Outemu Blue Jade vs. Outemu Silent Grey
An in-depth look at the Outemu Blue Jade and the Outemu Silent Grey switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When choosing between mechanical keyboard switches, the Outemu Blue Jade and Outemu Silent Grey stand out as popular options. The Blue Jade is best known for its clicky sound and tactile feedback, making it ideal for those who prefer a loud typing experience. On the other hand, the Silent Grey offers a quiet and highly tactile typing experience, perfect for those who want a satisfying yet silent switch. The Blue Jade is categorized as a clicky switch, while the Silent Grey is categorized as a tactile switch. Both switches have their unique advantages, 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
50g
Actuation force
50g
Bottom-out force
65g
Bottom-out force
65g
Pre-travel
2.20 mm
Pre-travel
1.60 mm
Total travel
4.00 mm
Total travel
4.00 mm
Factory lubed
Yes
Factory lubed
Yes
Stem construction
Standard
Stem construction
Standard
Stem material
POM
Stem material
POM
Top housing material
Nylon
Top housing material
Polycarbonate
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Mount type
Plate (3-pin)
Mount type
Plate (3-pin)
Spring
Stainless steel
Spring
Stainless steel
Housing materials
In comparing the housing materials of the Outemu Blue Jade and Outemu Silent Grey, we can see clear differences in sound profile. The Blue Jade's nylon top housing creates a deeper and fuller sound due to its softness and sound absorption properties. In contrast, the Silent Grey's polycarbonate top housing produces a sharper and crisper sound, thanks to its stiffness and clarity. While the Blue Jade offers a duller and rounder sound, the Silent Grey provides a more resonant and high-pitched sound. These contrasting sound profiles can greatly influence the typing experience and preference of users.
Both the Blue Jade and Silent Grey switches share a nylon bottom housing, which results in a common deep and full sound profile. This material choice contributes to the switches' overall sound and feel, maintaining consistency in the typing experience across both switches. However, it is important to note that the bottom housing plays a significant role in the bottom-out sound and feel of the switch. Thus, even with the same bottom housing material, the differences in the top housing can still impact the overall sound profile and typing experience of the switches.
Ultimately, the choice between the Outemu Blue Jade and Outemu Silent Grey will depend on personal preference for sound profile and feel. While the Blue Jade offers a softer and more absorbent nylon top housing for a deeper sound, the Silent Grey's polycarbonate top housing produces a crisper and high-pitched sound. Whether one prefers a duller and rounder sound or a more resonant and clear sound, these differences in housing materials can greatly influence the overall typing experience. It is essential for users to test both switches to determine which sound profile aligns more with their preferences.
Weight
The Outemu Blue Jade clicky switch and Outemu Silent Grey tactile switch have similar actuation and bottom out forces, both requiring 50 grams of force to actuate and 65 grams to bottom out. This means that users can expect a consistent typing experience in terms of force feedback when using either switch. The actuation force of 50 grams is considered medium-heavy, providing a tactile response when typing. On the other hand, the bottom out force of 65 grams also adds to the typing experience by giving a sense of satisfaction when fully pressing the keys. Both switches are suitable for users who prefer a more substantial typing experience with slightly heavier forces. Ultimately, the choice between the two switches would come down to the user's preference for a clicky or silent typing experience rather than differences in actuation and bottom out forces.
Travel distance
The travel distance of the Outemu Blue Jade clicky switch is 4 mm, while the Outemu Silent Grey tactile switch also has a travel distance of 4 mm. This means that both switches have an equal travel distance, allowing users to experience a consistent typing feel regardless of which switch they choose. This similarity in travel distance ensures that users will get similar results in terms of key travel when using either switch. Overall, the travel distance of the Blue Jade and Silent Grey switches is the same, providing reliable performance for users looking for either a clicky or tactile typing experience.
Price comparison
Which switch is more bang for your buck?
In this case, both switches are $3.10. As such, price can't serve as a tiebreaker when choosing between the Blue Jade and Silent Grey.
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
When it comes to sound, the Outemu Blue Jade clicky switch is known for producing a loud click with each keystroke, resulting in a satisfying and audible typing experience. On the other hand, the Outemu Silent Grey tactile switch is designed to be quiet and stealthy, offering a soft and subtle typing feedback without the loud click of the Blue Jade. The sound produced by a mechanical keyboard switch is also influenced by factors such as the keyboard case and keycap material used.
In terms of feel, the Outemu Blue Jade switch is known for its tactile feedback and pronounced click, giving users a tactile and responsive typing experience. In comparison, the Outemu Silent Grey switch offers a smooth keystroke with a tactile bump, providing users with a comfortable and quiet typing experience without sacrificing feedback.
Overall, the Outemu Blue Jade clicky switch and Outemu Silent Grey tactile switch offer distinct qualities in terms of sound and feel. The Blue Jade provides a loud and tactile typing experience, while the Silent Grey offers a quiet and tactile alternative. Ultimately, the choice between the two switches would depend on the user's preference for sound level and typing feel.
Conclusion
To sum up, when choosing between the Outemu Blue Jade clicky switch and the Outemu Silent Grey tactile switch, you should consider your preference for sound and feel. If you prefer a loud and clicky typing experience, the Blue Jade may be the better choice for you. On the other hand, if you prefer a quieter typing experience with a pronounced bump and smooth keystroke, the Silent Grey switch would be more suitable. Ultimately, your decision should be based on whether you prioritize a clicky sound or a quiet tactile feel in your mechanical keyboard switches.
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