Are PBT keys worth it?

PBT are considered to be superior, since they are more durable and don't develop a shiny look to them over time. That being said, there are some really nice ABS keycaps sets available and at the end of the day, it comes down to user preference.

switchandclick.com - ABS vs PBT Keycaps: What's the Difference? - Switch and Click

Does China still occupy Tibet?

From a legal standpoint, Tibet has not lost its statehood. It is an independent start under illegal occupation. Neither China's military invasion...

Last updated Dec 30, 2020

Can every musician play by ear?

Not everyone has the ability to play by ear. You need to develop your musical ear, which means you need to train your ear to tell the difference...

Last updated Jan 10, 2018

Promotion

ABS and PBT plastic are the two most common plastics used in the manufacturing of keycaps. Both types of plastic have a different feel, sound, and look to them. We’ll go over what the differences are, and which one is better. ABS keycaps are the cheapest and most common plastic used for keycaps. PBT plastic is less common but is usually higher quality than ABS. ABS keycaps feel smooth and develop a greasy shine over time, while PBT keycaps feel textured and are more durable. As you can see, PBT keycaps are usually better, but in some situations ABS keycaps can be superior. We’ll go more in detail about the main differences between the two and some other interesting keycap variations. For keycap recommendations, check out this post.

ABS (Left) vs PBT (Right)

What are ABS Keycaps?

Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene(ABS) is a copolymer plastic that is commonly used in the production of keycaps for keyboards. ABS plastic is used because it is durable and resistant, but cheap to produce. It is impact resistant, so it can withstand millions of keystrokes before cracking or breaking. One of the downsides to ABS is that overtime it wears down. It’s not uncommon that after heavy use, an ABS keycap will have the lettering start to fade away and the keycap will start to thin. ABS keycaps have a smooth texture. The texture can be nice to glide your fingers across the keyboard. This comes at a cost though, because cheap and poorly manufactured ABS keycaps will develop a greasy/shiny look to it after usage. This is because the plastic gradually changes color from exposure to UV rays. ABS keycaps tend to be thinner, but it is possible to buy high quality, thick ABS keycaps for a slight increase in price.

Standard OEM ABS Keycaps

Most ABS keycaps are made through injection molding to form the shape of the keycap. Afterwards, the legends are printed on the keycaps through several different processes, depending on the manufacturer. The most common ways are though pad printing, laser marking, and engraving. Most mechanical keyboards come with relatively cheap ABS keycaps installed, but there are nice and expensive sets available online. Some of the more expensive sets include sets such as GMK Samurai for a higher-end price, available on Amazon. These expensive keycaps sets usually have a thicker plastic and come with custom designs on them.

What are PBT Keycaps?

Polybutylene Terephthalate (PBT) keycaps is a less common material to find used in keycaps. PBT is usually more expensive to source and produce, so for a lot of keyboards you’ll either have to buy them separately or pay a markup. PBT is more rigid and brittle than ABS so it wears down less overtime, this also is makes it so much more difficult to shape and produce. You can use PBT keycaps for a long period of time before they show any sign of deterioration.

Which is more difficult guitar or piano?

Overall, the guitar is easier to learn than the piano. If you consider the layout, learning songs, the ability to self-teach and a few other...

Last updated May 30, 2021

What are the best sounding keycaps?

20 Best Keycaps: A Complete Buyer's Guide Drop + Mito XDA Canvas Keycaps. ... Drop DSA Astrolokeys Keycaps. ... Ducky Joker PBT Keycaps. ... Ducky...

Last updated Jun 8, 2021

Join almost HALF A MILLION Happy Students Worldwide

Promotion

The defining properties of PBT keycaps are the textured, sometimes sandy, feel to them. Usually more expensive PBT keycaps will have a nicer texture than the cheaper versions. PBT keycaps are matte and not very shiny. They also tend to be thicker.

ABS vs PBT

ABS Keycaps PBT Keycaps Usually Cheaper More Expensive Shiny/Greasy Matte Smooth Textured Thinner (Not always) Thicker Quieter when typing Louder when typing Flexible Brittle Wears Over Time More Durable Now that we’ve gone over each of the different plastic types, let’s talk about the biggest differences between ABS and PBT.

