Silent Switch Showdown: Which One is the Quietest?

Overview

Let's take a look at some of the popular linear and tactile silent switches and see which ones come out on top as the quietest options!

Outemu Cream Yellow

Akko Penguin

Durock Shrimp

TTC Bluish White

Gazzew Boba U4

WS Wuque Silent Tactile

Outemu Silent Ocean

Akko Fairy

Durock Dolphin

TTC Frozen

Gazzew Bobagum Pink

Gateron Zero Degree

Outemu Cream Yellow

Product Details

Name	Outemu Cream Yellow
Type	Silent Tactile
Top Housing Material	Nylon
Bottom Housing Material	Nylon
Stem Material	POM
Actuation Force	45g
Bottom Out Force	60g
Total Travel	3.3mm
Mount	5 pin
Factory Lubed	Yes

Switch Feel

Despite the silent dampening, the Outemu Cream Yellow retains the tactile feedback which allows users to feel each keystroke without disturbing those around them. The Outemu Cream Yellow has a tactile bump at the top of the keypress and has a similar crispness as the Boba switches. The Outemu Cream Yellow offers a smooth and satisfying typing feel without sacrificing the tactility for quietness, which makes them an ideal choice for shared spaces. 

Switch Sound

The Outemu Cream Yellow Silent Tactile Switch offers a respectably quiet typing experience. True to its name, the Outemu Cream Yellow creates a "creamy" silent typing sound. 

Here is a sound test of the Outemu Cream Yellow:

Akko Penguin

Product Details

Name	Akko Penguin
Type	Silent Tactile
Top Housing Material	PA
Bottom Housing Material	PA
Stem Material	POM
Actuation Force	50±5gf
Bottom Out Force	65gf Max
Tactile Force	65gf±5gf
Spring	19.5±0.4mm
Pre Travel	2.0±0.3mm
Total Travel	3.3mm
Mount	5 pin
Factory Lubed	Yes

Switch Feel

The Akko Penguin has a sharp "P" shaped tactile bump that feels similar to the tactile bump of a Invyr Holy Panda or Boba U4T. The tactility feels very snappy while the bottom out feels soft and comfortable. The Akko Penguin uses the same silencing mechanism as the Akko Fairy with the silicone on the stem rails. Although they do not feel as mushy for a silent switch because of the responsive tactility. 

The Akko Penguin has smooth typing experience with their factory lube in stock form. They also have very minimal stem wobble which provides a clean and crisp feeling silent tactile switch. 

Switch Sound

The Akko Penguin is comparable to the Outemu Cream Yellow silent switch in terms of sound. They're silent due to the silicone dampening mechanism, but because of the sharp "P" shaped tactile bump, there is a quiet feedback when actuating the switch. The Akko Penguin has a little bit of scratchiness straight out of the box that can be remedied with hand lubrication. 

Here is a sound test of the Akko Penguin:

Durock Shrimp

Product Details

Name	Durock Shrimp
Type	Silent Tactile
Top Housing Material	Polycarbonate
Bottom Housing Material	Polymer Nylon
Stem Material	POM with silicone silent circle
Bottom Out Force	67g
Total Travel	4mm
Mount	5 pin
Factory Lubed	Yes

Switch Feel

The Shrimp Silent Tactile switches offer a satisfying bump at the actuation point, which provides just the right amount of feedback without being too loud. The tactile bump is smooth and distinct, giving you a reliable sense of when the key registers. The Durock Shrimp is not overly sharp like some other tactile switches, making it ideal for long typing sessions. The silencing feature of the Durock Shrimp is definitely noticeable; with the silicone ring around the rails of the stem, creating a much quieter sound than typical tactile switches, making the Durock Shrimp a great choice for shared or quiet workspaces.

Switch Sound

The sound produced is much quieter than most tactile switches, without that loud "clack" that can disrupt others in quiet environments. It’s a subtle and muted “thock” sound, with the keypress almost entirely dampened. For people who need a quieter mechanical switch but still want tactile feedback, these switches are a perfect balance.

Here is a sound test of the Durock Shrimp:

TTC Bluish White

Product Details

Name	TTC Bluish White
Type	Silent Tactile
Top Housing Material	PC
Bottom Housing Material	PA66
Stem Material	POM
Operating Force	42±10gf
Pre Travel	2.0±0.4mm
Total Travel	3.5±0.4mm
Mount	5 pin
Factory Lubed	Yes

Switch Feel

TTC Bluish White V2 in stock form feels smooth but tends to have a little bit of scratchiness when the keypresses are off-center. Although, the scratch is more apparent in the sound than feel. The TTC Bluish White V2 switch has very little stem wobble, possibly due to its tight housing tolerances and dustproof stem.

