Everglide Crystal Violet vs. SP-Star Meteor White
An in-depth look at the Everglide Crystal Violet and the SP-Star Meteor White switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
Introducing the Everglide Crystal Violet, a tactile switch, and the SP-Star Meteor White, a linear switch. These mechanical keyboard switches offer distinct qualities and characteristics that cater to different preferences. The Crystal Violet is renowned for its light operating force of 45g, providing a relaxed and stepped tactile typing experience. Its gentle and comfortable feel is perfect for those who prioritize a soothing typing sensation. Additionally, the Crystal Violet's sound profile leans towards the lower-pitched spectrum, creating a pleasant and non-intrusive auditory experience, thanks to the special use of ABS in its housings. On the other hand, the Meteor White offers a subdued and gentle linear switch. It requires minimal effort to press and produces a soft pitter-patter sound profile. Both its type feel and sound profile are remarkably smooth, making it an excellent choice for those who prefer a serene and polished typing experience. However, let's dive in a bit deeper beyond these generalities so you can make an informed decision about the switch that best suits your preferences.
By the numbers
Technical specifications
Actuation force
45g
Actuation force
N/A
Bottom-out force
55g
Bottom-out force
57g
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Total travel
4.00 mm
Total travel
4.00 mm
Factory lubed
Yes
Factory lubed
Yes
Stem construction
Standard
Stem construction
Standard
Stem material
POM
Stem material
POM
Top housing material
ABS
Top housing material
Nylon
Bottom housing material
ABS
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Spring
Gold-plated
Spring
Gold plated
Housing materials
The Everglide Crystal Violet and the SP-Star Meteor White differ in their housing materials, with the former featuring ABS top and bottom housing, while the latter utilizes nylon for both top and bottom housing. The ABS housing of the Crystal Violet gives a relatively low-pitched sound profile when typing, which is characteristic of ABS plastic. In contrast, the nylon housing of the Meteor White elicits a deeper and fuller sound profile due to its softer nature, which absorbs more sound and creates a duller and rounder sound.
The difference in housing materials also affects the feel of the switches. While the Crystal Violet's ABS bottom housing contributes to the overall sound profile, the top housing has a more noticeable impact on the sound when releasing a key. On the other hand, the Meteor White's nylon bottom housing plays a significant role in the bottom-out sound and feel of the switch. Thus, the two switches offer different tactile experiences based on their housing materials.
Despite their differences, both the Crystal Violet and the Meteor White share similarities in their housing materials. Both switches use ABS material for their top housing, which is relatively rare for switch housings, but commonly found in keycaps. This similarity suggests that the sound profile when typing on these switches will be similar, featuring a relatively low-pitched sound. However, it is important to note that the bottom housing material plays a significant role in the overall sound and feel of a switch, so there may still be noticeable differences between the two switches due to their different bottom housing materials.
Weight
When it comes to the actuation force and bottom out force, the Everglide Crystal Violet tactile switch and the SP-Star Meteor White linear switch have some similarities and differences. The Crystal Violet has a known actuation force of 45 grams, while the actuation force of the Meteor White is unavailable. Both switches, however, fall under the category of medium-light actuation force.
In terms of bottom out force, the Crystal Violet requires 55 grams, while the Meteor White has a bottom out force of 57 grams. These values showcase that the Crystal Violet is slightly lighter in terms of bottom out force compared to the Meteor White.
For those who prefer a lighter typing experience, both switches provide a similar actuation force that allows for longer periods of typing without fatigue. On the other hand, for individuals seeking a more substantial and stronger push feel, the Crystal Violet with its slightly lighter bottom out force might be the preferred option.
Ultimately, the choice between the Everglide Crystal Violet tactile switch and the SP-Star Meteor White linear switch comes down to personal preference. Some may find the medium-light actuation and bottom out forces of the Crystal Violet more suitable, while others may prefer the slightly heavier bottom out force of the Meteor White for a more substantial typing experience.
