Gateron Brown vs Outemu Brown
The Gateron Brown and the Outemu Brown are separated mostly by spring weight, 5 g of it at actuation, with the Gateron Brown the firmer press and the Outemu Brown the easier one to hold down. Our library of every switch we simulate cross-links them because this matchup keeps coming up. Start with the A/B bursts below, then take the spec table and the picks in order.
Hear them back to back
simulated from real specssound loads on your first tapShortcuts: press A or B anywhere outside a text box to fire that burst. Use the volume trims to loudness-match the pair before judging which sounds better.
Spec by spec
| Spec | Gateron Brown | Outemu Brown |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Tactile | Tactile |
| Brand rates force at | actuation | actuation |
| Actuation force | 55 g | 50 g |
| Bottom-out force | not published | not published |
| Pre-travel | 2 mm | 2 mm |
| Total travel | 4 mm | 4 mm |
| Silent (dampened) | No | No |
| Factory lubed | No | No |
| MX-compatible stem | Yes | Yes |
| Price tier | Budget | Budget |
| Street price | varies | varies |
Both makers rate these at actuation, which is the one case where the advertised numbers compare directly. Every other force row still has to be matched basis to basis.
Verdict
The Gateron Brown and the Outemu Brown are both tactiles, so nothing separates them at the fingertip until you look at springs and acoustics. Their springs sit close together, just 5 g apart at actuation, with the Gateron Brown the marginally firmer press. What really separates them is sound, with the Gateron Brown tending toward soft mid-pitch tap, slightly rounder than MX Brown and the Outemu Brown toward mid-pitched tap with a light rattle. Our picks: the Outemu Brown for gaming, the Gateron Brown for typing and a shared office.
- Gaming pick
- Outemu Brown
- Typing pick
- Gateron Brown
- Office pick
- Gateron Brown
Force curves
Gateron Brown
Gateron publishes no bottom-out force for this switch, so the dashed end of the curve is an estimate, not a spec. Everything up to actuation comes from the published numbers.
Outemu Brown
Outemu publishes no bottom-out force for this switch, so the dashed end of the curve is an estimate, not a spec. Everything up to actuation comes from the published numbers.
Gateron Brown or Outemu Brown: the long answer
Specs first, since the feel gap is what you notice in the first minute of typing. The Gateron Brown carries the heavier spring at actuation, 55 g to 50 g. That is a real 5 g without being a change of bracket. Both are tactiles either way, so both raise a bump close to the point the press registers. The two stroke depths are identical, 2.0 mm to actuation inside 4.0 mm of total travel. Nothing here is decisive on its own, which is why the sound comparison matters more than usual on this pair.
Sound is where most people finally pick a side. Through the A/B player above, the Gateron Brown comes through as soft mid-pitch tap, slightly rounder than MX Brown, while the Outemu Brown reads as mid-pitched tap with a light rattle. As everywhere on the site, these are simulations built from published specifications and documented character. Accurate enough to compare, not a recording.
On price and practicality, both are budget friendly. Neither is factory lubed, so enthusiasts often hand lube both for the smoothest result.
This one genuinely splits. The Outemu Brown for games, because the two are close enough here that either works, and our scoring gives it the nod by a hair. The Gateron Brown for writing, since its keystroke stays consistent and comfortable across a full day of writing. The Gateron Brown for an office, as it is the one of these two you would not apologize for. Whichever way you land, listen to both above with the volume trims matched before you spend anything.
Want the full story on either switch? Read the dedicated Gateron Brown page and the Outemu Brown page. Or leave switches aside for a minute and run your current keyboard through the free keyboard tester.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Gateron Brown or the Outemu Brown the better gaming switch?
We pick the Outemu Brown for gaming. This is close to a coin toss. The scoring hands it over by a margin you would not feel in a match.
Gateron Brown or Outemu Brown: which one is quieter?
They are close. Neither is a silent switch and neither clicks, so loudness depends mostly on how hard you bottom out and the board they sit in. Their character differs though: the Gateron Brown leans toward soft mid-pitch tap, slightly rounder than MX Brown, while the Outemu Brown is mid-pitched tap with a light rattle.
Gateron Brown vs Outemu Brown: which one is the heavier press?
The Gateron Brown, by 5 g. Both figures are published at actuation, 55 g against 50 g, so they are measured at the same point and can be read straight.
More comparisons
More vs Gateron Brown
Or browse every switch comparison on the site.