Are ABS keycaps more clacky?

ABS keycaps generally produce a slightly higher-pitched and more "clacky" sound compared to PBT keycaps . This is due to their softer nature and the way they interact with the switches when pressed.

What is better ABS or PBT keycaps?

ABS vs PBT: Which is better? PBT is considered to be superior in terms of feel, robustness, and looks . The price is slightly higher than ABS, however we, alongside pretty much the whole mechanical keyboard community, think that the price is worth it.

What is the sound of ABS vs PBT?

Sound: The sound profile can actually be quite complex. While ABS keycaps are often associated with a higher-pitched sound and PBT with a deeper, more muted tone , this isn't a hard and fast rule. The thickness of the keycaps can change the sound dramatically.

Do PBT keycaps affect sound?

Different keycaps can affect the sound of your keyboard in several ways. Here are a few examples: Material: The material of the keycaps can affect the sound of your keyboard. For example, keycaps made of ABS plastic can produce a "pingy" sound, while keycaps made of PBT plastic can produce a "thocky" sound .

Does ABS feel better than PBT?

Generally, PBT is known to be better for long-term use and will not wear or get greasy as much, good for people with hands on the sweatier side. The ABS keycaps, on the other hand, have more vivid color options available and offer a silky, skin-like touch .

What are the cons of ABS keycaps?

ABS in keycaps One obvious downside of ABS keycaps is their smooth surface, which causes printing on them to easily rub away with heavy use , making them generally undesirable due to low durability on the legends.

Do PBT keycaps sound better?

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 .

Are ABS keycaps quieter than PBT?

ABS can be way less dense than PBT in the majority of cases , so reasonably enough, comparing two keycaps of same volume, should result in the PBT producing a deeper sound because it's more dense.

What are the advantages of ABS keycaps?

Advantages: Smooth Texture : ABS keycaps often have a smoother and glossier surface, giving them a sleek appearance that some users prefer. Customization: The smooth surface of ABS keycaps makes them ideal for custom keycap designs and intricate legends that can be more detailed and vibrant.

The ABS controller may make noise that sounds like grinding or buzzing . In some vehicles, you may feel a slight vibration.

Is PBT heavier than ABS?

PBT keycaps have a sandy, textured, matte feel and appearance that keeps them from developing the greasy look and feel that's nearly universal among ABS keycaps. PBT keycaps are heavier than ABS keycaps and produce a more crisp sound, providing a smoother, more responsive typing experience.

What do ABS keycaps feel like?

They can also complement RGB keyboards better than PBT because it is much easier to make ABS keycaps that shine through RGB colors. Some people like the shininess of ABS keycaps, as well as the slick feel . ABS keycaps may also impact the sound of the keyboard, and some people prefer the sound of ABS keycaps vs.

Are ABS keycaps smooth?

ABS Keycaps: Smooth, Glossy Texture Since they have a smooth and glossy texture, ABS keycaps tend to become slippery after a few weeks or months of use (if you're lucky). The keys you use more frequently, like the spacebar and WASD, may shine and smooth out sooner than the ones used less often.

ABS vs PBT Keycaps: What’s the Difference?

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 usedfor 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 keycapsfeel 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.

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What are ABS Keycaps?

Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene(ABS) is a copolymer plasticthat is commonly used in the production of keycaps for keyboards. ABS plasticis used because it is durable and resistant, but cheap to produce. It is impactresistant, so it can withstand millions of keystrokes before cracking orbreaking. One of the downsides to ABS is that overtime it wears down. It’s notuncommon that after heavy use, an ABS keycap will have the lettering start tofade away and the keycap will start to thin.

ABS keycaps have a smooth texture. The texture can be niceto glide your fingers across the keyboard. This comes at a cost though, becausecheap and poorly manufactured ABS keycaps will develop a greasy/shiny look toit after usage. This is because the plastic gradually changes color fromexposure to UV rays. ABS keycaps tend to be thinner, but it is possible to buyhigh quality, thick ABS keycaps for a slight increase in price.

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Most ABS keycaps are made through injection molding to formthe shape of the keycap. Afterwards, the legends are printed on the keycapsthrough several different processes, depending on the manufacturer. The mostcommon 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 GM K 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?

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

The defining properties of PBT keycaps are the textured, sometimessandy, feel to them. Usually more expensive PBT keycaps will have a nicertexture 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 plastictypes, let’s talk about the biggest differences between ABS and PBT.

Cost

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

Texture

ABS keycaps are smooth and shiny, while PBT is textured andmatte. This is due to the different plastic material and compounds used in eachtype. 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.

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Material

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

Sound

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

It’s Up to Your Personal Taste

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

What are Doubleshot Keycaps?

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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?

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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.

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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.

ABS vs PBT Keycaps: What’s the Difference? | Switch and Click (2024)