Awekeys Shows Off Shine-Through Metal Keycaps for Mechanical Keyboards

Awekeys, the company that previously launched a set of sleek low-profile metal keycaps, has just returned with a new metal keycap project that its design team has been working on for a number of months: metal keycaps with shine-through lettering. Awekeys teased the shine-through metal keycap set in a group buy interest check post on Reddit and asked for feedback based on future kit, color, and design options if the keycaps ever make it to market. Awekeys showed off two images of what appears to be the prototype keycap set it has managed to develop, sharing that it had generated 6.8 kg of metal in failed prototype attempts in the process. Currently, the brand is considering north-facing, south-facing, and side-printed characters for the keycap sets, but it’s unlikely that all three will launch when the project concludes. Compatibility will almost certainly be limited to full-height MX-style mechanical switches, although there’s a non-zero chance Awekeys will do a low-profile set, too.

At the time of writing, it seems as though the shine-through metal keycaps will be Cherry profile only, which is understandable, since that is the most popular keycap profile for keyboard enthusiasts. It’s unclear how the keycap project will come to fruition, but it seems likely that Awekeys will user the same cupronickel material it always uses for its metal keycaps alongside what looks like a transparent plastic for the stem and keycap legend itself—which is how the keycaps will be able to let light through without resulting in a keycap top that feels rough due to the letter cutouts. Currently, the shine-through metal keycaps are in the early stages of development, so it’s unclear when they will be commercially available or how much they will cost. It’s also worth noting that there are other companies making metal keycaps, but they are not all that common and not generally available in full sets like Awekeys’s set will be.