Outemu Blue vs. Outemu Spring Breeze
An in-depth look at the Outemu Blue and the Outemu Spring Breeze switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When it comes to mechanical keyboard switches, two popular options to consider are the Outemu Blue and the Outemu Spring Breeze. The Outemu Blue is a clicky switch that is best known for its satisfying tactile feedback and audible click sound, making it a favorite among typists and gamers alike. On the other hand, the Outemu Spring Breeze is also a clicky switch known for its similar tactile feedback and click sound, but it is designed to be more lightweight and springy in comparison to the Blue. Both switches offer a unique typing experience and have their own advantages depending on personal preference. 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
40g
Bottom-out force
N/A
Bottom-out force
55g
Pre-travel
2.20 mm
Pre-travel
1.50 mm
Total travel
4.00 mm
Total travel
4.00 mm
Factory lubed
Yes
Factory lubed
Yes
Stem construction
Partial box
Stem construction
Standard
Stem material
POM
Stem material
pom
Top housing material
Polycarbonate
Top housing material
Nylon
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
The Outemu Blue and Outemu Spring Breeze switches both feature a polycarbonate top housing, which creates a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound profile due to its relatively stiffer plastic composition. This makes them ideal for users who prefer a clear and resonant sound while typing. On the other hand, the Spring Breeze stands out with its nylon top housing, which offers a deeper and fuller sound profile thanks to its softer plastic that absorbs more sound. While both switches provide a satisfying typing experience, the difference in top housing materials leads to distinct sound characteristics that cater to different preferences.
Moving on to the bottom housing, both the Outemu Blue and Outemu Spring Breeze switches utilize a nylon material, known for its ability to create a deeper and fuller sound profile compared to harder plastics. This results in a duller and rounder sound while typing, providing a more subdued experience than the top housing materials. Despite having the same material for the bottom housing, the feel and sound of pressing down on the switch will still be influenced by this component, ensuring consistency in typing experience across the board.
In conclusion, while the top housing materials of the Outemu Blue and Outemu Spring Breeze switches offer different sound profiles, their shared nylon bottom housing ensures a consistent typing experience in terms of feel and sound. Whether you prefer the sharper, crisper sound of the Blue's polycarbonate top housing or the deeper, fuller sound of the Spring Breeze's nylon top housing, both switches deliver on performance and aesthetics. Ultimately, the choice between the two will come down to personal preference and the specific sound profile you seek in your typing experience.
Weight
When comparing the Outemu Blue clicky switch and the Outemu Spring Breeze clicky switch, it is clear that the Spring Breeze is the lighter option with an actuation force of 40 grams, compared to the Blue's 50 grams. This means that the Spring Breeze requires less force to register a keystroke, making it more gentle on the fingers during long typing or gaming sessions. In contrast, the Blue switch offers a more substantial typing experience with a higher actuation force. However, when it comes to bottom out force, the Blue switch does not provide information on this metric, whereas the Spring Breeze has a bottom out force of 55 grams, which is considered medium-light. Ultimately, the choice between these two switches will depend on personal preference for a lighter or heavier typing experience, with the Spring Breeze being the lighter option and the Blue potentially offering a more robust feel.
Travel distance
Both the Outemu Blue clicky switch and the Outemu Spring Breeze clicky switch have a travel distance of 4 mm, making them equally responsive when it comes to keypresses. This means that whether you are using the Blue or the Spring Breeze switch, you can expect a similar tactile experience in terms of how far the key travels when pressed. However, it is worth noting that some users may find the clicky feedback of the Blue switch to be slightly more pronounced compared to the Spring Breeze switch, even though they share the same travel distance. Overall, both switches offer a satisfying typing experience with a comfortable travel distance, making them popular choices among mechanical keyboard enthusiasts.
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 and Spring Breeze.
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 clicky switch is known for its loud and satisfying click, making it a favorite among typists who enjoy auditory feedback. On the other hand, the Outemu Spring Breeze clicky switch is also known for its clickiness, but with a slightly softer and more subdued sound compared to the Blue switch. Ultimately, the sound of a switch is subjective and can be influenced by various factors such as the type of keyboard and keycaps being used.
When it comes to feel, the Outemu Blue clicky switch is known for its tactile bump and pronounced click, providing a tactile and audible typing experience. In contrast, the Outemu Spring Breeze clicky switch offers a similar tactile bump but with a more subtle and smoother click feedback, resulting in a quieter typing experience compared to the Blue switch. Both switches provide a satisfying typing experience, with the Spring Breeze switch offering a slightly less intense tactile and auditory feedback compared to the Blue switch.
Overall, while the Outemu Blue clicky switch and the Outemu Spring Breeze clicky switch have their own unique sound and feel characteristics, they ultimately offer a similar experience in terms of clickiness and tactile feedback. Choosing between the two switches will depend on personal preference for the intensity of sound and tactility desired during typing. Ultimately, both switches are reliable and popular choices for those who enjoy clicky mechanical keyboard switches.
Conclusion
To sum up, when it comes to choosing between the Outemu Blue clicky switch and the Outemu Spring Breeze clicky switch, you should consider the type of typing experience you prefer. If you enjoy a lighter and crisper feel with a medium-light bottom out force, then the Outemu Spring Breeze switch would be a great choice for you. On the other hand, if you prefer a switch with a more tactile and audible click, even though the bottom out force is not specified, you may want to go with the Outemu Blue switch. Ultimately, the decision between these two switches comes down to personal preference and the typing experience that best suits your needs. So, take all these factors into consideration and choose the switch that will enhance your overall typing experience.
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