Cherry MX Brown vs. Outemu Ocean
An in-depth look at the Cherry MX Brown and the Outemu Ocean switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When comparing the Cherry MX Brown and the Outemu Ocean mechanical keyboard switches, it is important to note their key differences. The MX Brown is renowned for its subtlety, providing a light typing experience with gentle tactility and subdued audio feedback. On the other hand, the Outemu Ocean lacks a specific defining characteristic but falls under the tactile switch category. If you are looking for a switch that offers textured, bassy, and low-pitched feedback, the Cherry MX Brown may be the way to go. In contrast, the Outemu Ocean provides a tactile typing experience without any standout features. However, let's dive in a bit deeper beyond generalities so you can best decide on the best switch for you.
By the numbers
Technical specifications
Actuation force
45g
Actuation force
55g
Bottom-out force
55g
Bottom-out force
N/A
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Pre-travel
2.20 mm
Total travel
4.00 mm
Total travel
4.00 mm
Factory lubed
No
Factory lubed
Yes
Stem construction
Standard
Stem construction
Partial box
Stem material
POM
Stem material
POM
Top housing material
Nylon
Top housing material
Polycarbonate
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Spring
Stainless steel
Spring
Stainless steel
Housing materials
The housing materials of the Cherry MX Brown and the Outemu Ocean switches offer distinct sound profiles due to the differences in their top housing materials. The MX Brown's nylon top housing absorbs more sound, resulting in a deeper and fuller sound profile, while the Ocean's polycarbonate top housing creates a sharper and crisper sound. The translucent nature of polycarbonate also makes it ideal for switches with RGB lighting, adding a visual element to the overall experience. While both materials offer unique characteristics, the choice between them ultimately depends on the sound and aesthetic preferences of the user.
In terms of bottom housing materials, both the Cherry MX Brown and the Outemu Ocean switches utilize nylon, which leads to a similar deep and full sound profile. The softer nature of nylon absorbs sound efficiently, creating a duller and rounder sound quality, regardless of the brand. This consistency in bottom housing materials ensures a consistent typing experience across both switches, highlighting the importance of the bottom housing in determining the overall sound and feel of a switch.
Overall, the difference in top housing materials between the Cherry MX Brown and Outemu Ocean switches contributes significantly to their distinct sound profiles. The MX Brown's nylon top housing produces a deeper sound profile, while the Ocean's polycarbonate top housing creates a sharper and more resonant sound. However, both switches share a common bottom housing material in nylon, resulting in a consistent typing experience in terms of sound and feel. Ultimately, the choice between the two switches will depend on the user's preference for either a deeper, fuller sound or a sharper, crisper sound.
Weight
When comparing the Cherry MX Brown tactile switch and the Outemu Ocean tactile switch, it is clear that there are notable differences in their actuation and bottom out forces. The MX Brown has a lighter actuation force of 45 grams compared to the Ocean's 55 grams, making it more suitable for those who prefer a lighter touch when typing or gaming. In terms of bottom out force, the MX Brown requires 55 grams to fully press the key, whereas the Ocean's bottom out force is unknown. This means that the MX Brown offers a more consistent typing experience as users can feel the tactile bump without bottoming out excessively, while the Ocean's bottom out force remains uncertain. Ultimately, the choice between the two switches will depend on individual preferences for typing feel and force feedback.
Travel distance
Both the Cherry MX Brown tactile switch and the Outemu Ocean tactile switch have a travel distance of 4 mm. This means that when pressing down on a key with either switch, users will experience the same amount of key travel. The Cherry MX Brown and Outemu Ocean switches offer a similar typing experience in terms of the distance the key travels, allowing users to feel a tactile bump during actuation. The similarities in travel distance between these two switches make them equally suited for those who prefer a moderate amount of key travel while typing or gaming.
Price comparison
Which switch is more bang for your buck?
For 10 switches, the Cherry MX Brown comes in at $4.00, whereas the Outemu Ocean comes in at $3.10.
Here at Milktooth, we offer the best prices on switches (on average, 27% lower the competition). In addition, we offer free shipping on orders over $49.00. We also offer free returns and exchanges, so you can shop with guaranteed satisfaction.
That said, while price is an important piece of the puzzle, our opinion is that you should ultimately pick the option that most suits your unique preferences since you’ll be using these switches for years to come. In other words, finding something perfect for you is, in our view, the most important criteria.
Typing experience
The Cherry MX Brown switch is known for its subtle and gentle typing experience with subdued audio feedback, characterized by its bassy and low-pitched sound profile. These switches offer a textured feel, providing a unique tactile sensation that may be preferred by some users. On the other hand, the Outemu Ocean switch lacks specific descriptions for sound and feel, indicating a potential lack of distinct characteristics compared to the MX Browns. In conclusion, while the MX Brown switches offer a nuanced typing experience with specific sound and feel qualities, the information provided for the Outemu Ocean switches suggests a more neutral or standard performance. It is important to consider personal preferences and usage scenarios when choosing between these two switches to ensure a satisfying typing experience.
Conclusion
To sum up, when deciding between Cherry MX Brown tactile switches and Outemu Ocean tactile switches, you should consider the typing experience you prefer. If you value subtlety in your key presses with a relatively light typing experience, gentle tactility, and subdued audio feedback, then the Cherry MX Browns may be the better choice for you. On the other hand, if you are looking for a switch with unknown bottom out force and different characteristics, the Outemu Ocean switches may be worth exploring. Ultimately, the decision comes down to personal preference and what you prioritize in your mechanical keyboard typing experience.
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