Keycaps are an excellent way to not only decorate one’s workstation gaming setup but also to express one’s personality.
However, choosing the ideal keycaps can be a head-scratcher. You will need to consider some factors such as pricing, quality, durability, and compatibility with the switch. If you like RGB backlighting, people may recommend pudding keycaps to you. But what exactly are pudding keycaps, and are they any good?
Take the time to read this review, and you will find the answers you need.
What do pudding keycaps mean?
Pudding keycaps are a popular style of keycaps that always capture the attention of RGB enthusiasts at the first glance. Even the name reveals how they are made and function.
These pudding-like keycaps have a unique dual-layer construction with the top of the keycap being opaque and the bottom being clear. Specifically, the transparent body of pudding keycaps allows for greater illumination without reducing readability due to the typical upper part.
With this unique feature, pudding keycaps have truly captivated the hearts of RGB nerds.
To learn more about other keycaps, see this post: The Complete Guide to different types of keycaps: Materials, Profiles, Printing methods, and more.
What are Pudding Keycaps made of?
Pudding keycap sets are produced in the same way as regular keycap sets. In terms of used materials, they can be produced with ABS or PBT plastic, depending on the manufacturer.
The material used in making pudding keycaps is a key factor in their durability. Most firms produce pudding keycaps with PBT plastic with double shot legend printing to ensure high durability.
Typically, PBT pudding keycaps are more durable than ABS keycaps. Although a part of them is coated with opaque material, pudding keycaps made of PBT are more sturdy and long-lasting.
As a result, it resists factors like solvents, friction, and wear that usually damage plastic components. Please keep in mind, though, that this does not entitle you to mistreat them.
Besides, pudding keycaps are manufactured using double-shot injection molding, which divides every keycap into 2 layers: a completely opaque thick top layer and a transparent body layer that allows RGB lighting to come through. (Check out this article to learn more about double-shot vs dye-sub keycaps)
Which keyboards do Pudding keycaps work best on?
Due to their relative brightness compared to south-facing switches, pudding keycaps perform best on keyboards with north-facing switches. To create the vibrant RGB featured on the majority of gaming keyboards, the LEDs on the PCB must be placed on top of the switch.
Furthermore, north-facing switches provide a centered shine through to a pudding keycap body as well as direct illumination of the keycap legends.
That’s why north-facing switches are currently a regular feature on gaming keyboards and the majority of pre-built keyboards.
So, what other keyboards use pudding keycaps?
After all, keep in mind that MX-style switches are the only ones that work with pudding keycaps now. Besides, pudding keycaps are not yet available that compatible with rubber dome switches or membrane keyboards.
What do pudding keycaps do?
As was already said, their main objective is to boost the keyboard’s backlight’s luminosity for aesthetic purposes. Apart from this, they serve the same purpose as ordinary keycaps.
Moreover, given that the materials used to produce pudding keycaps are not frequently ideal in terms of texture, some really experienced keyboard fans may regard them to be sub-optimal. It’s also important to note that the dual-layer design has a tendency of separating under vigorous use, which is again not really optimal.
Difference Between Pudding Keycaps and Regular Keycaps
Here are several different points when comparing pudding keycaps to regular keycaps:
- The Pudding Keycaps have a dual-layer transparent design while regular keycaps don’t.
- Pudding Keycaps shine more brightly than standard stock keycaps.
- They are significantly thicker than standard keycaps.
- Pudding Keycaps are more resilient than standard keycaps.
- Pudding Keycaps have more solvent resistance than standard keycaps.
The main difference between Pudding and standard shine-through or regular keycaps is how well the former diffuses RGB illumination. The other, however, often enables RGB to spread on the legends of the keycaps.
Nevertheless, comparing Pudding keycaps to premium bespoke keycaps is another topic. The Cherry keycap profile, which is a little shorter and thicker than your regular keycaps, is used by high-end bespoke keycap sets like GMK and ePBT keycaps. Thus, RGB backlighting is unable to shine through.
