Outemu Milk Tea vs. HMX Vintage Citrus

Overview

When it comes to selecting the perfect mechanical keyboard switch, the Outemu Milk Tea and the HMX Vintage Citrus present intriguing options that cater to different preferences and typing styles. The Outemu Milk Tea, a tactile switch, is designed to provide a responsive typing experience, offering a satisfying bump that many typists enjoy for its feedback and precision. In contrast, the HMX Vintage Citrus, a linear switch tailored specifically for gamers, features a mere 1mm actuation force, allowing for rapid-fire inputs that can enhance gameplay performance significantly. The Vintage Citrus is also celebrated for its bright, clacky sound profile and smooth push feel, making it an appealing choice for gamers seeking both speed and auditory satisfaction. While the Milk Tea may appeal to those who appreciate tactile feedback and a traditional typing experience, the Vintage Citrus offers the advantages of quick activation and smoother strokes for high-paced gaming scenarios. 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 Tea Tactile

HMX Vintage Citrus Linear

$3.10 per 10

$3.49

$2.79 per 10

Learn moreLearn more

Housing materials

When comparing the housing materials of the Outemu Milk Tea and the HMX Vintage Citrus switches, it's clear that the two switches have different top housing materials but share a commonality in their bottom housing. The Milk Tea features a newer material for its top housing, which offers a bright sound signature that produces resonant clacks when typing. In contrast, the Vintage Citrus switch utilizes a nylon top housing, which is known for its deep, full sound profile. This difference in top housing materials indicates that users of the Milk Tea will experience distinct auditory feedback, characterized by sharper sound notes, while those using the Vintage Citrus will benefit from a warmer, rounder sound.

Both switches, however, share nylon as their bottom housing material, which is a classic choice that contributes to the overall typing experience by producing a deeper sound profile. The nylon's softer properties allow it to absorb more sound than harder plastics, resulting in a smoother bottom-out feel for both switches. This shared bottom housing characteristic ensures that, despite the differences in top housing, users can expect a similar sensation when reaching the end of a key press. Specifically, the nylon bottom helps to create a duller and rounder sound, leading to a satisfying feel when the keys are fully pressed down.

Ultimately, while the Outemu Milk Tea and HMX Vintage Citrus switches exhibit distinct differences in their top housing materials, their similar nylon bottom housing ensures a cohesive experience in terms of sound absorption and tactile feedback. The stark contrast can be most notable in the release sound when a key is released. Users can anticipate a lively, bright sound while using the Milk Tea, characterized by its newer housing, while enjoying a more subdued acoustic feedback from the Vintage Citrus due to its nylon top housing. Together, the combination and interaction of each switch's materials create unique auditory and tactile experiences that cater to different preferences among typists.

Weight

The Outemu Milk Tea tactile switch and the HMX Vintage Citrus linear switch exhibit distinct characteristics in terms of actuation force and bottom out force. The Milk Tea switch has an actuation force of 45 grams, making it the lighter option, while the Vintage Citrus has a slightly higher actuation force of 48 grams, contributing to a more substantial typing experience. However, the bottom out force for the Milk Tea is unspecified, while the Vintage Citrus boasts a bottom out force of 53 grams, classified as medium-light. This means that while the Milk Tea switch is easier to actuate, users may not have a clear understanding of the full travel experience due to the absence of a bottom out force. In contrast, the Vintage Citrus provides a defined tactile feedback at the bottom, which may appeal to those who prefer a firmer feel when typing. Thus, for longer typing sessions, the Milk Tea could be more comfortable, whereas the HMX Vintage Citrus fulfills the needs of those seeking a stronger keystroke feedback.

Travel distance

When comparing the travel distances of the Outemu Milk Tea tactile switch and the HMX Vintage Citrus linear switch, the Milk Tea offers a longer travel distance of 4 mm, while the Vintage Citrus has a travel distance of 3 mm. This means that the Milk Tea switch provides a more substantial feel with a hearty depth, which some users may prefer for a more tactile experience. On the other hand, the Vintage Citrus, with its shorter 3 mm travel, aligns with the recent trend of gamers favoring quicker response times for faster inputs. Ultimately, the choice between these switches will depend on personal preferences: those seeking a deeper feedback might gravitate towards the Milk Tea, while users desiring a more rapid actuation may opt for the Vintage Citrus.

Price comparison

Typing experience

The Outemu Milk Tea switch does not have a defined sound profile available, making it challenging to compare directly to the HMX Vintage Citrus switch, which is known for its bright and clacky sound. This clacky sound can enhance the overall auditory experience during gaming and typing, as it provides feedback that can make each keystroke feel more responsive. However, the sound of a switch can be influenced by the choice of keyboard plate, case material, and keycap design, so it's possible to tailor the acoustics of both switches depending on personal preference and setup.

When it comes to feel, the Milk Tea switch lacks a specific description, making it difficult to evaluate its tactile characteristics against the Vintage Citrus switch. The Vintage Citrus switch is characterized by its exceptionally smooth push feel, which is a significant advantage for fast-paced gaming sessions that require quick and fluid key presses. The low actuation force of just 1mm allows for rapid input, appealing to gamers who need reliability and speed from their switches. Without concrete information on the feel of the Milk Tea switch, it's hard to establish a direct comparison in this aspect.

In summary, while the HMX Vintage Citrus switch stands out with its bright sound, clacky profile, and smooth feel tailored for gamers, the Outemu Milk Tea switch lacks specific qualitative details that would allow for a thorough comparison. If you're leaning towards a tactile switch, the Milk Tea may offer different qualities that can be worth exploring, but its unknown attributes raise questions about its performance. Ultimately, if you prioritize rapid actuation and sound feedback, the Vintage Citrus switch may be the ideal choice for an engaging and responsive typing experience.

Conclusion

To conclude, choosing between the Outemu Milk Tea tactile switch and the HMX Vintage Citrus linear switch largely depends on your specific needs and preferences. If you enjoy a tactile response that offers a satisfying bump without overwhelming noise levels, the Outemu Milk Tea is a fantastic option. It's particularly suited for typists who appreciate a calm yet engaging experience while typing. On the other hand, if you're a gamer seeking rapid input with a smooth, clicky feel and a relatively lower actuation force, the HMX Vintage Citrus switch would be your go-to choice. Its ability to quickly register keystrokes makes it particularly appealing for fast-paced gaming sessions where every millisecond counts. In summary, if your primary focus is on tactile feedback and a more subdued sound profile for a versatile use, the Milk Tea switch fits the bill, whereas the Vintage Citrus is ideal for those who thrive on speed and responsiveness in competitive gaming environments.

Mentioned in this article

Outemu Milk Tea Tactile

$3.10 per 10

Learn more

HMX Vintage Citrus Linear

$3.49

$2.79 per 10

Learn more