What is keycap? Learn about the most popular keycap types of 2023

In recent times, many gamers or tech-savvy users often tend to buy keycaps and use them as beautiful accessories to decorate their mechanical keyboards. So what actually is a keycap and what types of keycaps are popular today? Join TipsMake to find the answer in the following article. 

What is keycap? What is profile keycap?

What is keycap?

Keycap is a term used to refer to the buttons installed on mechanical keyboards . The main use of keycap is to create faster and better typing experiences for users, especially professional gamers.

Besides fast typing speed, the keycap also has high aesthetics due to its modern appearance and youthful, eye-catching colors. The product is also designed with a variety of sizes and materials for customers to freely choose. Not to mention, currently the price of a keycap keyboard set is also very affordable and can be suitable for many different types of users.

What is profile keycap?

Meanwhile, Profile keycap is a parameter used to indicate the height and tilt of the keycap. Each keycap keyboard will have its own profile to provide customers with different typing experiences and aesthetics to bring the most flexible and comfortable working space for users.

Why should you use Keycap?

Currently, keycap mechanical keyboards are used quite popularly and widely for the following reasons:

1. Provides a better typing feeling than a conventional keyboard.
2. Allows users to type with faster speed and greater accuracy.
3. A beautiful accessory that helps decorate and increase the aesthetics of your personal workspace.
4. Express the user's personality and interests.
5. Increases excitement for users throughout the working and studying process.

What material is the keycap made from?

Keycap keyboards can be made from many different materials and below are the most common materials.

1. ABS plastic

ABS stands for Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene. This is a type of plastic that is quite commonly used in today's life. ABS plastic not only has high elasticity and good impact resistance, but also has a relatively cheap price, so it is suitable for the majority of consumers.

Keycap keyboard models made from ABS plastic often have quite beautiful and bright colors, easily attracting the user's attention. Besides, when touching the ABS plastic keyboard, users will feel solid and sturdy. When typing, it will make a clear clicking sound typical of a mechanical keyboard.

Advantage:

1. High durability, good bearing capacity.
2. Low price.
3. Diverse designs and styles to choose from.

Defect:

1. The surface of the keys is prone to getting shiny after long periods of use.
2. Keys may turn yellow if exposed to sunlight.
3. Highly slippery so grip is poor.

2. PBT plastic

Besides ABS plastic, PBT plastic (Polybutylene Terephthalate) is also a very popular plastic today. This type of plastic has a rougher surface and is stronger than ABS, so it is often used to produce keycap keyboards in the high-end segment and above. On the other hand, because PBT plastic crystallizes quickly, it requires manufacturers to have expertise and high skills to be able to manipulate this type of plastic.

The keycap keyboard is made from PBT plastic and when typing, it will make a quite loud 'popping' sound. Normally for keyboards that are not too expensive, the keycaps will be made 100% of PBT plastic, and the frame will be a combination of PBT and ABS plastic.

Advantage:

1. High elasticity, good heat resistance.
2. The keyboard after a period of use does not become yellow and shiny.
3. The rough surface gives a smoother and smoother typing experience.
4. Good dust resistance.
5. Easy to clean and sanitize.

Defect:

1. High price.
2. Fragile and prone to warping if hit hard.
3. Few colors, mainly dark and muted.

3. PC plastic

PC plastic or (Polycarbonate) is a type of plastic with high hardness and transparent color, so it is often preferred to be used to make keycap keyboards with LED lights. Although not as popular as ABS and PBT plastic, users can still find high-end keyboards using this material from the Razer brand.

PC plastic can be used to produce keycaps separately or mixed with other plastics such as ABS to form ABS-PC.

Advantage:

1. High hardness and durability.
2. The keys do not turn yellow or shiny after a period of use
3. Good resistance.
4. High aesthetics due to the keyboard's unique transparency.

Defect:

1. Easily leaves scratches due to strong impacts, causing loss of aesthetics.
2. Users are required to clean regularly to maintain the transparency of the product.

4. POM plastic

POM (Polyoxymethylene) is a type of plastic that possesses excellent scratch resistance, resistance and anti-cleaning properties. Because this type of plastic is classified as top quality and is quite expensive. 

However, because the price is too expensive and this type of plastic is difficult to manipulate, the number of manufacturers using POM plastic to produce Keycaps is very rare. Normally, POM plastic is only used by a few major component manufacturing brands to create exclusive keycap keyboards for the company.

Advantage:

1. Has excellent impact resistance.
2. Easy to clean with strong cleaning chemicals.
3. Less scratches.
4. Ensure high aesthetics.

Defect:

1. The price is high so it is rarely used to produce keyboards.
2. Difficult to craft.
3. Surface adhesion is low, creating a slippery feeling when typing.

5. PVC plastic

PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) plastic has the characteristics of being quite durable and hard. The popularity of this type of plastic is second only to ABS plastic. PVC plastic is often chosen by many technology companies to produce keycap keyboards because of its low price, high popularity, as well as the ability to manipulate more simply than other types of plastic.

