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Keycaps are one of the easiest ways to change how a keyboard looks and feels. But not all keycaps are made the same. The two most common materials are ABS and PBT, and the difference between them is more noticeable than most people expect.
ABS Keycaps
ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) is the more common of the two. It's the material used on most stock keycaps that come with budget and mid-range keyboards. ABS is easy to manufacture, which keeps costs down, and it takes color well — legends (the printed characters) tend to look sharp and vibrant.
The downside is shine. ABS keycaps develop a greasy, worn look over time from finger oils and friction. If you type a lot, you'll notice it within a few months. The texture changes and the surface starts to look polished in all the wrong ways.
PBT Keycaps
PBT (Polybutylene Terephthalate) is denser and more resistant to wear. It holds its texture longer, doesn't shine up as quickly, and generally feels more substantial under the fingers. The sound profile is also slightly different — PBT tends to produce a slightly higher-pitched, crisper sound compared to ABS.
The trade-off is that PBT can be harder to dye, so some colorways are limited. Legends on PBT are often done through dye-sublimation, which is durable but requires the legend color to be darker than the keycap base.
Which One Should You Choose?
For most people who want a keyboard that holds up over time, PBT is the better call. The texture stays consistent, the legends don't fade as fast, and the overall feel is more premium.
ABS still has its place — especially for sets with complex colorways or shine-through legends for RGB builds. But if longevity and feel are the priority, PBT wins.
At ClackStash, keycap selection is part of building a setup that actually holds up. The right set makes a real difference in how a board feels day to day.
