DCX vs DCD vs DCL - Drop’s Keycap Profiles Explained
We’ve covered the basics of keycap profiles before—spherical/cylindrical, sculpted/uniform, etc. One thing that has come up more and more over the years as we’ve expanded our portfolio of offerings here at Drop is the distinction between some of our similar profiles. Specifically, what is the actual difference between DCX, DCD, and DCL? Cylindrical Profiles To recap the previous article on the topic, one of the most basic ways to separate various keycap profiles is by shape (cylindrical, spherical, or flat). DCX, DCD, and DCL are all cylindrical profiles. The most famous cylindrical profile is Cherry profile, as defined by the original manufacturer of the keycaps—Cherry. GMK now owns those tools, and as such, only they can technically claim to produce “Cherry” profile keycaps. Similar keycap profiles are often called Cherry profile colloquially, but are in actuality slightly different. For the sake of not splitting hairs, all of the cylindrical profiles discussed here are...
Apr 9, 2024
Low-Profile vs High-Profile
What Do “Low-Profile” and “High-Profile” Mean Low and high profile are referring to the keyboard case surrounding the switches and keycaps. If you’re coming from a standard rubber dome keyboard, you’ve almost certainly been using what would be considered a high-profile keyboard. High-profile case designs feature a top piece that has a height equal to the bottom of the keycaps. When keys are pressed, the keycaps will travel down below the case level. Low-profile on the left vs High-profile on the right:
Why Bother With Low-Profile If high-profile is the historical standard for keyboards, why even bother with low-profile designs? Simply put, low-profile case designs are easier, faster, and cheaper to prototype and produce than high-profile designs. This is particularly true for metal constructions. Low-profile metal cases can be laser cut from a stack of layered sheets of metal, with or without plastic diffusers sandwiched between. Some of my favorite keyboards in my personal collection were produced this way, in fact—extremely small production batches of custom boards made by acquaintances in the hobby.
Is High-Profile Better The obvious follow-up question then is to ask—is high-profile better than low-profile? Well, if weight is what you’re after, then high-profile is probably the way to go. More material in the case means high-profile designs are heavier. One more fairly minor consideration is durability. Since low-profile cases are a bit more exposed on the sides, transporting a low-profile keyboard in a backpack or bag is more likely to result in keycaps catching and putting sideways pressure on switches. If you’re not doing anything too crazy with your keyboard this shouldn’t be much of a concern. If you’re an RGB fan, a positive side to low-profile keyboards is a less obstructed view of per-key LED RGB. Especially if the board contains a south-facing style switch setup, which means the LEDs will shine towards the user, rather than away from, with a north-facing switch setup. At the end of the day, the main determining factor is probably going to be aesthetics. Some people prefer the “buttoned up” look of a high-profile case. Others like the exposed switches on a low-profile board. Which look matches your style?
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