Latest news with #HenriRobbins
WIRED
3 days ago
- Business
- WIRED
Asus' ROG Falchion Ace HFX Brings a Fresh Take to Hall Effect Keyboards
Every gaming keyboard manufacturer seems to be jumping on the Hall effect bandwagon, and why wouldn't they? The keyboard technology has been proven in both esports arenas and home office setups worldwide and offers countless advantages over standard mechanical keyboards, with no real performance compromises. Hall effect keyboards have also arrived as countless other technologies enter the keyboard space: Everything from gasket-mounting to touchpads is now in mainstream keyboards. That also means I regularly see new products, mechanical and Hall effect, with features I've never even considered before. Case in point, the Asus ROG Falchion Ace HFX, a small keyboard with a large name and a lot of unusual features. This $200 wired-only keyboard has Hall effect switches, an 8,000-Hz polling rate, multidevice connectivity with two USB-C ports, and a programmable touchpad on the back edge. Not to mention countless on-keyboard controls and a flipable lever to enable or disable the rapid trigger feature found on most Hall effect keyboards. While it does have some strange design decisions, it has a lot of really clever ones too. Unique Switches Photograph: Henri Robbins Photograph: Henri Robbins Photograph: Henri Robbins The Falchion has one of the deepest typing sounds compared to other Hall effect keyboards. This is likely a combination of the keyboard's unique HFX magnetic switches, one of the few I've tested that aren't made by Gateron, and the sound dampening inside. It consists of multiple layers of foam, Poron, and silicone, and a sheet of small rubber domes. The switches feel incredibly smooth, even when pressed slowly, with a consistent feel throughout the entire keypress. They use a polycarbonate top housing, a POM stem, and a POM bottom housing, contributing to the deeper typing sound and ensuring smoothness across the entire keystroke. Unlike most Hall effect switches, the HFX doesn't have a hole in the center, instead, it moves the magnet to the front, where the metal contact leaf would typically be on a mechanical switch. This makes the Falchion incompatible with standard Hall effect switches, but likely improves the sound profile as well: Open-bottom switches tend to have a more hollow typing sound, which can be heard on competitors. The springs are weighted to 55 grams of total force, which is 5 grams lighter than the Gateron Nebula dual-rail switches used by Keychron, and 10 grams lighter than the standard Cherry MX Red. There aren't any other switches available for this keyboard, but because Hall effect switches are contactless, the existing switches can be removed without any desoldering or extensive disassembly. I didn't find myself wanting to change the switches, though—they have a poppy and deep sound that's incredibly crisp, and they feel responsive and smooth, especially with rapid trigger enabled. My largest issue with the typing experience was the keycaps. They have a rough texture that, while grippy, felt noticeably coarse and unpleasant when typing. It comes down to preference, but I found them less enjoyable than smooth or lightly textured keycaps.
WIRED
16-05-2025
- WIRED
The Best Ergonomic Mouse to Keep Wrist Strain at Bay
Photograph: Henri Robbins Keychron M6 for $50: If you like the design of the MX Master line, but would prefer a more gaming-oriented mouse, the Keychron M6 is a nice alternative. While the M6 doesn't have Logitech's advanced gesture controls or soft-touch exterior, it maintains the dual-mode scroll wheel, horizontal wheel, and general ergonomics while adding a 4,000-Hz refresh rate and shaving off almost half the weight of the 3S at only 78 grams. However, some small issues of build quality and a loss of functionality make this a less-than-ideal choice for most users—the dual-mode scroll wheel rattles during use, and the mouse feels lightweight to a fault. The higher-performance model's wireless receiver requires a USB-C cable to connect to a device, which is a lot less convenient for laptop users compared to the low-profile dongle included with the 1,000-Hz model (and most other mice today). Photograph: Henri Robbins Keychron M4 for $50: While you can realistically transport any of the mice on this list in a backpack or computer bag, I was impressed by just how compact the Keychron M4 is. I could easily slip it into a laptop bag or jacket pocket without any issue, and I even used it as a travel mouse for quite a while. While the shape isn't great, or even good, ergonomically, I found the claw grip quite comfortable even during prolonged gaming sessions. However, it isn't good enough that I would recommend it to anyone for daily use on a desktop setup unless they want the lightest mouse possible. The only real complaint I had with this mouse was the dongle: The 4,000-Hz model comes with a receiver shaped like a tiny keyboard with a USB-C port on the back, which meant I needed a cable to connect the receiver and a flat surface to place it on. Meanwhile, the 1,000-Hz model came with a simple USB dongle that could plug into the side of a laptop. Logitech Pro X Superlight 2 DEX for $180: While this mouse is intended for high-intensity competitive gaming, I found its sculpted shape to be practical and comfortable for any long-term use, and its lightweight (60 grams!), no-frills