Cerakeys ceramic keycaps review & sound tests (8BitDo / ZealPC Clickiez)

Skip to 3:28 and 3:53 for the sound tests.
Get it here: www.cerakey.com/products/full...
Today we look at something different; a keycap set! When I first spotted them, I immediately suspected they had great sound potential, and they look awesome to boot. It was supposed to only be a sound test, but I guess I couldn't help myself and did a mini-review as well. Hope you enjoy the video! :)
Keyboard: 8BitDo
Switches: ZealPC Clickiez Green
Intro by Kyle Carter
Outro by Facundo Cabanne
My keyboard reviews: bit.ly/1TbOtft
My switch teardowns: bit.ly/2C1QGHz
My TOP X videos: bit.ly/2FmpZfd
My XL typing demos: bit.ly/2OoAW3w
My tutorials and featurettes: bit.ly/2OrkLUh
My unboxing videos: bit.ly/2TSrr0m
I'm Thomas and I do videos and reviews on mechanical keyboards ranging from the most sickening modern RGB gaming keyboards to vintage hardware relics, or sometimes keycaps or keyswitches ranging from Cherry MX to Alps SKCM to IBM buckling springs and anything in between.
Follow me on Twitter for updates on my keyboard videos! / chyrosran22
The practice sentence was: "Hello my name is Thomas and I'm typing on a Cerakeys keycap set right now. This is one of the most interesting, perhaps THE most interesting keycap set I've ever covered, I wish I'd done this sooner! This is very interesting, to say the least!"

[@blendernoob64]

The ding sound some of the keys make is pretty cool sounding!

[@trash3570]

seems like it would be cool for a week and then id be tweaking

[@jasondoe2596]

It's cool, but eventually it would drive me crazy.

[@Nismo11]

2:15 That's a consequence of the shift key coming into contact with the key next to it. I own 2 sets of these keycaps. One set also does this.

[@leocomerford]

0:28 The ‘cracked and glazed’ thing sounded like a backronym to me, to be honest. I hauled out the old OED and I see that “To break (a thing) so that the parts still remain contiguous ; to crack.” for ‘craze’ goes back to Chaucer while “To produce minute cracks on the surface of (pottery)” goes back to at least the 1870s or 1880s.

[@gasun1274]

that's where crazy comes from

[@leocomerford]

@@gasun1274 Right, hence also ‘crazy paving’.

[@NiksSofa]

Holy shit, that typing sound demo is crazy. love it.

[@Proteus_YT]

Did they mention if they do any unglazed keys, I have a background in ceramics, and this really intrigues me. A set of Porcelain keys high fired without glaze would be really cool to see. It has a natural velvet luster finish and has a fine gritty feel. Idk if that would impact typing but it would be really cool to see. ahhhh! cheers for the vid

[@Chyrosran22]

Haven't a clue, but I can't recall having seen any on their website.

[@beymaster562]

Shoutout to you for doing this with clicky switches. I love them!

[@NuclearCaptain]

I've been really curious about these for awhile, good to hear they'll replace the caps if the stems are misaligned. The sound they make is fascinating though, great video.

[@thescottishmob]

It took me forever to find a video with someone using a clicky switch and not linear or tactile 😩 THANK YOU

[@cerakey]

Thanks for sharing this great video featuring our blue crazed ceramic keycaps! 🥰

[@darkurthe]

NGL those sound amazing... also want to second the 8bitdo keyboards are great your review pushed me over the edge and I bought one.

[@marnaka2488]

My oh my, this is -the- video I have been waiting for to confirm whether or not I should pull the trigger on a setup like this. Cerakeys + Clickiez + NCR80 will be the way forward. Thomas, you have cost me a fortune, in the best way possible!

[@Chyrosran22]

Haha you're welcome! xD

[@grantrussell8288]

"Crazed" or "Crazing" is also a technical term in the plastics industry for the type of spiderweb-cracking you see on stressed plastics like Acrylic. (like if you put an acrylic water pitcher in the dishwasher).

[@OhhWelll]

Awesome video! I love that you do reviews for everything keyboard related. Ceramic keycaps seem like a good idea if executed properly. I'd be interested if it weren't for the high price but if they're ever able to lower it I think people would be more receptive

[@nextgenstudios335]

Really did these keycaps justice! They make my boards have a much more deep, rich sound due to the, hate to say it, "thocc" of the keycaps with some accompanying "creaminess". Absolutely magnificent keycaps and worth the price in my opinion!

[@Raiko01]

amazing sound danm

[@sonicfan2651]

Your voice is soothing and engaging. Subbed.

[@ezisw]

I own the V2 and I'd say they sound amazing with clickies. I used Kailh Box White V2s and they still sound amazingly good and satisfying IMO.

[@ash36230]

Ceramic keycaps look like a game where the texture failed to load in correctly. Certainly different and unique 😆

[@alexandermirdzveli3200]

This is the first time I watched the typing demo to the end.

[@vimtheprotogen2855]

It’s been a very long time since I’ve been this early to a Chyrosran video!

