Topics
Browse everything KeycapCompare publishes by category and tag: every topic covered here, with the most recent guides listed under each one.
Tags
- #buyers-guide 7
- #pbt 7
- #comparison 6
- #kitting 6
- #cherry-profile 5
- #guide 5
- #keycaps 5
- #materials 5
- #compatibility 4
- #doubleshot 4
- #dye-sub 3
- #profiles 3
- #budget 2
- #how-to 2
- #legends 2
- #maintenance 2
- #oem 2
- #sa 2
- #sculpted 2
- #sound 2
- #abs 1
- #accents 1
- #acoustics 1
- #aftermarket 1
- #akko 1
- #artisans 1
- #asa-profile 1
- #backlight 1
- #casting 1
- #cleaning 1
- #clones 1
- #colorway 1
- #coverage 1
- #dimensions 1
- #dsa 1
- #ergonomics 1
- #gateron 1
- #gmk 1
- #group-buy 1
- #hot-swap 1
- #in-stock 1
- #installation 1
- #kailh 1
- #kam 1
- #layout 1
- #manufacturers 1
- #mechanical-keyboards 1
- #mx-clones 1
- #mx-stem 1
- #north-facing 1
- #novelties 1
- #pad-print 1
- #premium 1
- #profile-heights 1
- #raffles 1
- #reference 1
- #removal 1
- #resin 1
- #rgb 1
- #shine-through 1
- #sourcing 1
- #stems 1
- #sublegends 1
- #terminology 1
- #thickness 1
- #tools 1
- #units 1
- #value 1
- #xda 1
Categories
buying-guides 9 posts
- Best Keycaps for Hot Swap Keyboard Builds: 6 PicksSix keycap sets for hot-swap boards, matched to socket type, LED orientation and budget, plus the Cherry-profile interference trap.
- Best Cherry Profile Keycaps Under $50: Five PicksCompare five Cherry-profile keycap sets listed below $50 by material, legends, RGB support, kit inventory, and documented compatibility limits.
- Akko ASA and PBT Keycaps: Profiles, Clear Sets, and PricesLearn how Akko's ASA profile compares to Cherry, what doubleshot PBT means, which clear and shine-through sets it sells, and the $10 to $60 price range.
- Best Budget PBT Keycap Set 2026: $24-$40 Buying GuideA guide to the best budget PBT keycap set in 2026, with verified prices on Cherry-profile dye-sub and double-shot sets and the kit-coverage traps to avoid.
- MX-Clone Switch Brands: Keycap Compatibility ChecksCompare Gateron and Kailh switch families when buying MX keycaps, with model, revision, mount, and return-policy checks before choosing a clone brand.
- Budget vs Premium Keycaps: Where Money Actually MattersWhen spending more on keycaps is worth it and when it isn't: a decision guide separating what you feel daily from what you are mostly just paying for.
materials 6 posts
- Types of Keycaps: Materials, Legends, Mounts, and KitsUnderstand types of keycaps by material, legend method, stem mount, and kit coverage, so you can read a product listing and check what fits.
- Shine-Through and Clear Keycaps: Which Ones Let Light InShine-through keycaps pass LED light only through the legends; translucent and clear PC caps light the whole cap. See which legend methods glow and why.
- GMK vs PBT Keycaps: ABS, Clones, Price, and ValueCompare GMK vs PBT keycaps by product line, doubleshot legends, shine, kit cost, and availability, with sourced alternatives and clone-listing checks.
- Keycap Thickness and Sound: Reading the SpecificationsRead keycap wall-thickness specifications, separate profile height from construction, and compare sound claims without assuming thicker means deeper.
- Doubleshot vs Dye-Sub vs Pad Print: Keycap Legend MethodsDoubleshot, dye-sub, pad print, reverse dye-sub, and laser keycap legends are compared by durability, design limits, and ideal uses.
- PBT vs ABS Keycaps: Material, Shine, Sound, and Which to BuyWhat actually separates PBT and ABS keycaps — texture, the dreaded shine, sound, legend durability, and the cases where ABS is genuinely the better choice.
profiles 4 posts
- Keycap Profile Height Chart (mm): Cherry, OEM, SA, XDA, DSAPublished keycap heights in mm: SA 16.5, KAT 13.5, OEM 11.9, MOA 9.8, Cherry 9.4, XDA 9.1, DSA and G20 7.6, with sources and measurement caveats.
- Cherry vs OEM Profile Keycaps: Height, Shape, Which to PickOEM keycaps stand about 11.9 mm, Cherry about 9.4 mm. Compare row sculpt, prices, selection, mixing rules, and how to tell which profile you have.
- SA Profile Deep-Dive: The Tall, Sculpted, Polarizing ClassicUnderstand SA keycaps through published profile specifications: tall spherical tops, sculpted and uniform rows, kit coverage, and fit checks.
- Keycap Profiles Explained: Shapes, Rows, and TypingCompare keycap profiles by sculpt, top shape, and typing preferences, with Cherry, OEM, SA, MT3, KAT, DSA, XDA, and kit coverage explained.
care-and-installation 2 posts
- How to Clean PBT Keycaps Safely, Plus ABS CareClean PBT and ABS keycaps with mild soap, careful removal, thorough rinsing, and complete drying, plus practical guidance on shine and yellowing.
- How to Install and Remove Keycaps Without Damaging ThemUse a wire puller to remove and install keycaps, identify Cherry-style or Costar stabilizers, and check alignment before seating long keys.
fit-and-compatibility 2 posts
- Keycap Kitting and Coverage: Base Kits, Extra Kits, UnitsHow keycap kitting works: base kit versus extension kits, the 'u' unit system, key counts, and how to plan coverage so a set fits your exact board.
- Keycap Compatibility Checklist: Mounts, Widths, Rows, KitsHow to check keycap compatibility before you buy: MX stems, kit coverage, the modifiers that trip people up, and why a lovely set can still leave gaps.