SP-Star Meteor White vs. Jwick Semi-Silent Linear
An in-depth look at the SP-Star Meteor White and the Jwick Semi-Silent Linear switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When it comes to mechanical keyboard switches, two popular options to consider are the SP-Star Meteor White and the Jwick Semi-Silent Linear. The Meteor White is a linear switch that is best described as subdued, offering a gentle and easy-to-push feel. It produces a soft, pitter-patter sound profile, making it ideal for those who prefer a quieter typing experience. On the other hand, the Semi-Silent Linear is also a linear switch but stands out for its innovative design. While it maintains a clacky bottom-out sound, its topping-out sound is whisper-quiet, providing a unique typing experience. Its type feel is silky smooth yet not overly polished. Both switches fall into categories such as neutral, mild, and polished, but beyond these generalities, let's dive deeper to help you choose the best switch for your needs.
By the numbers
Technical specifications
Actuation force
N/A
Actuation force
N/A
Bottom-out force
57g
Bottom-out force
62g
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Total travel
4.00 mm
Total travel
3.70 mm
Factory lubed
Yes
Factory lubed
Yes
Stem construction
Standard
Stem construction
Partial box
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
PCB (5-pin)
Spring
Gold plated
Spring
Stainless steel
Housing materials
The housing materials of the SP-Star Meteor White and the Jwick Semi-Silent Linear switches differ in terms of their top housing material. The Meteor White uses a nylon top housing, which results in a deeper and fuller sound profile. This is because nylon is a softer plastic that absorbs more sound, leading to a duller and rounder sound. On the other hand, the Semi-Silent Linear features a polycarbonate top housing, which creates a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound profile. Polycarbonate is a stiffer plastic that produces a more clear and resonant sound. Moreover, the polycarbonate top housing of the Semi-Silent Linear makes it ideal for those who plan to use RGB lighting, as it enhances the visibility of the lighting effects.
In terms of the bottom housing, both switches utilize nylon. As a result, they both elicit a deeper and fuller sound profile when typing. Nylon is known for being a softer plastic that absorbs more sound, resulting in a duller and rounder sound. Therefore, in terms of the sound produced when pressing down on the keys, both switches will provide similar results. The bottom housing of a switch has a greater impact on the bottom-out sound and feel, ensuring that both the Meteor White and the Semi-Silent Linear deliver a satisfying typing experience with their nylon bottom housing.
When it comes to the overall performance and sound profile of these switches, the difference in their top housing materials will play a significant role. The nylon top housing of the Meteor White will provide a deeper and fuller sound when releasing a key, while the polycarbonate top housing of the Semi-Silent Linear will create a sharper and crisper sound. These contrasting sound profiles cater to different preferences, allowing individuals to choose the switch that suits their desired typing experience. However, both switches share the common characteristic of using nylon in their bottom housing, ensuring that they deliver a similar, deep and full sound when pressing down on the keys.
Weight
When comparing the SP-Star Meteor White linear switch and the Jwick Semi-Silent Linear linear switch, it is important to consider their actuation force and bottom out force. For the actuation force, the exact measurements are unavailable for both switches. However, it is safe to assume that they have similar actuation forces since it is not specified otherwise. The actuation force is the amount of force needed to trigger a keystroke. Moving on to the bottom out force, the Meteor White has a bottom out force of 57 grams, which can be considered medium-light. In contrast, the Semi-Silent Linear has a slightly heavier bottom out force of 62 grams, also classified as medium.
Considering weight, some users may prefer lighter switches as it allows them to type for longer periods without experiencing fatigue. This is ideal for individuals using the keyboard extensively, such as in work or gaming scenarios. On the other hand, there are users who prefer a stronger push feel, providing a more substantial typing experience. These users typically opt for switches with heavier forces.
In summary, while the actuation force of both switches is unknown, they are likely to yield similar results. However, when it comes to the bottom out force, the Meteor White is lighter at 57 grams, while the Semi-Silent Linear is slightly heavier at 62 grams. Users should consider their personal preferences and typing requirements when choosing between the two switches.
Travel distance
When comparing the travel distance of the SP-Star Meteor White linear switch and the Jwick Semi-Silent Linear linear switch, there is a noticeable difference. The Meteor White has a travel distance of 4 mm, which falls into the more traditional range. On the other hand, the Semi-Silent Linear has a slightly shorter travel distance of 3.7 mm. This makes the Jwick switch a bit shallower in terms of key press depth. For those who enjoy a more responsive typing experience, the shorter travel distance of the Semi-Silent Linear may be preferred as it allows for faster response times, particularly favored by gamers. However, some individuals find shorter travel distances to be too abrupt, lacking the feeling of depth that longer travel distances provide. In such cases, the Meteor White switch with its 4 mm travel distance would be a better fit. Ultimately, the choice between the two switches will depend on personal preference and the desired typing experience.
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 Jwick Semi-Silent Linear has an MSRP of $6.50 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Semi-Silent Linear for $5.27.
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 comparing the sound qualities of the SP-Star Meteor White linear switch and the Jwick Semi-Silent Linear linear switch, it is clear that both switches offer a subdued sound profile. The Meteor White switch produces a gentle and pitter-patter sound, giving it a more neutral and thocky sound descriptor. On the other hand, the Semi-Silent Linear switch has a whisper-quiet topping-out sound, while maintaining a clacky bottom-out sound. This creates a more subdued sound signature compared to most switches. It is important to note that the sound of a switch can also be affected by other factors such as the choice of keyboard board and keycaps. In both cases, users can expect a softer and more gentle sound experience.
Moving on to the feel of the switches, both the Meteor White and the Semi-Silent Linear offer a mild typing experience. This means that they provide a more gentle and approachable typing experience compared to switches with more pronounced characteristics. The Meteor White switch is also described as having a polished feel, indicating a smooth and refined typing experience with reduced friction and smooth key travel. Similarly, the Semi-Silent Linear switch is also described as polished, suggesting a sleek typing experience. In addition, the Semi-Silent Linear switch is labeled as snappy, which indicates that it is super responsive and provides a more alive typing experience. The buttery descriptor further implies a smooth and fluid keystroke experience, resulting in a seamless and effortless typing sensation. Overall, users can expect a gentle and smooth typing feel from both switches, with the Semi-Silent Linear offering a slightly more responsive and fluid experience.
In conclusion, the SP-Star Meteor White linear switch and the Jwick Semi-Silent Linear linear switch both offer subjective qualities that cater to users looking for a softer and more subdued typing experience. They share similarities in terms of their neutral sound profile, and their mild and polished feel. While the Meteor White switch provides a pitter-patter sound and a safe middle-ground feel, the Semi-Silent Linear switch boasts a whisper-quiet topping-out sound and a snappy and buttery feel. Depending on individual preferences and specific use cases, both switches can deliver similar results in terms of a gentle and subtle typing experience.
Conclusion
To wrap up, when choosing between the SP-Star Meteor White linear switch and the Jwick Semi-Silent Linear linear switch, you should consider your preferences for both sound and feel. The Meteor White switch offers a gentle and soft typing experience with a pitter-patter sound profile. It is best described as having a neutral sound and a mild feel, making it suitable for most intents and purposes. On the other hand, the Semi-Silent Linear switch provides a clacky bottom-out sound while maintaining a whisper-quiet topping-out sound. It has a subdued sound profile and a mild feel, but also offers a snappy and buttery typing experience. Ultimately, the choice between these switches will depend on whether you prefer a more gentle and subdued typing experience (Meteor White) or a snappy and buttery typing experience with a mix of clacky and quiet sounds (Semi-Silent Linear).
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