C3 Tangerine vs SP-Star Purple
The C3 Tangerine and the SP-Star Purple are often cross-shopped. The main differences: travel is 3.8 mm on the C3 Tangerine and 4 mm on the SP-Star Purple; stock they sound different: deep thocky linear versus thocky sp-star linear; the SP-Star Purple costs less per switch ($0.55 versus $0.65).
- Cheaper per switchSP-Star Purple$0.55 versus $0.65
Choose the C3 Tangerine if
- you want a switch popular for thocky linear builds.
Choose the SP-Star Purple if
- you want a switch popular for thocky customs.
- you want to spend less per switch.
C3 Tangerine vs SP-Star Purple, spec by spec
| C3 Tangerine | SP-Star Purple | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Linear | Linear |
| Compatibility | Standard MX sockets | Standard MX sockets |
| Actuation force | 62g | 62g |
| Bottom-out force | 67g | n/a |
| Pre-travel | 2 mm | n/a |
| Total travel | 3.8 mm | 4 mm |
| Stem | POM | POM |
| Top housing | PC | n/a |
| Bottom housing | nylon | n/a |
| Spring | 62g or 67g | n/a |
| Factory lube | light | n/a |
| Pins | 5-pin | 5-pin |
| Price / switch | $0.65 | $0.55 (stronger spec) |
| Sound profile | deep thocky linear | thocky SP-Star linear |
| Released | 2020 | 2021 |
Highlighted rows are where the two differ; a check marks the objectively stronger spec (price, battery, modability). Feel and preference rows never get a check. Fields marked n/a are unpublished by the maker; we list only verifiable numbers.
Where they sit among all 227 switches we track
90% of the 198 switches tracked here actuate lighter than the C3 Tangerine; 90% of the 198 switches tracked here actuate lighter than the SP-Star Purple.
49% of the 224 switches tracked here have shorter total travel than the C3 Tangerine; 57% of the 224 switches tracked here have shorter total travel than the SP-Star Purple.
87% of the 193 switches tracked here cost less per switch than the C3 Tangerine; 70% of the 193 switches tracked here cost less per switch than the SP-Star Purple.
Where to buy the C3 Tangerine
No verified retailer link right now. Check the maker or your usual switch retailers.
Where to buy the SP-Star Purple
No verified retailer link right now. Check the maker or your usual switch retailers.
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