design was quick and snappy for both spreadsheets and shooters. The mouse felt incredibly sturdy despite its weight, and the 8-kHz polling combined with a 44k-dpi sensor makes it the best-performing mouse on this list. While pricey, the Superlight DEX is a great single-mouse solution for someone who works from home and immediately starts queueing up after clocking out. It has a far more gaming-focused lean than the Razer Basilisk V3, which, while not bad, means you're making a few more sacrifices to productivity in exchange for gaming performance. Photograph: Henri Robbins Logitech MX Vertical for $120: While this mouse's size and general shape both feel good for regular use, I found the shape to be a bit uncomfortable to fully grip and lift: A prominent ridge on the back dug into the space between my thumb and index finger, and the shape was just a bit too narrow to get a good hold on. However, the MX Vertical is still comfortable to hold with a looser grip, and it is perfectly serviceable for general office work and browsing, while putting less strain on the wrist than a standard horizontal mouse. Photograph: Henri Robbins Logitech Lift for $80: As one of the smaller vertical mice on this list, the Lift is just a bit too small. I found it difficult to comfortably grip this mouse for prolonged use, and friends with smaller hands found the same. That said, WIRED reviews editor Julian Chokkattu says his 5'2" wife uses the Life and finds it perfect for her small hands, so your mileage will vary. Regardless of hand size, a larger vertical mouse is typically more comfortable for most people. It's worth noting that the Lift is one of the only vertical mice I've tested with a left-handed configuration.
WIRED
30-04-2025
- WIRED
Corsair's K70 Pro TKL Keyboard Mixes Switches With Mixed Results
When I test a mechanical keyboard with 'Pro' in the name, I expect it to be the best of the best, with no compromises over its non-Pro variant. Razer has this figured out: The BlackWidow V4 Pro is better than the original V4 in every way, and it proves that a gaming keyboard doesn't need to employ Hall effect switches to be good. Conversely, Corsair demonstrated that Hall effect switches don't automatically make a keyboard better, especially when there are trade-offs to get them. The Corsair K70 keyboard has three flavors: Core ($100), Core Wireless ($150), and Pro TKL ($180). The Pro has an advantage over the Core because it has some Hall effect switches but skips wireless connectivity. It sports an 8,000-Hz polling rate, extensive RGB, and a magnetized wrist rest. It also has a few sacrifices that make it lackluster compared to the other K70 models and its peers. A Tale of Two Switches Photograph: Henri Robbins Corsair's product page for the K70 Pro TKL says the keyboard uses 'Corsair MGX V2 switches,' with no mention of standard mechanical switches in the Tech Specs section or elsewhere. In the exploded view of the keyboard, some of the switches have pink stems instead of blue and are listed as 'MLX Plasma switches.' Every key not part of the main cluster, like the function row, Escape key, arrow keys, and other navigation keys, are mechanical switches. Even on the packaging for the keyboard, this is only presented in small print on the top of the box, with the rest only mentioning the MGX Hyperdrive switches. Intentional or not, this is frustrating. When I buy a keyboard, I expect all the keys to have the same type of switches. If that's not the case, the company should be clearer than this. Thankfully, the keyboard doesn't feel bad to type on. The MGX V2 Hyperdrive switches are crisp and responsive without any softness at the bottom of the keypress. There is almost zero scratchiness when typing or even when pressing a switch down slowly, a feat possible thanks to the contact-free design of a magnetic Hall effect switch. (Read more about the tech here.) This is likely further improved by the double-rail design inside the switches, introduced with the Keychron Q1 HE and used in multiple keyboards since. Photograph: Henri Robbins The Hyperdrive switches share the same design as Wooting's Lekker switches, which means the two can be swapped between keyboards. However, both are made using an earlier design of Hall effect switches and are not interchangeable with the newer Hall effect switches used by Keychron (an issue I discussed when reviewing the Q1 HE last year). The MLX mechanical switches are enjoyable to use, although they feel heavier than the Hall effect switches. They have a deeper, full tone and a slight scratchiness that can be felt even when typing normally. It feels similar to the 'good' scratch of something like a Cherry MX Black. The MLX switches feel slightly slower to bounce back after a keypress. I felt continually thrown off by the mixing of the MGX Hall effect and MLX mechanical switches, since the two felt noticeably different. This is not to say that the MLX switches are bad; I enjoy typing on the standard K70 Core that only has mechanical switches. The issue is how the two blend. It was distracting whenever I had to use both switches back-to-back. Half High-Speed Photograph: Henri Robbins The K70 Pro TKL performs well for gaming. It has incredibly precise and responsive inputs, and more than that, the MGX switches' weight and rebound speed are tuned for responsiveness without being so light as to cause any accidental mis-inputs.
