SP-Star Meteor White vs. Outemu Silver
An in-depth look at the SP-Star Meteor White and the Outemu Silver switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When considering mechanical keyboard switches, the SP-Star Meteor White and the Outemu Silver both offer unique qualities to enhance your typing experience. The SP-Star Meteor White is a linear switch that is best known for its subdued nature, providing a gentle and soft typing experience with a pitter-patter sound profile. On the other hand, the Outemu Silver also falls under the linear switch category, but is characterized by a different feel and sound profile. While the Meteor White is categorized as ['Neutral', 'Mild', 'Thocky', 'Polished'], the Silver does not have any specific categories associated with it. If you are looking for a switch that offers a soft and gentle typing experience, the Meteor White may be the ideal choice for you. However, let's dive in a bit deeper beyond generalities so you can best decide on the best switch for you.
By the numbers
Technical specifications
Actuation force
N/A
Actuation force
45g
Bottom-out force
57g
Bottom-out force
65g
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Pre-travel
1.60 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
Nylon
Top housing material
Polycarbonate
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Mount type
Plate (3-pin)
Spring
Gold plated
Spring
Stainless steel
Housing materials
The SP-Star Meteor White utilizes a nylon top housing, which offers a deeper and fuller sound profile due to its softer plastic that absorbs more sound. On the other hand, the Outemu Silver features a polycarbonate top housing that creates a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound profile. While the Meteor White's nylon top housing produces a duller and rounder sound, the Silver's polycarbonate top housing provides a more clear and resonant sound profile, making it ideal for switches designed for RGB lighting.
In terms of the bottom housing, both the Meteor White and the Silver utilize nylon material, resulting in a deeper and fuller sound profile when typing on these switches. The softer plastic of the nylon bottom housing effectively absorbs sound, contributing to a duller and rounder sound output for both switches. This similarity in material for the bottom housing ensures a consistent typing experience across the two switches.
Overall, the choice of housing material for a switch can significantly impact its sound profile and feel. The contrasting properties of nylon and polycarbonate influence the sound characteristics of the SP-Star Meteor White and the Outemu Silver switches, with nylon providing a softer, fuller sound and polycarbonate delivering a sharper, crisper sound. Understanding how the top and bottom housing materials interact can help users determine the best switch for their specific preferences and typing needs.
Weight
The SP-Star Meteor White linear switch and the Outemu Silver linear switch have notable differences in their actuation force and bottom out force. The Meteor White has an actuation force of None grams, making it very light, while the Silver has an actuation force of 45 grams, making it slightly heavier. In terms of bottom out force, the Meteor White requires 57 grams of force, which is considered medium-light, while the Silver requires 65 grams, which is medium-heavy. This means that the Meteor White is lighter in both actuation and bottom out force compared to the Silver. Those who prefer a lighter typing experience may enjoy the Meteor White, as it allows for longer typing sessions without fatigue. On the other hand, the Silver provides a more substantial typing experience with its heavier actuation and bottom out forces. Ultimately, the choice between the two switches will depend on personal preference for typing feel and desired weight.
Travel distance
When comparing the travel distance of the SP-Star Meteor White linear switch and the Outemu Silver linear switch, both switches have the same travel distance of 4 mm. This means that when pressing down on a key equipped with either of these switches, users will experience a consistent 4 mm distance from the top to the bottom of the switch's travel. As a result, both switches will provide a similar typing experience in terms of travel distance. Regardless of which switch is used, users can expect to feel the same 4 mm travel distance when typing on a keyboard equipped with either the SP-Star Meteor White or the Outemu Silver linear switch.
Price comparison
Which switch is more bang for your buck?
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.
The Outemu Silver comes in at $3.10 per 10 switches.
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
When it comes to sound, the SP-Star Meteor White linear switch is known for its soft and gentle pitter-patter sound profile, making it a great option for those looking for a more subdued typing experience. On the other hand, the Outemu Silver linear switch's sound profile is unknown, so it's difficult to directly compare the two in this aspect. However, keep in mind that the sound of a switch can also be influenced by other factors such as the keyboard and keycaps being used.
Moving on to feel, the SP-Star Meteor White linear switch offers a mild and polished typing experience, providing a gentle and smooth key press that falls into a safe middle-ground zone. The Outemu Silver linear switch's feel is unknown, so it's hard to make a direct comparison in this regard. However, if you enjoy the qualities of a mild and polished switch, you can expect similar results when using the Outemu Silver linear switch.
In conclusion, the SP-Star Meteor White linear switch stands out for its gentle and soft typing experience, with a subtle sound profile that is suitable for a variety of uses. While the Outemu Silver linear switch lacks specific descriptions for its sound and feel, if you're drawn to a mild and polished typing experience, it's likely that you'll enjoy using this switch as well. Ultimately, the choice between the two switches will come down to personal preference and the specific typing feel and sound profile you're looking for in a mechanical keyboard switch.
Conclusion
In closing, when deciding between the SP-Star Meteor White linear switch and the Outemu Silver linear switch, consider your preferences for bottom out force, sound profile, and typing feel. If you prefer a softer, gentler typing experience with a lighter bottom out force and a subdued sound profile, the Meteor White may be the better choice for you. On the other hand, if you prefer a medium-heavy bottom out force and do not have a strong preference for sound profile, the Silver switch could be a suitable option. Ultimately, the decision comes down to personal preference and what type of typing experience you are looking for in your mechanical keyboard.
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