Outemu Milk Blue vs. Huano Strawberry Latte

Overview

When exploring the world of mechanical keyboards, the choice of switches can significantly influence your typing experience and gaming performance. The Outemu Milk Blue switch, renowned for its pronounced clicky feedback, appeals to those who relish an audible and tactile response, often preferred among typists who enjoy the satisfying sound of each keystroke. In contrast, the Huano Strawberry Latte switch offers a linear feel, providing a smooth and uninterrupted keypress that many gamers and writers favor for its quick actuation and silent operation. While the Milk Blue delivers a nostalgic and engaging typing experience, the Strawberry Latte is celebrated for its consistency and ease of use, making it an excellent choice for prolonged sessions of both gaming and typing. However, let's dive in a bit deeper beyond generalities so you can best decide on the best switch for you.

By the numbers

Outemu Milk Blue Clicky

Huano Strawberry Latte Linear

$3.10 per 10

$3.50

$3.29 per 10

Learn moreLearn more

Housing materials

When comparing the housing materials of the Outemu Milk Blue and the Huano Strawberry Latte, it is essential to highlight their different top housings. The Milk Blue employs a polycarbonate top housing, known for its stiffness and ability to produce a sharper, higher-pitched sound profile. Its translucency also enhances RGB lighting effects, making it an appealing choice for gamers who value aesthetics alongside performance. This stands in contrast to the Strawberry Latte's top housing made from POK (polyketone) material, which, despite being slightly less commonly used, offers a smooth tactile experience due to its lower coefficient of friction. While both materials aim to enhance sound quality and user experience, they do so through different mechanisms, with polycarbonate providing clarity and brightness, while POK emphasizes smoothness and a sturdy feel.

In terms of the bottom housings, both the Milk Blue and the Strawberry Latte employ nylon, a prevalent choice that contributes to a fuller, deeper sound profile. Nylon's softer nature acts as a sound dampener, which creates a rounded auditory experience that many typists appreciate. This similarity means that the overall sound experience when bottoming out the keys will be quite comparable between the two switches, as the nylon's absorption qualities will dominate in this aspect. Thus, regardless of their differing top materials, both switches will retain a certain level of sound cohesion from their nylon bottom housings, leading to a consistent auditory output during use.

Ultimately, the differing top materials of the Milk Blue and Strawberry Latte result in unique sound signatures and tactile responses when typing. The polycarbonate of the Milk Blue aims for crisp clarity during key releases, while the POK material of the Strawberry Latte focuses on smoothness, fostering a slick keystroke experience. However, the shared nylon bottom housing bridges the sound variability caused by the top materials, ensuring that both switches retain a deep richness in their sound profile. Users looking for precise auditory feedback may gravitate towards the Milk Blue, whereas those preferring tactile smoothness may favor the Strawberry Latte, but in terms of bottom-out sound, they will provide a similarly rounded auditory experience.

Weight

The Outemu Milk Blue clicky switch and the Huano Strawberry Latte linear switch exhibit distinct differences in their actuation and bottom out forces, catering to different user preferences. The Milk Blue features an actuation force of 50 grams, which provides a more substantial feel when typing, appealing to users who prefer a heavier switch for a satisfying tactile experience. In contrast, the Strawberry Latte has a lighter actuation force of 35 grams, making it easier to trigger keystrokes, which is advantageous for long typing sessions or gaming. The bottom out force for the Milk Blue is unknown, while the Strawberry Latte has a bottom out force of 45 grams, signifying when the switch compresses fully. Since the Milk Blue is heavier in terms of actuation force and lacks a specified bottom out force, users seeking a more robust typing experience might favor it. Conversely, those who prioritize lighter switches for comfort over extended use may lean towards the Strawberry Latte.

Travel distance

The Outemu Milk Blue clicky switch features a travel distance of 4 mm, making it the longer option in comparison to the Huano Strawberry Latte linear switch, which has a travel distance of 3.6 mm. This difference in travel distance can significantly influence the typing experience; for gamers or those who favor rapid response times, the shorter 3.6 mm distance of the Strawberry Latte may be more appealing. On the other hand, the Milk Blue's longer travel distance offers a more pronounced feedback that some users find satisfying, as it provides a depth that softer switches might lack. Ultimately, your preference will dictate whether you lean towards the quicker feel of the Huano switch or the deeper experience of the Outemu option.

Price comparison

Typing experience

When it comes to sound, the Outemu Milk Blue switch offers a distinct auditory experience typically associated with clicky switches, characterized by a pronounced click that serves as an audible feedback during typing. The click sound tends to be sharp and can be quite satisfying for those who enjoy an exaggerated acoustic feedback. On the other hand, the Huano Strawberry Latte switch provides a more balanced sound profile; it may not be as striking as the Milk Blue but strikes a good middle ground—not too quiet, thereby offering noticeable feedback, yet not overly resonant, which can make it more versatile in various environments.

In terms of feel, the Milk Blue switch excels in providing a tactile experience thanks to its click mechanism, which adds a layer of responsiveness that many typists appreciate for the crisp feedback it offers. Users can expect a bouncy sensation on actuation that may enhance typing satisfaction. Conversely, the Huano Strawberry Latte switch is crafted to be incredibly smooth, a notable advantage for those who prefer a seamless keystroke experience. This smoothness means that transitions between key presses are fluid, making it an excellent choice for rapid typing or gaming.

In conclusion, both the Outemu Milk Blue and Huano Strawberry Latte switches cater to different preferences within the mechanical keyboard community. The Milk Blue delivers a highly engaging auditory and tactile experience, ideal for users who enjoy pronounced feedback during their typing sessions. In contrast, the Strawberry Latte provides a smooth, balanced alternative, appealing to those who prioritize fluidity in their keystrokes. Ultimately, your choice may depend on whether you lean towards clicky feedback or a smoother experience, but both switches promise to enhance your typing experience in distinct ways.

Conclusion

To conclude, your choice between the Outemu Milk Blue clicky switch and the Huano Strawberry Latte linear switch should be guided by your typing style and sound preference. If you crave a pronounced tactile feedback and an audible click that enhances your typing experience, the Milk Blue would be a great fit, especially if you enjoy the engaging sound it produces while typing. However, if you prefer a smoother, quieter experience that still retains satisfying feedback, the Strawberry Latte is the way to go. Its light actuation force and balanced sound profile make it ideal for extended typing sessions or gaming, allowing for quicker keystrokes without the risk of fatigue. Ultimately, consider whether you value the clicky sensation and sound of the Milk Blue or the smooth, refined feel of the Strawberry Latte, as this will significantly shape your overall typing enjoyment.

Mentioned in this article

Outemu Milk Blue Clicky

$3.10 per 10

Learn more

Huano Strawberry Latte Linear

$3.50

$3.29 per 10

Learn more