The TTC Bluish White V2 appears to have a more rounded tactile bump than switches like the Holy Panda or the Gazzew Boba U4T. The TTC Bluish White V2 does not feel as snappy or sharp as the Holy Panda or Gazzew Boba U4T in terms of tactility, but it provides a comfortably smooth bump along the entirety of the keypress, making it a great choice for those seeking a smaller tactile feedback. 

Switch Sound

The TTC Bluish White V2 is very silent due to the way it's designed. The tactile switch has a dampening pad inside the hole where the pole of the stem would bottom out which enables the silencing mechanism when bottoming out and the TTC Bluish White V2 has a silicone ring out the stem that enables the silencing mechanism on top out. The TTC Bluish White V2 does its job as a silent switch, however, it has a slight scratch noise when the keypress is off-center but it is not audibly noticeable during normal typing sessions. The TTC Bluish White V2 typing sounds come mostly from the round tactile bump and the dampened bottom and top outs, which has relatively no difference in sound from the average membrane office keyboard, making it a great choice for a silent office keyboard build. 

Here are some sound tests of the TTC Bluish White:

Gazzew Boba U4

Product Details

Name	Boba U4
Type	Silent Tactile
Top Housing Material	Gazzew's new proprietary blend
Bottom Housing Material	Gazzew's new proprietary blend
Stem Material	Gazzew's new proprietary blend
Bottom Out Force	62g or 68g
Total Travel	4mm
Mount	5 pin
Factory Lubed	Yes

Switch Feel

The Boba U4 offers a smooth and refined tactile bump that makes each keypress feel deliberate and precise. The tactility is noticeable without being too jarring or sharp, making the Boba U4 comfortable for long typing sessions or intense gaming. The actuation is well-balanced, giving just the right amount of resistance to prevent accidental presses while offering enough feedback to let you know when a key is registered. The Boba U4 has a very well-defined yet smooth "D" shaped tactile bump, which is an excellent middle ground for those who are both new to tactile switches as well as seasoned enthusiasts. 

Switch Sound

The Boba U4 delivers a very low-key sound profile. While the tactile bump is still pronounced, the overall sound is noticeably quieter than typical tactile switches due to the silencing mechanism. The dampened sound profile of the Boba U4 is an excellent compromise for those who want a quiet keyboard but still enjoy the benefits of tactile feedback. The Boba U4 keypress sounds are more of a muted “thock” with very little ping or high-pitched noise.

Here is a sound test of the Boba U4 Silent Tactile:

Wuque WS Silent Tactile

Product Details

Name	Wuque WS Silent Tactile
Type	Silent Tactile
Top Housing Material	Nylon
Bottom Housing Material	Nylon
Stem Material	POM
Bottom Out Force	63.5g
Total Travel	3.5±0.3mm
Mount	5 pin
Factory Lubed	Yes

Switch Feel

The Wuque WS Silent Tactile delivers a distinctive tactile bump at the actuation point for those looking for a crisp tactility. The tactile bump of the Wuque WS Silent Tactile is noticeable without being too sharp or intrusive. The factory lube of the Wuque WS Silent Tactile provides smooth keypresses before and after the tactile bump, creating a refined tactile experience. The Wuque WS Silent Tactile also uses a silencing mechanism free of any silicone dampeners. The Wuque WS Silent Tactile achieves their silencing through the use of relief cuts on the stem rails that provide a more of a shock absorbing effect than a cushioning effect. The Wuque WS Silent Tactile is designed to create a silent switch without the mushy feeling that may come from silicone dampeners when bottoming out. 

Switch Sound

The Wuque WS Silent Tactile achieves a quiet sound through the use of relief cuts in the stem rails by dispersing the force of the bottom out and reducing the sounds created on impact. This creates a softer sound profile than typical silent switches that produce a soft and dampened sound through the use of silicone dampeners. The Wuque WS Silent Tactile isn't completely silent, but their unique silencing mechanism provides a quiet switch that is most similar is feel and pitch to a normal tactile switch. You can imagine the Wuque WS Silent Tactile as just a quiet version of a normal tactile switch. This makes the Wuque WS Silent Tactile a great option for those that enjoy the sound and feel of tactile switches and don't want to sacrifice the feel of traditional tactile switches just for a quieter switch.

