Outemu Silent Grey vs. HMX Vintage Citrus
An in-depth look at the Outemu Silent Grey and the HMX Vintage Citrus switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When it comes to choosing the perfect mechanical keyboard switch, the Outemu Silent Grey and the HMX Vintage Citrus offer distinct experiences to cater to different preferences. The Outemu Silent Grey is celebrated for its quiet and tactile typing experience, featuring a pronounced bump and an exceptionally smooth keystroke that satisfies those who enjoy a more deliberate, tactile feel without disturbing their surroundings. This makes it a fantastic choice for office environments or shared spaces where noise levels matter. In contrast, the HMX Vintage Citrus, designed with gamers in mind, boasts an impressively low actuation force of just 1mm, allowing for rapid-fire inputs essential in fast-paced gaming scenarios. Its bright, clacky sound and smooth push create an engaging and responsive gameplay experience that's hard to resist. Both switches clearly have their merits depending on whether you prioritize a silent yet tactile interaction or a quick and responsive action. However, let's dive in a bit deeper beyond generalities so you can best decide on the switch that suits your needs.
By the numbers
Technical specifications
Actuation force
50g
Actuation force
48g
Bottom-out force
65g
Bottom-out force
53g
Pre-travel
1.60 mm
Pre-travel
1.00 mm
Total travel
4.00 mm
Total travel
3.00 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
Nylon
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Mount type
Plate (3-pin)
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Spring
Stainless steel
Spring
22mm single-staged spring
Housing materials
The Outemu Silent Grey and HMX Vintage Citrus switches differ significantly in their top housing materials, which greatly influences their auditory characteristics. The Silent Grey utilizes a polycarbonate top housing, known for its rigidity and translucency, thus producing a crisper and sharper sound profile. This material is favored, especially for RGB setups, as its clear nature allows for optimal lighting effects, enhancing the visual appeal of the switch while also contributing to a higher-pitched auditory experience. Conversely, the Vintage Citrus employs a nylon top housing, which is notably softer. This choice promotes a deeper, fuller sound, as the material absorbs more sound waves, resulting in a rounder auditory profile. The choice of top housing plays a crucial role in the overall sound experience, with the Silent Grey leaning towards a more vibrant and resonant output, whereas the Vintage Citrus fosters a mellower sound.
Despite their differences in top housing materials, both the Silent Grey and Vintage Citrus feature nylon as their bottom housing material, which provides a common ground in their sound profiles. The nylon bottom housing contributes to a deeper and fuller sound, as its softer plastic absorbs sound effectively, resulting in a duller and rounder auditory experience. Consequently, while the Silent Grey may deliver a sharper sound on the key release, its nylon bottom housing will harmonize with the Vintage Citrus, which also utilizes nylon for its lower part. This shared use of nylon in the bottom housing allows both switches to create a consistent tactile feel and depth, grounding the overall sound experience even as their tops diverge.
Ultimately, the combined materials of both switches show how variations in top housing can dictate auditory traits, while bottom housing can foster similarities. With the Silent Grey's polycarbonate contributing to a higher pitch when releasing keys and the Vintage Citrus's nylon creating a rounder tone, users can appreciate distinct sound profiles influenced by design choices. However, both switches also share a nylon bottom housing, ensuring that, regardless of the differences, they evoke a certain depth and fullness that unites their overall performance. Hence, while users may gravitate towards one for its crispness or the other for its warmth, both housing configurations ultimately allow for an enjoyable typing experience through their nuanced sound characteristics.
Weight
When comparing the Outemu Silent Grey tactile switch to the HMX Vintage Citrus linear switch, distinct differences in actuation and bottom out forces emerge. The Silent Grey has a slightly higher actuation force of 50 grams and a bottom out force of 65 grams, making it medium-heavy. In contrast, the Vintage Citrus is the lighter option, featuring an actuation force of 48 grams and a bottom out force of 53 grams, categorizing it as medium-light. This difference in force means that typists or gamers who prefer a lighter touch would likely favor the Vintage Citrus for extended typing sessions, while those seeking a more substantial feel might gravitate toward the heavier Silent Grey. Overall, the Silent Grey's higher forces contribute to a firmer typing experience, while the Vintage Citrus offers a more effortless keypress.
Travel distance
The Outemu Silent Grey tactile switch features a travel distance of 4 mm, while the HMX Vintage Citrus linear switch has a shorter travel distance of 3 mm. This difference in travel distance highlights the contrasting design philosophies behind these switches. The Silent Grey, with its more traditional 4 mm travel, offers a deeper feel, which some users may appreciate for a more tactile and satisfying typing experience. On the other hand, the Vintage Citrus switch, with its 3 mm travel, caters to those who prefer a quicker response time, often favored by gamers who prioritize speed over sensation. Ultimately, choosing between these two switches will depend on personal preference: if you lean towards a more responsive feel, the Vintage Citrus would be the better option; however, if you enjoy a more substantial keypress, the Silent Grey is the way to go.
Price comparison
Which switch is more bang for your buck?
The HMX Vintage Citrus has an MSRP of $3.49 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Vintage Citrus for $2.79.
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
The Outemu Silent Grey tactile switch offers a very quiet typing experience, allowing users to type without disturbing those around them. Its pronounced tactile bump is designed to convey feedback without an overly loud audible response, making it ideal for office environments or shared spaces. In contrast, the HMX Vintage Citrus linear switch produces a bright, clacky sound profile that is both pronounced and engaging, particularly suited for gamers who appreciate auditory feedback during intense gaming sessions. This notable sound difference reflects their unique target audiences—Silent Grey for those looking for a stealthy and subtle experience, and Vintage Citrus for gamers who thrive on the energetic sound of rapid keystrokes.
When it comes to feel, the Silent Grey switch provides a satisfying tactile feedback with its pronounced bump, giving users a sense of interaction, which enhances typing accuracy and pleasure. The keystroke is both smooth and deliberate, making it a relaxing option for extended typing sessions. In contrast, the Vintage Citrus switch, designed for quick responses, boasts an exceptionally low actuation force of just 1mm, resulting in a remarkably smooth push feel that promotes rapid engagements without the need for heavy keystrokes. This setup caters to gamers looking for speed and efficiency in their movements, highlighting a clear distinction in user experience based on intended usage.
In summary, the Outemu Silent Grey tactile switch and the HMX Vintage Citrus linear switch provide distinctly different benefits tailored to various user preferences. The Silent Grey excels in producing a quiet and tactile feedback that suits a professional or quiet environment, while the Vintage Citrus shines with its clacky sound and ultra-responsive feel, appealing predominantly to gamers. The choice between these switches ultimately depends on what characteristics a user values most—sound, feel, or a combination of both for their specific typing or gaming needs.
Conclusion
To wrap up, your choice between the Outemu Silent Grey tactile switch and the HMX Vintage Citrus linear switch ultimately depends on your specific typing preferences and usage scenarios. If you are looking for a switch that provides a nice balance of tactile feedback and a quieter operation, the Silent Grey is an excellent option. Its medium-heavy actuation force of 65 grams and pronounced bump allow for satisfying feedback without disturbing those around you, making it ideal for office environments or shared spaces. On the other hand, if you're a gamer who thrives on speed and quick reactions, then the Vintage Citrus should be your go-to choice. Its low actuation force and rapid 1mm actuation distance enable lightning-fast inputs, perfect for fast-paced gaming sessions. Plus, the bright, clacky sound profile can enhance your gaming experience if you enjoy auditory feedback while playing. Ultimately, consider your primary use—typing or gaming—and whether you value quietness or speed in your switch selection; this will guide you in making the right choice for your mechanical keyboard.
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