Travel distance
The Everglide Crystal Violet tactile switch and the SP-Star Meteor White linear switch both have a travel distance of 4 mm. This means that when you press down on a key using either of these switches, you will feel the same distance being traveled from the top to the bottom. Therefore, in terms of travel distance, both switches will provide similar results.
Price comparison
Which switch is more bang for your buck?
The Everglide Crystal Violet has an MSRP of $7.08 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Crystal Violet for $4.19.
The SP-Star Meteor White has an MSRP of $5.60 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Meteor White for $5.00.
Here at Milktooth, we offer the best prices on switches (on average, 27% lower the competition). In addition, we offer free shipping on orders over $49.00. We also offer free returns and exchanges, so you can shop with guaranteed satisfaction.
That said, while price is an important piece of the puzzle, our opinion is that you should ultimately pick the option that most suits your unique preferences since you’ll be using these switches for years to come. In other words, finding something perfect for you is, in our view, the most important criteria.
Typing experience
In terms of sound, the Everglide Crystal Violet switches have a pleasantly mellow and low-pitched profile. This means that the sound produced by these switches leans towards the lower frequencies, creating a subtle and non-intrusive auditory experience. On the other hand, the SP-Star Meteor White switches offer a gentle and pitter-patter sound profile. While the specific sound descriptor is not mentioned, it can be inferred that the Meteor White switches have a softer and more subdued sound compared to the Crystal Violet switches. Overall, both switches provide a soft and gentle sound profile, with the Crystal Violet leaning towards the lower-pitched spectrum and the Meteor White being described as soft.
When it comes to feel, the Everglide Crystal Violet switches are touted as providing a relaxed and stepped tactile typing experience. The switches have a light operating force of 45g, which contributes to a gentle and comfortable feel while typing. They are also described as creamy and mild, showcasing a smooth and buttery typing experience that effortlessly glides from key to key. Additionally, the Crystal Violet switches are mentioned to have a stepped feel, which means that they offer two stages of tactility, with some pre-travel and/or post-travel. On the other hand, the SP-Star Meteor White switches are described as mild and polished. This suggests that they offer a gentle typing experience, similar to the Crystal Violet switches. The polished finish of the Meteor White switches ensures a smooth and refined typing experience, with reduced friction and smooth key travel. Overall, both switches offer a comfortable and approachable typing feel, with the Crystal Violet providing a stepped tactile experience and the Meteor White having a polished and smooth feel.
Considering the available information, it is evident that both the Everglide Crystal Violet tactile switches and the SP-Star Meteor White linear switches share some similarities in terms of sound and feel. Both switches offer soft and gentle typing experiences, with the Crystal Violet switches leaning towards the lower-pitched sound spectrum and the Meteor White switches having a pitter-patter sound profile. Additionally, both switches provide a mild and approachable feel, with the Crystal Violet switches offering a creamy and stepped tactile experience, while the Meteor White switches have a polished and smooth feel. While there may be slight differences in their specific characteristics, newcomers to mechanical keyboards can expect similar results in terms of sound and feel from both the Everglide Crystal Violet and SP-Star Meteor White switches.
Conclusion
To sum up, if you are seeking a relaxed and stepped tactile typing experience, then the Everglide Crystal Violet tactile switch is the way to go. With a light operating force of 45 grams, these switches offer a gentle and comfortable feel. The sound profile of the Crystal Violet switches is pleasantly mellow, leaning towards the lower-pitched spectrum, creating a subtle and non-intrusive auditory experience. Additionally, the Crystal Violet switches have a creamy and mild feel, providing a smooth and buttery typing experience. On the other hand, if you prefer a more subdued and easy-to-press linear switch, then the SP-Star Meteor White is a great choice. With a bottom out force of 57 grams, these switches offer a gentle and soft typing experience. The sound profile is described as neutral and thocky, producing a deep and satisfying sound when pressed. Furthermore, the Meteor White switches have a mild and polished feel, providing reduced friction and smooth key travel. Ultimately, the decision between the Everglide Crystal Violet and SP-Star Meteor White switches depends on your preference for tactile or linear switches and the desired typing experience in terms of sound and feel.
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