TTC Bluish White Silent vs Akko Penguin - Which Silent Switches Is for You?

Overview

When it comes to popular silent tactile switches, the Akko Penguin and TTC Bluish White Silent are two standout contenders that frequently show up in enthusiast discussions, and for good reason. Both switches have earned praise for delivering a satisfying tactile bump while producing a quiet sound profile. The Akko Penguin offers a smooth, cushioned press with a rounded bump and impressively dampened sound, making it a favorite for those who prioritize comfort and quietness. Meanwhile, the TTC Bluish White Silent is celebrated for its crisp tactile feedback and consistent feel, paired with built-in dampening that keeps noise to a minimum. Whether you're building a stealthy office board or just want a quieter typing experience at home, these two switches are among the most talked-about options for a reason.

Product Details

Switch Feel

TTC Bluish White

TTC Bluish White in stock form feels smooth. The TTC Bluish White switch has very little stem wobble, possibly due to its tight housing tolerances and dustproof stem.

The TTC Bluish White appears to have a more rounded tactile bump than switches like the Holy Panda or the Gazzew Boba U4T. The TTC Bluish White 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.

Akko Penguin

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

TTC Bluish White

The TTC Bluish White 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 has a silicone ring out the stem that enables the silencing mechanism on top out. The TTC Bluish White 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 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:

Akko Penguin

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:

Conclusion

So which silent switch should you get for your silent mechanical keyboard build? A few things to consider: the tactile feel, the bottom out feel, and the volume.

In terms of the typing feel, the Akko Penguin has a sharper feeling tactile bump at the initial press when compared to the TTC Bluish which feels to have a more rounded bump throughout the press until it hits the linear post travel.

When bottoming out, the Akko Penguin also feels softer and has that mushy feel that comes from silent switches with a silicone block in the stem rails for its silencing mechanism. The TTC Bluish aims to have a quiet switch while retaining the traditional solid feeling bottom out, which I would it say it achieves.

For typing sound, the Akko Penguin with the silicone sounds quieter than the TTC Bluish, although that isn't to say that the TTC Bluish isn't quiet.

If you are looking for the quietest silent tactile switch, then the Akko Penguin might be for you. If you are looking for a quiet switch and want to retain a more solid feeling bottom out, then the TTC Bluish might be for you.

Choosing a Silent Switch for Your Mechanical Keyboard Build: Key Considerations

Factors to consider:
- Tactile feel
- Bottom-out feel
- Typing volume
Typing feel:
- Akko Penguin:
  - Sharper tactile bump at initial press
- TTC Bluish:
  - More rounded bump throughout the press
  - Transitions into linear feel during post-travel
Bottom-out feel:
- Akko Penguin:
  - Softer, "mushy" feel due to silicone blocks in stem rails
- TTC Bluish:
  - Solid, traditional bottom-out feel despite being quiet
Typing sound:
- Akko Penguin:
  - Quieter due to silicone damping
- TTC Bluish:
  - Still quiet, but slightly louder than the Penguin
Recommendation:
- Choose Akko Penguin for the quietest operation and softer bottom-out feel
- Choose TTC Bluish if you prefer quiet switches with a more solid bottom-out feel

Comparison to Other Silent Tactile Switches

Akko Penguin vs. Durock Shrimp

The Akko Penguin is made with PA housing while the Durock Shrimp is made with a PC housing. Both switches are made with a POM stem.
Akko Penguin has a bottom out force of 65g and the Durock shrimp as a bottom out force of 67g
The Akko Penguin has a shorter travel distance of 3.3mm while the Durock Shrimp has a travel distance of 4.0mm
The Akko Penguin uses silicone in the stem rails for its dampening mechanism, and while the Durock Shrimp also uses silicone it uses silicone to wrap around the stem rails instead of entirely replacing it with silicone, aiming to create a quiet switch with a slightly firmer feel than with just silicone

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TTC Bluish White vs Akko Penguin - Which Silent Switches Is for You?

Overview

Product Details

Switch Feel

TTC Bluish White

Akko Penguin

Switch Sound

TTC Bluish White

Akko Penguin

Conclusion

Comparison to Other Silent Tactile Switches

Other Reading

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