Outemu Milk Blue vs. Outemu Silent White
An in-depth look at the Outemu Milk Blue and the Outemu Silent White switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When it comes to choosing a mechanical keyboard switch, the Outemu Milk Blue and Outemu Silent White are two popular options that offer different typing experiences. The Milk Blue is a clicky switch, known for its tactile feedback and audible click sound upon actuation. On the other hand, the Silent White is a linear switch, designed to provide a smoother and quieter typing experience. If you prefer a satisfying clicky sound and precise tactile feedback, the Milk Blue may be the right choice for you. However, if you value a quieter typing experience with a smooth keystroke, the Silent White might be more suitable. 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
60g
Pre-travel
2.20 mm
Pre-travel
1.60 mm
Total travel
4.00 mm
Total travel
3.30 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
Polycarbonate
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
In comparing the housing materials of the Outemu Milk Blue and the Outemu Silent White, both switches utilize polycarbonate for their top housing, resulting in a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound profile. This is due to polycarbonate's stiff nature, which enhances the clarity and resonance of the sound produced. Additionally, the translucency of polycarbonate makes it ideal for switches intended for use with RGB lighting. However, when it comes to the bottom housing, the Milk Blue uses nylon while the Silent White also employs nylon. Typing on switches with nylon bottom housings creates a deeper and fuller sound profile, as nylon's softer nature absorbs more sound, leading to a duller and rounder sound.
While both the Outemu Milk Blue and Outemu Silent White share the same polycarbonate top housing, their differentiation lies in the nylon bottom housing. The qualities brought by the top and bottom housing materials are split between the two switches, with the bottom housing affecting the bottom-out sound and feel when a key is pressed. The softer nature of nylon in the bottom housing absorbs more sound, resulting in a deeper and fuller sound profile. On the other hand, the impact on the sound when releasing a key is influenced by the top housing material, which is polycarbonate in both switches. This leads to a sharper and crisper sound profile.
Overall, the choice between the Outemu Milk Blue and Outemu Silent White hinges on personal preference in terms of sound profile and feel. Both switches offer a sharp, higher-pitched sound thanks to their polycarbonate top housing, suitable for those seeking a crisper typing experience. However, the difference in the bottom housing material, with the Milk Blue using nylon and the Silent White also incorporating nylon, provides a deeper and fuller sound profile. Whether one prefers a rounder, duller sound or a clearer, more resonant sound will ultimately guide the decision between these two switches.
Weight
When comparing the Outemu Milk Blue clicky switch and the Outemu Silent White linear switch, one noticeable difference is in their actuation and bottom out forces. The Milk Blue has a higher actuation force of 50 grams compared to the Silent White's 45 grams. However, when it comes to bottom out force, the Silent White requires 60 grams while the Milk Blue's exact force is unknown. This means that the Silent White is heavier both in actuation and bottom out force compared to the Milk Blue. This contrast shows that the Milk Blue would provide a lighter typing experience, making it ideal for longer typing sessions or gaming, while the Silent White offers a firmer push feel for those who prefer a more substantial typing experience. In essence, choosing between the two switches would depend on whether a lighter or heavier force is preferred for the intended use.
Travel distance
The Outemu Milk Blue clicky switch has a travel distance of 4 mm, while the Outemu Silent White linear switch has a travel distance of 3.3 mm. In this case, the Milk Blue has a slightly longer travel distance compared to the Silent White. A 4 mm travel distance is more traditional, offering a deeper keypress feel, which may be preferred by those who enjoy a more substantial typing experience. On the other hand, the 3.3 mm travel distance of the Silent White provides a shallower keypress, which could appeal to gamers looking for faster response times. Both switches offer unique typing experiences, with the Milk Blue providing a deeper feel and the Silent White offering a shallower, more responsive touch. Ultimately, the choice between the two will depend on individual preferences for keypress depth and responsiveness.
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 Silent White.
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 well-known for its satisfying click sound, which offers a tactile feedback to the user with each key press. On the other hand, the Outemu Silent White linear switch is recognized for its quiet operation, making it a preferred choice for those who require a more subtle typing experience. The Milk Blue switch provides a crisp and audible feedback, while the Silent White switch offers a smooth and consistent keystroke without any click sound.
In terms of feel, the Milk Blue switch offers a tactile bump during actuation, providing a noticeable physical response to the user's touch. This can result in a more pronounced typing experience, as users can feel the moment the key registers. The Silent White switch, being a linear switch, offers a smooth and consistent keystroke without any tactile bump or audible feedback. This can result in a more fluid and uniform typing experience.
Taking into consideration the subjective qualities of sound and feel, users can expect a distinct typing experience when choosing between the Outemu Milk Blue clicky switch and the Outemu Silent White linear switch. The Milk Blue switch is ideal for those who enjoy a tactile and audible typing experience, while the Silent White switch is perfect for those who prefer a quiet and smooth keystroke. Ultimately, the choice between these switches will depend on personal preference and the specific requirements of the user.
Conclusion
To wrap up, when deciding between the Outemu Milk Blue clicky switch and the Outemu Silent White linear switch, you should consider your preference for sound and feel. If you enjoy a loud and tactile typing experience, the Milk Blue switch would be a great choice for you. On the other hand, if you prefer a quiet and smooth typing feel, the Silent White switch would be more suitable. Additionally, if you prefer a lighter bottom out force, the Milk Blue switch would be ideal as it has none specified, while the Silent White switch has a medium 60-gram bottom out force. Ultimately, the decision between these two switches comes down to personal preference in terms of sound, feel, and bottom out force.
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