Here is a sound test of the Wuque WS Silent Tactile:

Outemu Silent Ocean

Product Details

Name	Outemu Ocean
Type	Silent Linear
Top Housing Material	Nylon
Bottom Housing Material	Nylon
Stem Material	POM
Actuation Force	45g
Bottom Out Force	65g
Total Travel	4mm
Mount	5 pin
Factory Lubed	Yes

Switch Feel

The Ocean Silent Linear switch delivers exactly what you’d expect from a linear switch: a smooth, uninterrupted keystroke with no tactile bump or audible click. The keypress is buttery soft, and consistent throughout the entire keypress. Since the Outemu Ocean is a silent linear, it’s designed to reduce noise significantly. The Outemu Ocean offers a very quiet keystroke, making it perfect for office environments or any shared spaces where noise might be a concern. The dampened bottom-out and smoother actuation help in minimizing any sound, making the Outemu Ocean one of the quieter linear switches on the market. The Outemu Ocean Silent Linear would be a great choice for a silent linear switch if you are looking for smooth actuations with a dampened bottom out feel.

Switch Sound

The Outemu Ocean silent linear switches achieve a soft and dampened sound profile through the use of silicone dampeners on the stem railings. The Outemu Ocean uses a traditional method for dampening and is a great option for users who need a quieter typing experience for working, gaming, or shared spaces. 

Here is a sound test of the Outemu Ocean Silent Linear:

Akko Fairy

Product Details

Name	Akko Fairy
Type	Silent Linear
Top Housing Material	PA
Bottom Housing Material	PA
Stem Material	POM
Operating Force	50gf±5gf
Total Travel	3.3mm
Mount	5 pin
Factory Lubed	Yes

Switch Feel

The Akko Fairy has a soft and quiet typing experience. It feels very smooth and clean to type on with its factory lube. The Akko Fairy uses silicone on the rails of the stems for its silencing mechanism, which provides a soft typing feel. The Akko Fairy could also provide a more responsive typing experience with its short travel distance and a relatively light spring weight. 

In its stock form, the Akko Fairy is similar to the Akko Penguin in terms of smoothness, and slightly scratchier than the Boba U4.

Switch Sound

The nylon housing of the Akko Fairy creates a muted but full sound signature that leans towards a lower pitched tone. Overall, it provides a clean silent sound with very minor scratchiness. 

The Akko Fairy has a similar volume to the Outemu Cream Yellow and slightly more muted compared to a Boba U4. As a silent switch, the Akko Fairy is a competitive choice especially given its friendly price point. The Akko Fairy is a great option for office work or public settings where you might be more conscious about the typing volume. 

Here is a sound test of the Akko Fairy:

Durock Dolphin

Product Details

Name	Durock Dolphin
Type	Silent Linear
Top Housing Material	Polycarbonate
Bottom Housing Material	Transparent Polymer
Stem Material	POM
Bottom Out Force	62g
Total Travel	3.8 mm
Mount	5 pin
Factory Lubed	Yes

Switch Feel

The Dolphin Silent Linear switch has an incredibly smooth and consistent press. From top to bottom, the key press feels clean and uninterrupted, making the Durock Dolphin ideal for fast typing and gaming. The actuation force is balanced, not too heavy or light, offering a comfortable typing experience over long periods. The lack of friction between the stem and housing contributes to a buttery-smooth keypress, making the Durock Dolphin a great choice for anyone who values a seamless, effortless feel.

Switch Sound

The Durock Dolphin is one of the more noticeably quieter linear switches, thanks to the built-in dampening around the stem rails. The Durock Dolphin produces a soft and subdued thock on bottom out due to the silicone around the stem rails. The noise produced is more of a soft, muted sound, making it a fantastic option for shared spaces like offices or study areas where you don’t want to disturb others. Overall, the Durock Dolphin offers a premium blend of smooth feel and low noise. Whether you’re typing for hours or gaming in a more noise-conscious environment, the Durock Dolphin provides a satisfying experience with minimal distractions.

Here is a sound test of the Durock Dolphin:

TTC Frozen

Product Details

Name	TTC Frozen
Type	Silent Linear
Top Housing Material	PC
Bottom Housing Material	PC
Stem Material	POM
Actuation Force	39g
Bottom Out Force	43g
Pre Travel	2.0mm
Total Travel	3.5mm
Mount	5 pin
Factory Lubed	Yes

Switch Feel

TTC Silent Frozen V2 in stock form feels smooth with very little stem wobble, possibly due to its tight housing tolerances and dustproof stem.

