Okay, so I’ve been messing around with keyboard stuff for a while now, and I gotta say, keycaps are a whole other world of fun. Today, I’m gonna talk about something that’s been on my mind for a bit: GMK versus PBT keycaps. Now, I ain’t no expert, but I’ve tried a bunch of these, so I figured I’d share my two cents.
First off, I got myself some GMK sets. You know, the fancy ones everyone talks about. They look really nice, I gotta admit. The colors are super vibrant, and the legends are sharp. So, I slapped them on my keyboard, and man, did it feel different. They’re made of ABS plastic, which is pretty smooth. Typing on them felt kinda luxurious, not gonna lie. I typed for hours, just enjoying the feel. I noticed they were a bit slippery at first, but I got used to it. And the sound… oh, the sound! It’s that “thock” everyone’s after.
- Color: GMK colors are vibrant, and they stay that way for a long time.
- Feel: Smooth, almost silky. They do get shiny over time, though.
- Sound: That deep, satisfying “thock.”
But then, I started wondering about PBT. I heard they were more durable and didn’t get that shine that ABS gets. So, I ordered a PBT set. When they arrived, I immediately noticed the texture. It’s rougher, kinda grainy. I swapped out my GMK set and started typing. It felt… different. Not bad, just different. The sound was a bit higher-pitched, not as thocky.
I used the PBT set for a few weeks. One thing is that they didn’t develop a shine at all. They felt the same as when I first got them. I did some research and found out that PBT is just a tougher material. Makes sense, I guess. I also learned that the colors on PBT caps are usually not as vibrant, and the legends can sometimes be a bit fuzzy. My PBT set wasn’t too bad, though.
- Color: Not as vibrant as GMK, but they don’t fade.
- Feel: Rougher texture, more grip. No shine, ever.
- Sound: Higher-pitched, less thocky.
My Final Thoughts
After going back and forth between GMK and PBT, I realized it really comes down to personal preference. I ended up liking both for different reasons. If I want that premium feel and sound, I go for GMK. If I want something that’s gonna last forever and doesn’t get shiny, I go for PBT. I’ve even started mixing and matching! I might use GMK for my main keys and PBT for the less-used ones. I created my own hybrid setups just to see what I liked best. Honestly, it’s all about what feels and sounds good to you. It’s been a fun experiment, and I’m still figuring out my perfect combo. Don’t be afraid to experiment and find what works best for you!