→ Outemu switch: which one to choose and why are they the cheap option?

If you are interested in the world of mechanical keyboards or are simply looking for information to buy the best, you are in a good place. Here we will do a little research on the history, components, and more of the Outemu switch, the most famous contender among cheap / medium mechanical keyboards.

Coming from China, Outemu offers a series of highly customizable mechanical switches at a very attractive price. For both the average user and the hardware enthusiast, the Asian brand offers a series of alternatives that leave no one indifferent .

Index of contents

Outemu switch “The white label pill”

"White marks are as good as known marks." This statement is something that may have been said to you once and still we find it hard to believe it. Despite the fact that a white brand seems to look worse or worse quality, they are often as good or even better than well-known brands and here we have a candidate to demonstrate this.

Along with Gateron, the Outemu switch is one of those switches from East Asia that are making a name for themselves and today we are going to reveal why.

For starters, we know that the Outemu switch is a mechanical keyboard piece born as a clone of the Cherry MX. As we discussed in another article, when the German company Cherry lost the patent for mechanical keyboard switches, numerous companies embarked on the jungle of switches by copying their model. This is how Outemu was born, a brand ready to find its place in the market.

Outemu history and development

Outemu's logo

Like many other switches , Outemu can be purchased to create custom mechanical keyboards, however it is not as common to be able to get the internal parts of these components. Peculiarly, a reddit user named " hbheroinbob " claims to be the company's contact and sells everything from the switches to the little gears inside. The user has also stated:

make a versatile factory, that is, a clear alternative with a reasonable price; and allow all the pieces to be interchangeable with the Cherry type ecosystem

At the beginning of his career, Outemu brought out the ICE line, which had a surprising number of variants (10 types of switches, to be more specific), but they were not very satisfactory and were not in line with Cherry's line. Currently, with more experience, they create switches of the SKY line, which has a simpler and more direct variety with only Red, Blue, Brown and Black.

Some pieces of the Outemu switches are said to be functional on Cherry switches, although the system does not work the other way. From hbheroinbob's claims perhaps it is a feature they were looking for.

On these switches, in the network there is a heterogeneous soup of ideas about this brand. Based on the forum you enter, some people think they are the best switches coming from Asia, while others attribute to them gross construction errors. However, there is general agreement on the experience and feeling they offer and that is what we will see right now.

Types of Outemus

Outemu Black, Red, Blue and Brown switches

Users report that the brand's touch switches are very pleasant to press and have unbeatable quality for typing. Some even claim that the tactile Outemus are superior to the Gateron and Cherry , a somewhat daring claim. On the other side of the coin, it is also said that the linear switches of the Chinese brand are too resistant, so they generate a feeling of discomfort and tiredness.

Below we will show you a table with some general information about the different types of Outemu switches.

Color / Name	Type / Touch	Actuation Force	Sound	Experience
Net	Linear	60g	Silent	Switches designed for video games. They have a fast and silent performance.
Black	Linear	80g	Silent	Stronger version of the Outemu Red switch . It is intended for those people who like Red , but feel very soft. They can cause fatigue due to their great resistance.
Brown	Tactile	55g	Hybrid	Like other brands, it is a touch keyboard, but it does not generate a loud sound. It is somewhere in between and is good for both writing and playing
Blue	Touch (clicky)	60g	Sonorous	Outemu version of the switches so characteristic that they reigned decades ago. Strong, sound and very responsive switches. Perfect for writing although they can generate fatigue in the hands.

Source: Gaote Electronics official website. Outemu switch characteristics table.

As we can see in the table, the Outemu switches at all levels are more resistant than those of other known brands. This is something that some (especially tactile users) may like, but that will displease others (linear users).

Strengths and weaknesses

Outemu are excellent switches for writing, as their touch versions are at the right point to be pleasant and responsive. On the other hand, with the guarantee that they reach 50 million keystrokes (as is common), we can even forget to break it by use.

Source: Gaote. Outemu Switch internal diagram

On the other hand, it is not new that advanced users are able to create custom keyboards, but with the Chinese brand they can do it at a fairly good price. Not only that, but those who want an added challenge can even assemble their own custom switches. SKY bodies can be joined, with own ICE ceilings or even with some pieces of Cherry , so the possibilities multiply.

