When it comes to customizing your keyboard for optimal gaming or typing, two factors stand out as game-changers: keycap materials and profiles. These choices don’t just affect how your keyboard looks—they directly impact feel, durability, sound, and even performance. Whether you’re a gamer chasing milliseconds in response time or a typist prioritizing all-day comfort, understanding keycap materials and profiles is the first step to crafting a keyboard that works with you, not against you. Let’s break down the essentials to help you choose smarter—with recommendations tailored to VGN’s top-tier keyboard lineup.

Keycap Materials Explained

Choosing the right keycap material is critical for balancing durability, feel, and aesthetics. Here’s a breakdown of the most popular options:

PBT (Polybutylene Terephthalate)

Why it’s loved:
Extreme durability: Resistant to wear, heat, and chemical damage, making it ideal for heavy typers and gamers who log thousands of hours.
Matte finish: Maintains a non-slip texture over time, avoiding the shiny “oil-slick” look that plagues cheaper materials.
Shrink-resistant: Holds sharp legends (text/designs) even after years of use, unlike ABS, which can fade or smooth out.
Trade-offs:
Slightly higher cost than ABS.
Less translucent, so RGB lighting may appear muted compared to ABS.
Perfect for: Mechanical keyboard enthusiasts who prioritize longevity and a premium, tactile typing experience.
Perfect for: Mechanical keyboard enthusiasts who prioritize longevity—and that’s why VGN’s flagship models like the VGN A75 and VGN VXE75 V2 rely on PBT keycaps. These best gaming keyboards are built for marathon gaming sessions, with Cherry profiles that pair perfectly with PBT’s rugged feel.

ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene)

Why it’s popular:
Budget-friendly: The most common material in entry-level and pre-built keyboards, offering accessible customization.
Vibrant colors & RGB-friendly: Highly translucent, making it perfect for showcasing bright backlighting and intricate designs (think “pudding” keycaps with dual-layer colors).
Lightweight: Feels responsive for fast keystrokes, favored by some gamers for its snappy feedback.
Downsides:
Prone to shine and wear: Oils from fingers create a glossy surface over time, especially in frequently used keys.
Thinner walls: More prone to cracking if bent or stressed.
Best for: Casual users, RGB enthusiasts, or those on a tight budget who want colorful, eye-catching keycaps.

POM (Polyoxymethylene)

What sets it apart:
Smooth, silent operation: Offers a frictionless feel similar to sliding on ice, with minimal keycap wobble or noise.
Oil-resistant: Stays cleaner longer than ABS, though not as durable as PBT.
Chemical resistance: Less likely to degrade from spills or cleaning agents.
Limitations:
Limited design options: Often found in plain, monochrome sets rather than artistic designs.
Slightly “plasticky” sound compared to PBT or ceramic.
Ideal for: Typists who value a quiet, smooth typing experience and minimal maintenance.

Resin

The artistic choice:
Unlimited customization: Used for handcrafted, one-of-a-kind keycaps with intricate designs, translucent effects, or embedded objects (like flakes, glitter, or even small figurines).
Lightweight & moldable: Allows for complex 3D shapes and detailed engravings that rigid materials can’t achieve.
Niche appeal: Popular in the custom keyboard community for creating statement pieces or matching unique themes.
Considerations:
Lower durability than PBT/metal: Prone to scratches or chips if dropped.
Higher cost due to manual craftsmanship.
Great for: Gamers and collectors who want their keyboard to stand out as a personal art piece.

Metal (Aluminum, Stainless Steel, Brass)

The premium heavyweight:
Industrial durability: Virtually indestructible, with a solid, weighty feel that anchors your typing experience.
Unique sound profile: Produces a deep, resonant “clack” that’s satisfying for tactile feedback lovers.
Luxury aesthetics: Brushed finishes, 阳极氧化 (anodized) colors, or raw metal textures add a high-end look.
Drawbacks:
Heavy weight: Can make your keyboard feel cumbersome, especially for portable setups.
Conductive risk: Metal keycaps may interfere with wireless connectivity in rare cases (check your keyboard’s compatibility).
For: Enthusiasts who prioritize premium build quality and a bold, mechanical aesthetic—no compromises.
Resin offers artistic customization, while metal delivers luxury—but for gaming performance, nothing beats PBT’s durability. That’s why VGN’s best gaming keyboards, like the VGN N75 and N75 Pro, feature PBT keycaps in OEM/MDA profiles, balancing comfort and longevity.

