of options available, and you just need a
simple keycap removal tool (or a strong grip)
to mix and match them. However, not all
keycaps are created equal. There are several
factors you’ll need to consider when both
looking for a keyboard to buy in the first place,
and when looking to upgrade keycaps.
The first is the keycap’s profile – its shape
and size. Most have the same profile as
Cherry’s standard keys, but there are dozens
of others. The second most popular profile
is SA, with much taller keys that narrow to a
smaller pad at the top, or there are shorter
ones such as DSA. You can mix and match
to your heart’s content, but be aware that
varying the profile for a single keyboard will
potentially mean big differences in key height.
The next factor to consider is the type of
plastic used to construct the caps. ABS is
the most common, but it tends to wear to a
shiny finish quite easily, and these caps can
also be quite thin and hollow-feeling. PBT is
the preferred premium option, as it’s harder-
wearing and has a weightier, less clackity feel.
Next up is the font and type of legend
(the letters) that’s applied to the keys. There
are thousands of available fonts and logo
sets from which to choose, and it comes
down to personal preference. However,
some legends are just painted onto the
caps – whether as writing on coloured keys
or black paint on clear keys through which
backlighting glows – which means they can
wear off over time.
For more longevity, keys can be made via
a doubleshot method, where the legend
is made by a second layer of plastic being
applied to the whole key, which is much
harder-wearing. We’ve found doubleshot
key legends can look slightly less crisp –
particularly backlit ones with fine writing, but
the quality will vary between manufacturers.The key stats
We’ve mentioned the fact that there are
many different brands of Cherry MX-style
switch, and people who are really into their
keyboards will swear by certain brands – oreven certain combinations of components
from different brands. However, to a large
extent, these MX-type switches can be
considered interchangeable (if you stick to
the same type), as long as you pay attention
to the main stats of each key.
The first number to check is the operating
force, which is the overall tension of
the spring and is usually measured in
centinewtons (cN). This generally ranges
from 35cN (often just written as 45g) to
80cN. Cherry’s most popular (and most
cloned) trio of Blue, Brown and Red switches
have operating forces of 60cN, 55cN and
45cN respectively.
In general, the heavier-force switches are
preferred for typing – especially by people
used to older mechanical keyboards – as
the higher force required is more forgiving
of slight finger-placement mistakes when
you’re quickly bashing out words. Meanwhile,
lighter switches are preferred for gaming,
where you’re spending many hours holding
down keys, and where accuracy across a
wide range of keys is less important than a
simple rapid response.
This same divide often marries up with the
next most important stat, which is the pre-
travel distance. This is the distance from the
top of the key’s travel to the point at which the
switch is activated, and where any tactile/
audible feedback is triggered. Technically,
the feedback response is often not exactlyCompanies such as Ducky produce a vast range of wild and whacky keycaps, as well as sensible ones
SteelSeries’ new OmniPoint switches use
magnets to trigger the switch, allowing the
pre-travel distance to be adjusted in softwareFEATURE / DEEP DIVE