Cherry · Best 'first enthusiast' PBT set
PBTfans 9009
The most-recommended starter set for anyone moving past stock keycaps. Vintage 9009 colorway in Cherry profile, durable PBT with dye-sub legends.
Buy SetKeycap material guide
PBT Keycaps
PBT is the default keycap material for enthusiasts. It resists shine, holds dye-sub and doubleshot legends well, and has a drier, more textured feel than ABS. These are the strongest PBT sets to compare first.
Why PBT
PBT is the right choice when you want keycaps that look the same after a year of use.
- Resists the glossy "shine" that ABS keycaps develop.
- Holds dye-sublimation legends without smudging.
- Drier, slightly textured feel under the fingertips.
Editorial picks
Best PBT keycap sets to compare first
A spread across Cherry, XDA, OEM, and MOA profiles. Each pick solves a different aesthetic or functional need.
Cherry · Best bold-color PBT pick
PBTfans Klein Blue R3
Saturated Klein Blue with crisp accent legends. Strongest pairing for the Tofu60 3.0 in Royal Blue or any silver case.
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Cherry · Best dark-themed PBT set
PBTfans 1984 Dark
High-contrast cinematic colorway. Pairs especially well with darker anodized cases and minimalist desks.
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XDA · Best PBT XDA pick
Botanical XDA
144-key dye-sub set with a green botanical aesthetic. Uniform XDA height, fits 60% through full-size keyboards.
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OEM · Best mainstream doubleshot PBT
HyperX Doubleshot PBT 104
104-key doubleshot PBT set. Wide gaming-keyboard compatibility, especially for full-size and TKL boards.
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Cherry · Best soft pastel PBT set
Cmokifuly Soymilk Cherry
Soft cream-and-yellow Cherry-profile set. A clean, low-key alternative to typical retro colorways.
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MOA · Best MOA-profile pink set
XVX Pink Cute MOA
MOA profile with cute pink illustrations. Great for desks where personality matters as much as durability.
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OEM · Best PBT set for RGB
Tsungup PBT Shine-Through
Shine-through legends in PBT. Solves the typical PBT trade-off where you lose RGB letter visibility.
Buy SetNot sure PBT is what you want?
Alternatives by use case
- Want translucent for full RGB? — Pudding sets push RGB shine-through further than PBT shine-through can.
- Want a flat, minimal look? — XDA profile is the cleanest minimalist alternative to Cherry profile.
- Want premium feel and sound? — Ceramic sets change both the feel and the acoustic profile of a board.
- Want a Mac or low-profile board? — Standard PBT doesn't fit low-profile boards. Use a low-profile-specific set.
Quick advice
For most buyers, PBTfans 9009 is the safest first PBT set.
9009 is widely compatible, neutrally colored, and the most consistently restocked of the PBTfans line. If you want something bolder, Klein Blue R3 is a strong second pick; 1984 Dark is the move if your case is darker anodized.
For TKL and full-size builds, HyperX Doubleshot PBT covers the layout cleanly without compatibility worries.
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