Keycaps are undeniably the best way to make your keyboard truly stand out. While your keyboard might boast an aluminum or plastic build, an RGB strip, or an array of intricate internal components, nothing quite matches the “wow” factor of a stunning keycap set. In this respect, Glorious, a leading name in PC peripherals, has you covered. We had the pleasure of reviewing their new GPBT Kabuto keycap set, and as the name suggests, it delivers exactly what you’d expect—though I’m not just referring to the inevitable samurai-themed puns you’ll encounter as you continue reading.
DESIGN
Kinda obvious, Kabuto is inspired by Japan, and according to Glorious, it serves as the ideal preparation for Assassin’s Creed Shadows, with which it shares a general aesthetic. The set arrives neatly packaged in plastic layers, and despite the long journey the package likely took, not a single keycap was out of place or upside down, which can happen with poorly packed sets.
Kabuto looks great on GMMK Pro
To get the basics out of the way, the set includes 142 keycaps, making Kabuto suitable for all keyboard sizes, and it also comes with customized keycaps for both ISO and ANSI layouts. The keycaps are Cherry profile and fully compatible with Cherry MX stems, ensuring a comfortable fit and typing experience on a wide range of mechanical keyboards.
- Keycap set for both ANSI and ISO English with Japanese hiragana
- A dual Chokuto enter key
- 142-large army of high-quality PBT polymer keycaps with red accents
- Dye-sublimation printing
Knowing that, it’s the design and the stunning black and red color combination that’s the main draw here. While some might call it the classic, mysterious, brooding, and dare I say—edgy, these keycaps show exactly why the colorway is so popular. It’s even better here since it’s used very tastefully, not going overboard like all the keycaps giving you a full image of a samurai across the keyboard.
The standout key looking sharper than dual katanas
No, most of the keycaps here are black, with the red reserved for a select few keys like the arrows, Enter, and Escape. The primary symbols are printed in white, with small red Japanese Hiragana characters subtly placed underneath.
Aside from the Hiragana characters on nearly every key, the definite standout is the Enter key, which features a pair of Japanese Chokuto swords and looks fantastic. Don’t worry, it won’t cut you, but you’ll definitely slash into the next row whenever you press it. But that’s not all—there are also additional themed keys featuring samurai helmets which look really great, and the best part is that you can place them anywhere on your keyboard.
You can place these wherever you want and they’ll look great
To stay fully aligned with the theme, we decided to use the Kabuto keycaps on the Glorious GMMK Pro, whose case features the same shade of black as the keycaps and is the best choice if you want to achieve a seamless look. Of course, the Kabuto set will pair beautifully with many other black keyboards, but be mindful of the shade of black if you’re aiming for perfect consistency. The Kabuto set leans more towards a matte black, unlike the glossy finish you often see on many keyboards, especially those made of ABS plastic.
As far as build quality goes, the slight texture on the keycaps immediately reveals that the legends were applied using the dye-sublimation method, and honestly, they’re sharper than a katana. The keycaps are also pretty standard in shape, so they won’t significantly alter the sound profile of your keyboard, providing a consistent typing experience. The texture and the PBT plastic also means you won’t have to worry about unsightly fingerprints, and you can likely count on these keycaps lasting a long time without any degradation in the quality of the legends.
Hiragana characters are a really nice touch
The fact that Kabuto keycaps aren’t RGB shine-through might be a drawback for some, but a plus for others. However, I can confidently say that Kabuto is such a beautiful set on its own that the lack of RGB backlighting through the legends isn’t much of a loss. Depending on the type of keyboard you choose to use it with, the RGB lighting can still be quite visible from the sides and between the keycaps. Personally, I would choose the quality of the print and the color finish over RGB effects any day, and the Kabuto set definitely delivers on that front.
CONCLUSION
In the world of keycaps, the Kabuto set is nothing short of a warrior’s blade—sharp, stylish, and ready to elevate your keyboard to new heights. However, like a true samurai relic, these keycaps are a limited edition, meaning they might be as elusive as a ninja in the night. If you’re lucky enough to get your hands on them, you’ll be pleased to know that, at $59.99, they strike a more affordable blow than many other keycaps available in such limited quantities. Here’s hoping that Glorious decides to forge more of these masterpieces for fans of this striking aesthetic and the many enthusiasts eagerly awaiting Assassin’s Creed Shadows.