Keycap Profiles Demystified

Keycap profiles determine the height, shape, and ergonomics of your keys, drastically affecting typing feel, speed, and sound. Here’s a breakdown of the most popular profiles to help you choose the right fit:

MDA

Profile Type: Sculpted, medium height with a gently curved top.
Design: Inspired by the classic SA profile but shorter (≈1.5mm lower), with a uniform curve across rows for balanced finger placement.
Feel: Soft, rounded edges reduce finger strain during long typing sessions, offering a nostalgic “vintage” tactile experience.
Sound: Muffled, thocky resonance due to the sculpted shape and moderate height.
VGN Match: The VGN N75 Pro uses MDA profiles with PBT material, offering a soft, nostalgic tactile experience that reduces finger strain during long gaming or typing sessions.

OEM

Profile Type: stepped（Ergonomic stepped design）, the most common profile in pre-built keyboards.
Design: Rows are sculpted in a curved ladder shape (row 1 tallest, row 5 shortest) to match natural finger angles, with a slightly concave top for fingertip grip.
Feel: Familiar, comfortable, and intuitive—perfect for beginners or anyone used to standard keyboards.
Sound: Moderate “click” or “clack” depending on switches, with minimal echo.
VGN Match: The VGN N75 combines OEM/MDA profiles with PBT, making it a versatile choice for both beginners and enthusiasts who value intuitive, comfortable key placement.

Cherry

Profile Type: Shorter, flatter sculpted profile (inspired by Cherry MX ).
Design: Slightly lower than OEM, with a flatter top and less dramatic row curvature, prioritizing speed and linear movement.
Feel: Light, responsive, and streamlined—ideal for fast typists or gamers who need quick key transitions.
Sound: Crisp, sharp feedback with minimal dampening, enhancing tactile awareness during intense use.
VGN Match: Models like the VGN A75, VXE75 V2, S87, and S99 feature Cherry profiles, delivering the responsive, streamlined feel that makes them some of the best mechanical keyboard options for fast-paced gameplay.

SA

Profile Type: Tall, spherical sculpted profile (think vintage typewriter keys).
Design: Rows are highly curved, with each keycap featuring a domed top that arches upward, creating a pronounced “thock” when pressed.
Feel: Luxurious, tactile, and deeply satisfying for typists who love a strong tactile response.
Sound: Rich, bassy resonance that’s iconic in the custom keyboard community—great for ASMR-like typing experiences.

DSA

Profile Type: Uniform, low-profile design (all rows same height, flat top).
Design: Completely flat, cylindrical keycaps with no row curvature—every key is identical in shape and height.
Feel: Smooth, consistent, and lightning-fast—your fingers glide across the board without adjusting to sculpted rows.
Sound: Neutral, muted tone with minimal variation between keys, ideal for quiet environments or competitive gaming.

XDA

Profile Type: Ultra-flat, uniform profile (even flatter than DSA).
Design: Dead-flat top with zero sculpting or row curvature, creating a minimalist, modern aesthetic.
Feel: Hyper-smooth and low-profile, prioritizing speed and simplicity—great for users who hate any finger “grip” on keys.
Sound: Sharp, clean feedback with a slight “ping” due to the flat surface—popular in minimalist or compact keyboards.

KOP (Korean Original Profile)

Profile Type: Modified sculpted profile, inspired by OEM but with unique Korean design tweaks.
Design: Slightly taller than standard OEM, with a deeper concave top and more aggressive row curvature for enhanced fingertip alignment.
Feel: Ergonomic and supportive, combining the familiarity of OEM with a more pronounced tactile “sink” for each key.

KDS (Custom Designer Series)

Profile Type: A catch-all term for custom, artisan-designed profiles (varies by maker).
Design: Ranges from hyper-sculpted (e.g., steep SA derivatives) to experimental flat-lows—think unique angles, textured surfaces, or hybrid shapes.
Purpose: Tailored for collectors or users seeking one-of-a-kind feel/aesthetics, often paired with resin or metal materials for maximal customization.
The VGN V87 supports Cherry/MDA/KDS profiles, catering to custom enthusiasts, while the VGN V98 Pro V2 incorporates Cherry/MDA/KOP for ergonomic precision—all wrapped in durable PBT for long-lasting use.

Choose the VGN Keyboard That Fits Your Keycaps

Now that you understand materials and profiles, let’s match your needs to a VGN keyboard:
Gaming Speed & Durability: Opt for Cherry profiles in PBT, like the VGN S87 or A75—these best gaming keyboards excel in fast responses and rugged build quality.
All-Day Typing Comfort: The MDA-equipped VGN N75 Pro or OEM/MDA N75 provide ergonomic sculpting for fatigue-free use, without compromising on durability.
Customization Enthusiasts: Models like the V87 (supporting KDS profiles) and V98 Pro V2 (KOP-compatible) let you tweak your setup with artisan keycaps, while still relying on PBT’s premium feel.
No matter your preference, VGN’s lineup ensures you get a keyboard that pairs top-tier materials with thoughtfully designed profiles—because the best mechanical keyboard should feel as good as it performs.