WIRED
23-04-2025
- WIRED
WobKey's Rainy 75 Mechanical Keyboard Punches Above Its Weight
The Rainy 75 is a common sight on the r/MechanicalKeyboards subreddit, a community that nerds out about the thock of a keyboard and, naturally, fun keycaps. It seems like every week or so, someone posts about their new purchase from WobKey, and every time, the consensus revolves around how good of a budget option it is. That's because, for under $150, the Rainy 75 has every feature you could want in a mechanical keyboard today. There are a few strange design choices, but I finally got my hands on one, and I'm impressed by this keyboard. The Rainy 75 is available in three flavors: Lite, Standard, and Pro. The Lite retails for $129 and includes HMX Violet linear switches, a polypropylene plate, and a 3,500-mAh battery. The Pro—the model I tested—includes Kailh Cocoa linear switches, an FR4 plate, RGB lighting, and two batteries totaling 7,000 mAh for $159. The Standard is in between and costs $139. Poppy, Crisp, and Smooth Photograph: Henri Robbins Typing on the Rainy 75 feels and sounds fantastic. It has that poppy, crisp typing sound you see in videos online, and typing feels every bit as energetic and enjoyable. I assume the 'Rainy 75' name comes from the typing sound, since its softer and rounded sound profile sounds like rain falling. The linear 'Cocoa' switches are manufactured by Kailh for the Rainy 75. These switches have a relatively light operating force of 45 grams, which is comparable to a Cherry MX Red, and use a polyoxymethylene stem (POM) and Nylon housing, which helps to create a marbly typing sound and a smooth typing feel. The switches are responsive, popping back up quickly after being pressed, and have hardly any scratch, even when pressed down slowly. The stems of these switches have little wobble from side to side or front to back, making keypresses feel sturdy. The stabilizers on this keyboard come pre-lubed and, despite being plate-mounted instead of printed-circuit-board–mounted, they feel fantastic. While I could talk about how smooth and quiet they are, it's easier to say that I didn't even notice they were there when typing. These stabilizers are tuned perfectly and don't require any work out of the box. That said, I imagine that, like most plate-mounted stabilizers, they will require a reapplication of lube after a while. Photograph: Henri Robbins The gasket-mount system holding the keyboard together is really impressive. It feels bouncy and soft without seeming too muted or mushy. The dampening from the gaskets is consistent across all of the keys, only becoming somewhat stiffer around the edges. Finicky Functionality This keyboard has some quirks that, while not huge, can be annoying. Sometimes, when pressing Alt+Tab on this keyboard, or any other key combinations involving the Tab key, I have to press the combination twice for it to work. I've resolved these oddities by turning the keyboard off and on. Typically, one of my favorite features on a mechanical keyboard is support for QMK and VIA. QMK, short for Quantum Mechanical Keyboard, is an open source firmware that allows for almost limitless customization of a keyboard's layout. VIA is a system for customizing specific QMK-compatible keyboards using an in-browser interface. These allow for simple and efficient customization of mechanical keyboards, meaning a QMK-enabled keyboard will have long-term support without reliance on proprietary software that may stop being updated after a few years.
