The PBS Profile Keycap is a keycap designed by “Matt3o”, the designer behind Drop MT3 and GMK MTNU.
Its main feature is a flat keycap with no difference in slope by each row, which reduces the overall height despite the spherical design with a depressed center.
This article reviews the PBS Profile Keycaps.
The provided PBS Blanks Keycaps were provided by Keyreative for promotional purposes.
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この記事の著者
Representative of GreenEchoes Studio /Editor-in-Chief of Greenkeys / Web Writer
Ryosuke Kawamura
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About PBS Profile Keycaps｜Overview
PBS Blank Keycaps are keycaps designed by “Matt3o”, a designer who has worked on profiles for MT3 and MTNU.
PBS is an abbreviation for “Penguin Belly Slide,” probably named for the central indentation that is shaped just like a penguin’s belly.
The product design was done in cooperation with Cannonkeys, and it appears that development began in 2022.
While his keycap design is characterized by a spherical shape with a central depression, the newly developed PBS differs significantly from the aforementioned MT3 and MTNU in that it is a flat profile with no difference in the slope of each row.
According to Cannonkeys, the following three advantages of the PBS profile are listed
All columns have the same shape so keys can be moved to different columns
Uniform profile can provide the best typing feel on any shape keyboard
More uniform sound across the keyboard
The PBS profile also features a deeper depression than key profiles with other spherical designs, which allows for a better fit at the fingertips, and the reduced overall height may eliminate the need for a wrist rest when typing.
The following image shows a comparison of the KAM profile and the PBS profile keycap.
(Left: PBS, Right: KAM)
The sides are 1.5 mm thick, the material used is PBT, and the printing method is sublimation printing to allow designers more flexibility in their choices.
Manufacturing will be done by Keyreative.
Cannonkeys will be the global distributor for this keycap set, which will be sold worldwide.
PBS Blanks for a limited release in August 2024 for media promotion.
It was released on a limited trial basis by vendors around the world and seemed to sell out quickly…
Kawamura
I think it was probably mostly Japanese who bought up Keyreative’s inventory close to Japan…lol
Now let’s look at the actual photos.
It arrived in this stylish paper package.
Very simple exterior.
Contrary to the cream-colored packaging, the keycap that comes in the package is “white,” so you need to be a little careful.
The keycap set’s main feature is that it matches any keyboard, as it has many convex keys and is unmarked.
Kawamura
This is especially nice for column staggered layout keyboard users, as 1u/1.5u convex keys are very rare!
This time we will focus on the black set.
As can be seen, the center is depressed, but the impression is of a fairly smooth depression toward the center.
The rounded corners of the keycaps made a favorable impression, as they were very soft to the touch.
Convex keys also have a gentle radius and are thumb-friendly.
Still, it is beautiful….
Convex keys, but there are two types: the normal homing type and the type with a strong central depression.
Left: Normal homing key Right: Strongly depressed type
It is really a slight change in indentation visually, but when you touch it with your finger, you can certainly clearly see that it is “different” from the other keys, and it serves well as a homing key.
Left: Homing key Right: Normal key
After all, the all-black keycaps match any keyboard case.
Here are some actual photos using cool536lc and Keyball.
Kawamura