However, compared to ABS plastic, PVC plastic only has average hardness and resistance. Therefore, the product does not have good heat resistance and is easily affected by ambient temperature.

Advantage:

1. Diverse product colors and designs.
2. Easy to clean and tidy due to smooth and non-rough surface.
3. Less warping.
4. Low price.

Defect:

1. Poor heat resistance.
2. Hardness is only average.
3. Adhesion is not too high.

6. Metal

In addition to plastic, there are also many types of keycap keyboards made of metal. These keyboard models are not only highly durable but also extremely sophisticated, unique and eye-catching in design. The most common metals used to produce keycaps are aluminum, zinc and their alloys. Because these materials are quite light in weight and suitable for making keyboards.

Metal keycap keyboards often cost more than ABS plastic due to high requirements in production and processing. But in return, the keyboard has a beautiful and fashionable design, able to conquer even the most demanding customers. In addition, users can optionally print text, images or engrave embossed icons on the keycap keyboard to create a unique and personal touch for this accessory.

Advantage:

1. High durability, good impact resistance and heat resistance.
2. Unique design, fancy and easy to attract users.
3. Diverse colors and designs to choose from.

Defect:

1. When typing, it makes a loud noise and easily attracts fingerprints.
2. Price is expensive.

Keycap molding and printing method

Currently, to print alphanumeric characters on keycap keyboards, manufacturers will use one of the following molding and printing methods:

1. Pad printing: This is one of the most commonly used keycap printing methods today. Because of its low price and simple production method. However, this method is not very durable. When printing keycaps with Pad Printing, the manufacturer will select available characters and place them directly on the key and then print directly on them. Then they will add a few layers of preservation to keep the ink from fading longer. 
2. Foaming: This method will use light from a laser to create a thin film of tiny bubbles. The purpose is to draw letters or numbers on the keycap. However, these bubbles often have a rather rough surface so they are easy to get dusty and turn yellow.
3. Laser etching : Similar to Foaming, this method still uses lasers to engrave words on the keycap. The energy source from the laser will help burn the plastic at a moderate depth and create the desired characters. The biggest disadvantage of Laser etching is that they can only be applied on white keycaps. 
4. Laser printing : Simply use a laser to print on the keys.
5. Laser etching with paint fill : This technique works similarly to laser etching, however after engraving is completed, color will be poured into the engraved position to create diverse colors for the keycap. Laser etching with paint fill method can be used to engrave characters for black keycaps and many other colors.
6. Laser engraving: The keycaps will be painted with a black UV coating. The manufacturer will then use a laser to discolor the paint layer and reveal the previously painted character. This method is mainly applied to keyboards with accompanying LED lighting systems.
7. Double shot : This is one of the most durable keycap printing methods today. Accordingly, to limit the discoloration of the character coating over time, the manufacturer will mold 2 separate layers of plastic, one for the keycap and the other for the characters. Thanks to that, the characters not only do not fade but are also displayed clearly and sharply.
8. Dye-sub : With this method, manufacturers will use heat to penetrate the ink deep into the keycap surface to increase the durability and sharpness of the coating. However, this method is only suitable for printing dark characters with dark backgrounds.

Popular types of keycap profiles today

Each type of keycap will have its own profile as a basis to help users choose the product line that suits their needs. Below are the most popular keycap profiles today:

1. OEM

Topping the list of the most popular keycap profiles today is OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer). OEM keycap keyboards are often designed in a sculpted profile style, meaning the keys in each row will have different heights and tilts. 

The purpose is to provide comfort to fingers when typing. Besides, the surface of the keycap will also tend to curve slightly to hug your fingers and limit the protrusions that cause discomfort, helping users type faster and more accurately.

Currently, most major component manufacturing brands such as Razer, Logitech, Corsair, etc. use OEM keycap profiles for their keyboard products. However, because this type of profile is so popular, it accidentally creates a feeling of boredom and unattractiveness for users.

Advantage:

1. The height and tilt are designed to be moderate.
2. The surface curvature is spread evenly horizontally to distribute force to the fingers.
3. Affordable price.
4. Easy to buy and easy to use.

Defect:

1. The position of the keycap cannot be changed.
2. It is necessary to carefully learn about the size and shape of each brand's OEM profile if there is a need to innovate.
3. Not suitable for users with small hands.

2. Cherries

If you are a professional gamer and often use accompanying gaming accessories, it is impossible not to know the Cherry brand. This is a component manufacturer from Germany and is known as the 'mechanical switch tycoon' of the world. 

Keycap keyboards designed in the Cherry profile format are often considered easy to use, with an evenly flat surface and a large tilt in the last row. The purpose is to help balance the user's hand force when manipulating. In addition, the Cherry Profile Keycap keyboard is also highly appreciated for its aesthetics due to its beautiful design and creating a smooth, solid feeling when pressed.

According to the manufacturer, the Cherry profile keyboard basically has a design quite similar to the OEM profile except for the lower height. Therefore, the product will be suitable for those who have small hands or do not want to stretch their hands too much when typing.

