Outemu Silent White vs. Gateron Weightlessness
An in-depth look at the Outemu Silent White and the Gateron Weightlessness switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When selecting a mechanical keyboard switch, the choice between the Outemu Silent White and the Gateron Weightlessness can significantly impact your typing experience. The Outemu Silent White is a linear switch, renowned for its smooth and uninterrupted keystrokes, making it an excellent option for gamers and typists who prefer a quiet and swift response without any tactile feedback. In contrast, the Gateron Weightlessness, categorized as a tactile switch, offers a subtle to moderate tactile feel that enhances typing accuracy and provides satisfying feedback with each press, while its balanced sound profile ensures a pleasant audio experience. If you desire a completely smooth and silent typing experience, the Silent White is an ideal choice; however, if you appreciate the reassuring bump of a tactile switch during your typing sessions, the Weightlessness may be more suited to your preferences. 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
50g
Bottom-out force
60g
Bottom-out force
N/A
Pre-travel
1.60 mm
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Total travel
3.30 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
Nylon
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Spring
Stainless steel
Spring
22mm double-staged spring
Housing materials
The housing materials of the Outemu Silent White and the Gateron Weightlessness switches highlight interesting contrasts that impact their sound profiles and overall typing experience. The Silent White features a polycarbonate top housing, which is known for its stiffness and translucency. This leads to a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound profile, making it particularly effective for RGB lighting setups. In contrast, the Weightlessness utilizes a nylon top housing, which provides a softer feel and leads to a deeper, fuller sound profile. The nylon's ability to absorb sound contributes to a more muted acoustic experience compared to the clearer and more resonant tones of polycarbonate, offering distinct choices for users depending on their sound preference.
Both the Silent White and the Weightlessness feature nylon bottom housings, which introduces a shared characteristic that affects their output on bottom-out sound and feel. Since nylon is a softer plastic, it absorbs more sound, resulting in a rounder and less sharp sound when keys are fully pressed down. This shared bottom housing effect effectively balances the overall auditory experience, as both switches will provide a deeper sound profile during key presses. As a result, while the top housings contrast greatly, the nylon bottom housing ensures an aligned typing experience when it comes to the key bottoming out, bringing a degree of uniformity to how both switches perform.
Ultimately, the differences and similarities in housing materials dictate the nuances of each switch. The Silent White’s polycarbonate top allows for crisper sounds on release, while the nylon bottom contributes depth to key presses. Meanwhile, the Gateron Weightlessness, with its nylon top, results in a softer and duller sound overall, making both products suitable for different preferences in acoustics. Users who appreciate a clear and resonant typing experience may gravitate towards the Outemu Silent White, while those seeking a deeper and fuller auditory feedback may prefer the Gateron Weightlessness. Despite their differences, the reliance on nylon for the bottom housing means that both switches will offer an essential consistency in feel and sound upon actuation.
Weight
When comparing the Outemu Silent White linear switch and the Gateron Weightlessness tactile switch, there are notable differences in their actuation forces. The Silent White has a lighter actuation force of 45 grams, in contrast to the Gateron Weightlessness, which has a slightly heavier actuation force of 50 grams. This means that typists who prefer a lighter touch might find the Silent White more comfortable for extended typing sessions, while those who appreciate a bit more resistance might prefer the Weightlessness. However, the bottom out force for the Gateron Weightlessness is not available, making it difficult to fully assess how it compares in terms of bottoming out with the Silent White's bottom out force of 60 grams. Overall, while the Silent White is the lighter option with a defined bottom out force, the Weightlessness's unknown bottom out force leaves some ambiguity in its overall typing experience comparison.
Travel distance
The Outemu Silent White linear switch has a travel distance of 3.3 mm, while the Gateron Weightlessness tactile switch features a slightly longer travel distance of 3.4 mm. This means that the Silent White switch is the shorter option, making it potentially more appealing to gamers seeking quicker response times and a more responsive feel. On the other hand, the Weightlessness switch, with its longer travel distance, may provide a more substantial and cushioned typing experience that some users prefer for its depth. Ultimately, those who value a nimble touch may gravitate towards the Silent White, while those who appreciate a more pronounced keypress might enjoy the Weightlessness.
Price comparison
Which switch is more bang for your buck?
The Gateron Weightlessness has an MSRP of $6.10 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Weightlessness for $5.50.
The Outemu Silent White 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
When it comes to sound, the Outemu Silent White switch is known for its quiet operation, making it an excellent choice for environments where noise is a concern, such as shared workspaces or late-night gaming sessions. On the other hand, the Gateron Weightlessness switch offers a balanced sound profile that complements its tactile characteristics, providing a pleasant auditory experience without being overly loud. While the Silent White excels in silence, the harmonious sound of the Weightlessness switch can still be enjoyable, making the choice largely dependent on personal preference for noise levels.
In terms of feel, the Silent White switch provides a smooth linear experience, emphasizing fluid keypresses without any tactile bump, which makes it great for fast typing and gaming. In contrast, the Gateron Weightlessness switch delivers a subtle to moderate tactile feel, giving users a slight feedback that enhances typing accuracy and satisfaction while still maintaining a smooth actuation. This distinction in feel is significant; if you favor speed and smoothness, the Silent White would be a better choice, whereas if you enjoy a bit of tactile feedback, the Weightlessness would suit you more.
In summary, when comparing the Outemu Silent White linear switch and the Gateron Weightlessness tactile switch, the key differences lie in their sound profiles and tactile feedback. The Silent White stands out for its quiet operation, ideal for noise-sensitive environments, while the Weightlessness offers a nice balance of sound and subtle tactile feedback. Your final choice will largely be influenced by your specific preferences regarding sound and feel, and knowing these qualities will help you select the switch that best fits your typing experience.
Conclusion
To conclude, your choice between the Outemu Silent White linear switch and the Gateron Weightlessness tactile switch should be guided by your specific preferences and typing habits. If you find yourself in a quieter environment, such as an office or shared workspace, and you appreciate a smooth typing experience without the auditory feedback of a tactile bump, the Outemu Silent White with its medium force of 60 grams may be the ideal switch for you. Its linear nature ensures a consistent feel throughout the keypress, making it great for long typing sessions or gaming. On the other hand, if you enjoy a tactile response when typing and prefer the subtle feedback that helps you recognize key actuation without the loud clicks, the Gateron Weightlessness would likely be more suitable. With its moderate tactile characteristics and balanced sound profile, it offers a satisfying feel that can enhance your typing experience, especially if you favor versatility between typing and gaming. Ultimately, it boils down to whether you prioritize a smooth, quieter keystroke or an engaging tactile feedback in your keyboard experience.
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