Outemu Red Panda vs. Durock White Lotus

Overview

When it comes to mechanical keyboard switches, the Outemu Red Panda and the Durock White Lotus offer distinct features and characteristics that cater to different preferences. The Red Panda is renowned for its light-medium amount of tactility, providing a pleasing feedback while typing. It is also known for its unique bassier, raindrop-like bottom-out sound and clackier, higher-pitched top-out sound. This switch falls under the category of "Thocky" and "Mild". On the other hand, the White Lotus switches are designed with the discerning typist in mind. They offer a delicate tactility that strikes the perfect balance, making them ideal for work and prolonged typing sessions without overwhelming the user. These switches also feature a removable light column, allowing for vibrant and luminous RGB lighting effects that add a captivating glow to your keyboard setup. Categorized as "Easy-to-press", "Low-pitched", "Mild", "Neutral", and "Subtle", the White Lotus switches provide a tranquil typing experience. However, let's dive in a bit deeper beyond these generalities so you can best decide on the perfect switch for you.

By the numbers

Outemu Red Panda Tactile

Durock White Lotus Tactile

$3.40 per 10

$5.60

$4.57 per 10

Learn moreLearn more

Housing materials

The housing materials of the Outemu Red Panda and the Durock White Lotus switches have some similarities and differences. In terms of the top housing, the Red Panda utilizes polycarbonate, which creates a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound profile. Additionally, its translucent nature makes it ideal for RGB lighting. On the other hand, the White Lotus features a modified PC and UPE Blend top housing, providing a unique and premium feel. While both switches offer distinct sound profiles, the Red Panda's polycarbonate housing leans towards crispness, while the White Lotus's modified PC and UPE Blend housing adds to its premium appeal.

In regard to the bottom housing, both switches utilize nylon as the material of choice. Nylon is renowned for its ability to elicit a deeper and fuller sound profile in switches. This is because nylon is a softer plastic that absorbs more sound, resulting in a duller and rounder sound. Whether using the Red Panda or the White Lotus, the nylon bottom housing contributes to a satisfying typing experience with its enhanced sound qualities. While the housing materials are the same for both switches in this aspect, slight variations in the design or composition could still lead to subtle differences in the resulting sound profile.

It's important to consider that the top and bottom housings of a switch play different roles in the overall sound and feel. The bottom housing primarily influences the sound and feel when pressing down on a key, whereas the top housing has a greater impact on the sound when releasing a key. Therefore, even if the housing materials differ between the Red Panda and the White Lotus, the qualities brought by each housing material will ultimately affect different moments of the typing experience. Whether it's the sharper and crisper sound of the Red Panda's polycarbonate top housing or the premium feel of the White Lotus's modified PC and UPE Blend top housing, both switches offer their own unique characteristics that enthusiasts can appreciate. Similarly, the nylon bottom housing of both switches contributes to a deeper and fuller sound profile, ensuring a satisfying typing experience no matter your preference.

Weight

When comparing the Outemu Red Panda tactile switch and the Durock White Lotus tactile switch, the actuation and bottom out forces differ slightly. The Red Panda has an actuation force of 50 grams and a bottom out force of 60 grams, which can be considered medium in terms of weight. On the other hand, the White Lotus has a lighter actuation force of 46 grams and a bottom out force of 56 grams, categorizing it as medium-light. In terms of weight preference, those who prefer a lighter typing experience may opt for the White Lotus, as the lighter actuation and bottom out forces allow for longer periods of comfortable typing. However, those who desire a more substantial typing feel may find the Red Panda with its slightly heavier forces more suitable. It is important to note that while the forces differ, both switches fall within a similar range, so users can expect relatively similar results in terms of typing experience.

Travel distance

When comparing the travel distance of the Outemu Red Panda tactile switch and the Durock White Lotus tactile switch, it is clear that they have different distances. The Red Panda has a travel distance of 3.3 mm, while the White Lotus has a longer travel distance of 4 mm. Both distances fall within the range of what is considered typical for a switch. The Red Panda's shorter travel distance may be preferred by gamers who prioritize faster response times, as it allows for quicker key presses. On the other hand, some individuals may find the shorter travel distance to feel too abrupt. If a deeper key press is desired, the White Lotus with its longer travel distance would be a better choice. Ultimately, the decision between the two will depend on personal preference and desired responsiveness.

Price comparison

Typing experience

When it comes to sound, the Outemu Red Panda tactile switch offers a unique combination of characteristics. With a light-medium amount of tactility, these switches produce a bassier, raindrop-like bottom-out sound and a clackier, higher-pitched top-out sound. On the other hand, the Durock White Lotus tactile switch provides a low-pitched sound profile. This means that these switches have a more bass-heavy and mellow tone compared to higher-pitched switches. Additionally, the White Lotus is described as having a neutral sound profile, making it suitable for various purposes. However, it's important to note that the sound of a switch can also be influenced by other factors such as the keyboard board and keycaps used. Overall, if you are seeking a satisfying and deep sound, the Red Panda may be your choice, while if you prefer a low-pitched and neutral sound, the White Lotus can deliver a tranquil typing experience.

In terms of feel, both the Outemu Red Panda and Durock White Lotus switches offer a mild typing experience. A mild switch provides a more gentle typing feel compared to switches with more pronounced characteristics. This means that the sound and feel of these switches will be approachable to most users, as they fall within a safe, middle-ground zone. Additionally, the White Lotus switches are described as easy-to-press, offering gentle resistance during key presses. This requires minimal force to activate the switches, resulting in an effortless and comfortable typing experience. The mild nature of both switches enhances the overall typing experience by providing a responsive and low-impact feel. Moreover, the White Lotus is also described as a subtle switch, meaning it has a gentle resistance that is not too light, while still maintaining a light typing feel. Furthermore, the sound signature of the White Lotus switches is not resonant, making them suitable for shared spaces.

In conclusion, the Outemu Red Panda and Durock White Lotus switches have distinct characteristics in terms of sound and feel. The Red Panda offers a thocky sound with a light-medium amount of tactility, providing a deeper and clackier sound profile. On the other hand, the White Lotus has a low-pitched sound profile, featuring a more bass-heavy and mellow tone. Both switches provide a mild typing experience, offering a gentle and comfortable feel while typing. However, the White Lotus switches also have an easy-to-press quality, requiring minimal force for activation and reducing finger fatigue. Overall, whether you prefer a deeper and clackier sound or a lower-pitched and neutral sound, both switches can deliver a pleasant typing experience.

Conclusion

To sum up, if you are looking for a tactile switch with a medium bottom out force, the Outemu Red Panda switch would be a suitable choice. It offers a light-medium amount of tactility and produces a bassier, raindrop-like bottom-out sound along with a clackier, higher-pitched top-out sound. On the other hand, if you prefer a lighter tactile switch, the Durock White Lotus switch might be more suitable. With a bottom out force of 56 grams, it falls into the medium-light category. The White Lotus switch is known for its delicate tactility that strikes a perfect balance, making it ideal for work and extended typing sessions without overwhelming the user. It also features a removable light column, allowing for vibrant and luminous RGB lighting effects. In terms of sound, the Red Panda switch produces a thocky sound, while the White Lotus switch has a low-pitched and neutral sound profile. Additionally, the Red Panda switch offers a mild typing experience, while the White Lotus switch is easy-to-press and provides a low-impact typing feel. Ultimately, the choice between these two switches will depend on your preferred level of tactility, sound profile, and typing experience.

Mentioned in this article

Outemu Red Panda Tactile

$3.40 per 10

Learn more

Durock White Lotus Tactile

$5.60

$4.57 per 10

Learn more