I am ready to move on to enthusiast grade, could use a conversation discussing this and help with creating my own little community. These are formed when two separate plastic pieces are molded into one, allowing for the legend to be printed on the inside of the keycaps and unlikely to wear off while typing.

Keycap profile affects sound and feel. Watch typing tests and consider preferences before buying. Taller, spherical keycaps, like those in SA profile, often have a lower-pitched and slightly louder typing sound than shorter, cylindrical ones. SA keycaps can also feel more fatiguing and have a learning curve. However, from what we’ve seen so far, PBT keycaps are better than ABS keycaps despite some disadvantages in cost and molding. Unlike the ABS keycaps, they have a stronger, textured build that enhances durability, longevity, and overall performance. Doubleshot legends are usually best, but dye-sublimated ones can be good too. Doubleshot keycaps often have crisper legends, due to the injection molding process, but dye-sublimated keycaps can often look great at reduced cost. Look for close-ups of the legends before purchasing. Craft: PBT keycaps often feature legends (letters and symbols) created using dye-sublimation or double-shot molding techniques. This enhances the durability of legends and prevents fading. Customization: ABS keycaps can be easily customized with various printing methods, allowing for intricate designs.

PBT (Polybutylene terephthalate) plastic is also a thermoplastic polymer that has a semi-crystalline structure. PBT is more heat resistant than ABS, and general more resistant to wear. PBT can be mixed with other materials to create unique properties, either in feel or strength. This is the complete breakdown that you will need to know in search of the best keycap for you. Keycap Material ABS as a material is more sensitive to heat and can be manufactured easily with molding. The keycaps that came out during the early days of computers were thin and cheaply made. The keycaps were and are still fine, they’re durable and can withstand a lot of typing while not costing a lot of money. PBT keycaps

Novelty: This profile doesn’t have a particular set of “rules”. They can be sculpted or uniform, and have simple legends or sophisticated art displayed on them.

Key Differences Between ABS and PBT Keycaps

All profiles are either sculpted or uniform. Sculpted keycaps are when the height and angle vary from row to row. Whereas uniform keycaps hold the same shape throughout the entire keyboard. ABS is also, by far, the most common material for keycaps. Nearly every major computer manufacturer uses ABS keycaps, with PBT reserved for more high-end and niche machines. Most mass-produced keyboards use thin, cheap ABS keycaps, which are fine for most applications, but not the most long-lasting solution. Pros of ABS Keycaps Inexpensive ABS keycap sets will almost always use far less material in production and will typically use OEM profiles that are mass-produced. Once the tooling is created for a keycap set it can then be used in a variety of different color patterns for years to come. The advantage for a manufacturer to continue to produce keycap sets for many years is that it is very expensive to create the tooling for a keycap set, but if the keycap set has been produced for several years the cost of developing the tooling has long been recouped. This allows manufacturers to produce the keycap set for only the cost of the material, power to run the machines, and labor, leading to thousands of very inexpensive ABS keycap sets. PBT is one of the most durable plastics that is widely used and available for keycap sets. The inscriptions will not wear over time, even under extreme use. PBT also has a unique feel which could be described as silky or smooth, but not slippery, giving the typist extra feeling and a connection to the keyboard. PBT keycaps sets typically use more material than an ABS keycap set and are usually heavier. While it depends on the manufacturer, PBT tends to have a deeper, crisper, and less tinny sound when typing than that of a typical ABS keycap set. PBT keycaps are generally louder and more clear than ABS keycaps which many enjoy as it enhances their acoustical pleasure, and is perhaps more appealing for activating ASMR, autonomous sensory meridian response, which can cause a feeling of well-being while typing. Disadvantages of PBT Keycaps PBT keycaps also show remarkable resilience in the presence of UV lights, heat, and other chemical substances.