[@mesamesamesa1277]

very nice video chyrosran, im a big fan ! hello from cuba

[@Chyrosran22]

Ola, gracias! :)

[@napalmballwipes]

personally i love them the most on the Wuque Studio heavy blacks which were also the cheapest i had and while i had issues with them playing games at first i ended up really liking them i highly recommend

[@ej_tech]

For what it is $144 is surprisingly cheap

[@dorstefan]

Shots fired demonstration.

[@Sortsylic]

Best as always. Can't stand muffled "custom" mechanical keyboards which are common today.

[@realkeqing]

Oh wow and I was just looking into buying these

[@pappalink7734]

I'd like to hear a typing demonstration of the cerakeys using linears on something larger like a Nixdorf or a Cherry G80. I feel like that setup would give the best sound demonstration.

[@raulsaavedra709]

There is ABS, PBT, ceramics, and... ? Any other materials out there for keycaps? I think i've seen wooden and metal ones but not sure. Maybe other plastics are used as well, acrylic, polycarbonate?

[@Temunic]

POM plastic, wood, resin, and metal are the next most common keycap materials. I'm also aware of some keycaps that were made with a type of plastic that has ceramic like qualities, but the name of the material is escaping me at the moment. Those were run once or twice in Korea, and I don't think they've been done again since.

[@randomised339]

I think a lot of clear keycaps are made out of PC. Legends might be an issue though. I've seen ones that uses PC on the parts certain level and have PBT on top so the legends don't rub off them (like double shot keycap but with PC and PBT).

[@thylacine622]

What’s the keyboard used in the intro to your channel? It sounds lovely

[@Chyrosran22]

It's my Acer KB-101A with Alps SKCM Blue switches. Unsurpassed in sound IMO ^^ .

[@AnvilSP]

I'm not sure if that Cherry profile cap sound example is fully accurate given that the switches in the 8BitDo are mounted with a north-facing orientation, causing interference with R3 Cherry profile caps and muting the clack. Very small detail though.

[@jammies701]

Actually a good call because the Cherry profile sounds… wrong, but maybe I'm deluding myself

[@AnvilSP]

@@jammies701 I think the problem is exaggerated by the fact that he used an older style F key, which uses a deep dish instead of a homing bar. The effect is like a less effective O-ring. I think it's pretty silly that the 8BitDo uses north-facing switches considering it doesn't have any backlighting at all. I hadn't realized that fact until I already bought it. It isn't relevant to the default keycaps or switches (both of which don't have interference issues), and it's not as important given that the keycaps are high quality and part of the novelty of the keyboard anyway, but it makes no sense to impose that limitation regardless lol

[@Prod_Venny]

You got any old keyboard for review?

[@GravityOn]

Hey! I absolutely love your content. I just have a question. Do you have any recommendations for people who need keyboards in spanish? Seemingly nobody thinks of us and it is difficult to find a keyboard thast works for us.

[@Chyrosran22]

It might be best to buy a Spanish keycap set and then stick it on a keyboard.

[@OkayKeeb]

I've found the glaze per-key can be uneven, which makes the spacing on the outer edges not quite straight. I ended up replacing one of my (black) keys because it had a white ring around the edges from not being as glazed as the others. Really great keycaps though, you cant find any others that feel this luxurious.

[@bewilderbeestie]

My biggest concern with these is the slightly convex surface. Does that make a difference to the typing feel, as it's less tendency to centre your fingers when typing?

[@Chyrosran22]

Honestly the keyfeel is so unique that I can't really say anything meaningful about it, it's so different from anything else out there. I didn't notice what you are describing, but I don't type like you do either, probably xD .

[@bewilderbeestie]

@@Chyrosran22 Good to know! Sadly it looks like they don't do ISO (most exotic keycap manufacturers don't do this --- I imagine the L-shaped return key is hard to make)... which means I don't have to decide whether to spend $144 on a keycap set.

[@bewilderbeestie]

@@Chyrosran22 Also, have you seen the Awekeys Periodic Table keycap set? 16 keys made from 14 different metals (you get Cu and Al twice), labelled with the period table data. I am somewhat dubious as they claim that one key is electroplated with rhodium and the whole set is only $172.

[@Chyrosran22]

@@bewilderbeestie Haha I hadn't, but I'm definitely gonna chase that up xD . Don't know how many of the other keyboard reviewers are chemists, but it sounds like the set was practically made for me xD . Thanks!

[@fatihbrglng]

Is it compatible with magnetic switches?

[@TwistedD85]

After hearing that shift key "ding" I'm kind of surprised no one has tried to make key switches that plucks a tuned leaf of metal. Like the model M ping, but like... tuned to the note you want or a set tuned to the key you like. Gateron music box switches or something. I could see them being either annoying as hell or pretty.

[@aidanb4477]

Honestly they make the sound almost beamspring-esque, at least over the microphone recording, I don't own a beamspring keyboard personally.

[@GizmoTheGreen]

would love to try them once they have ISO---

[@Wasdniak]

I definitely want some, but choosing a color is hard given how expensive they are

[@Sortsylic]

Does the weight of a keycap lessen the pressing force?

