Fortunately, aftermarket sets have only got better with an increasing number of stylish designs available each year.
In this post, we will look at some of the best PBT keysets on the market right now.
The cosmic and anime selection includes Elk, Knight, Sakura, and Starry Sky.
Although the plastic is PBT, the quality is somewhat on the lower end of the scale.
In particular, the keycaps are quite thin and transparent.
As a result, LED backlighting does shine through the surface of the caps (not the legends).
(Image credit: Epomaker)
This results in an unusual look that you may or not like.
Nevertheless, the Charan keycaps offer wide compatibility.
Thanks to the included key pulling accessory, installation is a breeze.
Out of those, the kit contains 104 standard ANSI keys and 56 extra customizable keys.
Made from 1.5mm PBT, all the caps are extra thick and have fantastic strength and durability.
Besides strength, the texturing is just right, and the unique colorways are gorgeous.
Moreover, the double shot process ensures the legends wont fade or disappear down the line.
Unfortunately, while the actual material of the keycaps is good, they are let down by their quality.
For starters, we did find some leftover pieces of plastic on the edges.
However, the biggest deal-breaker is that the legend font sizes seem to differ based on the keycap sizes.
Printed by a thermal sublimation process, the artistic blossom design and legends embed right into the caps themselves.
This provides plenty of resilience and longevity for a guaranteed service life of ten years.
As for the texture, these 1.3mm keycaps have a bit of a grainy feel.
The almost pebbled matt surface prevents any buildup of oils and fingerprinting problems disappear, too.
During typing, your fingers wont fall off the keycaps the way they would have on smoother options.
One thing to note is that the majority of the legends use classical Chinese style typography.
Due to this, the English sub-legends are a bit smaller and harder to read.
The wonderful watercolor graphics is another cool touch.
This is printed using a dye-sub process and then finished with a clear coat.
This results in a keycap that feels softer without sacrificing durability.
It helps eliminates fatigue during long keyboard sessions, too.
GK2 has a similar spherical profile to KAT but with a slightly taller height.
As a result, your fingers will dance across the surface with even greater accuracy.
Made from 1.5 mm thick PBT, the quality is thick and consistent throughout the set.
Whether this is by sticking with a standard QWERTY layout or going for something a bit more unconventional.
They have a short XDA uniform profile and work with Cherry MX style switches and clones.
As a result, compatibility issues wont be a problem here.
Made out of 1.5mm PBT, each keycap is nice and thick.
Unfortunately, due to being dye-sub, they do hinder any LED illumination from underneath the caps.
On the plus side, the rougher surface texture is great for speed and accuracy.
The feel and responsiveness of these keycaps is also fantastic.
Developed specifically for use with backlit mechanical keyboards, they have a translucent, dual-layer design.
This results in more light being let through to complement the whole keyboard aesthetic.
Therefore, they will start to bleed if you give a shot to mix backlight colors.
Compatible with almost all mechanical keyboards, these HyperX caps have a standard ANSI layout.
The profile is a taller version of OEM, which means they shouldnt take much getting used to.
(Image credit: Ducky)
Unfortunately, the surface texture is quite fine so they are prone to picking up grease.
Made of high-grade PBT with extra-thick walls, the build quality of these keycaps is impressive.
In particular, they have a nice grainy texture and a sharp, non-gamer font.
Finally, each set has 120 keycaps, which is more than enough for all keyboard sizes.
Produced out of 1.4mm PBT, these caps have additional weight and durability.
Furthermore, due to the dye-sub infusion process, youll experience a lot less wear and tear.
We particularly like that the legends have both English and Japanese root characters for an even cooler flourish.
Youll find 162 keycaps included in this PBT keycap set.
Thats more than enough keys for keyboards of all sizes.
Tai-Hao Sunshine PBT Keycap Set
Transforming your mechanical keyboard into a beautiful sunset takes just seconds with thesePBT keycaps.
Utilizing an OEM profile, they are comfortable to punch in on and great for accuracy and speed.
The pack also includes three extra caps that each have their own branding on.
At 1.5 mm, these keycaps are a little on the chunky side but were definitely not complaining.
The extra thickness adds to durability, as well as the sound of the thocc.
