Keycap Profile Types Explained: SA, DSA, OEM, Cherry, and More

When you enter the world of mechanical keyboards, there is one critical point that could make a complete change to how you type: the keycap profile. But now, what exactly are these profiles, and why should you even care? Well, each profile, from the towering SA to the sleek Cherry, not only changes the horizon of your keyboard but also the feel, sound, and responsiveness of every keystroke.

What Are Keycap Profiles?

Before going through the different keycap profiles, let’s first understand what a keycap profile is. A keycap profile is the shape, height, and contour of keycaps on a keyboard. These dimensions hugely affect the feel and sound of a keyboard during typing, as well as the overall ergonomics.

What Are the Factors That Differentiate Keycap Profiles

Keycap profiles can be differentiated based on three major dimensions:

  • Height: The general elevation of the keycap from the top surface to the bottom.
  • Shape: The appearance of the top surface can be flat, curved or sculptured – these are some shapes that it may take.
  • Contour: The difference in height and angle between the keycaps rows.

How Keycap Profiles Impact the Typing Experience

The keycap profile chosen can make a huge difference in typing comfort and speed. Sculpted keycap profiles, those that have a varying contour across rows, have been found to create a more natural angle for the fingers. These may lead to lesser strains and less fatigue in those long typing sessions. Flat keycap profile could, on the flip side, have a lesser learning curve and, in the end, faster adaptation.

Profile Height Sculpt Top Shape
SA Tall Sculpted Curved
DSA Low Uniform Concave
OEM Medium Sculpted Curved
Cherry Low Sculpted Curved
KAM Medium Sculpted Spherical
KAT Medium-Low Uniform Curved
MT3 Tall Sculpted Deep Dish

Green television-themed keycaps with vivid colors and a sharply defined profile for a distinctive keyboard customization

SA (Spherical All) Profile

SA keycaps are tall in height, sculpted in profile, and have vintage-inspired designs.

SA Profile Characteristics

  1. Tall, sculpted keycaps; curved surface
  2. Vintage-inspired—old-style typewriters

Advantages

  • Unique aesthetics not available in other profiles
  • Satisfying typing feel with a deep, pronounced sound

Disadvantages

  • Has a steep learning curve because of its tall profile
  • High cost relative to other keycap profiles

DSA (DIN-compliant Spherical All) Profile

DSA profile keycaps feature a low, uniform profile with a slightly concave top surface. This profile is appreciated among users who prefer a flatter typing experience.

Characteristics of SA profile

  1. Low, uniform keycap height across all rows
  2. Flat profile with a slightly concave top surface

Pros

  • Easy to adapt to due to the keycap height, which has the same uniformity
  • Suitable for using on non-standard keyboard layouts

Cons

  • Offers lower tactile feedback when compared to sculpted profiles

OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) Profile

These keycaps are the most widely used on pre-built mechanical keyboards. They give a relatively balanced typing experience, with a medium height and slight sculpt.

Characteristics of OEM profile

  1. Keycap height: Medium, with a slight sculpt
  2. The most common profile on pre-built keyboards

Pros and cons of using OEM profile keycap

Advantages

  • Widely available and compatible with most keyboards
  • Balanced typing experience, which is great for typists and gamers

Disadvantages

  • Less unique aesthetics when compared to other keycap profiles

Wooden fish design keycaps with OEM profile for a serene and organic typing experience

Cherry Profile

Cherry profile keycaps are similar to OEM but with a slightly lower height. They provide a comfortable typing experience and faster actuation.

Characteristics of Cherry profile

  1. Low profile keycaps with a slight sculpt
  2. Similar to OEM but with a lower overall height

Benefits

  • Comfortable typing experience due to the low profile
  • Faster actuation, which can be beneficial for gaming

Drawbacks

  • Limited keycap set options compared to other profiles

KAM Profile

KAM profile keycaps are one of the newer additions for mechanical keyboard customization. They are a combination of several other popular profiles.

Features and design

  1. Medium height profile with a spherical top surface
  2. Sculpted design similar to SA but has a lower overall height

Pros

  • Attractive aesthetic that combines elements of SA and Cherry profiles
  • The great typing feel with a pronounced sound

Cons

  • Limited availability compared to more established profiles

KAT Profile

KAT profile keycaps have also recently entered the mechanical keyboard scene. They are designed to have a pleasant typing experience while being a bit taller than Cherry.

Design and notable feature

  1. Medium-low height profile
  2. Sculpted profile
  3. Taller than Cherry but shorter than OEM

Upside

  • Pleasant typing experience with a good balance of tactility
  • Looks different compared to the other profiles

Downside

  • Not being an old profile means fewer keycap sets are available

MT3 Profile

MT3 keycaps have been designed to look and feel like the legendary, but long-extinct, IBM beamspring mechanical keyboard. The shapes are tall, heavily sculpted, and the top surface is concave with a deep dish.

Features and other things you need to know about MT3

  1. Tall, heavily sculpted keycaps with a deep dish top surface
  2. Vintage-designed, inspired by IBM beamspring mechanical keyboards

Pros

  • Gives a vintage look and feel, which is great for users that want something different
  • Typing is pretty nice. The deep sound is very satisfying

Cons

  • It’s a tall profile, and the deep dish on the top surface might make it a little hard to get used to at first.
  • Keycaps are expensive compared to some other profiles

Select the Ideal Keycap Profile Now!

Ergonomics, typing feel, sound, and compatibility of the keyboard layout are among the factors that must be kept in mind when selecting a keycap profile. Although some profiles may have a higher learning curve or less availability, you can experiment with different alternatives to determine the ideal fit for yourself. Whether you desire comfort over speed or vice versa or consist of both elements, there is a keycap profile designed specifically for your needs that will make your mechanical keyboard feel like it is truly yours.

Adorable and compact 'WALL-E' animation-themed keycaps for a charming keyboard upgrade

FAQs:

1. Can I mix different keycap profiles on the same keyboard?

While it’s technically possible to mix keycap profiles on a single keyboard, it is generally not recommended as it can lead to an inconsistent and uncomfortable typing experience due to the differences in height and shape.

2. How do I know which keycap profile is best for gaming versus typing?

For gaming, many users prefer a lower profile like Cherry for their quicker actuation and reduced finger travel distance. Typists often lean towards sculpted profiles like SA, KAT, or MT3 for their ergonomic benefits during prolonged sessions.

3. Are certain keycap profiles better for RGB lighting?

The visibility of RGB lighting isn’t necessarily dependent on the profile but rather the material and design of the keycaps. However, profiles with larger surface areas may diffuse light more effectively.

4. How durable are the different keycap profiles?

Durability largely depends on the material used (ABS, PBT, etc.) rather than the profile. However, taller profiles like SA might be more prone to breaking if the keyboard is dropped due to their increased leverage against the switch stem.

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