Alright, let’s talk about these Outemu Black switches I messed around with. I’ve been into mechanical keyboards for a while now, and I’m always looking for that perfect feel and sound. So, I got my hands on a batch of these Outemu Blacks, heard they were decent for the price, and figured, why not give ’em a shot?
First off, I ripped open the package and started checking them out. They’re your standard MX-style switches, nothing fancy about the housing or anything. Black all around, kinda plain looking, but that doesn’t really matter. What I cared about was how they felt.
I started by just pressing a few of them in my hand. These are linear switches, so no click or bump, just a straight down press. They felt pretty heavy, definitely heavier than the reds or browns I’m used to. Outemu says they’re about 60g actuation force, and I believe it. It’s not crazy heavy, but you’ll notice it if you’re used to lighter switches.
Next, I wanted to see how they felt in a board. I had an old keyboard lying around that I use for testing switches, so I popped out the old ones and started putting these Outemu Blacks in. It was a standard hot-swap board, so it was easy peasy. No soldering needed, thank goodness.
- Installation: Super simple, just pushed them into the sockets.
- Feel: Definitely heavy. Smooth, though, no scratchiness that I could feel.
- Sound: Pretty quiet for a mechanical switch. A deep “thock” kind of sound, which I actually liked.
Once I got them all in, I started typing away. Honestly, at first, it felt like a bit of a workout! My fingers were getting tired faster than usual. But the more I typed, the more I got used to the weight. And you know what? There’s something satisfying about that heavy feel. It’s like, you really feel each keystroke, you know?
I did a little typing test, just to see how my speed and accuracy were. My speed definitely took a hit at first. I was probably down 10-15 WPM. But after a few hours, I started getting back to my normal speed. Accuracy was fine, though. These are linear switches, so no accidental key presses from a tactile bump.
My Final Thoughts
So, would I recommend these Outemu Black switches? Well, it depends. If you like heavy switches, or if you’re looking for something quieter than clicky switches, these are a great budget option. They’re smooth, they sound decent, and they won’t break the bank. But if you’re used to light switches, be prepared for a bit of a finger workout. It might take some getting used to. For me, I think I’ll keep them in this tester board for now. They’re not quite my everyday switch, but they’re definitely interesting to use from time to time.
All in all, messing with these Outemu Blacks was a fun little experiment. It’s always cool to try out different switches and see what you like. And who knows, maybe I’ll even get used to the weight and they’ll become my new favorites. Only time will tell!