Moreover, with a slightly rough surface texture, the keycaps are grippy and pleasant to touch.
Finally, its worth pointing out the font on the legends that is large and highly legible.
Thanks to the double-shot process, the characters are consistent and high-quality across each key.
The result is a major mechanical keyboard upgrade that enhances aesthetics and productivity.
We can say the same about the printed modifier keys that feature unique plant designs.
While these keys are indeed replicas, they almost match the quality of the original GMK set.
Made from 1.5mm PBT with an anti-grease coating, they offer first-class durability.
Furthermore, the matte texture guarantees a no-slip surface to improve accuracy and typing speed across the board.
There are 108 keycaps in each of these kits.
Thats more than enough to cover full-size keyboards, 96% boards, and TKL layouts.
All of the necessary keys are included, too.
Made from PBT double-shot plastic, these keycaps are 100% fade-resistant, strong, and durable.
Although they are not overly grippy, the texture is nice and they dont feel too rough.
Another big plus is that they are shine-though, however, ours did have some minor backlight bleed.
Designed with three vibrant and playful tones, theyre sure to brighten up any board.
The contrasting legends look precise and clear as well, however, its worth noting that they are non-shine-through.
Gamers and high-speed typists are going to love the way these keycaps feel.
Youll be glad to know that they are compatible with all MX-style mechanical keyboards switches, too.
After removing the originals, they simply snap right into place.
So… why does your keyboard need to be so serious?
Time to add a spot of color with these gorgeous Ducky caps!
Straight away you will be impressed with the quality, along with the fantastic plastic box packaging.
All sets feature tri-tone colorways and come in a large variety of color schemes.
Unlike many other OEM keycaps on this list, the Matcha caps have an ASA profile.
Sculpted and contoured with a high profile, they cradle your fingertips ergonomically and feel velvety to touch.
In terms of quality, these keycaps are sure to surpass your expectations.
The edges are straight, there are no signs of warping, and the lettering is super clean/ defined.
Moreover, the grainy texture is also soft yet grippy, which is just about perfect in every regard.
What is the best ABS Keycap Set
5.
Multi-color pastels delineate different sections, making it easy to customize the look and feel.
A QWERTY layout comes standard in the pack but that can be tinkered with, too.
In terms of materials, the ABS is strong, durable, and provides plenty of tactile feedback.
Instead, all the keys have a bold black font that contrast well with the different key colors.
You may also like that these keycaps have an SA profile.
That sets a perfect fit for folks looking to jot down faster as well as reduce fatigue while gaming.
They have an SA height profile that guarantees improved responsiveness and a better keystroke feeling, too.
The end result is an overhauled board that performs just as well as it looks.
The longevity of these ABS keycaps will never be a problem.
The quality is certainly on par with other PBT sets and this is reflected in the price.
The high-quality ABS materials improve the build quality and durability of these keycaps, too.
The double shot legends in this set are molded permanently into the structure.
This improves the legibility, the continuity throughout the set, and even helps improve quick typing recognition.
Crafted out of high-quality ABS, the feel of these double shot keycaps is something special.
At 1.5mm thick, they are a little chunkier than other options for sure.
Supporting the base keys are dark gray and golden modifiers.
Although the construction is only ABS plastic, these keys are tough, real tough.
Thickness measures 1.5 mm, which is a little bit chunkier than most other caps on this list.
As a result, they have decent weight to provide a premium typing experience with plenty of thocc.
Containing 55-keys inside (Including extra novelty keys), its also compatible with most 60% keyboard layouts.
Click herefor GMK Redsuns!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is PBT Keycap set?
PBT keycaps are an aftermarket set made from polybutylene terephthalate.
PBT offers superior quality to other inferior plastics such as ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene).
How thick are double shot PBT keycaps?
Most double-shot PBT keycap sets are anywhere between 1.2mm to 1.55mm thick.
On the whole, thicker keycap sets are seen as more desirable by the keyboard community.
This is because the cap can absorb more sound when bottoming out, resulting in an even deeper thocc.
Can I replace ABS with PBT?
Yes, depending on your switches.
We hope you found a PBT keycap set on this list.
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