News How to Pick Keycaps for Your Mechanical Keyboard

[Admin]

Changing keycaps is one of the easiest ways to customize your mechanical keyboard. Here’s what you need to know to choose the set that’s right for you.

How to Pick Keycaps for Your Mechanical Keyboard : Read more

 

[drajitsh]

A well written article on a contentious and poorly covered topic. It is very much appreciated

 

[schwartzasher]

So, the article has some bad misinformation. GMK and Signature Plastics are two different companies, thick keycaps doesn't necessarily mean that the keycaps will be good at all. Hate to break it but ePBT is EnjoyPBT, both the same exact brand. For those that care, Akko keycaps are known for being clones (yes, I know not everyone cares about that). ABS and PBT can have the same sound signature. For ABS vs PBT, take the same thickness keycaps (measure with caliper and you can see same thickness), put them on the same build one after another and it could easily sound the same. Also lots of the plastic keyboards we use today are polycarbonate, so they are not ABS inside the case. If all the boards out there used ABS for their cases, we would see so many shined cases alone. The GK61X, and other equivalents from Royal Kludge, Ducky, Anne and more, are all plastic that isn't ABS or polycarbonate. I am mentioning those as they are the most popular boards to find when someone is looking at a board to switch out from their "gamer" one. I own a set of DCS keycaps, made by Signature Plastics, same place that makes SA keycap profile, and they may be thin but they do feel great. They are a quality feeling keycap that I would actually recommend to people although they are thin. I see that you mentioned with keycap thickness that it depends on your preference of what you like, which I do agree on, but when you mention "Keycaps with thicker walls often feel more solid when bottoming out and have a deeper sound when typing. By comparison, thinner keycaps often feel less substantial and have a higher-pitched typing sound.", this also has to do with the materials of the case to the keyboard, the switches (whether they are lubed or not), and also the materials of the plate used.
Another thing you mention in the article is a whole bullet point on PBT being better than ABS in longevity. This is not true. If you are only going on keycap shine then that is true. If ABS really wasn't good for longevity then why do lots of the popular gaming brands use it as their stock keycaps.
You mentioned also Romer G and Topre as two more limited options for finding keycaps. The only options to find for Romer G would be replacement caps just for the gamer buttons. Otherwise, you are stuck using the stock keycaps on a Romer G board.

 

[gamebynight]

Thanks for catching a couple of typographical errors. I've requested edits regarding the companies. I'm well aware GMK and SP are different companies and ePBT and EnjoyPBT are the same. I own sets by all three

I think we're getting into the weeds elsewhere, though. ABS vs PBT longevity is related to shine. In terms of wearing out completely, who knows, but one will look worn before the other while potentially costing significantly more.

Likewise, sound profile is going to vary. However, PBT is a denser plastic and that will impact sound all by itself. The question is by how much. I tested multiple sets on the same board and can clearly hear a difference. That said, I didn't have calipers on hand. Perhaps the caps are 0.1 mm different (visually, on close comparison, they look the same).

For the feel of thicker keycaps, I stand by my experience. To me, thicker keycaps have always felt more solid under the finger and I know that is echoed by many. You're right that other elements impact that, though. But, tested on the exact same keyboard, thicker keycaps feel more solid and that makes sense when you consider the increased material impact vibrations need to travel through.

As far as case plastic, sure, there is more than ABS out there. But, there's a lot of ABS. Shine is a result of repeated wear and you do see those cases shine over time, usually where the wrist or palm touches.

Thanks for taking the time to read and comment. One of the things I love about this hobby is how nuanced it is!

 

[CraigRoss]

Nice article! Recently I love to fun up my keyboard with some artisan keycaps. Ordered a Pokemon keycap from Hirosart a month ago and I'm totally in love with the excellent quality. The only reason is this hobby takes me a lot of money 😬

 

[Incredibun]

I really enjoyed this article and learned quite a bit. I did wonder that round keycaps weren't mentioned at all, but I realize they are pretty retro (read rare) and I find that sad. They are easy to type on and they do have that nice curve to them.

You also didn't mention pudding keycaps at all. Those who enjoy working with RGB in their setup would benefit from learning about pudding caps and the different types.

Anyway, I am just learning. Thinking about getting an upgrade on my Redragon keyboard. It ain't much, but it works!

 

[gamebynight]

I really enjoyed this article and learned quite a bit. I did wonder that round keycaps weren't mentioned at all, but I realize they are pretty retro (read rare) and I find that sad. They are easy to type on and they do have that nice curve to them.

You also didn't mention pudding keycaps at all. Those who enjoy working with RGB in their setup would benefit from learning about pudding caps and the different types.

Anyway, I am just learning. Thinking about getting an upgrade on my Redragon keyboard. It ain't much, but it works!

Hi there! I'm the author of this guide. I actually do talk about it, but in regard to spherical and cylindrical. Those rounded retro caps are spherical. You can usually tell them because they often have "SA" somewhere in the name: SA, DSA, ASA, OSA. There is also MT3 profile from Drop. It's important to note that the height of those profiles can be different and is often less than true SA keycaps. Really, SA with most others refers to two things (usually): 1) they have a rounded shape, and 2) they're probably a bit taller than Cherry profile. But that second one isn't a given with how often brands release modifications to different profiles. CannonKeys' has a great custom profile called CXA that's rounded but also about the same height as cherry and is honestly one of my favorites.

Also, be aware of DSA and DXA, as they're completely flat and have no contouring at all between the rows. They're fine, and you can honestly find some neat, affordable sets that use it, but it takes a little getting used to.

 

[Math Geek]

thanks for this. recently i dove into the world of mechanical keyboards and had a heck of a time figuring out what all the various switches and other such things meant.

i finally decided on a type of switch that seemed right for me and got an older budget model to start with as a way to be sure all my research was right.

seems there is another element to figure out as this article points out.

i'll be studying it with great enthusiasm as i continue to learn more and more about mechanical boards.

 

[gamebynight]

thanks for this. recently i dove into the world of mechanical keyboards and had a heck of a time figuring out what all the various switches and other such things meant.

i finally decided on a type of switch that seemed right for me and got an older budget model to start with as a way to be sure all my research was right.

seems there is another element to figure out as this article points out.

i'll be studying it with great enthusiasm as i continue to learn more and more about mechanical boards.

Feel free to post here if you have any questions. It emails me and I'm happy to offer any advice I can give.

 

[Incredibun]

Hi there! I'm the author of this guide. I actually do talk about it, but in regard to spherical and cylindrical. Those rounded retro caps are spherical. You can usually tell them because they often have "SA" somewhere in the name: SA, DSA, ASA, OSA. There is also MT3 profile from Drop. It's important to note that the height of those profiles can be different and is often less than true SA keycaps. Really, SA with most others refers to two things (usually): 1) they have a rounded shape, and 2) they're probably a bit taller than Cherry profile. But that second one isn't a given with how often brands release modifications to different profiles. CannonKeys' has a great custom profile called CXA that's rounded but also about the same height as cherry and is honestly one of my favorites.

Also, be aware of DSA and DXA, as they're completely flat and have no contouring at all between the rows. They're fine, and you can honestly find some neat, affordable sets that use it, but it takes a little getting used to.

Thank you very much for explaining those! I do like the "cuppy" feel of the spherical round caps. I learned on a typewriter oh so many decades ago, and kinda got used to that - and the clickiness of the mechanical keyboards reminds me of them without being too hard to type on (those manual typewriters really built up your forearms!)

I will look for the CannonKeys!