unique housing materials that contribute to the sound profile of the switches. The Mamba features a blend of Polymer nylon and UHMWPE in the top housing, which results in a bright and pleasant sound profile. In contrast, the Red utilises polycarbonate in its top housing, creating a sharper and crisper sound with a higher pitch. While the Mamba's top housing offers a softer sound, the Red's polycarbonate material provides a clear and resonant tone, particularly ideal for switches with RGB lighting.

Moving on to the bottom housing materials, the Mamba incorporates POM, offering a deeper and more muted sound profile. On the other hand, the Red utilises nylon in its bottom housing, resulting in a fuller and rounder sound. The softer nylon material absorbs more sound, producing a duller sound profile compared to the POM material used in the Mamba. While both bottom housing materials create unique sound profiles, the Mamba's POM bottom housing elicits a more muted tone, whereas the Red's nylon bottom housing gives off a deeper sound.

Overall, the differences in housing materials between the Durock Mamba and the Outemu Red play a significant role in the sound profiles of each switch. The top housing materials influence the sound when pressing and releasing a key, with the Mamba's Polymer nylon and UHMWPE blend providing a brighter tone compared to the Red's polycarbonate material. Similarly, the bottom housing materials impact the bottom-out sound and feel, with the Mamba's POM bottom housing delivering a more muted sound profile and the Red's nylon bottom housing producing a fuller tone. Despite their differences, both switches offer unique sound experiences based on their housing materials.

Weight

The Durock Mamba linear switch and the Outemu Red linear switch both fall into the medium category when it comes to bottom out force, with the Mamba having a bottom out force of 60 grams and the Red with 62 grams. However, they differ in actuation force, with the Mamba having an unknown actuation force, while the Red has an actuation force of 46 grams. This means that the Red switch requires a lighter touch to trigger a keystroke compared to the Mamba. The lighter actuation force of the Red switch may be preferable for those who prefer a lighter typing experience and can benefit from typing for longer periods, such as during work or gaming sessions. On the other hand, the Mamba may be better suited for those who prefer a stronger push feel for a more substantial typing experience. Ultimately, the choice between the two switches will depend on individual preferences for actuation force and typing feel.

Travel distance

The Durock Mamba linear switch has a travel distance of 3.5 mm, while the Outemu Red linear switch has a travel distance of 4 mm. In this case, the Outemu Red has a slightly longer travel distance compared to the Durock Mamba. The 3.5mm travel distance of the Mamba falls on the shorter end of the spectrum, making it a popular choice for gamers looking for faster response times. On the other hand, the 4mm travel distance of the Red offers a bit more depth and may be preferred by those who enjoy a more substantial key press. Ultimately, the choice between the two switches will depend on personal preference for travel distance.

Price comparison

Typing experience

The Durock Mamba linear switch is known for its gliding typing sensation and rich and creamy auditory experience, making it a popular choice among users. With a neutral and thocky sound profile, the Mamba offers a moderate actuation force requirement and a deep, satisfying sound when pressed. In comparison, the Outemu Red linear switch is not known for any specific qualities in terms of sound. When it comes to feel, the Mamba is described as providing a mild and polished typing experience, offering a gentle and refined feel with smooth key travel. On the other hand, the feel of the Outemu Red linear switch is unknown. Overall, both switches may provide a similar typing experience in terms of sound if other factors such as the keyboard and keycaps are taken into consideration. Ultimately, the choice between the Durock Mamba and Outemu Red switches will depend on personal preference for sound and feel.

Conclusion

In closing, when considering whether to choose the Durock Mamba linear switch or the Outemu Red linear switch, it is important to note that both switches have a similar bottom out force and can provide a smooth typing experience. However, if you are looking for a switch with a tribute to Kobe Bryant, a gliding typing sensation, and a rich auditory experience, the Mamba may be the ideal choice for you. On the other hand, if you prefer a switch with a neutral sound profile and a mild, polished typing feel, the Red switch could be the better option. Ultimately, your decision should be based on your personal preferences and typing style.

Mentioned in this article

Durock Mamba Linear

$6.50

$5.17 per 10

Learn more

Outemu Red Linear

$3.10 per 10

Learn more