TKC Kiwi vs. SP-Star Meteor Orange

Overview

The TKC Kiwi and the SP-Star Meteor Orange are two mechanical keyboard switches, each offering their own unique features and advantages. The TKC Kiwi is a tactile switch that aims to enhance your typing experience with a medium to medium-strong bump at the top of each key press. This results in a satisfyingly snappy sound profile and a truly immersive typing experience. Additionally, the Kiwi switches are lightly factory lubed, ensuring a smooth and effortless typing experience right out of the box. On the other hand, the SP-Star Meteor Orange switches are known for their exquisitely gentle tactility. With a soft and seductive tactility and a neutral sound profile, these switches provide a more subtle and calming typing experience. Both switches are categorized as polished, meaning they have a smooth and refined feel to their keystrokes. However, let's dive in a bit deeper beyond these generalities so you can best decide on the switch that suits your preferences and typing style.

By the numbers

TKC Kiwi Tactile

SP-Star Meteor Orange Tactile

$8.00 per 10

$5.50

$5.00 per 10

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Housing materials

The TKC Kiwi and the SP-Star Meteor Orange differ in their housing materials, resulting in distinct sound signatures and typing experiences. The Kiwi features a UHWMPE top housing, known for its bright sound signature and resonant clacks when typing. In contrast, the Meteor Orange utilizes a nylon top housing, which brings about a deeper and fuller sound profile. The UHWMPE top housing of the Kiwi is likely to produce sharper and brighter sounds upon key release, while the nylon top housing of the Meteor Orange will yield a somewhat duller and rounder sound.

Moving on to the bottom housings, the differences persist. The Kiwi employs a UHWMPE bottom housing, contributing to its bright sound signature and resonant clacks upon keystrokes. However, the Meteor Orange incorporates a nylon bottom housing, which promotes a deeper and fuller sound profile during typing. As a result, the UHWMPE bottom housing of the Kiwi is expected to provide a more vibrant and pronounced sound when bottoming out keys, while the nylon bottom housing of the Meteor Orange will offer a softer and more absorbing effect, resulting in a duller and rounder sound upon key presses.

Overall, the TKC Kiwi and the SP-Star Meteor Orange showcase divergent sound profiles and typing experiences due to their different housing materials. The Kiwi's UHWMPE top and bottom housings produce a bright sound signature with resonant clacks, while the Meteor Orange's nylon top and bottom housings elicit a deeper and fuller sound profile. However, it is important to note that both switches feature newer materials for their top and bottom housings, showcasing the ongoing quest for improved sound quality and user experience in the mechanical keyboard community. Despite their differences, both switches strive to provide a satisfying typing experience with unique qualities provided by their respective housing materials.

Weight

When comparing the TKC Kiwi tactile switch and the SP-Star Meteor Orange tactile switch, there are noticeable differences in the actuation force and bottom out force. The Kiwi has an actuation force of 43 grams, while the Meteor Orange's actuation force is unknown. Similarly, the bottom out force of the Kiwi is 67 grams, while the Meteor Orange has a bottom out force of 57 grams. As a result, the Kiwi can be considered medium-heavy in terms of both actuation and bottom out forces, while the Meteor Orange falls into the medium-light category.

For those who prefer a lighter typing experience, the Meteor Orange might be the better choice as it has a lower bottom out force. This lighter force allows for longer periods of comfortable typing, making it ideal for those who use their keyboards extensively for work or during extended gaming sessions. On the other hand, the Kiwi provides a more substantial and pronounced push feel due to its heavier actuation and bottom out forces. This can be appealing to individuals who enjoy a stronger tactile feedback while typing.

In summary, the TKC Kiwi tactile switch has a medium-heavy actuation force of 43 grams and a bottom out force of 67 grams. In comparison, the SP-Star Meteor Orange tactile switch has a medium-light bottom out force of 57 grams, while the actuation force is not specified. Ultimately, the choice between the two switches depends on individual preference for a lighter or heavier typing experience.

