Difference between the KAT profile adopted by HHKB Studio Keycaps and the HHKB original profile

The replacement keycap for HHKB Studio, scheduled for release in the fall of 2024, uses a key profile called the KAT profile.

Since there was a question on social networking sites about in what ways it differs from the stock profile, I will answer it with images.

Items to evaluate key profile

First, we will explain the key points in evaluating key profiles.

There are three main points of focus in the key profile.

Let’s look at the characteristics of each profile from these three viewpoints.

HHKB original profile features

The side slant is a “step sculpture design,” a type with a slant at each key position.

The shape of the top surface of the keys is a cylindrical design, with a gentle radius that looks as if it has been cut out of a cylinder.

The height from the bottom to the top of the keys is slightly higher than that of Cherry.

If Cherry is the standard, I would say it is a bit expensive.

Features of the KAT Profile

KAT profiles are profiles licensed by Keyreative.

The lateral slope of the KAT profile is also a “step-sculpture” design, with a slight slope for each row.

The shape of the top surface of the keys is a “spherical design,” which can be seen as a gentle aspherical depression toward the center.

Whereas the syndrical design guides the key to the center of the key on a single axis, the spherical design guides the key to the center of the key from all directions.

The key height is slightly higher than that of Cherry.

Comparison of KAT profile and HHKB original profile

Let’s take a look at the two profiles for each evaluation item.

lateral slant

As can be seen, the HHKB original profile is larger with respect to lateral tilt.

Shape of key top surface

Comparing the two, we can see that the KAT profile has a three-dimensional shape, while the HHKB original profile has a simple flat shape.

Key Height

Perhaps the most important point of concern is this “key height”.

The height of the topmost key is almost the same, but the difference in lateral inclination may make the HHKB original profile feel slightly lower in terms of experience.

Which profile do you recommend?

As for the question of which key profile is better, it is a matter of “preference” and will depend on each individual’s feeling.

Whether the design is cylindrical or spherical, the fingers are still guided to the center of the key.

The degree of this is slightly stronger with the KAT profile, which I describe as a “sucking feel,” but in no way does this mean that the HHKB profile is inferior.

Also, some may think that the KAT profile is more difficult to type with because it seems to be higher to the top of the keys, but my personal impression is that there is not that much difference from the HHKB original profile.

However, it is also true that some people find the so-called “step sculpture with large height differences” like Cherry-like “difficult to type because the fingers get caught” due to the sloping keys.

Summary｜KAT profile is worth a try

These are the differences between the KAT profile and the HHKB original profile.

Perhaps those who have used HHKB and HHKB Studio in the past have little experience trying that many keycaps.

Most major profiles for mechanical keyboards are those that mimic the Cherry profile, or OEM profiles that are slightly taller than Cherry.

After all, one of the great pleasures of mechanical keyboards is that the keycaps can be replaced.

The HHKB Studio uses a Cherry MX compatible axis instead of the Topre axis, which improves customizability. Unfortunately, some keys have special shapes, so there are no replacement keycaps other than the genuine ones.

However, with the keycap set we are developing with Keyreative, we guarantee 100% HHKB Studio compatibility.

Why not give it a try?

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