Outemu Spring Breeze vs. Bsun Tomcat

Overview

When it comes to mechanical keyboard switches, the Outemu Spring Breeze and the Bsun Tomcat offer distinct experiences, tailored to different typing preferences. The Spring Breeze is a clicky switch, appealing to users who enjoy tactile feedback and an audible click with every keystroke, making it ideal for typists who crave a more pronounced and engaging experience. In contrast, the Bsun Tomcat is a linear switch, designed for those seeking a smooth, uninterrupted key press without any tactile bump or noise, which can enhance gaming performance and provide a quieter operation. While the Spring Breeze is best for those who appreciate a lively sound profile, the Tomcat’s Ly stems are engineered for a super smooth typing experience, catering to fast and precise input. However, let’s dive in a bit deeper beyond generalities, so you can best decide on the switch that suits your unique needs.

By the numbers

Outemu Spring Breeze Clicky

Bsun Tomcat Linear

$3.10 per 10

$2.99 per 10

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Housing materials

In examining the housing materials of the Outemu Spring Breeze and the Bsun Tomcat, a stark contrast emerges between their top housings. The Spring Breeze utilizes a nylon top housing, which is recognized for its ability to produce a deeper and fuller sound profile due to its softer plastic composition. This softer material absorbs more sound, resulting in a duller and rounder auditory experience that many typists appreciate for its muted quality. In contrast, the Tomcat's top housing is made from polycarbonate, a stiffer plastic that yields a higher-pitched, crisper sound profile. The clear nature of polycarbonate not only enhances its aesthetic appeal, especially with RGB lighting, but also contributes to a more resonant auditory experience, making the differences in sound distinctly noticeable to users.

On the bottom housing side, both the Spring Breeze and the Tomcat share a commonality in using nylon material. This consistency ensures that the bottom-out feel and sound are substantially similar between the two models, with nylon's inherent softness contributing to a deeper and fuller sound profile. As a result, anyone typing on either switch will experience the beneficial qualities of nylon—such as sound absorption and comfort in typing—as the bottom housing greatly influences these aspects. The shared use of nylon for the bottom housing ensures that despite the differences found in the top housing, the core typing experience in terms of tactile feedback remains consistent.

Nevertheless, the overall experience of using each switch is shaped by the combination of materials used in the top and bottom housings. The differing materials in the top housing contribute to the auditory accents when a key is released, whereas the nylon bottom housing enhances the sound during actuation. Therefore, while the Spring Breeze and Tomcat diverge in their top housing compositions, they converge in a similar tactile bottom-out experience due to both utilizing nylon in their lower constructions. This combination allows typists to enjoy a well-rounded tactile experience while also exploring distinct sound profiles that stem from the unique materials employed in their design.

Weight

When comparing the Outemu Spring Breeze clicky switch and the Bsun Tomcat linear switch, both fall into the category of medium-light switches but exhibit some differences in their actuation and bottom out forces. The Spring Breeze has a lighter actuation force of 40 grams, compared to the Tomcat's 45 grams, making the former more suitable for users who prefer a lighter touch for extended typing or gaming sessions. However, the bottom out forces are quite similar, with the Spring Breeze at 55 grams and the Tomcat slightly lower at 54 grams. This means that while the Spring Breeze is easier to actuate, both switches require a substantial push to bottom out, resulting in a comparable tactile experience when pressed all the way down. Ultimately, users seeking a lighter feel should lean toward the Outemu Spring Breeze, while those who appreciate a firmer keystroke might find the Bsun Tomcat more appealing, despite the marginally heavier actuation force.

Travel distance

The Outemu Spring Breeze clicky switch and the Bsun Tomcat linear switch differ in their travel distances, with the Spring Breeze having a travel distance of 4 mm, while the Tomcat measures at 3.6 mm. This makes the Spring Breeze the longer travel switch, providing a more pronounced feel when pressed, which can be appealing for users who enjoy a deeper keystroke. On the other hand, the Tomcat, with its shorter 3.6 mm travel distance, offers quicker actuation, favoring gamers or those who benefit from faster response times. While both switches cater to different preferences in key feel and actuation speed, the choice ultimately depends on whether a user prefers a more substantial depth or a quicker, snappier action.

Price comparison

Typing experience

When it comes to sound, the Outemu Spring Breeze clicky switch does not have a widely recognized acoustic profile, making it difficult to compare with any specific characteristics. In contrast, the Bsun Tomcat linear switch is noted for its resonant sound, which contributes a unique auditory experience when typing. However, it's important to remember that the sound produced by either switch can vary significantly depending on the choice of keyboard construction and keycap materials used.

Regarding feel, the Outemu Spring Breeze does not feature a specific feel standard that has been highlighted, leaving its tactile sensation largely open to individual user experience. On the other hand, the Bsun Tomcat switch is designed with Ly stems that ensure a super smooth typing experience, allowing for fluid keystrokes that enhance overall comfort during prolonged use. This smoothness can lead to faster typing speeds and less finger fatigue over time.

In summary, the Outemu Spring Breeze clicky switch lacks defined characteristics in both sound and feel, making it a bit of an enigma for newcomers. In contrast, the Bsun Tomcat linear switch offers a resonant sound profile and a notably smooth typing experience thanks to its Ly stems. While these shifts can provide distinct typing experiences, it's crucial to remember that the ultimate outcome is influenced by other factors like keyboard construction and personal preferences.

Conclusion

To sum up, when deciding between the Outemu Spring Breeze clicky switch and the Bsun Tomcat linear switch, it's essential to consider your typing preferences and the environment you'll be using your keyboard in. If you enjoy a tactile and auditory feedback while typing, which can enhance your engagement with the keyboard, the Spring Breeze may be the better choice for you. Its medium-light bottom-out force of 55 grams allows for a less strenuous typing experience, making it suitable for long typing sessions or for those who appreciate a good "click" sound with each keystroke. On the other hand, if you prioritize a smooth and quiet typing experience without any tactile bumps or clicks, the Tomcat linear switch would be ideal. With its super smooth Ly stems and only slightly lower bottom-out force of 54 grams, it provides a seamless feel that ensures fluid key presses—perfect for gaming or environments where minimal noise is preferred. Ultimately, your choice between these two switches should align with your personal feel preferences and how much you value sound and feedback in your typing experience.

Mentioned in this article

Outemu Spring Breeze Clicky

$3.10 per 10

Learn more

Bsun Tomcat Linear

$2.99 per 10

Learn more