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WIRED
24-03-2025
- WIRED
How to Buy the Best Keycaps for Your Mechanical Keyboard
Here's everything you need to know—from keycap sculpts to materials—to make your typing experience more personalized. Photograph: Henri Robbins If you buy something using links in our stories, we may earn a commission. This helps support our journalism. Learn more. Please also consider subscribing to WIRED Whether you're buying your first mechanical keyboard or doing research for your endgame build, keycaps are a huge part of not only your keyboard's appearance but also its all-around typing experience. The keycaps you choose can have a massive impact on how you type, what it feels like, and what your keyboard sounds like. That's why it's important to find the right set for your personal needs. However, there are a lot of different details to consider when looking at keycaps, and it can be overwhelming if you're new to the hobby or out of the loop on certain developments. I've put together this guide to serve as a jumping-off point into the world of keycaps. Here's everything you need to know. Power up with unlimited access to WIRED . Get best-in-class reporting that's too important to ignore for just $2.50 $1 per month for 1 year. Includes unlimited digital access and exclusive subscriber-only content. Subscribe Today . The most important part of any keycap set is to make sure the keycaps will fit your keyboard . If not, you'll either be stuck not using the set at all, or mixing your brand-new keycaps with old ones for full coverage. To start, here's what you'll want to look for. Make sure your keycaps fit your switches! Most modern keyboards use standard MX-style switches with a plus-shaped stem. These have become ubiquitous, and as a result, almost every keycap set offered today will be compatible with them. However, if you want to use keycaps from an older keyboard, there's a good chance they won't fit a newer one. Photograph: Henri Robbins The three most common 'alternative' switches are Alps switches, which have a small minus-shaped stem, Topre (also referred to as EC) switches, which have a circular stem, and Kailh Choc low-profile switches, which have two prongs on the stem. These keycaps cannot be used on an MX-style keyboard, but any keycap listings will clearly label them. Next, you'll want to check layouts. While most keyboards have adopted fairly standardized layouts today, a few stand out. The best modern example is the HHKB Studio, which has unique G, H, and B keys, plus a shorter-than-average spacebar, none of which are included in the 'standard' keycap set. Some keycap sets will have specific kits to cover more unusual layouts though. Make sure your keycap set has full coverage. While most sets today include everything needed for a full-size keyboard, I have seen an influx of keycap sets that sell the number pad separately in exchange for a lower base price, and the same has even been the case for arrows and function row keys, particularly on budget-oriented (or customizable) keycap sets. After you've figured out what kind of keycaps you need for your keyboard, you should start thinking about what shape you want these keycaps to be. The shape of your keycaps will have the largest impact on how typing feels, and on how comfortable typing is. The most basic aspects of this are the height of the keycap, the shape it is sculpted in, and the presence of different sculpted rows. But first, it's worth noting that there is no standardized naming convention for keycap profiles—the names themselves are arbitrary and are determined entirely by the keycap manufacturer. Some have logical names (like how OSA keycaps are a fusion of OEM—original equipment manufacturer—and SA—spherical all—sculpts), while others are a bit silly (PBS stands for Penguin Belly Slide). A keycap's height is the most immediately obvious aspect of its profile. Typically, keycaps are sorted into high-profile, medium-profile, and low-profile categories, which are all determined based on the height they extend past the top of the switch. The most standard height is the Cherry profile, which most people have likely typed on before. These sit a bit above the outer bezel of the keyboard, with the highest point sitting at 9.8 mm and the lowest point at 7.3 mm, and can be easily used without a wrist rest. On the other side of the spectrum, SA keycaps (which you may have seen on the computers in Severance ) have a high point of almost 17 mm and a low point of 12.6 mm. The difference between the tallest and shortest keycaps is more drastic, and the average height is typically higher, resulting in a deeper typing sound and a greater need for a wrist rest. Photograph: Henri Robbins Some keycap profiles, like Cherry and SA, will have different keys depending on the row they are in. These rows are typically denoted as R1 (row 1), R2, and R3. R4 (or sometimes R5) sits at the very top of the keyboard, and R1 is at the bottom. These separate rows will typically have different heights and angles, which can make reaching the top rows easier and make typing more comfortable. However, some people prefer a uniform layout where every row of keys