Outemu Red vs. Outemu Silent Green
An in-depth look at the Outemu Red and the Outemu Silent Green switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When considering mechanical keyboard switches, the Outemu Red and Outemu Silent Green are two popular options to compare and contrast. The Outemu Red is a linear switch, known for its smooth and consistent keystrokes, making it ideal for gaming and fast typing. On the other hand, the Outemu Silent Green is also a linear switch but with added dampeners to reduce noise, making it a quieter option for those who prefer a more discreet typing experience. While the Outemu Red may be preferred for its responsiveness and tactile feedback, the Outemu Silent Green could be chosen for its noise-reducing qualities. 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
46g
Actuation force
45g
Bottom-out force
62g
Bottom-out force
60g
Pre-travel
2.10 mm
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Total travel
4.00 mm
Total travel
4.00 mm
Factory lubed
Yes
Factory lubed
Yes
Stem construction
Standard
Stem construction
Standard
Stem material
POM
Stem material
pom
Top housing material
Polycarbonate
Top housing material
Polycarbonate
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Bottom housing material
Polycarbonate
Mount type
Plate (3-pin)
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Spring
Stainless steel
Spring
Stainless steel
Housing materials
The Outemu Red and Outemu Silent Green both feature a polycarbonate top housing, which creates a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound profile due to its stiffness. This material is ideal for switches that plan to use RGB lighting, as its translucency allows for vibrant lighting effects to shine through. However, the two switches differ in their bottom housing materials - the Red utilizes a nylon bottom housing, offering a deeper and fuller sound profile thanks to its softer nature that absorbs more sound. In contrast, the Silent Green features a polycarbonate bottom housing, which still contributes to a clear and resonant sound but may not provide the same depth as the nylon bottom housing of the Red.
While both switches benefit from the properties of polycarbonate in their top housing, the difference in bottom housing materials leads to a variation in sound profiles. The nylon bottom housing of the Outemu Red produces a duller and rounder sound, creating a unique typing experience that emphasizes depth. On the other hand, the polycarbonate bottom housing of the Outemu Silent Green maintains a sharper and crisper sound, focusing more on clarity and resonance. When pressing down on each switch, the qualities of the respective bottom housing material will be noticeable in the bottom-out sound and feel, while the top housing material will impact the sound when releasing a key.
In conclusion, while the Outemu Red and Outemu Silent Green share similarities in their use of polycarbonate for the top housing, the choice of bottom housing material distinguishes their sound profiles. The Red offers a deeper and fuller typing experience with its nylon bottom housing, while the Silent Green provides a clearer and sharper sound with its polycarbonate bottom housing. Both switches showcase the importance of housing materials in influencing the overall sound and feel of mechanical keyboards, highlighting the impact of material choice on the user experience.
Weight
When comparing the actuation force and bottom out force of the Outemu Red linear switch and the Outemu Silent Green linear switch, it is evident that they both fall within the medium range of force required. The Outemu Red has an actuation force of 46 grams and a bottom out force of 62 grams, while the Outemu Silent Green has an actuation force of 45 grams and a bottom out force of 60 grams. This means that the Silent Green is slightly lighter in terms of actuation and bottom out force compared to the Red. Despite this slight difference, both switches offer a similar typing experience in terms of force required to register a key press and bottom out. For those who prefer a lighter touch for longer typing sessions, the Silent Green may be the preferred choice, while the Red may be favored by those who prefer a slightly heavier push feel for a more substantial typing experience. Ultimately, the decision between the two switches will come down to personal preference and typing style.
Travel distance
Both the Outemu Red linear switch and the Outemu Silent Green linear switch have a travel distance of 4mm, making them equal in this aspect. This means that 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 allows for a consistent typing experience across both switches, as the travel distance remains unchanged. Whether you choose the Outemu Red or Outemu Silent Green switch, you can expect similar results in terms of 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 Red and Silent Green.
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
When it comes to sound, the Outemu Red linear switch is known for being relatively quiet compared to other mechanical switches. On the other hand, the Outemu Silent Green linear switch is specifically designed to reduce noise with its dampened sliders, resulting in a quieter typing experience. While sound can also be influenced by factors like the keyboard and keycaps used, the Silent Green switch generally provides a quieter typing experience overall.
As for the feel of the switches, the Outemu Red linear switch is often praised for its smooth keystrokes and consistent actuation without tactile feedback or audible clicks. The Outemu Silent Green linear switch, on the other hand, is designed to provide a similar smooth typing experience but with the added benefit of reduced noise thanks to its dampened sliders. Both switches offer a linear feel without the tactile bump of a tactile switch, giving users a consistent typing experience with each keystroke.
In conclusion, when comparing the Outemu Red linear switch to the Outemu Silent Green linear switch, the Silent Green switch stands out for its quieter operation due to the specially designed dampened sliders. The Red switch, while also offering a smooth linear feel, may be slightly louder in comparison. However, both switches offer a consistent typing experience without tactile feedback, making them suitable choices for those who prefer linear switches. Ultimately, whether you choose the Red or Silent Green switch will depend on your preference for noise level during typing.
Conclusion
To sum up, when deciding between the Outemu Red linear switch and the Outemu Silent Green linear switch, you should choose the Red if you prefer a slightly higher bottom out force of 62 grams and a traditional linear switch feel. The Red switch may be more suitable for those who appreciate a bit more resistance in their keystrokes. On the other hand, opt for the Silent Green switch if you desire a slightly lighter bottom out force of 60 grams and a quieter typing experience. The Silent Green switch could be the better choice for those who prefer a more discreet keyboard without sacrificing the linear switch's smooth key presses. Ultimately, your decision should be based on your personal preferences for typing feel and sound level to enhance your overall typing experience.
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