Haimu Orange Sea vs. Outemu Maple Leaf

Overview

When it comes to choosing the perfect mechanical keyboard switches, the Haimu Orange Sea and the Outemu Maple Leaf offer distinct experiences that cater to different preferences. The Haimu Orange Sea is a linear switch celebrated for its impeccably smooth typing feel, allowing for swift and uninterrupted keystrokes that can enhance gaming and typing efficiency. Its neutral sound signature ensures that the noise level remains subdued, making it an excellent choice for quiet environments or late-night typing sessions. In contrast, the Outemu Maple Leaf is a tactile switch, designed to provide noticeable feedback upon actuation, making it perfect for users who enjoy a more engaging typing experience. While tactile switches can help improve typing accuracy by giving users a physical cue when a key is registered, the lack of specific accolades associated with the Maple Leaf switch makes it less well-known than its counterpart. Ultimately, your choice will depend on whether you value smoothness and silence or tactile feedback and interaction. However, let's dive in a bit deeper beyond generalities so you can best decide on the best switch for you.

By the numbers

Haimu Orange Sea Linear

Outemu Maple Leaf Tactile

$2.79 per 10

$3.10 per 10

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Housing materials

The Haimu Orange Sea and the Outemu Maple Leaf employ distinctly different materials for their top housings, which directly influences their sound profiles. The Orange Sea utilizes polycarbonate for its top housing, which promotes a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper auditory experience. This is attributed to the relative stiffness of polycarbonate, which enhances resonance and clarity. In contrast, the Maple Leaf opts for nylon, a softer material that yields a deeper and fuller sound profile. Nylon's ability to absorb more sound results in a duller, rounder auditory feedback, making it more traditional compared to the more contemporary polycarbonate. If one were to use similar acoustic treatments or modifications, it might be possible to narrow the tonal differences, but inherently, their base materials produce distinct experiences suited to different preferences.

The bottom housings of both the Haimu Orange Sea and the Outemu Maple Leaf offer a commonality; both utilize nylon for this component. This similarity means that the typing experience in terms of sound profile remains consistent across both switches at the bottom. As noted, nylon's softer characteristics effectively absorb sound, leading to a fuller sound when the key is pressed down. This shared material aspect ensures that regardless of the differences in the top housings, both switches will provide a similar character in terms of depth and acoustic richness when the keys are engaged. Therefore, the deep, resonant feel that comes from both switches is unifying and helps to balance out the high-pitched response from the Orange Sea's top polycarbonate housing.

In summary, the interplay of materials between the top and bottom housings of the Haimu Orange Sea and the Outemu Maple Leaf directly influences the overall typing experience. The Orange Sea's polycarbonate top housing leads to a sharper sound upon release, creating an energetic and dynamic feel. In contrast, the Maple Leaf's nylon top contributes a warmer and more muted auditory feedback. However, when pressing the keys, both switches offer a similar depth of sound due to their nylon bottom housings. This distinct combination highlights how the choice of materials plays a critical role in both tactile and auditory user experiences in mechanical keyboards, providing enthusiasts with options tailored to their sound preferences.

Weight

When comparing the Haimu Orange Sea linear switch and the Outemu Maple Leaf tactile switch, notable differences in actuation and bottom out forces emerge. The Orange Sea has a light actuation force of 37 grams and a bottom out force of 45 grams, making it suitable for users who prefer a lighter touch, great for long typing sessions or gaming marathons. In contrast, the Maple Leaf features a medium-heavy actuation force of 55 grams and a bottom out force of 65 grams, appealing to those who enjoy a more substantial typing experience with a stronger push feel. Therefore, while the actuation and bottom out forces of these switches are not the same, the Orange Sea is the lighter option, while the Maple Leaf is heavier, positioning them for different user preferences in keyboard feel and response.

Travel distance

The Haimu Orange Sea linear switch has a travel distance of 3.6 mm, while the Outemu Maple Leaf tactile switch features a slightly shorter travel distance of 3.3 mm. This means that when pressing down on a key with the Orange Sea switch, you'll experience a longer key press compared to the Maple Leaf, providing a more pronounced depth for those who prefer a hearty feel. Conversely, the shorter travel distance of the Maple Leaf may cater to gamers or users who favor quicker response times, making it more responsive for fast-paced actions. Therefore, if you prioritize responsiveness, the Maple Leaf is the better choice, whereas if you appreciate a deeper key press, the Orange Sea could be more satisfying. Overall, these two switches offer distinct experiences based on their travel distances, with the Orange Sea being the longer and the Maple Leaf the shorter.

Price comparison

Typing experience

When it comes to sound, the Haimu Orange Sea linear switch has a neutral sound signature, which allows for a relatively quiet typing experience, appealing to those who prefer a more understated auditory feedback. The Outemu Maple Leaf tactile switch does not have a specified sound characteristic, so its acoustic qualities remain uncertain. However, it’s worth noting that the sound produced by any switch can be influenced by the keyboard's build materials, configuration, and the type of keycaps used. Thus, while the Orange Sea offers a predictable auditory experience, the Maple Leaf's sound aspects might be discovered through personal testing.

In terms of feel, the Haimu Orange Sea is renowned for its impeccably smooth typing experience, allowing users to glide through keystrokes effortlessly without any noticeable friction. This feature makes it favorable for long typing sessions, catering particularly to those who appreciate a fluid keypress. In contrast, the Outemu Maple Leaf is a tactile switch, but its specific tactile feedback characteristics are not provided, leaving potential users to consider how it may feel during typing. Typically, tactile switches offer a slight resistance at the actuation point, giving users a discreet indication of key presses, which can enhance typing accuracy but may differ in smoothness from the Orange Sea’s linear action.

In conclusion, while the Haimu Orange Sea linear switch provides a known neutral sound and a remarkably smooth feel, the Outemu Maple Leaf tethered to its tactile nature lacks defined descriptors for both sound and feel. The choice between these switches may thus rely on personal preference; for those who favor a smoother and quieter experience, the Orange Sea is likely the better option. Meanwhile, if tactile feedback is essential, the Maple Leaf could still be worth exploring once more information about its characteristics is obtained. Ultimately, your final decision should take into account how auditory and tactile preferences align with your typing style and environment.

Conclusion

To conclude, the choice between the Haimu Orange Sea linear switch and the Outemu Maple Leaf tactile switch ultimately depends on your typing preferences and intended use. If you prioritize a smooth and responsive typing experience with a lighter bottom-out force, the Haimu Orange Sea is an excellent choice. Its 45-gram actuation makes it ideal for long typing sessions, gaming, and fast-paced key presses, all without causing fatigue. Additionally, its neutral sound signature contributes to a quiet workspace, making it suitable for environments where noise is a concern. On the other hand, if you prefer a tactile feel with more resistance, the Outemu Maple Leaf with its 65-gram bottom-out force may better suit your needs. While the Maple Leaf does not feature the notable tactile feedback often desired by enthusiasts, its sturdier feel can provide a more deliberate typing experience, making it a good option for those who appreciate a heavier switch or want to reduce accidental key presses. Ultimately, your choice should reflect your typing style and how you plan to use your keyboard, ensuring that you enjoy every keystroke.

Mentioned in this article

Haimu Orange Sea Linear

$2.79 per 10

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Outemu Maple Leaf Tactile

$3.10 per 10

Learn more