Cost

Usually PBT keycaps will be more expensive than ABS. This is due to the fact that PBT keycaps are much more difficult to produce, because the material is harder to form into the proper keycap shape during the injection molding process. Some ABS keycaps can cost more than PBT, but that’s generally due to a thicker ABS keycap design with some fancy designs on the legends.

Texture

ABS keycaps are smooth and shiny, while PBT is textured and matte. This is due to the different plastic material and compounds used in each type. Some ABS keycaps don’t get the shiny look to them if they are higher quality, so just make sure to test them out first before buying.

Thickness

PBT keycaps are usually thicker than ABS. This depends on which keycap set you are buying. In some situations, you can buy a thick ABS keycap set.

Material

PBT keycaps are made from a different plastic type that is more brittle, durable, and textured than ABS.

Sound

From my experience using PBT keycaps, I’ve found them to have a different sound when typing. They are usually slightly louder than ABS keycaps, but the sound is crisper and cleaner. Sine the material is more rigid and thick, the keycaps themselves don’t vibrate as much, which makes for the more crisp sound.

It’s Up to Your Personal Taste

How much does it cost to fix a broken key?

Removing a broken regular key from an ignition will typically run you between $100 to $150, depending on the severity of the repair. Some special...

Last updated May 5, 2020

Which is better offline or online classes?

Offline classes promote group projects with other students, and it helps the students to learn new skills. Online education makes students more...

Last updated Nov 28, 2022

Promotion

While PBT keycaps are generally considered superior to ABS, you can decide for yourself which type you prefer. Some people cannot stand the sandy textured feel of PBT keycaps, or they don’t enjoy the matte color. It’s totally normal to prefer the smooth and shiny ABS plastic. At the end of the day it comes down to personal preference and whatever you think looks more aesthetic and feels better. Both options have lots of higher end keycaps available, so you can get fancy keycaps regardless of the plastic type.

What are Doubleshot Keycaps?

Double shot keycaps are made from a more complicated manufacturing process where two separate plastics are injection molded to make the keycap. Doubleshot keycaps are produced this way so that lighting can shine through the legends. If your keyboard has lighting for each individual key, these styles of keycaps are usually used so the backlighting can illuminate the legends and make them easier to read. Double shot keycaps are available in both PBT and ABS plastics.

What are Pudding Keycaps?

Pudding keycaps are a way to really show off your keyboard’s lighting. These are also doubleshot, but instead of just illuminating the legends, the light can also shine through the sides of the keycaps as well. This makes for some awesome looking keyboard set-ups. Some of our favorite pudding keycaps are by HyperX, they are quite affordable and are a nice upgrade for any mechanical keyboard.

Keycap Profiles

Keycap profiles are another important aspect of keycaps to understand. The profile refers to the overall shape and height of the keycap. There are dozens of different profiles, so you can test them out to figure out what feels the best. Here is our full guide on keycap profiles.

Conclusion

Overall, there are a lot of differences between PBT and ABS keycaps. PBT are considered to be superior, since they are more durable and don’t develop a shiny look to them over time. That being said, there are some really nice ABS keycaps sets available and at the end of the day, it comes down to user preference. It’s up to you to decide which type you think is better, but if you want my opinion, it’s PBT all the way. Unless I’m able to finally get my hands on those GMK camping keycaps.

Happy Typing!

switchandclick.com - ABS vs PBT Keycaps: What's the Difference? - Switch and Click

Why can't you sell ivory?

A. The new U.S. ivory ban will legally close most ivory trade in the U.S. to protect elephants. It essentially prohibits all commercial import,...

Last updated Aug 15, 2018

How did the piano end?

In an epilogue, Ada describes her new life with George and Flora in Nelson, New Zealand, where she has started to give piano lessons in their new...

Last updated Mar 17, 2019

Promotion

Why do I enjoy classical music?

The calming effect of classical music takes away any jitters or nervousness, and can help to decrease your heart rate and anxiety. The Mozart...

Last updated Nov 5, 2021

Join almost HALF A MILLION Happy Students Worldwide

Pianoforall is one of the most popular online piano courses online and has helped over 450,000 students around the world achieve their dream of playing beautiful piano for over a decade.

Learn More »

Promotion

Which singer uses least autotune?

Note: Just because many of the singers below generally don't use Autotune for live performances, it's very much industry standard to use tools like...

Last updated Nov 29, 2021