Should you buy Pudding keycaps?
Now that you’ve already got everything needed about pudding keycaps. It’s time to place an order. But before doing so, you need to consider the following factors to know whether pudding keycaps are worth your money:
Durability
As previously said, pudding keycaps are made of extremely strong PBT material and are made to fit almost any mechanical keyboard. They maintain their consistency in texture, clarity, and aesthetic even after prolonged usage.
Lighting effects
Undeniably, pudding keycaps will allure you when you add lighting effects as opposed to simply a single unchanging color.
As we discussed, pudding keycaps are made especially to boost keyboards’ RGB illumination.
Given that they enable a maximal shine through of your switches’ LEDs, it is highly suggested that you purchase these keycaps if you are a true RGB fan. Moreover, it will get more pleasant if your keyboard already goes with various pre-programmed lighting effects.
Affordability
The Pudding Keycaps provide a great, affordable way to level up your keyboard.
For example, the price of HyperX Pudding Double Shot PBT is $24.99. This is an amazingly low price for high-quality PBT keycaps from a well-known brand in the mechanical keyboard industry.
What are the best pudding keycaps?
Due to the growing prominence of RGB lighting, pudding keycaps are becoming more and more trendy. As a result, numerous brands are jumping into a competitive to catch the trend.
Here are the top 3 pudding keycaps from 3 reputable brands:
YMDK PBT Doubleshot Shine Pudding Keycaps Set
The best pudding keycaps cannot fail to mention YMDK PBT Doubleshot Shine. This brand is a well-known maker of premium keycap sets with distinctive and eye-catching patterns. YMDk pudding keycap set is long-lasting and composed of thick, high-quality PBT plastic.
This set also gives your keyboard stunning RGB lighting reflections. Additionally, the keycaps’ surface texture may greatly improve your typing and gaming experiences.
What’s more? YMDK PBT Doubleshot Shine Pudding Keycaps Set also comes in a variety of conventional and non-standard sizes, allowing them to be utilized on different mechanical keyboard layouts.
SteelSeries PRISMCAPS Double Shot Pudding Keycaps Set
With SteelSeries PrismCaps keycaps, you have the widest range of options for personalizing and enhancing your gaming experience.
Made of highly durable PBT plastic, they not only give users a sturdy and nice look but their “double shot” pudding-style shape also highlights the brightness of RGB lighting.
Through a specially built double shot design with transparent sides and letters, gamers can enhance their keyboards with bright pudding-style RGB illumination and millions of color combinations.
Another feature is that the set is available in both black and white. It requires keys with complete sets. On the bottom row of keycaps, there are two separate alternative sets and keycap pullers.
Their primary responsibility is to ensure that the product fits properly on the various keyboards. Once more, the keycaps have excellent levels of compatibility.
HyperX Pudding Keycaps Set
When it comes to customization, HyperX keycaps provide great flexibility. You’ll discover that the keys provide for the highest degree of personalization for everyone.
HyperX keycaps have beautiful aesthetics at reasonable prices. Additionally, they feature a double-layered construction that makes them extremely helpful. As a result, they help to greatly improve the lighting process for the keyboard as a whole.
Moreover, the majority of mechanical gaming keyboards and HyperX are compatible with this whole key set. They go well with HyperX’s mechanical key switches’ exposed LED style.
There are two color options for the HyperX Pudding Double Shot PBT keycaps: white and black. When using a mechanical keyboard with vibrant colors like red, blue, or yellow, HyperX white is the ideal choice.
FAQs
Are pudding keycaps quieter?
Although the pudding keycap is somewhat quieter, they are not entirely silent.
Do Pudding Keycaps work on membrane keyboards?
No. Pudding keycaps do not work will membrane keyboards or rubber dome switches.
The Bottom Line
Pudding keycaps with PBT plastic material are the right option if you want to give your keyboard a sturdy look and maximize RGB lighting.
Typing has never looked better than with the brilliant RGB lighting of the pudding keycaps. Let them make your work corner more aesthetic and attractive!