has an identical height and shape. There aren't many uniform profiles available, but the most prominent—SA and PBS—are still fairly popular and easy to find in multiple colors. The sculpt of the keycap also indicates the shape of the keycap's face. The two most popular sculpts are cylindrical and spherical. Cylindrical keycaps will have a U-shaped indentation with peaks on either side and a dip in the center, while spherical keycaps are going to be more bowl-like, with peaks on all four corners and a divot in the center. Popular keyboard maker Keychron typically ships its keycaps with OSA-profile spherical keycaps, while most keyboards from Razer, Corsair, and other big names use Cherry or OEM profile keycaps with a cylindrical sculpt. Some keycap profiles are perfectly flat, although these are uncommon and typically only used on keyboards with low-profile switches and/or ortho-linear layouts. A lot of different materials are used to make keycaps. These are some of the most common ones you can find in full keycap sets: ABS: This is the most common material for a keyboard's original keycaps to be made in. ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) plastic is everywhere in your life, from LEGO sets to car interiors, and it comes in countless different finishes, textures, and levels of quality. While the thinner ABS plastic used in budget keyboards may not be high quality, some ABS keycaps, like those from GMK and Signature Plastics, are considered to be the best of any material. Regardless of quality, ABS plastic will almost inevitably shine over time the more you type on it—some people avoid it for this, while others see having 'shined' keycaps as a badge of honor. ABS is preferred for its bright and vibrant colors, durability, and smooth feel when typing. ABS also creates a higher-pitched sound when typing compared to other keycap materials. PBT: A large percentage of aftermarket 'custom' keycaps are made from PBT (polybutylene terephthalate). This material is often a higher-end plastic that focuses on thickness and rigidity while having a more textured top when compared to ABS. Colors on PBT keycaps are often not as vibrant, although the difference between ABS and PBT today is much less significant than it used to be. One of the largest upsides of PBT is that it doesn't easily shine over time, even after decades of use in point-of-sale systems, meaning your keycaps will always look as good as the day you got them. PBT typically creates a deeper typing signature than ABS. Ceramic: Ceramic keycaps are one of the most recent developments in the keycap world. They are primarily made by Cerakey, a relatively new brand from China. These keycaps provide a deeper typing sound some people describe as marbly. When I used ceramic keycaps previously, I found them to break easily because of their brittle ceramic stems. However, modern ceramic keycaps use a plastic stem to avoid this issue. The largest benefits of a keycap like this are the typing feel and sound: The keycaps themselves are smooth and slick to type on, and they create a deeper and more resonant typing sound compared to plastic keycaps. Metal: While individual metal keycaps have been around for a long time, full metal keycap sets only became popular in recent years as interest in custom mechanical keyboards increased. A full set of metal keycaps will typically cost upwards of $200, and installing them may require some supporting upgrades to your keyboard such as a heavier switch underneath the spacebar or additional sound dampening to reduce metal pinging when typing. Awekeys Copper Eagle Full Metal Keycap Set Photograph: Henri Robbins In writing this article, I tested two sets of metal keycaps: One from NovelKeys, and the other from Awekeys. I had minor issues with fit and finish in both kits, although the NovelKeys set was generally clean and free of manufacturing errors on visible surfaces. On the other hand, the Awekeys set had multiple keys with visible pitting and surface imperfections. My largest issue with both was one that seemed to be unavoidable: Due to the extreme precision required to manufacture metal keycaps and the relatively lenient manufacturing tolerances of plastic switches, some keycaps in both sets had trouble fitting onto switches, either being too tight or too loose. With the Awekeys set, some were so loose that I could flip the keyboard over or release a key after pressing it down and they would come off. The company recommended using an included tool to bend the keycap stem back into place, which was successful but somewhat nerve-wracking, especially on such an expensive set of keycaps. In my experience, the stems were stiff enough that it was necessary to use a hammer in conjunction with the tool to adjust the stems properly. Metal keycaps will feel more substantial than plastic keycaps, but will also create a higher-pitched typing sound than most other keycaps, especially in a keyboard with a metal plate. I found one of the main appeals of these keycaps, the cold and metallic feel when typing, quickly dissipates as the keycaps absorb heat from your fingers, and after a few minutes of typing, they are hard to differentiate from smooth