Outemu Milk Blue vs. Durock Sea Glass
An in-depth look at the Outemu Milk Blue and the Durock Sea Glass switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When it comes to mechanical keyboard switches, the Outemu Milk Blue and the Durock Sea Glass offer distinct typing experiences. The Milk Blue is a clicky switch, known for its audible feedback and tactile bump, providing a satisfying typing experience for those who enjoy hearing and feeling each keystroke. On the other hand, the Sea Glass is a linear switch that stands out for its smoothness and unique dry, wispiness, and airiness, despite being categorized as a 62g switch. The Sea Glass switches also boast a frictionless nature and produce a hollow sound signature while typing. While the Milk Blue excels in providing a satisfying clicky experience, the Sea Glass offers a smooth and frictionless typing experience. 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
62g
Pre-travel
2.20 mm
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Total travel
4.00 mm
Total travel
3.80 mm
Factory lubed
Yes
Factory lubed
Yes
Stem construction
Partial box
Stem construction
Standard
Stem material
POM
Stem material
P3+
Top housing material
Polycarbonate
Top housing material
Polymer nylon and UHMWPE blend
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Bottom housing material
Polymer nylon and UHMWPE blend
Mount type
Plate (3-pin)
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Spring
Stainless steel
Spring
Gold-plated
Housing materials
The Outemu Milk Blue and Durock Sea Glass switches both offer unique housing materials that affect the sound profiles of the switches. The Milk Blue features a polycarbonate top housing, which is known for creating a sharper and crisper sound profile due to its relatively stiff nature. In contrast, the Sea Glass utilizes a blend of Polymer nylon and UHMWPE in its top housing, providing a sound profile that is described as pleasant and bright. While the two housing materials have different characteristics, they both aim to enhance the overall typing experience by offering distinct sound profiles that cater to different preferences.
In terms of bottom housings, the Milk Blue uses nylon, a classic switch housing material that elicits a deeper and fuller sound profile. This is due to nylon's softer nature, which absorbs more sound and creates a duller and rounder sound compared to harder plastics. On the other hand, the Sea Glass also utilizes a blend of Polymer nylon and UHMWPE in its bottom housing, offering a unique sound profile that complements the bright and pleasant qualities of its top housing. While both switches use different materials for their bottom housings, they both contribute to the overall sound profile and typing experience by providing a balance between impact and sound resonance.
Overall, the choice between the Outemu Milk Blue and Durock Sea Glass switches ultimately comes down to personal preference in sound profile. The Milk Blue's polycarbonate top housing creates a sharper and clearer sound profile, while the Sea Glass's unique blend of Polymer nylon and UHMWPE offers a more pleasant and bright sound experience. However, both switches aim to enhance the typing experience with their distinct housing materials, providing users with options to tailor their keyboard sound to their liking. Ultimately, whether you prefer a sharper, crisper sound or a more pleasant and bright sound, both switches offer unique qualities that can enhance your overall typing experience.
Weight
When comparing the Outemu Milk Blue clicky switch to the Durock Sea Glass linear switch, it is evident that the Milk Blue requires a slightly higher actuation force of 50 grams compared to the Sea Glass's 45 grams. This means that the Milk Blue will provide a slightly more resistant typing experience. However, in terms of bottom out force, the Milk Blue's force is unknown while the Sea Glass requires 62 grams, which is considered a medium force. This suggests that the Sea Glass may provide a more substantial typing feel when fully pressed compared to the Milk Blue. For those who prefer a lighter typing experience, the Sea Glass may be the better option, while those who enjoy a heavier feel may choose the Milk Blue or even the Sea Glass due to its slightly higher actuation force. Ultimately, the choice between the two switches will depend on individual preferences for typing weight and feel.
Travel distance
The Outemu Milk Blue clicky switch has a travel distance of 4 mm, while the Durock Sea Glass linear switch has a travel distance of 3.8 mm. The Milk Blue switch has a slightly longer travel distance compared to the Sea Glass switch. A 0.2 mm may not seem like much, but it can affect the typing experience for some users. Those who prefer a deeper key press may lean towards the Milk Blue switch, while those who prefer a slightly shallower key press may opt for the Sea Glass switch. Ultimately, both switches offer similar performance with subtle differences in the travel distance that can cater to individual preferences.
Price comparison
Which switch is more bang for your buck?
The Durock Sea Glass has an MSRP of $5.80 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Sea Glass for $4.87.
The Outemu Milk Blue 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
In terms of sound, the Milk Blue clicky switches are known for their satisfying audible click with each keypress, providing a tactile and responsive typing experience. On the other hand, the Sea Glass linear switches offer a unique hollow sound signature that adds a sense of airiness to the typing experience. Both switches have distinct sound profiles that can enhance the overall typing feel, but it ultimately comes down to personal preference and the setup of your keyboard and keycaps.
When it comes to feel, the Milk Blue switches are renowned for their clicky and tactile feedback, giving typists a sense of assurance with each keypress. In contrast, the Sea Glass linear switches offer a frictionless and smooth typing experience, with a mild and feathery feel that minimizes finger fatigue during extended typing sessions. The easy-to-press nature of the Sea Glass switches makes typing effortless and comfortable, appealing to a wide range of users who value a smooth and responsive typing feel.
Overall, the Outemu Milk Blue clicky switches and the Durock Sea Glass linear switches offer different but equally appealing qualities for mechanical keyboard enthusiasts. While the Milk Blue switches excel in providing a tactile and clicky typing experience, the Sea Glass switches stand out for their smoothness, light actuation force, and unique sound signature. Both switches have their own strengths and can enhance the typing experience depending on individual preferences. Ultimately, the choice between the two switches would depend on whether you prefer a clicky and tactile feel or a smooth and frictionless typing experience.
Conclusion
In conclusion, when considering whether to choose the Outemu Milk Blue clicky switch or the Durock Sea Glass linear switch, it ultimately comes down to your personal preferences and typing style. If you enjoy the audible feedback and tactile feel of clicky switches, the Outemu Milk Blue may be the better option for you. On the other hand, if you prefer a smoother and weightless typing experience with a unique sound signature, the Durock Sea Glass switches may be more suitable. Both switches offer their own distinct characteristics and it's important to consider what features are most important to you when selecting your ideal mechanical keyboard switch. Ultimately, whether you choose the Milk Blue for its clicky feedback or the Sea Glass for its smoothness and captivating colors, you can rest assured that you'll be getting a high-quality typing experience with either option.
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