Switch Sound

The TTC Silent Frozen V2 is very quiet due to the way it's designed. It has a dampening pad inside the hole where the pole would bottom out and a silicone ring on the stem that creates a quiet top out. The TTC Silent Frozen V2 does its job as a silent switch, however, it has a slight scratch noise when the keypress is off-center but it is not audibly noticeable during normal typing sessions. 

Here is a sound test of the TTC Silent Frozen V2:

Gazzew Bobagum Pink

Product Details

Name	Bobagum Pink
Type	Silent Linear
Top Housing Material	Gazzew's new proprietary plastic blend
Bottom Housing Material	Gazzew's new proprietary plastic blend
Stem Material	Gazzew's new proprietary plastic blend
Bottom Out Force	55g, 62g, 68g
Total Travel	4mm
Mount	5 pin
Factory Lubed	Yes

Switch Feel

The Gazzew Bobagum Pink Silent Linear feels smooth to type on with no noticeable leaf or spring ping. There is also no scratchiness even on off-centered keypresses. And with its tight housing tolerances, the Gazzew Bobagum has little to no stem wobble, creating a clean typing experience. However, due to the silencing mechanism with the use of silicone on the stem rails, the Gazzew Bobagum may feel mushy to some typists especially after typing on traditional switches that have a solid bottom out. 

Switch Sound

The Gazzew Bobagum Pink Silent Linear does its job as a silent switch by having a silent bottom out and a silent top out due to its silencing mechanism. Some silent switches have mechanisms that provide a slightly muted sound rather than being silent. The Gazzew Bobagum, with its silicone stem rails, provides an actual silent typing experience. There is no leaf or spring ping, no scratchiness, and no rattling noises that compromise the silent switch. The Gazzew Bobagum is an excellent option for typists looking to have a silent keyboard for the office or even for late night gamers who have a shared space. 

Here is a sound test of our Hand Lubed Gazzew Bobagum Pink:

Gateron Zero Degree

Product Details

Name	Gateron Zero Degree
Type	Silent Linear
Top Housing Material	PC
Bottom Housing Material	PA66
Stem Material	POM
Actuation Force	45g
Pre Travel	1.8mm
Total Travel	3.6mm
Mount	5 pin
Factory Lubed	Yes

Switch Feel

The Gateron Zero Degree feels smooth with no noticeable scratch on each keypress. The Gateron Zero Degree has a dual rail stem design which creates stable and consistent actuations especially in the N/S stem tolerances. The Gateron Zero Degree also features a new design for their silencing mechanism. Instead of silicon dampeners on the rails of the stem, the Gateron Zero Degree uses a double shoulder silent pad on the top housing and four silent pads on the bottom housing for its silencing mechanism. These paddings help to dampen and disperse the sound while still retaining the feel of a non-silent switch. The Gateron Zero Degree feels responsive to type on with no mushy bottom out feel. 

Switch Sound

The Gateron Zero Degree, despite its name, is not a completely silent switch. It retains some of its character especially when it returns on the top out. This could be due to it using silencing pads instead of the traditional silicon dampeners. Nonetheless, the Gateron Zero Degree is still a quiet switch and suitable for users in an office or a shared space. The Gateron Zero Degree would be a good option for those who are looking for a quieter switch that still has some character in its sound and feel. 

Here is a sound test of the Gateron Zero Degree:

Conclusion

So which silent switch is the quietest? First, comparing silent linear switches to silent tactile switches, silent linear switches are a tad quieter than silent tactile switches because they do not pass through the tactile bump upon actuation. Silent tactile switches are still very quiet but since they have the tactile bump they make an additional noise that linear switches lack. Second, among the linear switches, the switches that are the quiestest are the switches that use a piece silicone on its stems rails for its dampening mechanism. These include: Outemu Ocean Silent Linear, Akko Fairy Silent Linear, Bobagum Pink Silent Linear, and Durock Dolphin. Since the Silicone absorbs most of the force the sound created is hardly noticeable on bottom out. To differentiate between the silent linears, you would have to listen for any other sounds like scratch, spring ping, leaf ping, etc. Taking these into account, the Durock Dolphin and the Bobagum Pink would both take the top spots as the quietest silent switches. They have the most silencing with their use of silicone and they have the least amount of any unnecessary noises like scratchiness. 

Some other things to consider when choosing silent switches may be the feel as well. For example you might still prefer the feeling of tactile switches. Then getting a silent tactile switch would still be a better option in this particular use case. Or maybe you don't like the feeling of silicone, then something like the Wuque WS Silent Tactile that doesn't use silicone would be a good option for you. 

You can find these switches in our shop! Check it out.

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