plastic. However, their density can make a keypress feel slightly more crisp and immediate compared to a standard keycap, especially on a lighter tactile switch. One of the most important parts of a set of keycaps is the text on top of them. Even if you already know where your keys are, they bring a sense of character and style to the keyboard, whether you prefer them centered, oriented to one side, or not there at all. The text on top of keycaps is referred to as 'legends,' and the secondary text on a keycap is the 'sub-legend.' The main legends will denote the primary function of the keys, while sub-legends will indicate a secondary function, a different language, or a callback to another keyboard with interesting sub-legends (like Space Cadet keycaps). There are countless details and specifics on how the legends can be designed and why they may look a certain way, but it ultimately comes down to personal preference and use case. What's more important here is how the text is put onto the keycaps. Photograph: Henri Robbins Doubleshot: Often considered the gold standard of keycap legends, doubleshot legends will never fade or wear off. This is because the legend is made from plastic instead of being printed onto the keycap. This is done through a two-part injection molding process where the legend is cast in one color of plastic then the rest of the keycap is molded around it, resulting in a legend that goes all the way through the keycap instead of eventually wearing away as the keycap is worn down by typing. The largest benefits of these keycaps are the crispness of the legends, their durability, and the ability to easily combine high-contrast colors, but the cost of making new molds means the options for different fonts and icons are limited compared to printed keycaps, and high-end doubleshot keycaps are often more expensive than other options. While doubleshot legends were previously only available for ABS keycaps, they are now available with PBT keycaps too. Tripleshot: For keycaps with differently colored sub-legends, a tripleshot keycap is a great option that is incredibly hard to find and more expensive than doubleshot legends. Only a few manufacturers currently produce tripleshot keycaps (such as Domikey and PBTfans), and they are limited almost entirely to Japanese sub-legends. Photograph: Henri Robbins Dye sublimation: This is the most common printing method for PBT keycaps. Dye sublimation can fully impress the dye into the keycap instead of having it sit on top, much like dyeing a piece of clothing, creating a finish that will rarely wear away. This process can also produce incredibly vibrant and precise legends, which has allowed for fun and unusual keycap sets like RGBEnglish and 21KB's Rainbow Road keycaps. While dye sublimation can last a long time, it can have some downsides. The quality of the legends can vary greatly, with higher-end keycaps looking indistinguishable from doubleshot keycaps, but less expensive options appearing fuzzy or blurry. In addition, dye sublimation—much like any other dyeing process—can usually only apply colors darker than the base material. This is why most dye-sublimated keycaps will either have a lighter base color or will only print black on top of darker keycaps. Reverse dye sublimation: Reversing this process allows for the entire keycap except for the legends to be dyed, which can create dark keycaps with light legends. However, this process is more difficult than standard sublimation, with mixed results over the years. Some sets of reverse dye-sub keycaps will look fantastic, but other times they will have fading around the edges, inconsistent color coverage, or issues with the sharpness of the legends. In addition, the printing is more susceptible to scratches than raw PBT. However, when done right, reverse dye-sub can create unique color schemes not otherwise possible with dye sublimation. UV printing: While not as common today as it used to be, UV printing is still popular for creating vibrant, multicolored text on keycaps. UV printing is primarily found on GMK keycaps with unique or multicolored sub-legends, where it is used to add color or design to a key without the need to manufacture additional molds. This printing method has a higher likelihood of fading over time, and can potentially have a slightly raised feel when typing but it has advanced enough in recent years that any well-made set of keycaps with UV printing will still work well for regular use. UV printing is also commonly used for transparent keycaps with solid legends. Pad printing: This is the method basically all budget-oriented office keyboards today use. In this method, the prints are applied directly onto the keycaps using a silicone pad and sit on top of the keycaps. Inexpensive pad-printed keycaps will typically have subtle outlines around the legends and will wear away quickly compared to any other method. However, this printing method is both high-resolution and inexpensive, hence its popularity. Generally, there are three primary methods of sale for keycaps: In-stock sales, group buys, and preorders. Each has benefits and downsides, and knowing the difference is important when planning your purchase. In-stock