Outemu Milk Blue vs. Gateron Sea Salt Smoothie

Overview

When choosing the ideal mechanical keyboard switch, enthusiasts often find themselves torn between distinct options, such as the Outemu Milk Blue and the Gateron Sea Salt Smoothie. The Milk Blue, a clicky switch, is revered for its tactile feedback and audible click, appealing to typists and gamers who enjoy pronounced actuation and a traditional mechanical feel. In contrast, the Gateron Sea Salt Smoothie presents a linear experience, marked by a smooth keypress without the tactile bump, making it suitable for users who prefer a quieter and more fluid typing experience. While the Milk Blue is lauded for its engaging sound and responsiveness, the Sea Salt Smoothie excels with its thocky sound profile and exceptional smoothness, offering a balance of quality and affordability. However, let's dive in a bit deeper beyond generalities so you can best decide on the right switch for you.

By the numbers

Outemu Milk Blue Clicky

Gateron Sea Salt Smoothie Linear

$3.10 per 10

$3.00

$2.70 per 10

Learn moreLearn more

Housing materials

The Outemu Milk Blue and Gateron Sea Salt Smoothie utilize different housing materials for their top housings, resulting in distinct sound characteristics. The Milk Blue features a polycarbonate top housing, which is known for its stiffness and translucency. This quality contributes to a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound profile, making it particularly well-suited for RGB lighting applications. In contrast, the Sea Salt Smoothie's top housing is made from POM, a material that offers a muted, deeper sound profile. The pronounced differences in their sound characteristics are largely attributable to the materials themselves: the polycarbonate enhances clarity and resonance, while the POM lends a more subdued and pleasing depth to the auditory experience.

For the bottom housings, both switches employ materials that deliver a distinct auditory experience, yet maintain some similarities. The Milk Blue uses nylon for its bottom housing, which is a classic choice known for producing a deeper, fuller sound that absorbs sound waves effectively. This leads to a rounder auditory profile, enhancing the overall typing experience. On the other hand, the Sea Salt Smoothie employs POM for both its top and bottom housings. The sound produced by POM is similarly deeper and relatively muted, suggesting that the Sea Salt Smoothie may offer a more cohesive sound signature due to the uniformity of its housing materials. Though they differ in the top housing material, the similarity in their bottom housing properties reinforces the mellow quality present in both switches.

When considering the overall impact of these materials, it is essential to recognize how the configuration of different plastics across the Mil Blue and Sea Salt Smoothie influences their respective sound profiles. The distinct material properties affect how sound is perceived during both key presses and releases. While the nylon bottom housing of the Milk Blue contributes to its rich auditory experience, the POM bottom housing in the Sea Salt Smoothie provides a consistent softer sound. Ultimately, users seeking a refined typing ambiance will find pleasure in both switches, albeit through differing sound casts that derive from their unique construction. If users combine them in a keyboard and are mindful of the varying sound qualities, they may achieve a satisfying soundscape that embraces the best attributes of each material.

Weight

When comparing the Outemu Milk Blue clicky switch to the Gateron Sea Salt Smoothie linear switch, we find that the actuation force of the Milk Blue is slightly heavier at 50 grams, compared to the 48 grams of the Sea Salt Smoothie. This means that for users who prefer a lighter touch, the Sea Salt Smoothie may provide a more comfortable typing experience, especially during long typing sessions or gaming marathons. However, the absence of bottom out force data for both switches makes it difficult to draw further direct comparisons regarding their overall resistance when fully pressed down. While the Milk Blue offers a stronger actuation feel, some users may appreciate the slightly lighter force of the Sea Salt Smoothie for a less strenuous experience. Without the bottom out force information, potential users should consider their preferences for either lighter or heavier switches based on the actuation force alone.

Travel distance

The Outemu Milk Blue clicky switch features a travel distance of 4 mm, while the Gateron Sea Salt Smoothie linear switch has a slightly shorter travel distance of 3.7 mm. This means that for those who appreciate a more pronounced keystroke depth, the Milk Blue is the preferred choice, offering a fuller feeling with each press. Conversely, gamers who prioritize faster response times might lean towards the Sea Salt Smoothie due to its shorter travel distance, resulting in quicker actuation. The shorter and more abrupt feel of the Sea Salt Smoothie may cater to those who appreciate faster gameplay, while the longer travel of the Milk Blue might resonate more with users who prefer a substantial tactile feedback in their typing experience.

Price comparison

Typing experience

When it comes to sound, the Outemu Milk Blue clicky switch does not have a specific noted sound profile, making it difficult to compare directly. However, the Gateron Sea Salt Smoothie is known for its distinctive thocky sound, which provides a satisfying auditory feedback during typing. It’s important to remember that the sound of a switch can also be influenced by factors such as the keyboard construction and the type of keycaps used, so individual experiences might vary.

In the realm of feel, while the specifics of the Milk Blue's tactile feedback are not mentioned, clicky switches like this often provide a pronounced tactile bump accompanied by an audible click that enhances typing engagement. On the other hand, the Gateron Sea Salt Smoothie offers a smooth linear experience, allowing for seamless keypresses without the interruption of a tactile bump, which can lead to a more fluid typing motion. This fundamental difference in switch type (clicky versus linear) creates distinct experiences for users, aligning with personal preferences.

To conclude, the Outemu Milk Blue and the Gateron Sea Salt Smoothie offer different experiences primarily driven by their switch type classifications: clicky versus linear. While the Milk Blue lacks a defined sound and feel in this analysis, the Gateron Sea Salt Smoothie shines with its thocky sound and silky smooth feel. Ultimately, your choice will depend on whether you prefer the feedback of a clicky switch or the seamless action of a linear one, with both switches capable of providing enjoyable typing experiences within their respective styles.

Conclusion

To conclude, the choice between the Outemu Milk Blue clicky switch and the Gateron Sea Salt Smoothie linear switch ultimately depends on your typing preferences and intended usage. If you enjoy tactile feedback and a satisfying click sound with each keystroke, then the Milk Blue might be the perfect fit for you. It's ideal for those who want an engaging typing experience, making it suitable for extended typing sessions or someone who simply loves the feedback of a traditional mechanical keyboard. On the other hand, if you prioritize a smoother and quieter typing experience, the Sea Salt Smoothie is your go-to option. Known for its thocky sound profile and exceptional smoothness, it’s well-suited for both gaming and typing, providing a more subtle feel that can enhance your overall performance without the distraction of clicky sounds. Ultimately, your decision should reflect what type of feedback and sound you prefer while using your keyboard daily.

Mentioned in this article

Outemu Milk Blue Clicky

$3.10 per 10

Learn more

Gateron Sea Salt Smoothie Linear

$3.00

$2.70 per 10

Learn more