[@Chyrosran22]

Technically, yes. In practice, it really doesn't make a noticeable difference.

[@Sortsylic]

@@Chyrosran22 thank you, that bothered me for a bit

[@jacobhotaling8959]

could totaly make a alps version of these

[@impointr]

Awekeys mini-review next? hehe Jokes aside my biggest disappointment with Cerakeys - besides my disdain for the sound profile that comes out of them (embrace the clack damnit!) - is that their kitting is just... Unbelievably minimal. It's been a while since they're part of the hobby now and I've seen them at a few meetups already so it's quite surprising that they still haven't done serious moves to support a wider range of layouts... (e.g. 7u spacebars, HHKB, ISO, etc)

[@MontyMoelle]

god DAMN that sounds delicious!!!!!

[@smakfu1375]

Interesting, but not for that price. I'll stick with a nice set of PBT caps. I do like the ping-y-ness though.

[@greyareaRK1]

Wow. Sounds like a mechancal computer a la Colusses MK 1.

[@HiCZoK]

I am typing this comment on famicon 8bitdo keyboard. stock as it comes... and it's freaking fantastic. This keyboard made me love clicky and tactile keyboards again btw lol can hear your desk vibrating

[@marcoguilherme2477]

Muito legal!

[@Schyz]

Love the sound but, as usual, no ISO layout.

[@lucidmoses]

By looks I'd guess "crazed" meant they where stopping short of "insane". :p

[@zatozatoichi7920]

Cerakeys should really make some ISO stuff...

[@voidmachines]

They almost sound like they got a tiny hidden solenoid inside them

[@d-floe]

The right shift sounds like youre reloading your keyboard

[@ducttaperulestheworl]

Finally a clicky clunky demo

[@vsync]

for $144 they should check them before sending out

[@rcbuggies57]

Gotta make a breaking bad themed board with these keycaps

[@garciawork9]

Here I was, no desire for another keycap set, especially one that isn't shine through. Now I am building a mutli colored set for my full size.

[@MatthewHill]

Very impressed; those sound awesome. Are they available in SA?

[@sparayurji]

of course it's a matter of personal taste, but try to put a normal oring under the original caps. imho the cerakeys (i own the first version) cover the click sounds too much. the bottom out is not 'mushed', but the clickyness is quite enhanced

[@HolaGreen]

Épico

[@redcroft308]

That shift key sounds like Sonic fell on his ass.

[@FloorManiac]

needs dinner plate floral font letters and numbers.

[@adamcarr2898]

Oh no I've shattered my keyboard!

[@darkholyPL]

Ceramic keycaps?! What will they think of next? A woman doctor? Has science gone this far now?

[@stoeney7962]

Wtf

[@fujiwarachoki]

Funny

[@friedchickenthug]

Incels gonna incel

[@darkholyPL]

@@friedchickenthug and idiots gonna idiot. This is a Johnny Bravo reference and very clearly a joke. But I guess if you're only working with two brain cells, it's not that obvious, eh?

[@darkholyPL]

@@friedchickenthug KZbin keeps removing my comments and I'm getting really tired of it. This is the second time I'm writing this,so I'm not going to type the whole thing out again. Anyway TL;DR it was a Johnny Bravo reference and a joke very obviously, and you are a moron. Good day.

[@NatesRandomVideo]

Wind chimes. 😂

[@yukiyuki5127]

DO NOT BUY THIS, ordered a set and got the product without labels, some of they keys are not straight where the ceramic meets the connector, the keys bump with the housing of the keyboard. Overall very dissatisfied with the experience. I don't recommend this product.

[@B-a_s-H]

Hmmmmm...... sounds chunky :D

[@LangleyNA]

I feel it is too much bass at this point in your final sound demo. I like clack. I guess that's more mid-range. I am a typically heavy-handed typist who tends to bottom out. I like hearing plastic smack and clack. 0932222. Clunk.

[@Chyrosran22]

I never edit the sound in the typing demos, but it might be some interference from the desk.

[@LangleyNA]

@@Chyrosran22 Gah! And, of course, to clarify, I hadn't meant to speak about your production. I meant the ceramic key sound seems too low in pitch and boomy for my own taste.

[@Chyrosran22]

@@LangleyNA Oh, I see xD . Interesting! Must admit I don't often hear that someone finds something sounding too bassy :) .

[@DirtyGingy]

that color combo is very much discomforting

[@DeviRuto]

a bull in a china shop

[@NorthWolfe]

Another with missing keys, no thanks.

[@mataznuiz]

what the board or the keycaps

[@aarocka11]

No sir I don’t like it 🐴

[@betavidoh7944]

so.... keycaps for hipsters.

[@sean640]

Erm, present!

[@eeaahh]

something abt the sound in ur intro animation is so grating and genuinely painful to listen to

[@agentpeen]

i came a little when i heard that ting on the shift key

[@Chyrosran22]

It's surprisingly nice, isn't it? :D

[@agentpeen]

@@Chyrosran22 never expected that kind of a sound coming from a keyboard tbf

[@CaveyMoth]

1:22 "Across the board." Literally.