Outemu Silent Ocean vs. Outemu Spring Breeze
An in-depth look at the Outemu Silent Ocean and the Outemu Spring Breeze switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When it comes to mechanical keyboard switches, the Outemu Silent Ocean and the Outemu Spring Breeze offer unique typing experiences that cater to different preferences. The Silent Ocean is a linear switch, known for its smooth and quiet keystrokes, making it ideal for those who prioritize a noise-free environment while typing. On the other hand, the Spring Breeze is a clicky switch, known for its distinctive tactile feedback and audible click sound upon actuation, providing a satisfying typing experience for those who enjoy auditory feedback. Both switches have their own merits depending on personal preference; 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
45g
Actuation force
40g
Bottom-out force
65g
Bottom-out force
55g
Pre-travel
1.60 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
Plate (3-pin)
Mount type
Plate (3-pin)
Spring
Stainless steel
Spring
Stainless steel
Housing materials
In comparing the housing materials of the Outemu Silent Ocean and the Outemu Spring Breeze, one key difference is the use of polycarbonate in the Silent Ocean's top housing versus nylon in the Spring Breeze's top housing. Polycarbonate creates a sharper, higher-pitched sound profile, ideal for those looking for a clear and resonant typing experience. On the other hand, nylon produces a deeper and fuller sound profile, absorbing more sound and resulting in a duller and rounder sound. This contrast in top housing materials will significantly impact the overall sound experience of each switch.
Moving on to the bottom housing, both the Silent Ocean and the Spring Breeze feature nylon in this component. As nylon is known for eliciting a deep and full sound profile, the bottom housing of both switches will contribute to a similar overall typing experience in terms of sound. The relatively softer nature of nylon absorbs more sound than harder plastics, creating a duller and rounder sound for both switches. Therefore, while the top housing materials differ between the two switches, the nylon bottom housing ensures a consistent sound profile in terms of depth and fullness.
Overall, the use of different housing materials in the top and bottom components of the Outemu Silent Ocean and the Outemu Spring Breeze leads to a unique typing experience for each switch. The Silent Ocean's combination of polycarbonate in the top housing and nylon in the bottom housing creates a sharper, clearer sound profile with a deeper bottom-out feel. In contrast, the Spring Breeze's nylon top and bottom housings result in a fuller, rounder sound with a softer bottom-out feel. These differences in housing materials cater to individual preferences for typing sound and feel, allowing users to choose a switch that best suits their desired typing experience.
Weight
When comparing the Outemu Silent Ocean linear switch to the Outemu Spring Breeze clicky switch, the actuation force and bottom out force play a significant role in the typing experience. The Silent Ocean has a slightly heavier actuation force of 45 grams compared to the Spring Breeze's 40 grams, making the Silent Ocean better suited for those who prefer a more substantial push feel when typing. In terms of bottom out force, the Silent Ocean requires 65 grams, which is heavier than the Spring Breeze's 55 grams, providing a more solid typing experience. Those who prefer a lighter typing experience may gravitate towards the Spring Breeze, as both its actuation and bottom out forces are lighter than the Silent Ocean. Overall, the actuation and bottom out forces of these switches cater to different preferences, with the Silent Ocean being the heavier option and the Spring Breeze being the lighter option.
Travel distance
When comparing the travel distance of the Outemu Silent Ocean linear switch and the Outemu Spring Breeze clicky switch, both switches have the same travel distance of 4 mm. This means that when pressing down on a key equipped with either switch, you will experience a similar distance traveled from the top to the bottom. While some users may prefer a shorter or longer travel distance based on personal preference, both the Silent Ocean and Spring Breeze switches offer a consistent typing experience in terms of key travel. Overall, whether you choose the Silent Ocean linear switch or the Spring Breeze clicky switch, you can expect to get comparable 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 Silent 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
The Outemu Silent Ocean linear switch is known for its quiet operation, making it ideal for those who prefer a more discreet typing experience. On the other hand, the Outemu Spring Breeze clicky switch provides a satisfying tactile feedback with an audible click, catering to those who enjoy the sound and feel of each key press.
When it comes to sound, the Silent Ocean switch offers a nearly silent typing experience, perfect for environments where noise level is a concern. In contrast, the Spring Breeze switch is louder due to its clicky mechanism, providing a more pronounced sound with each keystroke.
In terms of feel, the Silent Ocean switch offers a smooth and consistent typing experience, with no tactile bump or audible feedback. The Spring Breeze switch, on the other hand, has a tactile bump and audible click, giving users a more responsive and interactive typing experience.
Overall, if you prefer a quieter and more linear typing experience, the Outemu Silent Ocean switch would be the better choice. However, if you enjoy a clicky sound and tactile feedback, the Outemu Spring Breeze switch would be more suitable for your preferences. Remember, the final typing experience is also influenced by factors such as the keyboard and keycaps used. Ultimately, both switches offer unique characteristics that cater to different preferences, ensuring that you will get satisfying results regardless of which one you choose.
Conclusion
In conclusion, when deciding between the Outemu Silent Ocean linear switch and the Outemu Spring Breeze clicky switch, it ultimately comes down to your personal preferences and typing style. If you prefer a smoother, quieter typing experience with a medium-heavy bottom out force, then the Silent Ocean switch would be a good choice for you. On the other hand, if you enjoy the tactile feedback and audible click of a medium-light switch with a bit more feedback in each keypress, then the Spring Breeze switch might be more suited to your liking. Consider your typing environment and whether noise level or key feel is more important to you when making your decision. Ultimately, both switches offer distinct typing experiences and it's up to you to choose the one that best fits your preferences.
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