MeinMMO editor Benedikt Schlotmann complains that almost all keyboards have the same weakness. And this really shouldn’t be the case in 2023.
Those who regularly write a lot or game on the computer will sooner or later buy a good gaming keyboard. For personal and professional reasons, I have acquired over a dozen such keyboards and regularly switch between models. This gives you a much better feel for the differences.
But (almost) all manufacturers make the same annoying mistake with their keyboards. Whether Roccat, Razer, or Logitech: All use cheap ABS keycaps even for high-priced keyboards. I was especially annoyed by this with my G915 from Logitech and also with the Roccat Vulcan II Max, which I tested.
ABS keys look terrible after just a few days
Most people are surely familiar with the problem: After a while, the keys become illegible, the keycaps take on a greasy, shabby look, and just don’t feel good anymore. The reason for this lies in the production of the keycaps, as many manufacturers are still using ABS keycaps in 2023. They wear out, and the signs of wear become increasingly obvious over time.
And ABS keycaps really drive me crazy. Already after a few hours, the keycaps look greasy and smeared. And this is already due to the natural oil from my fingers.
For someone like me, who appreciates a tidy desk, this is really unacceptable, especially since the dirt cannot be prevented – unless one does not use the keyboard at all or only does so while wearing gloves.
Why “almost” all? There is actually a glimmer of hope:
- For example, Razer now uses Doubleshot ABS keycaps in some models, which feel better in terms of haptics
- The Danish manufacturer Steelseries uses PBT Doubleshot keycaps in several keyboards
- Corsair at least uses PBT keycaps in the high-priced segment (such as the Corsair K100).
Nowadays you can buy PBT keycaps, but they are rarely cheap
Some manufacturers, such as Corsair and SteelSeries, now offer PBT Doubleshot keycaps for keyboards as an aftermarket option. You can also read my experiences with such keycaps on MeinMMO. These are now also available for the German keyboard layout after several months.
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Nevertheless, I find it annoying when I already spend 200 euros on a keyboard and then have to spend another 30 euros for new keycaps. And for some keyboards, such a replacement is not even possible.
The Logitech G915 uses special, flat switches for which you simply cannot get PBT Doubleshot keycaps or any replacement keycaps at all. So I have to live with the fact that my 200-euro keyboard looks terrible after just a few days and feels that way too.
Outdated in 2023: I simply find ABS keycaps outdated in 2023. No, I don’t expect to find such “features” in the under-50-euro range. But if I’m willing to spend 150 to 200 euros on a gaming keyboard, then the keyboard should still look good after a week.
Especially since keyboards, along with mice, certainly wear out the most, I simply find Doubleshot PBT keycaps to be sensible for gaming keyboards and see absolutely no reason for ABS caps anymore (except in the inexpensive price segment).
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