Outemu Silent Yellow Jade vs. Huano Strawberry Latte
An in-depth look at the Outemu Silent Yellow Jade and the Huano Strawberry Latte switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When it comes to mechanical keyboards, the choice of switches can significantly impact your typing experience, making it essential to consider your personal preferences. The Outemu Silent Yellow Jade switches stand out as a tactile option, offering a quiet yet satisfying typing experience characterized by a distinct "thocky" sound. These switches, with their muted yet sharp tactile bump and factory-lubed mechanism, are ideal for users who prioritize a solid tactile feedback without the disruption of noise. In contrast, the Huano Strawberry Latte switches present a smooth linear experience, making them appealing for those who enjoy uninterrupted keystrokes. With their balanced sound profile, these switches provide a seamless typing flow that can enhance speed and efficiency, catering especially to gamers and fast typists alike. While each switch offers unique advantages depending on your needs, 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
40g
Bottom-out force
65g
Bottom-out force
45g
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Total travel
3.30 mm
Total travel
3.60 mm
Factory lubed
Yes
Factory lubed
Yes
Stem construction
Partial box
Stem construction
Standard
Stem material
pom
Stem material
POM
Top housing material
Nylon
Top housing material
POK
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Spring
Stainless steel
Spring
20mm single-stage spring
Housing materials
When comparing the housing materials of the Outemu Silent Yellow Jade and the Huano Strawberry Latte, significant differences emerge primarily in the top housings. The Silent Yellow Jade utilizes nylon for its top housing, which is known for its ability to produce a deeper and fuller sound profile. Nylon's relatively soft composition allows it to absorb more sound than harder plastics, leading to a sound that is duller and rounder. In contrast, the Huano Strawberry Latte features a POK top housing, a polyketone material lauded for its smoothness and durability, with a higher coefficient of friction compared to nylon. While the nylon of the Silent Yellow Jade creates a more muted audio experience, the Strawberry Latte's POK material contributes to a sharper, clackier sound due to its augmented rigidity and strength.
In terms of bottom housings, both the Silent Yellow Jade and the Strawberry Latte employ nylon, a classic material that creates a cohesive auditory experience across both switches. The nylon bottom housing in the Silent Yellow Jade aligns with its top housing, providing consistent sound quality and a deeper, fuller typing experience. Similarly, the Strawberry Latte, despite having a different top housing, offers a matching bottom nylon housing that ensures a smoother, rounded sound profile, enhancing its performance when keys are bottomed out. Thus, while the top housings differ significantly, the shared nylon bottom maintains a certain level of harmony in the auditory experience for both switches.
Ultimately, the combination of different top and bottom housing materials affects how each switch performs and sounds. While the Silent Yellow Jade's nylon top allows for a more controlled sound profile, the Strawberry Latte achieves a unique clack through its POK top while relying on the qualities of nylon in the bottom for consistency. When pressed, the impact of the bottom housing is prominent, and thus, the overall sound and feel of these switches will differ. However, since both utilize nylon in the bottom housing, they share similarities in their bottom-out characteristics, allowing users to experience an element of auditory consistency, even amidst the differences in top housing materials.
Weight
When comparing the Outemu Silent Yellow Jade tactile switch and the Huano Strawberry Latte linear switch, there is a distinct difference in both actuation force and bottom out force. The Silent Yellow Jade has an actuation force of 50 grams and a bottom out force of 65 grams, categorizing it as medium-heavy, which may appeal to those who prefer a more substantial typing experience. In contrast, the Strawberry Latte features a lighter actuation force of 40 grams and a bottom out force of 45 grams, making it more suitable for extended typing sessions or gaming, as its lighter feel can reduce finger fatigue. Consequently, while both switches serve different preferences, the Silent Yellow Jade requires more effort to actuate and bottom out, making it the heavier option. If you're looking for a switch that provides a softer touch, the Huano Strawberry Latte would be the better choice, while the Outemu Silent Yellow Jade caters to users who appreciate a firmer feel in their key presses.
Travel distance
The Outemu Silent Yellow Jade tactile switch and the Huano Strawberry Latte linear switch exhibit different travel distances, with the Silent Yellow Jade at 3.3 mm and the Strawberry Latte at 3.6 mm. The Silent Yellow Jade's shorter travel distance caters to those seeking quicker response times, making it suitable for gamers who prefer more responsive keystrokes. In contrast, the Strawberry Latte, with its longer travel distance, offers a more substantial feel, appealing to users who enjoy a deeper keystroke for a satisfying typing experience. Ultimately, if you're aiming for faster execution, the Silent Yellow Jade is the better choice, while those who appreciate a more traditional depth may lean towards the Strawberry Latte.
Price comparison
Which switch is more bang for your buck?
The Huano Strawberry Latte has an MSRP of $3.50 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Strawberry Latte for $3.29.
The Outemu Silent Yellow Jade 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 Yellow Jade tactile switch delivers a unique sound profile that combines a muted character with a thocky resonance. It produces a deep and satisfying "thock" when keys are pressed, making it a great choice for users seeking a quieter typing experience without compromising on auditory feedback. This switch effectively minimizes the typical noise associated with mechanical keyboards, allowing for a more serene work or gaming environment. On the other hand, the Huano Strawberry Latte switch boasts a balanced sound profile—a middle ground between quietness and resonance. While specific descriptors for its sound aren’t provided, it is characterized by smoothness and avoids being overly loud, making it versatile for various settings.
When it comes to feel, the Silent Yellow Jade switch stands out with its sharp tactile feedback. Users can expect a strong and crisp tactile bump that provides significant feedback with each keypress, enhancing typing accuracy and enjoyment. This distinct tactile experience can be especially appealing for those who value the physical sensation of their keystrokes. In contrast, there is no information regarding the tactile feel of the Strawberry Latte switch. Therefore, its tactile feedback remains an unknown factor, leaving potential users curious about how it compares in terms of tactile response.
In summary, the Outemu Silent Yellow Jade tactile switch offers a quiet yet satisfying sound profile with pronounced tactile feedback, making it ideal for those who crave a muted experience without sacrificing key feel. The Huano Strawberry Latte switch, while lacking specific details about its tactile response, presents a balanced sound profile that appeals to users seeking a smoother typing experience. Ultimately, both switches cater to different preferences, ensuring that whether a user prioritizes sound or tactile feedback, there are suitable options to explore.
Conclusion
To conclude, the choice between the Outemu Silent Yellow Jade tactile switch and the Huano Strawberry Latte linear switch ultimately depends on your typing preferences and usage scenarios. If you favor a tactile experience with a pronounced feedback and enjoy the satisfying "thock" sound while maintaining a relatively quiet environment, the Silent Yellow Jade is the ideal option for you. Its medium-heavy actuation force of 65 grams ensures that you can feel each keystroke clearly, making it perfect for both extensive typing sessions and gaming where feedback is crucial. On the other hand, if you prefer a smoother, quieter actuation with less resistance, the Strawberry Latte is your go-to switch. With a lighter bottom-out force of 45 grams, it allows for fast-paced typing and gaming, delivering a balanced sound profile that won't distract you or those around you. In summary, consider the Silent Yellow Jade for a tactile and "thocky" sound experience, while the Strawberry Latte is best when you want a fluid, linear typing feel.
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