sales: This is what most keycap sets will be sold as. These keycaps are readily available somewhere, sitting in a warehouse, and will ship to you after your order has been placed. This will be the most reliable and immediate way to get a set of keycaps. Group buys: With group buys, you give your money to an individual or vendor who will pool all the customers' money together to order keycap sets directly from a manufacturer. This is how keycaps were purchased for years by enthusiasts, and it is typically the only way to get a guaranteed set of limited-run or small-batch keycaps. The group buy method is done to meet the Minimum Order Quantity (MOQ) for a manufacturer to produce a set of keycaps without the vendor needing to purchase all the keycap sets up front and hope they sell. The main concern with group buys is inconsistency: There have been multiple vendors recently who mismanaged money and were unable to fulfill their group buys. Ultimately, this comes down to vetting the vendors you're buying from and ensuring they have a good reputation within the community. Even then, there is still some risk involved. Extra preorders: When placing an order for a group buy, a vendor will typically order a small number of extra keycaps to cover any issues that arise after the sale, and to have additional sets available for people who weren't able to join the group buy. These are typically called 'extras,' and will be made available for preorder once the manufacturer has confirmed how many sets they have produced. While these are never guaranteed, and will typically be more expensive than the initial group buy price, it can be a good way to get a set you missed out on after the fact. When it comes to pricing, you can essentially pay as much as you want for a set of keycaps. However, some details can help determine or justify the price of a set. The largest determining factor is the manufacturer of a keycap set. Past that, the price is dependent on how many keycaps are in the set and how complicated the manufacturing of a set is. Doubleshot ABS keycaps from high-end manufacturers like GMK or Signature Plastics will often run well over $100. This is primarily because these brands are well known for having outstanding color accuracy, durability, and quality control. They are the highest-quality keycaps you can get, but less-expensive keycaps will typically have 90 percent of the quality for 50 percent of the price. Coming in around or below the $100 mark, PBT keycaps from larger manufacturers like EnjoyPBT will feature a thicker PBT keycap with high-resolution dye-sub printing. With all of this, it can be overwhelming to figure out what keycaps you might want for your keyboard. There are a few starting places great for finding the perfect set of keycaps for you. Some of my preferred shops are: Cannonkeys has a massive selection of in-stock PBT keycaps in various colors along with a more limited selection of ABS keycaps. The brand designs many of its sets in-house and offers quite a few sets with both retro and modern styling, taking inspiration from pop culture and vintage keyboards. Novelkeys is another well-known name in the keyboard world, offering a large selection of ABS and PBT keycap designs. It regularly collaborates with keycap designers, but quite a few of its sets are only available through group buys or limited extras from said group buys. NovelKeys Aluve Keycaps Photograph: Henri Robbins 21kb is a small manufacturer of beige dye-sub keycaps. While the beige base of these keycaps may not be the most attention-grabbing, the brand has countless options for fun, clever, or otherwise interesting legends that go onto those keycaps, along with the ability to custom-order an individual set to your specifications. These keycaps are some of the highest-quality PBT sets I've purchased, and I use them on my primary keyboard. Drop is a huge name in the keyboard space, and it has done a lot to advance the world of keycaps. It has large offerings of standard keycaps in everyday color schemes, along with high-profile collaborations (like The Lord of the Rings keycaps) and countless exclusive sets from manufacturers like GMK and Signature Plastics. Mekibo is a frequent vendor for keycap group buys. The company doesn't stock many keycaps, but I find that every set it offers will be well done and looks great on the right keyboard. Omnitype offers a large selection of GMK keycaps, along with its in-house over-the-counter line of keycaps. It has been a large part of the keyboard community for years and continually introduces sets that bring something unique to the table. Divinikey has a lot of keycaps, including PBT keycaps you can't find anywhere else. This is one of the best places to order PBTFans keycaps (Chinese-based KBDFans' line of keycaps), and there's a good number of sets from other international vendors as well. Outside of these shops, there are a few resources to verify the legitimacy of keyboard vendors and get more recommendations. One of the largest is the MK Vendor Trust and Safety System made by keyboard YouTuber TaehaTypes. This system keeps track of keyboard vendors along multiple metrics to ensure products come from a reliable source.