Travel distance

Both the TKC Kiwi tactile switch and the SP-Star Meteor Orange tactile switch have a travel distance of 4 mm. This means that when you press down on a key with either switch, you will feel a 4 mm distance traveled from the top to the bottom. As such, both switches will provide similar results in terms of travel distance.

Price comparison

Typing experience

The TKC Kiwi tactile switch has a distinctive low-pitched sound profile. This means that when the key is pressed and released, it produces a more bass-heavy and mellow tone. On the other hand, the SP-Star Meteor Orange tactile switch has a neutral sound profile. This means that it has a moderate sound that is suitable for various purposes, whether it be for beginners or advanced typists, and whether it is used at home or in a work setting. It is also described as thocky, which implies that it produces a deep, rich, and satisfying sound when pressed. However, it should be noted that the sound of a switch can be affected by other factors such as the keyboard board and keycaps used.

In terms of feel, the TKC Kiwi tactile switch offers a stepped and accented tactile experience. Stepped switches have a two-stage feel, with some pre-travel and post-travel, providing a more mild tactile feedback compared to hypertactile switches. Accented switches provide a prominent amount of tactility without being overwhelming or subtle. Additionally, the Kiwi switch is polished, resulting in a smooth typing experience with reduced friction and smooth key travel.

On the other hand, the SP-Star Meteor Orange tactile switch offers a mild and polished typing experience. It provides a gentle tactile feedback that is approachable to most typists, as its qualities fall in a safe middle-ground zone. Similar to the Kiwi switch, the Meteor Orange switch is also polished, resulting in a sleek typing experience with reduced friction and smooth key travel.

In summary, the TKC Kiwi tactile switch offers a low-pitched sound profile, a stepped and accented tactile feel, and a polished typing experience. On the other hand, the SP-Star Meteor Orange tactile switch has a neutral sound profile with a thocky characteristic, a mild tactile feel, and a polished typing experience. While they have some similarities in terms of the polished feel and typing experience, the Kiwi switch provides a more unique low-pitched sound and a stepped and accented tactile feel. This makes the choice between the two switches a matter of personal preference and the specific typing experience desired.

Conclusion

To sum up, when choosing between the TKC Kiwi tactile switch and the SP-Star Meteor Orange tactile switch, consider the specific qualities and preferences you are looking for in a switch. The Kiwi switch offers a medium to medium-strong bump at the top of each key press, resulting in a satisfying and immersive typing experience. It has a bottom out force of 67 grams, making it medium-heavy. The Kiwi switch also has a low-pitched and neutral sound profile, which produces a more bass-heavy and mellow tone compared to higher-pitched switches. In terms of feel, the Kiwi switch is described as stepped, accented, and polished, providing a mild yet prominent amount of tactility and a smooth typing experience due to materials used and factory lubing.

On the other hand, the SP-Star Meteor Orange switch is best known for its soft and seductive tactility, offering a gentle typing experience. It has a bottom out force of 57 grams, making it medium-light. The Meteor Orange switch has a neutral sound profile, suitable for most intents and purposes, whether you are a beginner or advanced, and whether you plan to use them at home or work. However, it also offers a thocky sound, producing a deep, rich, and satisfying sound when pressed. In terms of feel, the Meteor Orange switch is described as mild and polished, providing a safe and approachable typing experience, with reduced friction and smooth key travel.

Ultimately, the choice between the TKC Kiwi and SP-Star Meteor Orange tactile switches depends on your personal preferences. If you prefer a more prominent and snappy typing experience with a medium to medium-strong bump, along with a low-pitched sound profile, the Kiwi switch may be the better option for you. On the other hand, if you prefer a gentler and softer typing experience with a thocky sound profile, along with a neutral and mild feel, the Meteor Orange switch may be more suitable. Consider your desired level of tactility, sound profile, and typing experience when making your decision.

Mentioned in this article

TKC Kiwi Tactile

$8.00 per 10

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SP-Star Meteor Orange Tactile

$5.50

$5.00 per 10

Learn more