Outemu Blue Jade vs. Durock White Lotus
An in-depth look at the Outemu Blue Jade and the Durock White Lotus switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When it comes to choosing between mechanical keyboard switches, the Outemu Blue Jade and Durock White Lotus offer unique features catering to different preferences. The Blue Jade is a clicky switch known for its satisfying tactile feedback and audible click sound, perfect for those who enjoy a more pronounced typing experience. On the other hand, the White Lotus stands out for its light tactile feel, making it an excellent choice for typists looking for a gentle yet responsive typing experience. While the Blue Jade is best suited for users who prefer a more tactile and clicky feel, the White Lotus is ideal for those who value a subtle and smooth typing sensation. 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
46g
Bottom-out force
65g
Bottom-out force
56g
Pre-travel
2.20 mm
Pre-travel
2.00 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
Modified PC & UPE Blend
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Mount type
Plate (3-pin)
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Spring
Stainless steel
Spring
Gold-plated long spring
Housing materials
In terms of housing materials, the Outemu Blue Jade and the Durock White Lotus both utilize high-quality materials to enhance the typing experience. The Blue Jade features a nylon top housing, which absorbs more sound and creates a deeper, fuller sound profile. On the other hand, the White Lotus uses a modified PC and UPE blend top housing, providing a unique and premium feel to the switches. While both housing materials aim to improve sound quality, the Blue Jade's nylon top housing may offer a slightly duller and rounder sound compared to the White Lotus's modified blend, which may produce a crisper sound.
When it comes to the bottom housing, both the Blue Jade and the White Lotus incorporate nylon as the material of choice. This classic switch housing material is known for creating a deeper and fuller sound profile due to its relatively softer plastic composition. As a result, typing on switches that use nylon bottom housing will elicit a more muted and rounded sound compared to harder plastic materials. Both switches share this characteristic, ensuring a consistent typing experience in terms of sound quality and feel.
While the top and bottom housing materials may differ between the two switches, they each play a vital role in determining the overall sound and feel of the switches. The bottom housing material has a greater impact on the bottom-out sound and feel when pressing down on a key, while the top housing material influences the sound when releasing the key. Despite using different materials for their top housings, the Blue Jade and White Lotus both aim to provide an enhanced typing experience through the combination of high-quality materials that contribute to a unique sound profile and typing feel. Ultimately, whether using the Blue Jade with its nylon top and bottom housings or the White Lotus with its modified blend top housing and nylon bottom housing, users can expect similar results in terms of sound quality and typing experience.
Weight
The Outemu Blue Jade clicky switch has a higher actuation force of 50 grams compared to the Durock White Lotus tactile switch's 46 grams, making the Blue Jade slightly heavier. However, the bottom out force of the Blue Jade at 65 grams is heavier than the White Lotus's 56 grams, making the Blue Jade heavier overall. The Blue Jade offers a more substantial typing experience with its medium-heavy forces, while the White Lotus provides a lighter typing feel with its medium-light forces. For those who prefer a lighter typing experience for extended periods, the White Lotus would be the better choice, while the Blue Jade would be more suitable for those who prefer a heavier push feel. Ultimately, the choice between the two switches comes down to personal preference based on typing habits and preferences.
Travel distance
When comparing the travel distances of the Outemu Blue Jade clicky switch and the Durock White Lotus tactile switch, it is clear that both switches have the same travel distance of 4 mm. This means that when pressing down on a key with either switch, you will experience a consistent 4 mm of travel from the top to the bottom. As a result, you can expect similar tactile feedback and overall feel when using either switch. The similarity in travel distance between the two switches ensures that users will have a consistent typing experience regardless of which switch they choose.
Price comparison
Which switch is more bang for your buck?
The Durock White Lotus has an MSRP of $5.60 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the White Lotus for $4.57.
The Outemu Blue Jade comes in at $3.10 per 10 switches.
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
In terms of sound, the Outemu Blue Jade switch is known for its sharp, clicky sound that provides a distinct auditory feedback with each key press. On the other hand, the Durock White Lotus switch offers a low-pitched and neutral sound profile, giving a more subtle and mellow tone that is suitable for quiet environments or shared spaces. While the Blue Jade switch may be more suited for those who enjoy a loud and pronounced click, the White Lotus switch provides a smoother and quieter typing experience overall.
When it comes to feel, the Outemu Blue Jade switch offers a tactile bump that provides a satisfying sensation when typing, giving a more pronounced feedback to the fingers. In contrast, the Durock White Lotus switch is designed to have an easy-to-press actuation with a gentle resistance, making typing effortless and comfortable for extended periods. With its mild and subtle characteristics, the White Lotus switch offers a more approachable and less intense typing experience compared to the Blue Jade.
Taking all the available information into consideration, the Outemu Blue Jade clicky switch and Durock White Lotus tactile switch offer distinct qualities in terms of sound and feel. While the Blue Jade provides a sharp and clicky sound, as well as a tactile typing experience, the White Lotus offers a low-pitched and subtle sound with an easy-to-press and comfortable feel. It ultimately comes down to personal preference and typing style when choosing between these two switches, as both can provide a satisfying typing experience depending on the user's preferences.
Conclusion
In closing, if you are looking for a mechanical keyboard switch with a medium-heavy bottom out force and a clicky sound profile, the Outemu Blue Jade switch may be the right choice for you. On the other hand, if you prefer a switch with a medium-light bottom out force, a light tactile feel, and RGB illumination features, the Durock White Lotus switch could be the perfect fit for your typing needs. Consider your preferences for typing feel, sound, and actuation force when deciding between these two switches to ensure that you choose the one that best suits your typing style and preferences. Ultimately, both switches offer unique qualities that can enhance your typing experience, so take your time to explore and choose the one that resonates with you the most.
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