Outemu Ocean vs. HMX Swift
An in-depth look at the Outemu Ocean and the HMX Swift switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When it comes to mechanical keyboard switches, the Outemu Ocean and HMX Swift are both popular choices, each offering unique features to enhance your typing experience. The Ocean is a tactile switch, providing satisfying bump feedback upon actuation, making it ideal for those who prefer a tactile typing experience. On the other hand, the Swift is a linear switch, known for its smooth keystrokes and quiet operation, making it perfect for users who prioritize a quieter typing experience. While the Ocean is categorized as tactile, the Swift stands out with its characteristics of being clacky, easy to press, feathery, bouncy, and creamy. However, let's dive in a bit deeper beyond generalities so you can best decide on the right switch for you.
By the numbers
Technical specifications
Actuation force
55g
Actuation force
42g
Bottom-out force
N/A
Bottom-out force
50g
Pre-travel
2.20 mm
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Total travel
4.00 mm
Total travel
3.90 mm
Factory lubed
Yes
Factory lubed
Yes
Stem construction
Partial box
Stem construction
Standard
Stem material
POM
Stem material
Ly
Top housing material
Polycarbonate
Top housing material
Nylon
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Spring
Stainless steel
Spring
22mm extended spring
Housing materials
The Outemu Ocean and the HMX Swift both offer unique qualities in their housing materials. The Ocean's polycarbonate top housing provides a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound profile due to its stiffness, ideal for showcasing RGB lighting. In contrast, the Swift's nylon top housing offers a deeper and fuller sound profile as nylon is a softer plastic that absorbs more sound, creating a duller and rounder tone. While the Ocean focuses on clarity and resonance, the Swift emphasizes a more muffled and rich sound experience.
Moving on to the bottom housings of the switches, both the Ocean and the Swift feature nylon bottom housings. This choice contributes to a deeper and fuller sound profile, as nylon's softness absorbs more sound, resulting in a duller and rounder tone. The bottom housing plays a significant role in the bottom-out sound and feel of the switch when pressed down. By utilizing nylon for the bottom housing, both the Ocean and Swift maintain consistency in delivering a more muffled and resonant typing experience.
Overall, while the Ocean and the Swift differ in their top housing materials, with the Ocean using polycarbonate and the Swift opting for nylon, they both share a common emphasis on delivering a deep, full sound profile. Whether through the sharper and crisper tones of the polycarbonate top housing in the Ocean or the fuller and rounder tones of the nylon top housing in the Swift, both switches provide a unique typing experience. Additionally, the nylon bottom housings of both switches contribute to a consistent sound profile, creating a deeper and fuller typing experience across the board.
Weight
When comparing the Outemu Ocean tactile switch and the HMX Swift linear switch, we can see some significant differences in actuation and bottom out forces. The Outemu Ocean has a higher actuation force of 55 grams, requiring more pressure to initiate a keystroke, compared to the Swift's lighter 42-gram actuation force. In terms of bottom out force, the Swift requires 50 grams of force to fully press the key, while the Outemu Ocean's bottom out force is unknown. The Ocean provides a more tactile and substantial typing experience due to its higher actuation force, which may be preferred by those looking for a stronger push feel. On the other hand, the Swift's lighter actuation force may be more suitable for those who prefer a lighter typing experience for extended periods of time. Overall, the choice between the two switches will depend on personal preference and the desired typing experience.
Travel distance
The travel distance of the Outemu Ocean tactile switch is 4 mm, while the HMX Swift linear switch has a slightly shorter travel distance of 3.9 mm. Both switches fall within the traditional range of travel distances, with the Ocean being on the longer end and the Swift slightly shorter. Gamers may prefer the Swift switch for its faster response time due to the shorter travel distance, while those who prefer a more substantial key press may lean towards the Ocean switch. Ultimately, the choice between the two switches will depend on personal preference for key press depth and response time.
Price comparison
Which switch is more bang for your buck?
The HMX Swift has an MSRP of $3.50 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Swift for $2.99.
The Outemu Ocean 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 Outemu Ocean tactile switch is known for its quiet operation, making it a suitable choice for those who prefer a more subtle typing experience. On the other hand, the HMX Swift linear switch stands out with its deeper and clacky sound profile, adding a touch of crispness and brightness to the typing experience. While the Ocean offers a more subdued sound, the Swift delivers a more pronounced and satisfying auditory feedback, which can enhance the overall typing experience for users who enjoy a bit of a clicky sound. Ultimately, the sound produced by both switches will be influenced by factors such as the keyboard design, keycaps, and personal preference.
When it comes to feel, the Outemu Ocean switch does not have specific descriptors provided for its tactile feedback. On the other hand, the HMX Swift linear switch is known for being easy-to-press, feathery, bouncy, and creamy in its feel. This means that the Swift switch offers an effortless and comfortable typing experience with its light actuation force, minimal finger fatigue, elastic feedback sensation, and smooth keystrokes. In contrast, the tactile feedback of the Ocean switch is not defined, making it challenging to compare the two switches directly in terms of feel. However, based on the provided information, it is clear that the Swift switch offers a more varied and textured tactile experience for users who appreciate a range of tactile sensations while typing.
In conclusion, the Outemu Ocean tactile switch and the HMX Swift linear switch offer distinct characteristics in terms of sound and feel. The Ocean switch provides a quiet and subtle typing experience, while the Swift switch delivers a deeper and clacky sound profile along with a range of tactile sensations such as being easy-to-press, feathery, bouncy, and creamy. Ultimately, the choice between these two switches will depend on individual preferences for sound, feel, and typing experience. If a user enjoys a quieter typing experience with less pronounced tactile feedback, the Ocean switch may be more suitable. On the other hand, if a user prefers a more audible typing experience with varied tactile sensations, the Swift switch would be a better option.
Conclusion
Therefore, when considering whether to choose the Outemu Ocean tactile switch or the HMX Swift linear switch, you should take into account your preferences for bottom out force, sound, and feel. If you prefer a switch with a bottom out force of None and are looking for a switch that is best known for None, then the Outemu Ocean tactile switch may be the right choice for you. On the other hand, if you prefer a light bottom out force of 50 grams and are looking for a switch with a deep sound profile and silky smoothness, the HMX Swift linear switch could be more suitable for your needs. Additionally, if you enjoy a clacky sound and a variety of feel options such as easy-to-press, feathery, bouncy, or creamy, the HMX Swift linear switch may provide a more satisfying typing experience for you. Ultimately, the decision between these two switches will depend on your personal preferences for typing feel, sound, and actuation force.
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