ABS vs PBT Keycaps: What's the Difference?

Have you ever had a keyboard with keycaps turning shiny as time passed? What about the printed text losing its appearance over time? These are the typical problems of a low-end keyboard. The culprit behind these occurrences is a substandard keycap.

Understanding the difference between ABS and PBT keycaps is not just important; It's a crucial aspect of being a keyboard enthusiast. Why do most manufacturers use ABS keycaps in some products, even though PBT keycaps are considered superior? Keep reading to find the answers to these questions and stay engaged in the world of keyboards!

What is a Keycap?

Keycaps are the plastic material your finger touches when typing. They move with your finger motion. Depending on the type of keyboard, the labels on a keycap are alphanumeric, navigation, function, or numpad.

As enthusiasts typically use mechanical keyboards, keycap replacement is the most popular option. Gamers or typists may need to replace their keycaps for aesthetic reasons or worn-out surfaces. However, they may have to choose between an ABS or PBT keycap.

Do I Need to Replace My Mechanical Keyboard Keycaps

As a regular keyboard user, you may want to change the aesthetics of your current setup. Typists or receptionists who type a lot of data on their keyboards may wear out their keycaps, but that also depends on the type of keycap material. Some materials wear out faster than others.

Users mostly want to change their keycaps because they found the PBT keycaps with unique shapes on an e-commerce website or saw one at a friend's house. If regular keyboard users need to replace keyboard keycaps, it's a matter of choice. If your keycaps wear out or you get into gamers' rage and damage some of them, replacing keycaps is more budget-friendly than replacing the keyboard.

ABS vs. PBT Keycaps: Head-to-Head Analysis

When looking for the best keycap for your keyboard, you will have two choices: an ABS or PBT keycap. Each has its manufacturing technique and advantages. Is it price vs. reliability or toughness vs. brightness? Let's explore!

ABS Material: Balancing Durability and Affordability

The scientific name for the material is Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS). It is heat-resistant, fully recyclable, and non-toxic. Due to its convenient molding characteristics, keyboards utilize the material. It can quickly melt at a glass transition temperature of 105 °C.

Manufacturing Process of ABS Keycap

ABS is a thermoplastic common in toys, the automobile industry, innovative healthcare, and home appliances. The manufacturing facilities use an injection molding device to produce the ABS keycap. Here is a simplified step-by-step process of making an ABS keycap for keyboards:

1. The process starts by selecting pellets with the desired base color of the keycap. It can be a translucent white color for RGB keyboards so that the light can shine through.

2. The pellets go into an injection molding machine, which heats them to melt into liquid form.

3. The machine then injects melted ABS material into a mold with a hollow space resembling a keycap shape.

4. By precisely controlling temperature, viscosity, injection pressure, and speed, manufacturers can create higher-quality products with improved strength, finish, and consistency.

5. The process ends here for keycaps that are not translucent. However, the manufacturer paints the keycaps that support backlighting with the desired color.

6. Finally, a laser machine removes the paint from the top of the keycap to form alphanumeric or other indications. 

Is ABS Keycap Right for You

We must consider its advantages and disadvantages to see if the ABS keycap suits you. It is the most common material used for manufacturing keycaps. Due to its simple manufacturing process, the keycaps are generally budget-friendly. Here are the main advantages of ABS keycaps:

Finding the Perfect ABS Keycap

If you are looking for an ABS keycap for your setup, start by looking for one that is compatible with your keyboard. Here are the tips to keep in mind when purchasing an ABS keycap:

● Select between low-profile or high-profile keycaps based on base height.

● Check your keyboard layout to see if it's ANSI, ISO, or JIS.

● Make sure that your base color and keycap color are compatible visually.

● If your keyboard features RGB, look for keycaps that support RGB lighting.

What is a Double Injection PBT Keycap

As the name suggests, double-injection PBT keycaps form in two stages instead of a single injection to create a complete keycap. The scientific name is Polybutylene terephthalate (PBT). Due to the PBT material, these keycaps are tough against the abrasion of daily use. Typists and gamers who have long nails should go for PBT keycaps. But how is this keycap made? What makes them so unique? Let's see!

Understanding Double Injection PBT Keycap Manufacturing

The machinery is similar to the manufacturing of ABS keycaps, as mentioned earlier in the blog. It also requires an injection molding machine. However, this time, it's a bit more complex. Here is the process:

1. PBT has exceptional dimensional stability, so it maintains its shape during manufacturing.

2. The injection molding machine melts the PBS material into a die shape to form the PBT keycap's first part. This part consists of the legend that the keycap will feature. A translucent material that shines light through it can make an RGB-compatible keycap.

3. The first part is then taken into the second die, where the primary color of the PBT keycap is injected.

4. At last, the two colors of PBT form a durable and long-lasting keycap.

Pros and Cons of PBT Keycaps

Considering the complex manufacturing process of PBT keycaps, there must be a good enough reason to sell them. Well, all the premium gaming or typist keyboards feature PBT keycaps. Let's analyze why.

Tips to Finding the Perfect PBT Keycap

Finding the perfect PBT keycap requires careful evaluation of your current keyboard. There are many factors to consider, as these keycaps are available in various shapes and sizes. Here are the most valuable tips:

● Start by analyzing the keyboard that needs keycap replacement.

● Observe its thickness, size, layout, and mechanical switch types.

● Most mechanical keyboards come with MX mechanical switches, thus making a considerable segment of PBT keycaps compatible.

● Pick between low-profile or regular-profile keycaps, considering the keyboard base height.

● The shape of the keycap can be Cherry Profile, SA Profile, DSA Profile, HSA Profile, XDA Profile, and KAM Profile. All of these shapes have different surface shapes.

● Select the best profile based on your hand size and usage scenario.

● Cherry and SA profiles are the most popular, so analyze them carefully.

● Finally, consider the aesthetic aspect that best fits your computer setup.

Concluding the Discussion

There is no single choice that suits all users. ABS and PBT are different materials with pros and cons. However, we can conclude all our discussions in a few words. ABS is budget-friendly and suitable for users who require a glossy finish. Double-shot PBT is ideal for users who need to operate for more extended periods and want to maintain their matte finish. Double-shot PBT is also ideal for outdoor usage where UV exposure is highly likely.

If you want a perfect set of double-shot PBT keycaps with unique aesthetics, visit the MEETION website. Their Green-theme High-quality PBT Keycaps Spring features 5 colors over a single layout and a round edge arc design for a classic feel. We hope you find the best keycap for your setup!