Outemu Maple Leaf vs. Everglide Tourmaline Blue
An in-depth look at the Outemu Maple Leaf and the Everglide Tourmaline Blue switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When it comes to mechanical keyboard switches, the Outemu Maple Leaf and Everglide Tourmaline Blue offer unique characteristics tailored to different preferences. The Maple Leaf is a tactile switch, known for its distinctive typing feedback and responsive feel. On the other hand, the Tourmaline Blue is a linear switch, celebrated for its deep and thocky sound profile and bouncy keystrokes. While the Maple Leaf provides a satisfying tactile bump, the Tourmaline Blue offers a smooth and consistent typing experience. Each switch has its own strengths and appeal, making them suitable for various typing styles and preferences. 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
55g
Actuation force
59g
Bottom-out force
65g
Bottom-out force
67g
Pre-travel
2.30 mm
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Total travel
3.30 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
Polycarbonate
Mount type
Plate (3-pin)
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Spring
Stainless steel
Spring
Gold-plated
Housing materials
The Outemu Maple Leaf and the Everglide Tourmaline Blue differ in their housing materials for both the top and bottom components. The Maple Leaf features nylon top and bottom housing, known for creating a deeper and fuller sound profile due to its softer plastic nature. In contrast, the Tourmaline Blue utilizes polycarbonate for both the top and bottom housing, resulting in a sharper, higher-pitched, and clearer sound profile attributed to the stiffer plastic composition. The aesthetic appeal of the polycarbonate housing is also highlighted, especially in switches with RGB lighting, showcasing a translucent design not found in the Maple Leaf's nylon housing.
Despite their differences in housing materials, both the Outemu Maple Leaf and the Everglide Tourmaline Blue aim to enhance the overall typing experience through varying sound profiles. While the Maple Leaf's nylon housing offers a duller and rounder sound, the Tourmaline Blue's polycarbonate housing provides a more resonant and crisp tone. The split qualities of the housing materials between the top and bottom components of a switch ultimately influence the key press and release sounds, with the bottom housing impacting the bottom-out sound and feel, and the top housing affecting the sound upon key release.
In conclusion, the choice between the Outemu Maple Leaf and the Everglide Tourmaline Blue housing materials ultimately comes down to personal preference in sound profile and aesthetics. Whether you prefer the deeper and fuller sound of nylon housing found in the Maple Leaf or the sharper and clearer tone of polycarbonate housing in the Tourmaline Blue, both switches offer unique qualities to enhance your typing experience. The differences in housing materials highlight the importance of understanding how each component contributes to the overall sound profile and feel of a mechanical keyboard switch.
Weight
The Outemu Maple Leaf tactile switch and the Everglide Tourmaline Blue linear switch both fall into the medium-heavy category in terms of actuation force and bottom out force. The Maple Leaf has a slightly lighter actuation force of 55 grams compared to the Tourmaline Blue's 59 grams, but both require a bottom out force of 65 and 67 grams, respectively. This means that while the Maple Leaf may feel slightly lighter to actuate, the overall typing experience will be quite similar between the two switches. For those who prefer a lighter feel for extended typing sessions, the Maple Leaf may be the preferred choice, while those looking for a more substantial typing experience may lean towards the Tourmaline Blue. Ultimately, the decision between the two switches will come down to individual preferences in terms of weight and typing feel.
Travel distance
In comparing the travel distance of the Outemu Maple Leaf tactile switch and the Everglide Tourmaline Blue linear switch, we can see that the Maple Leaf has a shorter travel distance of 3.3 mm compared to the Tourmaline Blue's 4 mm travel distance. The Maple Leaf's shorter travel distance may appeal to gamers looking for quicker response times, while the Tourmaline Blue's longer travel distance may offer a more satisfying keypress for those who prefer a deeper feel. Both switches fall within the range of traditional travel distances, with the Tourmaline Blue being slightly longer. Ultimately, the choice between the two switches will depend on individual preferences for key feel and responsiveness.
Price comparison
Which switch is more bang for your buck?
The Everglide Tourmaline Blue has an MSRP of $6.86 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Tourmaline Blue for $3.89.
The Outemu Maple Leaf 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
When it comes to sound, the Outemu Maple Leaf switch does not have a specific reputation or descriptor, making it a bit of an unknown in this aspect. On the other hand, the Everglide Tourmaline Blue switch is known for its deep and thocky sound profile. This means that the Tourmaline Blue switch offers a satisfyingly immersive typing experience with its unique sound characteristics. Keep in mind that the sound produced by a switch is also influenced by the keyboard and keycaps used.
In terms of feel, the Outemu Maple Leaf switch does not have a defined feel descriptor provided in the information. In contrast, the Everglide Tourmaline Blue switch is described as buttery, easy-to-press, and mild. This indicates that the Tourmaline Blue switch provides a smooth and fluid keystroke experience, with gentle resistance and a comfortable typing sensation. The mild characteristics of the Tourmaline Blue switch make it approachable for a wide range of users, enhancing the overall typing experience.
Taking all the available information into consideration, the Everglide Tourmaline Blue switch stands out for its distinctive deep and thocky sound profile, as well as its buttery and easy-to-press feel. While the specific qualities of the Outemu Maple Leaf switch are unknown in terms of sound and feel, it is worth noting that both switches offer unique characteristics that can cater to different preferences and typing styles. Ultimately, whether you choose the Maple Leaf or Tourmaline Blue switch, you can expect a satisfying and enjoyable typing experience with either option.
Conclusion
In closing, when choosing between the Outemu Maple Leaf tactile switch and the Everglide Tourmaline Blue linear switch, consider your preferences for typing experience. If you prefer a switch with a slightly lower bottom out force and value a more neutral sound profile, the Maple Leaf may be the better choice for you. However, if you enjoy a satisfyingly deep and thocky sound profile with a bouncy feel and easy-to-press actuation, the Tourmaline Blue might be the ideal switch for your needs. Ultimately, the decision between these two switches boils down to your personal typing style and what characteristics you prioritize in a mechanical keyboard switch.
Mentioned in this article
