Outemu Silent Grey vs. Gateron Smoothie Silver
An in-depth look at the Outemu Silent Grey and the Gateron Smoothie Silver switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When it comes to comparing and contrasting mechanical keyboard switches, the Outemu Silent Grey and the Gateron Smoothie Silver offer unique features and experiences for users. The Outemu Silent Grey is praised for its quiet and tactile typing experience, with a pronounced bump and smooth keystroke that makes it perfect for those who value satisfaction and silence. On the other hand, the Gateron Smoothie Silver stands out for its lightning-fast actuation due to a short travel distance, accompanied by a thocky sound, smoothness, and a feather-light touch. While the Silent Grey provides a tactile typing experience, the Smoothie Silver offers a linear and fast actuation. 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
50g
Actuation force
45g
Bottom-out force
65g
Bottom-out force
N/A
Pre-travel
1.60 mm
Pre-travel
1.20 mm
Total travel
4.00 mm
Total travel
3.40 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
POM
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Bottom housing material
POM
Mount type
Plate (3-pin)
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Spring
Stainless steel
Spring
22mm extended double-stage spring
Housing materials
The Outemu Silent Grey features a polycarbonate top housing, creating a sharp and crisp sound profile, while the Gateron Smoothie Silver boasts a POM top housing that produces a deeper and more muted sound. This contrast in sound profiles can greatly impact the typing experience for individuals who prefer a specific sound when using their keyboard. Additionally, the translucency of the polycarbonate top housing in the Silent Grey allows for optimal RGB lighting effects, which may be a desirable feature for users who enjoy customizing the look of their keyboard.
In terms of the bottom housing materials, the Silent Grey utilizes a nylon bottom housing, resulting in a deeper and fuller sound profile due to the softer nature of nylon that absorbs more sound. In comparison, the Smoothie Silver also features a POM bottom housing that offers a pleasing and unique deeper sound profile with a more muted tone. These differences in bottom housing materials can contribute to the overall typing sound and feel of the switches, providing users with a variety of options to choose from based on their personal preferences.
While the top and bottom housings of the Outemu Silent Grey and Gateron Smoothie Silver differ in material composition and sound profiles, they both aim to enhance the typing experience in their own unique ways. Whether you prefer a sharper and clearer sound profile from the Silent Grey's polycarbonate top housing or a deeper and more muted sound from the Smoothie Silver's POM top and bottom housings, both switches offer distinct qualities that cater to individual preferences. Ultimately, the choice between the two switches will depend on the user's desired sound profile and typing feel, ensuring a customized experience for every keyboard enthusiast.
Weight
The Outemu Silent Grey tactile switch has a slightly heavier actuation force of 50 grams compared to the Gateron Smoothie Silver linear switch, which has an actuation force of 45 grams. However, the Silent Grey also has a higher bottom out force of 65 grams, while the Smoothie Silver's bottom out force is unknown. The Silent Grey provides a more substantial typing experience with its higher bottom out force, making it a good choice for those who prefer a stronger push feel. On the other hand, the Smoothie Silver's lighter actuation force may be more suitable for longer typing or gaming sessions where a lighter touch is desired. Both switches offer different weight options that cater to the preferences of different users, with the Silent Grey being the heavier option and the Smoothie Silver being the lighter option.
Travel distance
The Outemu Silent Grey tactile switch has a travel distance of 4 mm, while the Gateron Smoothie Silver linear switch has a travel distance of 3.4 mm. In this case, the Smoothie Silver has a shorter travel distance compared to the Silent Grey. A shorter travel distance can be beneficial for those looking for a faster response time, such as gamers. However, some may find shorter travel distances to feel abrupt. On the other hand, a longer travel distance, like that of the Silent Grey, may provide a more satisfying depth to the keystrokes. Ultimately, the choice between the two switches will depend on personal preferences regarding travel distance and typing experience.
Price comparison
Which switch is more bang for your buck?
The Gateron Smoothie Silver has an MSRP of $3.00 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Smoothie Silver for $2.60.
The Outemu Silent Grey 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 Silent Grey switch is known for its quiet operation due to the damping material inside the switch, resulting in a muted typing sound. On the other hand, the Gateron Smoothie Silver switch offers a thocky sound that is deeper and more satisfying to some users. The sound produced by each switch can also be affected by factors such as the keyboard case material and keycap thickness.
When it comes to the feel of the switches, the Outemu Silent Grey provides a highly tactile typing experience with a noticeable bump during actuation, giving typists clear feedback with each keystroke. In contrast, the Gateron Smoothie Silver switch offers a smooth linear typing experience with a short travel distance, allowing for quick and effortless keystrokes. The difference in feel between the two switches can greatly impact typing speed and comfort for users.
In conclusion, the Outemu Silent Grey switch is the go-to option for those looking for a tactile and quiet typing experience, while the Gateron Smoothie Silver switch is perfect for users who prefer a smooth and linear feel with a distinctive sound. Both switches offer unique qualities that cater to different typing preferences, so it ultimately comes down to personal preference and typing style. Whether you prefer a tactile bump or a linear feel, both switches will provide a satisfying typing experience for newcomers seeking reliable mechanical keyboard switches.
Conclusion
To sum up, when choosing between the Outemu Silent Grey tactile switch and the Gateron Smoothie Silver linear switch, it ultimately comes down to your preference for typing experience. If you value a quiet and tactile typing experience with a medium-heavy bottom out force, the Outemu Silent Grey switch is the way to go. On the other hand, if you prefer a lightning-fast actuation, smooth keystrokes, and a feather-light touch, the Gateron Smoothie Silver switch is the better choice. Consider your typing style and preferences when making your decision on which switch to choose.
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