TKC Tangerine vs. Everglide Tourmaline Blue

Overview

The TKC Tangerine and Everglide Tourmaline Blue are two different linear mechanical keyboard switches that each offer their own unique features and benefits. The Tangerine switches are known for their incredibly smooth feel, taking your typing experience to the next level. With UHWMPE housings, they provide a frictionless and buttery typing experience. However, one thing to note is the fairly high-pitched clack that accompanies each keystroke. On the other hand, the Tourmaline Blue switches offer a deep and thocky sound profile that immerses you in a satisfying typing experience. With a lengthened single-stage spring, they provide a bouncy feel with each keystroke. The Tourmaline Blues strike a balance with their standard spring weight, making them enjoyable and accessible to a wide range of users. Both switches have their own unique qualities and it ultimately comes down to personal preference. However, let's dive in a bit deeper beyond generalities so you can best decide on the best switch for you.

By the numbers

TKC Tangerine Linear

Everglide Tourmaline Blue Linear

$6.30 per 10

$6.86

$3.89 per 10

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Housing materials

The TKC Tangerine and the Everglide Tourmaline Blue both offer unique housing materials that contribute to their distinct sound profiles. The Tangerine utilizes UHWMPE for its top and bottom housing, while the Tourmaline Blue employs polycarbonate for both components.

In terms of sound, the Tangerine's UHWMPE top and bottom housing provide a bright and resonant clack when typing, creating an audibly lively experience. On the other hand, the Tourmaline Blue's polycarbonate top and bottom housing generate a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound profile. This is due to polycarbonate's stiffer nature, resulting in a more clear and resonant sound. While both materials offer their unique sound characteristics, the Tangerine's UHWMPE may provide a slightly brighter sound, while the Tourmaline Blue's polycarbonate may deliver a more defined and clear tone.

Visually, the Tangerine's UHWMPE top and bottom housing does not offer the transparency found in the Tourmaline Blue's polycarbonate housing. The translucency of polycarbonate makes it particularly suitable for switches that incorporate RGB lighting, offering a vibrant visual experience. If RGB lighting is a priority, the Tourmaline Blue may be the more aesthetically pleasing choice. However, the solid colors of the Tangerine's UHWMPE housing can still offer an attractive appearance without the transparency feature.

When considering the overall feel of the switch, the bottom housing material plays a more significant role. As such, the qualities brought by the UHWMPE bottom housing in the Tangerine will affect the bottom-out sound and feel of the switch. Meanwhile, the top housing material influences the sound when releasing a key. Both switches offer their unique tactile experiences, but the Tangerine's UHWMPE bottom housing may provide a slightly more prominent impact during typing, while the polycarbonate bottom housing in the Tourmaline Blue can result in a snappier and more pronounced sound upon bottoming out.

Weight

When comparing the actuation force and bottom out force of the TKC Tangerine linear switch and the Everglide Tourmaline Blue linear switch, there are some notable similarities and differences. The actuation force of the Tangerine switch is unfortunately unavailable, while the Tourmaline Blue requires 59 grams of force to trigger a keystroke. In terms of bottom out force, the Tangerine switch requires 62 grams and the Tourmaline Blue switch requires 67 grams. Both switches fall within the medium range for actuation force, but the Tourmaline Blue has a slightly heavier bottom out force, classifying it as medium-heavy.

Considering weight in keyboard switches is important as it can greatly impact the typing experience based on individual preferences. Those who prefer a lighter feel may opt for switches with lower actuation and bottom out forces, as this allows them to comfortably type for longer periods, making it ideal for work or long gaming sessions. On the other hand, some individuals prefer a stronger push feel for a more substantial typing experience and may prefer switches with heavier forces.

