Outemu Milk Blue vs. Outemu Milk Tea
An in-depth look at the Outemu Milk Blue and the Outemu Milk Tea switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When it comes to choosing a mechanical keyboard switch, two popular options to consider are the Outemu Milk Blue, a clicky switch, and the Outemu Milk Tea, a tactile switch. The Milk Blue is best known for its satisfying click sound and tactile feedback, making it a favorite among typists who enjoy auditory confirmation with each keystroke. On the other hand, the Milk Tea is renowned for its smooth and consistent tactile bump, providing a more subtle but still noticeable response when typing. While the Milk Blue may be preferred for its audible feedback, the Milk Tea offers a more subdued typing experience that some may find more comfortable for extended use. 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
N/A
Bottom-out force
N/A
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
Partial box
Stem construction
Partial box
Stem material
POM
Stem material
POM
Top housing material
Polycarbonate
Top housing material
Ly
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Mount type
Plate (3-pin)
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Spring
Stainless steel
Spring
Stainless steel
Housing materials
The Outemu Milk Blue and Outemu Milk Tea switches both feature a polycarbonate top housing, which is known for creating a sharp, higher-pitched, and crisp sound profile. This material is especially effective for switches that plan to use RGB lighting due to its translucency. In contrast, the Milk Tea's Ly top housing offers a very bright sound signature, producing resonant clacks while typing. Despite the slight difference in sound profile, both switches benefit from the clarity and resonance that polycarbonate brings to the table.
On the other hand, the Outemu Milk Blue and Outemu Milk Tea switches both utilize a nylon bottom housing, which results in a deeper and fuller sound profile. Nylon is known for being a softer plastic that absorbs more sound than harder plastics, creating a duller and rounder sound. This characteristic is evident in the switch's bottom-out sound and feel, making typing on switches with nylon housing a comfortable and satisfying experience. While the materials used in their top housings differ, both switches share the same classic nylon bottom housing, ensuring a consistent typing experience in terms of sound profile and overall feel.
In summary, the Outemu Milk Blue and Outemu Milk Tea switches offer slightly different sound profiles due to their top housing materials - polycarbonate for the Milk Blue and Ly for the Milk Tea. However, they both provide a deeper and fuller sound profile thanks to their shared nylon bottom housing. The differences in sound between the two switches can be attributed to the unique characteristics of their respective housing materials, with polycarbonate offering a sharper sound in the Milk Blue and the Ly top housing providing a bright sound signature in the Milk Tea. Ultimately, both switches offer a satisfying typing experience with their combination of top and bottom housing materials.
Weight
The Outemu Milk Blue clicky switch has a slightly heavier actuation force of 50 grams compared to the Outemu Milk Tea tactile switch, which has an actuation force of 45 grams. Both switches have an unknown bottom out force. The actuation force of the Milk Blue switch requires a bit more pressure to trigger a keystroke, providing a noticeable clicky feedback. On the other hand, the Milk Tea switch offers a slightly lighter actuation force, which may appeal to those who prefer a lighter touch while typing for extended periods. The bottom out force for both switches is unavailable, but based on the actuation force, it can be assumed that the Milk Blue switch may provide a more substantial typing experience compared to the Milk Tea switch. Ultimately, the choice between the two switches will depend on individual preferences for typing experience and desired level of actuation force.
Travel distance
Both the Outemu Milk Blue clicky switch and the Outemu Milk Tea tactile switch have the same travel distance of 4 mm. This means that whether you choose the Milk Blue clicky switch or the Milk Tea tactile switch, you will experience a similar travel distance when pressing down on a key. This similarity in travel distance ensures that you will get consistent results in terms of key press feel and response, making either switch a reliable option for your typing needs.
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 Milk Blue and Milk Tea.
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 Milk Blue clicky switch is known for its loud "clicky" sound, providing a satisfying auditory feedback with each key press. On the other hand, the Outemu Milk Tea tactile switch is known for its quieter and more subtle tactile bump, offering a more subdued typing experience. When it comes to feel, the Milk Blue switch has a light and crisp actuation, giving typists a highly responsive key press. In contrast, the Milk Tea switch has a more pronounced tactile bump, allowing for a more tactile typing experience. Ultimately, the choice between the two switches comes down to personal preference in terms of sound, feel, and typing style. If you enjoy a loud and clicky switch, the Milk Blue may be the better option for you. However, if you prefer a quieter and more tactile typing experience, the Milk Tea switch would be the preferable choice. No matter which switch you choose, both the Outemu Milk Blue clicky switch and the Outemu Milk Tea tactile switch offer quality construction and performance for a satisfying typing experience.
Conclusion
To sum up, when deciding between the Outemu Milk Blue clicky switch and the Outemu Milk Tea tactile switch, you should choose the Milk Blue if you prefer a clicky switch with a more audible sound and a light feel. This switch is best known for its distinctive clickiness and responsive typing experience. On the other hand, if you prefer a tactile switch with a more pronounced bump and a quieter sound, the Milk Tea would be the better option for you. This switch is best known for its tactile feedback and smooth typing feel. Ultimately, your decision should be based on your personal preference for sound, feel, and typing experience.
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