Tecsee vs. Outemu: Choosing a Medium-Profile Switch

What if you could lower your keyboard without switching entirely to a dedicated low-profile switch system?
Hybrid medium-profile switches are a middle ground between standard MX and low-profile switches. They're shorter than a standard MX switch but keep an MX-compatible pinout, so they're designed for keyboards that already take MX-compatible switches.

At 3dkeycap, we carry two: Tecsee Pudding Medium Switches and Outemu Medium Low-Profile Switches. Both lower the switch housing, but they handle the keystroke differently. Tecsee shortens the travel to 2.5 mm, while Outemu keeps a standard-length 4 mm stroke and offers four switch types.

Tecsee Pudding Medium Switches

The Tecsee Pudding Medium is a linear switch with a medium-profile housing and an MX-compatible pinout. It has 2.5 mm of total travel, compared with 4 mm on a standard MX switch.

It registers a keypress at 1.3 mm with 50g of force and bottoms out at 63.5g (full specs on KBD.news). The result is a smooth press with no tactile bump.

The 2.5 mm stroke is shorter than standard MX but deeper than many other medium-profile switches. If you want a lower board and a shorter keystroke that still feels mechanical, Tecsee is the one to look at.

Outemu Medium Low-Profile Switches

The Outemu Medium Low-Profile Switches, despite "Low-Profile" in the name, are medium switches with an MX-compatible pinout, not switches for a dedicated low-profile board. The difference from Tecsee is the keystroke. Outemu lowers the housing but keeps a standard-length stroke.

Red, Black, and Brown have 4 mm of total travel, the same as a standard MX switch, and Blue is listed at 3.6–4 mm. That makes them a good fit if you want a lower keyboard without changing how far your keys move. They also come in four variants so that you can pick the feel.

Outemu Switch Types

Tecsee vs. Outemu: Key Differences

Feature	Tecsee Pudding Medium	Outemu Medium Low-Profile
Pinout	MX-compatible	MX-compatible
Switch type	Linear	Linear, heavier linear, tactile, clicky
Actuation force	50g	~50–65g, depending on variant
Total travel	2.5 mm	4 mm (Blue: 3.6–4 mm)
Variants	One	Red, Black, Brown, Blue
Best for	A shorter keystroke	Standard-length travel and a choice of feel

Specs are listed values. Check the product pages for the latest details before you buy.

How Does Travel Distance Affect Typing?

Total travel is how far a key moves from rest to the bottom of its stroke. A standard MX switch travels 4 mm.

Tecsee's 2.5 mm stroke means less finger movement per press and a more compact feel. Outemu keeps the full 4 mm (3.6–4 mm on Blue), so typing feels like a standard MX switch, just on a lower keyboard.

Travel isn't the whole story, though. Actuation force, tactile feedback, spring feel and personal preference all shape how a switch types. For example, the Tecsee and the Outemu Red are both linear and actuate at about 50g, so the biggest difference between them is how far the key travels.

Compatibility

Both switches use an MX-compatible pinout, so they're designed for keyboards that support MX-compatible mechanical switches. Check that your keyboard supports them before you buy.

The Tecsee Pudding Medium is a 5-pin switch. If your keyboard only has holes for 3-pin switches, you can clip off the two small plastic alignment pins so the switch sits flush.

Which Medium Switch Should You Choose?

Choose Tecsee Pudding Medium if you want a lower keyboard and a shorter keystroke, and you like linear switches.

Choose Outemu Medium Low-Profile if you want a lower keyboard with a standard-length keystroke, or you want tactile or clicky feedback.

Neither is better for everyone. Think about the feel you prefer, how far you like your keys to travel and what your keyboard supports.

Explore Medium Switches at 3dkeycap

Medium-profile switches are a simple way to try a lower build while keeping your MX-compatible keyboard. Compare the specs above, then pick the one that matches how you like to type.