Outemu Gold vs. Outemu Yellow Silver
An in-depth look at the Outemu Gold and the Outemu Yellow Silver switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When it comes to mechanical keyboard switches, the Outemu Gold and Outemu Yellow Silver offer distinct qualities that cater to different preferences. The Outemu Gold is a clicky switch, known for its tactile feedback and audible click sound. This makes it a popular choice for those who enjoy the satisfying clickity-clack of typing. On the other hand, the Outemu Yellow Silver is a linear switch, featuring a light actuation force and a neutral sound profile. This makes it ideal for gamers and typists seeking speediness and responsiveness without the distracting click noise. 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
45g
Actuation force
45g
Bottom-out force
60g
Bottom-out force
55g
Pre-travel
1.80 mm
Pre-travel
1.30 mm
Total travel
4.00 mm
Total travel
4.00 mm
Factory lubed
Yes
Factory lubed
No
Stem construction
Standard
Stem construction
Partial box
Stem material
POM
Stem material
POM
Top housing material
Polycarbonate
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 Gold and the Outemu Yellow Silver, both switches feature polycarbonate top housings. The use of polycarbonate in top housings creates a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound profile, making it ideal for users who prioritize sound quality. Additionally, the translucency of polycarbonate allows for RGB lighting effects to shine through, adding a visual appeal to the switches. However, despite these similarities, the Gold and Yellow Silver differ in their bottom housings. The Gold utilizes a nylon bottom housing, which elicits a deeper and fuller sound profile due to the softer nature of nylon. In contrast, the Yellow Silver also features a nylon bottom housing, contributing to a similar sound profile as the Gold.
While both the Gold and Yellow Silver share the same polycarbonate top housings, their differences lie in the bottom housings and the effects they have on the overall typing experience. The nylon bottom housing of the Gold creates a duller and rounder sound, absorbing more sound than harder plastics. This results in a unique typing experience that emphasizes depth and richness in the sound produced. On the other hand, the Yellow Silver's nylon bottom housing offers a similar typing experience, maintaining the same qualities of absorbing sound and creating a fuller sound profile. These bottom housings play a significant role in the overall sound and feel of the switches, complementing the characteristics of the top housings.
In summary, while the Outemu Gold and Outemu Yellow Silver share similarities in their polycarbonate top housings, their unique nylon bottom housings provide distinct typing experiences. The Gold's nylon bottom housing contributes to a deeper and fuller sound profile, creating a unique typing experience that emphasizes richness in sound. Similarly, the Yellow Silver's nylon bottom housing offers a comparable typing experience by absorbing sound and producing a fuller sound profile. Ultimately, both switches offer a high-quality typing experience with distinct sound profiles, allowing users to choose based on their personal preference for sound and feel.
Weight
Both the Outemu Gold clicky switch and the Outemu Yellow Silver linear switch have the same actuation force of 45 grams, making them equally sensitive to the touch. However, when it comes to bottom out force, the Outemu Gold clicky switch has a heavier force of 60 grams compared to the Outemu Yellow Silver linear switch with a lighter force of 55 grams. This means that the Outemu Gold clicky switch provides a more substantial typing experience with a stronger push feel, while the Outemu Yellow Silver linear switch offers a lighter touch, perfect for longer periods of typing or gaming sessions. Ultimately, the choice between the two switches depends on personal preference regarding actuation and bottom out force preferences.
Travel distance
The Outemu Gold clicky switch and the Outemu Yellow Silver linear switch both have a travel distance of 4 mm, making them equal in terms of the distance the switch travels from the top to the bottom. This means that regardless of whether you choose the Gold clicky switch or the Yellow Silver linear switch, you can expect to feel the same travel distance when pressing down on a key. Both switches provide a similar typing experience in this aspect, as they both have a travel distance of 4 mm.
Price comparison
Which switch is more bang for your buck?
For 10 switches, the Outemu Gold comes in at $3.10, whereas the Outemu Yellow Silver comes in at $3.40.
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
The Outemu Gold clicky switch is best known for its distinctive clicky sound and tactile feedback. On the other hand, the Outemu Yellow Silver linear switch is favored for its light actuation force and neutral sound profile, making it suitable for those who value speediness and responsiveness in their typing or gaming experience.
When it comes to sound, the Gold switch delivers a satisfying clicky sound that some users find enjoyable for typing and gaming. On the other hand, the Yellow Silver switch is described as having a neutral sound profile, which is suitable for a wide range of users due to its moderate actuation force requirement.
In terms of feel, the Gold switch provides a tactile feedback that some users prefer for a more engaging typing experience. However, the feel of the Yellow Silver switch is not specified in the information provided.
Overall, if sound is a crucial factor for you, the Outemu Gold clicky switch may be the better option due to its distinctive clicky sound. However, if you prioritize a light actuation force and a neutral sound profile, the Outemu Yellow Silver linear switch would be more suitable for your typing or gaming needs. In both cases, the choice of board and keycaps can also significantly impact the overall feel and sound of the switches.
Conclusion
To sum up, when deciding between the Outemu Gold clicky switch and the Outemu Yellow Silver linear switch, you should consider your preference for actuation force and sound profile. If you prefer a slightly heavier actuation force of 60 grams and a clicky sound, the Gold switch would be a suitable choice for you. On the other hand, if you prefer a lighter actuation force of 55 grams and a neutral sound profile, the Yellow Silver switch would be more suitable. Ultimately, the decision between these two switches comes down to personal preference in terms of feel and sound.
Mentioned in this article