It is also not an open secret that the brand's linear switches are not highly recommended. Unless you are a user who likes hard keyboards, you should never select this switch arrangement. Also, some users complain that these switches wobble and are short-lived, but it is not something that we can affirm that it is not generalized (perhaps a defective unit).

Building

The Outemu switches that are factory built are made with a PA6 / 6 Nylon body and roof . With this material, the company is able to guarantee a useful life on the line, that is, about 50 million keystrokes, more or less the average offered by any device.

On the other hand, like Gateron switches, Outemu have the ability to mount LEDs in SMD format. As we explained in the article on Gateron, LEDs in SMD format benefit when it comes to visibly illuminating the device. Since they do not need to shine with much power, but to be well visible, the ability to shine at greater angles due to the arrangement of the light spots is a plus. In addition, as normal, no more than a dozen hours will be connected (depends on the user), the danger of wear or overuse is highly unlikely.

Recommended keyboards with Outemu switch

Following the analysis we have done on the switches, we move on to larger issues. You can mount an ultra-personalized keyboard with Outemu , but now we will recommend some already assembled by the hand of different brands:

Krom Kempo

The Krom Kempo keyboard is a compact keyboard. With a classic key layout it offers high quality and a sleek, understated design.

KROM KREMPO mechanical keyboard

The Krom brand is one of those Spanish peripheral companies that wanders between the middle and upper league. It is capable of offering quality peripherals without having to reach high prices and on this keyboard we can achieve this with Outemu Red and Blue switches.

For the points that we have collected before, we recommend the blue version, since they are what this brand of switches benefits from. It should be noted that RGB lighting shines a lot and is very good and we can choose between 9 different lighting modes.

As a negative point we have to point out that it does not have any kind of desktop application to edit options and lights.

Also, it has a flat wrist rest that some users may not like. Although it is removable, it requires a screwdriver, so in the end you will have to decide whether to have it or not and you can hardly do it on the go, as in other competitive keyboards.

Krom Kempo - Gaming Keyboard, Black Color Mechanical switches, removable wrist rest, RGB lighting with effects; Anti-ghosting, macros and gaming mode, configuration without software 59.99 EUR

Mars Gaming MK4B

This keyboard takes to the limit the capacities that we can obtain from a device for the low price that they ask us.

Mars Gaming MK4B mechanical keyboard

The other great Spanish peripheral company comes out, although this time in a lower price league. The brand presents a good device for an excellent price.

The Mars Gaming MK4B keyboard is a very compact keyboard. It has all the keys we can expect from a keyboard in a tiny body and perfect for small environments or on the go. This last factor is enhanced if we put in the formula that there is a mini or 60% version that dispenses with the numeric keyboard.

With the selection of Outemu switch we can ensure a very good feeling when it comes to writing and playing, although, as we have warned, we always recommend the Brown and Blue over the Red or Black linear.

However, we cannot overlook the drawbacks of the keyboard. First of all, lighting has lower quality than other similar pricing options, plus we lack some software, leaving us with limited customization options.

In this case we have two simultaneous language layouts: English and Spanish. The problem comes to light when we realize that the letters of the Spanish are stuck and will not light up when we are in a dark environment.

Mars Gaming MK4B - Gaming keyboard for PC (10 light profiles, 6 light effects, RGB flow side lighting, USB, BLUE switch) 34, 90 EUR

Final thoughts about Outemu

After analyzing as much as possible the Outemu switch in all its aspects, we can reach a clear conclusion. Chinese switches have the advantage of having a fairly low cost and despite this they have made a good name for themselves.

Although it has some strange point opinions, the community interested in keyboards and their interiors can safely affirm that they are quality switches. It is a much more versatile alternative to Cherry for those brave people who dare to mount everything from scratch and we can expect great results from them.

We want to emphasize that the keyboards that we recommend above all are those with Brown and Blue arrangements. Regarding the Red and Black switches, they have such resistance that they are probably uncomfortable for most users. It is for these small details that we think that the brand has not achieved more fame.

We recommend reading our guides:

While its tactile switches are fine, the fact that its linear is uncomfortable only brings trouble to the brand. If they were to bring out a new generation of switches, we are confident that they could overcome this pothole and become a competitor that anyone would fear.

Do you have keyboards with Outemu switch? Would you be willing to create your own custom keyboard? Tell us your ideas about these interesting pieces.

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