Despite the Tangerine switch's unavailable actuation force, the Tourmaline Blue switch offers a lighter actuation force at 59 grams compared to a medium force. However, in terms of bottom out force, the Tangerine switch requires 62 grams while the Tourmaline Blue switch requires a slightly heavier 67 grams, placing it in the medium-heavy category. Therefore, those who desire a lighter typing experience may lean towards the Tourmaline Blue switch, while those seeking a more substantial feel may gravitate towards the Tangerine switch. Overall, the actuation and bottom out forces play a crucial role in determining the typing experience and should be considered when selecting between these two switches.

Travel distance

The TKC Tangerine linear switch and the Everglide Tourmaline Blue linear switch both have a travel distance of 4 mm. This means that when pressing down on a key with either switch, the distance traveled from the top to the bottom will be the same. Therefore, you can expect similar results in terms of the tactile feedback and typing experience provided by both switches. Both switches offer a comfortable and consistent travel distance, allowing for smooth and accurate typing. Whether choosing the TKC Tangerine or Everglide Tourmaline Blue switch, users can enjoy a satisfying typing experience with a consistent travel distance of 4 mm.

Price comparison

Typing experience

The TKC Tangerine linear switch is best known for its incredibly smooth feel, providing a pleasure to type with each keystroke. The UHWMPE housings, a rare feature in bespoke mechanical switches, contribute to this smoothness. The sound profile of the Tangerine is described as high-pitched, producing a sharp and crisp sound when pressed. On the other hand, the Everglide Tourmaline Blue linear switch offers a deep and thocky sound profile, creating a satisfying typing experience. With its lengthened single-stage spring, the Tourmaline Blue provides a bouncy feel with each keystroke. Its sound profile is described as neutral, offering a moderate actuation force requirement and a moderate sound profile suitable for various users.

When it comes to feel, the Tangerine switch is described as frictionless, buttery, and polished. This translates to an extremely smooth and effortless typing experience with minimal resistance or friction. The Tourmaline Blue switch is also described as buttery, offering a smooth and fluid keystroke experience. Additionally, it is easy to press with a gentle resistance during key presses, requiring minimal force to activate. The light actuation force of the Tourmaline Blue enhances typing comfort and reduces finger fatigue during longer typing sessions. Furthermore, the Tourmaline Blue is considered mild, providing a more gentle typing experience that is approachable to most users.

In conclusion, both the TKC Tangerine linear switch and the Everglide Tourmaline Blue linear switch offer their own unique qualities. The Tangerine excels in its smooth feel, with the UHWMPE housings contributing to an exceptionally smooth typing experience. Its sound profile is high-pitched, producing a sharp and crisp sound. On the other hand, the Tourmaline Blue provides a satisfying deep and thocky sound profile, creating an immersive typing experience. Its lengthened single-stage spring offers a bouncy feel with each keystroke, and it has a mild feel that is gentle and approachable. While the Tangerine and Tourmaline Blue have their own distinct characteristics, both switches deliver enjoyable typing experiences.

Conclusion

To wrap up, if you're looking for a smooth and pleasurable typing experience with a high-pitched clack sound, the TKC Tangerine linear switch is the way to go. With its UHWMPE housings, you'll enjoy an incredibly smooth feel and effortless keystrokes. On the other hand, if you prefer a deep and thocky sound profile and a bouncy feel with each keystroke, the Everglide Tourmaline Blue linear switch is the better choice. Its lengthened single-stage spring provides a satisfying typing experience, and its standard spring weight makes it enjoyable for a wide range of users. In terms of sound, the Tangerine offers a high-pitched sharp and crisp sound, while the Tourmaline Blue has a neutral sound profile. In terms of feel, the Tangerine is described as frictionless, buttery, and polished, giving you a seamless and refined typing experience. The Tourmaline Blue, on the other hand, is described as buttery, easy-to-press, and mild, offering a smooth and low-impact typing feel. Ultimately, your choice between these two switches will depend on your preferences for sound and feel, so choose the one that best suits your typing style and enhance your overall typing experience.

Mentioned in this article

TKC Tangerine Linear

$6.30 per 10

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Everglide Tourmaline Blue Linear

$6.86

$3.89 per 10

Learn more