Outemu Ocean vs. Outemu Spring Breeze
An in-depth look at the Outemu Ocean and the Outemu Spring Breeze switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When it comes to choosing a mechanical keyboard switch, the Outemu Ocean and Outemu Spring Breeze stand out as popular options. The Ocean is a tactile switch, providing a satisfying bump when pressed, while the Spring Breeze is a clicky switch, offering audible feedback with each key press. If you prefer a more tactile typing experience, the Ocean may be the way to go, whereas if you enjoy the satisfying click sound, the Spring Breeze could be the perfect fit for you. 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
55g
Actuation force
40g
Bottom-out force
N/A
Bottom-out force
55g
Pre-travel
2.20 mm
Pre-travel
1.50 mm
Total travel
4.00 mm
Total travel
4.00 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
Nylon
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Mount type
Plate (3-pin)
Spring
Stainless steel
Spring
Stainless steel
Housing materials
The Outemu Ocean and Outemu Spring Breeze both offer unique housing materials in their switches. The Ocean features a polycarbonate top housing, which provides a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound profile. In contrast, the Spring Breeze utilizes a nylon top housing, resulting in a deeper and fuller sound. The difference in housing materials impacts the overall typing experience, with the Ocean offering a more clear and resonant sound, while the Spring Breeze delivers a duller and rounder sound. Despite these differences, both switches excel in enhancing the typing experience with their distinct sound profiles.
Moving on to the bottom housing, both the Ocean and Spring Breeze switches feature a nylon bottom housing. This classic switch housing material contributes to a deeper and fuller sound profile, as nylon is known for its ability to absorb more sound than harder plastics. The bottom housing has a significant impact on the bottom-out sound and feel of the switch, providing a consistent typing experience across both the Ocean and Spring Breeze switches. While the top housing may play a role in the sound when releasing a key, the bottom housing ensures a tactile and satisfying typing experience for users of both switches.
In summary, the Outemu Ocean and Outemu Spring Breeze switches showcase the importance of housing materials in creating a unique sound profile. While the Ocean's polycarbonate top housing offers a sharper and crisper sound, the Spring Breeze's nylon top housing delivers a deeper and fuller sound. Both switches share a nylon bottom housing, which contributes to a consistent and satisfying typing experience. Whether you prefer the clear and resonant sound of the Ocean or the duller and rounder sound of the Spring Breeze, both switches provide distinctive qualities that enhance the overall typing experience.
Weight
Comparing the two switches, the Outemu Ocean tactile switch has a heavier actuation force of 55 grams compared to the Outemu Spring Breeze clicky switch, which requires only 40 grams of force for actuation. However, when it comes to bottom out force, the Spring Breeze requires a heavier force of 55 grams, while the bottom out force for the Ocean switch is unknown. This means that the Spring Breeze switch provides a lighter typing experience in terms of actuation force but requires a heavier force to bottom out. On the other hand, the Ocean switch offers a heavier actuation force but lacks information on the bottom out force. Ultimately, the Ocean switch would be more suitable for those who prefer a more substantial typing experience, while the Spring Breeze switch would be better for those who prefer a lighter touch for longer typing sessions.
If both switches had the same actuation and bottom out forces, users could expect a similar typing experience in terms of the force required to trigger keystrokes and to bottom out. This would make it easier for users to switch between the two switches without noticing a significant difference in typing feel.
Travel distance
Both the Outemu Ocean tactile switch and the Outemu Spring Breeze clicky switch have a travel distance of 4 mm, making them equal in this aspect. When pressing down on a key using either of these switches, you will experience the same distance traveled from the top to the bottom. This means that whether you choose the Ocean or the Spring Breeze, you can expect similar results in terms of keypress feel and travel distance. Both switches offer a consistent typing experience with a travel distance that allows for comfortable and tactile feedback. Ultimately, the decision between the two switches may come down to other factors such as sound, actuation force, and typing preference rather than travel distance.
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 Ocean and Spring Breeze.
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
Overall, when comparing the subjective qualities of the Outemu Ocean tactile switch and the Outemu Spring Breeze clicky switch, it's important to note that both switches offer unique experiences. The Ocean switch has a reputation for a smooth tactile bump without any audible noise, providing a satisfying typing experience for those who prefer a quieter keyboard. On the other hand, the Spring Breeze switch is known for its crisp click sound with every keystroke, enhancing the overall feedback and typing experience for those who enjoy audible feedback. However, if you prefer a tactile feel without the clicky noise, the Ocean switch would be the better choice. Similarly, if you enjoy the audible click sound while typing, the Spring Breeze switch would be the ideal option. Ultimately, the choice between these two switches comes down to personal preference in sound and feel.
Conclusion
Therefore, when choosing between the Outemu Ocean tactile switch and the Outemu Spring Breeze clicky switch, consider your personal preference for typing experience. If you prefer a light and smooth typing experience with no tactile bump or audible click, the Ocean switch may be the better choice for you. On the other hand, if you enjoy a slightly heavier key press with a tactile bump and audible click for that satisfying typing feedback, the Spring Breeze switch would be more suitable. Remember to take into account factors such as typing speed, typing style, and overall typing comfort when making your decision. Ultimately, the choice between these two switches comes down to personal preference and what feels most comfortable for you during long typing sessions.
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