Outemu Cream Blue vs. KTT Sea Salt Lemon
An in-depth look at the Outemu Cream Blue and the KTT Sea Salt Lemon switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When it comes to mechanical keyboard switches, the Outemu Cream Blue and the KTT Sea Salt Lemon offer unique experiences for users. The Cream Blue is a clicky switch that is best known for its distinctive click sound and tactile feedback. On the other hand, the Sea Salt Lemon is a linear switch that stands out for its smooth typing experience and progressive spring design. While the Cream Blue offers a more audible typing experience, the Sea Salt Lemon provides a quieter and buttery smooth feel. 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
45g
Bottom-out force
65g
Bottom-out force
53g
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
No
Stem construction
Partial box
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
PCB (5-pin)
Mount type
Plate (3-pin)
Spring
Stainless steel
Spring
13mm progressive spring
Housing materials
The main difference between the Outemu Cream Blue and the KTT Sea Salt Lemon lies in their top housing materials. While the Cream Blue features a nylon top housing that offers a deeper and fuller sound profile due to its softer plastic composition, the Sea Salt Lemon utilizes a polycarbonate top housing that produces a sharper and crisper sound profile thanks to its stiffer nature. This contrast in sound characteristics makes the Cream Blue more suitable for those looking for a quieter typing experience, while the Sea Salt Lemon is ideal for users who prefer a more distinct and resonant sound while typing.
On the other hand, both switches share a nylon bottom housing material, which results in a similar deeper and fuller sound profile for both the Cream Blue and the Sea Salt Lemon. Despite having different top housing materials, the common nylon bottom housing ensures a consistent sound experience when pressing down on the switches. This similarity in bottom housing material demonstrates how certain housing components can have a significant impact on the overall sound and feel of a switch, regardless of differences in other housing materials.
Overall, the choice between the Outemu Cream Blue and the KTT Sea Salt Lemon ultimately comes down to personal preference regarding sound profile and typing feel. The Cream Blue's nylon top housing provides a more muffled and rounded sound, while the Sea Salt Lemon's polycarbonate top housing offers a clearer and crisper typing experience. Both switches, however, benefit from the shared nylon bottom housing in terms of creating a deeper and fuller sound profile. Ultimately, the decision between these switches will depend on individual preferences for sound characteristics and tactile feedback.
Weight
When comparing the actuation force and bottom out force of the Outemu Cream Blue clicky switch and the KTT Sea Salt Lemon linear switch, it's clear that the Cream Blue is heavier while the Sea Salt Lemon is lighter. The Cream Blue has an actuation force of 50 grams and a bottom out force of 65 grams, making it a medium-heavy switch. In contrast, the Sea Salt Lemon has an actuation force of 45 grams and a bottom out force of 53 grams, categorizing it as a medium-light switch. The Cream Blue offers a stronger push feel, providing a more substantial typing experience for those who prefer a heavier force. On the other hand, the Sea Salt Lemon's lighter actuation and bottom out forces make it ideal for users who type for extended periods. Both switches have their advantages, with the Cream Blue offering a more robust typing experience and the Sea Salt Lemon providing a lighter touch for longer typing sessions. Ultimately, the choice between the two will depend on the user's preference for actuation and bottom out forces.
Travel distance
Both the Outemu Cream Blue clicky switch and the KTT Sea Salt Lemon linear switch have a travel distance of 4 mm, making them equal in this aspect. This means that both switches will provide a similar amount of tactile feedback and keypress feel when typing. The travel distance of a switch is an important factor to consider when choosing a mechanical keyboard, as it can affect typing speed, comfort, and overall typing experience. In this case, the Cream Blue and Sea Salt Lemon switches offer the same travel distance, so users can expect similar results in terms of keypress feel and performance.
Price comparison
Which switch is more bang for your buck?
For 10 switches, the Outemu Cream Blue comes in at $3.10, whereas the KTT Sea Salt Lemon comes in at $2.80.
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 Cream Blue clicky switch and the KTT Sea Salt Lemon linear switch offer different experiences. The Cream Blue switch has a reputation for a distinctive clicky sound, providing auditory feedback with each key press. On the other hand, the Sea Salt Lemon switch is known for its low-pitched and neutral sound profile, offering a quieter typing experience compared to the clicky Cream Blue switch. Ultimately, the sound that each switch produces will also be influenced by other factors such as the keyboard housing and keycaps.
Moving on to feel, the Cream Blue switch and the Sea Salt Lemon switch also diverge in their tactile qualities. The Cream Blue switch doesn't have specific information available to describe its feel. However, the Sea Salt Lemon switch is characterized as having a mild typing experience, offering a gentle and approachable feel for most users. With its progressive spring and dry-lube design, the Sea Salt Lemon switch delivers a smooth typing experience that falls into a safe middle ground zone in terms of tactile feedback.
Taking all of the available information into account, it's clear that the Outemu Cream Blue clicky switch and the KTT Sea Salt Lemon linear switch cater to different preferences in sound and feel. The Cream Blue switch is favored for its distinctive clicky sound, while the Sea Salt Lemon switch provides a buttery smooth and mild typing experience. Ultimately, the choice between these two switches will depend on individual preferences for sound, feel, and typing style. However, if you prefer a more subdued sound profile and a milder tactile experience, the Sea Salt Lemon linear switch may provide a similar typing experience to the Cream Blue clicky switch.
Conclusion
To sum up, when deciding between the Outemu Cream Blue clicky switch and the KTT Sea Salt Lemon linear switch, consider your preferred typing experience. If you enjoy a clicky and tactile typing experience with a medium-heavy bottom out force, the Cream Blue may be the right choice for you. On the other hand, if you prefer a smooth and buttery typing experience with a medium-light bottom out force, the Sea Salt Lemon would be more suitable. Ultimately, your decision should be based on your personal typing preferences and the type of typing experience you are looking for.
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