Advantage:

1. The flat surface provides an extremely good typing experience, fast and less tiring.
2. Easy to use, suitable for many different customers.
3. High aesthetics, many unique designs.

Defect:

1. Not compatible with mechanical keyboards with LED lighting at the bottom.
2. High price.

3. SA

The next profile type of keycap that we want to introduce to you is SA or Spherical All. SA profile is designed by Signature Plastics, a famous American keycap manufacturing brand.

Keycap keyboards of this type are often molded using double shot technology for extremely good quality and are much higher than OEM. Therefore, this will be a suitable product line for those who like strong feelings or often use a lot of force when pressing.

Unlike OEM, all rows of SA profile keyboards are spherical with moderate concavity and different tilts depending on each line. Although it does not provide an optimal typing experience like OEM or Cherry, the SA profile keycap keyboard is still enthusiastically sought after by gamers thanks to its unique and thoughtful design despite the product's price on the market being not cheap. .

To buy a keycap mechanical keyboard of this type, users will have to order several months or even years in advance to be able to hold this product in their hands.

Advantage:

1. High durability due to being processed using doubleshot technique.
2. Harmonious and beautiful design
3. Reasonable arrangement of keys for smoother and faster typing.
4. Many new and attractive designs.

Defect:

1. High price.
2. The keys are high in height and can easily cause hand fatigue when typing, so you must buy an additional armrest pad.

4. DSA

Still manufactured by Signature Plastics, however, DSA profile is different from SA in that the product has a lower height and each row is the same height. The surface of the DSA profile keycap keyboard is designed to be slightly concave to hug the user's fingertips. The key surface area is expanded to help users feel comfortable and not constrained when typing.

The DSA profile keyboard has simple colors that help bring a sense of harmony and elegance to the user. However, due to its low profile, the DSA keycap keyboard is not suitable for use with tactile (fast typing) or clicky (loud typing) switches. On the contrary, the DSA profile keycap will be the ideal choice for those who use red switches or often work in public places with many people.

Advantage:

1. No hand fatigue when typing because the keycap keys are designed to be low.
2. The surface is wide and concave in the center for a good typing experience.
3. The characters in the center of the key are printed large and easy to see.

Defect:

1. Not compatible with tactile or clicky keyboards.

Some notes when buying and using keycaps

To choose the right keycap line and avoid buying poor quality products, users should pay attention to the following issues:

1. Choose to buy keycaps with clear brand, origin and warranty policy.
2. Check the compatibility between the keycap and the mechanical keyboard being used.
3. Regularly clean and wipe the keycap to limit the accumulation of dust and dirt that affects the typing experience.
4. If you want to replace a new keycap for your keyboard, you should use specialized tools called key pullers. When installing, you should carefully observe the position of the key to avoid installing the wrong function of the key. Installation must be very gentle and meticulous to avoid causing damage and affecting other parts of the keyboard.

Instructions for testing keycap durability and bearing capacity

To test the durability and bearing capacity of the keycap, users can apply one of the following methods:

Check domestically

Normally, keycaps made from PBT plastic will sink faster than ABS plastic when dropped into water. Besides, if keycap keyboards are produced using laser engraving technology (engraved or filling), they will have a higher bubble density than conventional printing methods.

Test with Acetone 

To know if the keycap you are using is made from ABS plastic or not, you can try dipping them in acetone solution. If the characters on the keys are faded or corroded, it proves that these keys are made from ABS plastic, not PBT or POM.

Keycap's bearing capacity 

Each type of plastic will have different durability, bearing capacity and elasticity. Therefore, to test the keycap's bearing capacity, you can use hard materials to tap on the surface of the key. However, this test is not recommended by experts to be applied regularly because it can affect the surface and texture of the keycap.

What are frequently asked questions about keycaps?

To better understand keycaps, readers can refer to some frequently asked questions about this product line below.

Can keycaps work on any keyboard?

Currently on the market there are many brands that produce keycaps with a variety of sizes and designs. Each type of keycap will have its own 'measurements' and they are only compatible with certain mechanical keyboards. So how do you know what type of keycap your keyboard will fit?

It's very simple, you just need to know the standard size of the keyboard then choose the keycap that is compatible with that keyboard. Normally, keycaps are manufactured according to Cherry configuration, the keycap has a standard size with a minimum width of 1 x 1 (18mm).

What changes will be the height and shape of the key. Some special keys such as CTRL, ALT and WIN will have a standard size of 1 × 1.25, with SHIFT 1 × 2.25 and the Spacebar 1 × 6.25. However, there are still some keyboards with CTRL, ALT and WIN keys that do not follow this standard size.

Which brand's keycap is the best?

According to user reviews based on the durability and bearing capacity of many different types of keycaps, users should choose to buy keycap keyboards from the following brands: -
Signature Plastic.
– GMK.
– Gateron PBT.
– Taihao.

Epilogue

Hopefully, through the sharing from the above article, readers will understand what the term keycap is and how to test the durability and bearing capacity of the keycap. If you have any questions, please leave a comment below the article to receive support as soon as possible.

Marvin Fry

Update 03 October 2023