„South-facing” and „north-facing” refer to the placement of RGB LEDs on the PCB, relative to the user’s position while typing. LEDs located on the side closer to the user are „south-facing” (bottom-positioned), while those on the side further away are „north-facing” (top-positioned). The primary difference lies not in brightness or color, but in how the light interacts with the keycaps and switches. South-facing LEDs offer uniform brightness for backlit legends and minimize glare, making them compatible with the vast majority of modern backlit keycaps. North-facing LEDs are more efficient for certain specialized switches—such as those with built-in light-focusing lenses—but can sometimes cause uneven lighting (or „shadowed” legends) on specific types of keycaps.
I. How to Identify South-Facing vs. North-Facing LEDs
The simplest way to determine the orientation is to observe the keyboard while it is plugged in.
Position the keyboard squarely in front of you. If you look down at the gaps between the keycaps and notice that light is leaking from the side closest to you (the bottom side), it is south-facing. Conversely, if the light leaks from the side further away from you (the top side), it is north-facing.
Physically, you can remove a keycap and a switch to inspect the LED on the PCB. If the LED is positioned below the center of the switch socket (toward the spacebar), it is south-facing; if it is positioned above the center (toward the function/F-key row), it is north-facing.
II. Key Differences: Light Path and Legend Illumination
The two orientations employ different design logic regarding the light path.
South-facing (bottom-positioned): The LED is located on the „south” side of the switch stem. As the light radiates upward, it aligns directly with the backlit legends found on most keycaps. On modern mechanical keyboard keycaps—particularly those with OEM or Cherry profiles—the backlit legends are typically positioned toward the top. With south-facing LEDs, the light travels a short, direct path to illuminate these legends, resulting in high brightness and crisp, well-defined edges. At the same time, the light is obstructed by the switch housing and the sidewalls of the keycaps. From a standard, seated user perspective, the bright LED emitters are not directly visible, which provides an effective anti-glare result.
North-facing (top-positioned LEDs): The LED is located on the north side of the switch stem. If the keycap features translucent legends (characters) at the top, the north-facing LED is positioned further away from them. The light must undergo diffuse reflection within the internal cavity of the keycap to illuminate the legends; this results in significant energy loss, often leading to insufficient brightness or darkened edges on the characters. Furthermore, as light passes through the keycap sidewalls, thick internal walls or inconsistent material density can easily cause „uneven lighting” (where one part of a character appears bright while another remains dim). Additionally, on a north-facing keyboard, users with a lower viewing angle—especially when using „Cherry profile” (standard height) keycaps—may directly see the LEDs tucked above the switches, causing visual glare.
III. Compatibility Differences Based on Switch Structure
The orientation of the LED also directly affects switch compatibility.
South-facing: Compatible with the vast majority of standard MX-style switches. Since the LED is positioned at the bottom, there is typically ample space above the switch to accommodate stems with „dust-proof” walls (shrouded stems). If you use a switch designed for top-positioned LEDs (where the light-transmitting window is on the top) in a south-facing keyboard, the lighting effect will still diffuse through the gaps in the switch housing, though the illumination of the keycap legends may not be as uniform as it would be with a switch designed for bottom-positioned LEDs.
North-facing: For switches equipped with light pipes or lenses designed for top-positioned LEDs (such as certain models from brands like Kailh or TTC), a north-facing LED can fully leverage these optical designs, resulting in excellent lighting uniformity. However, the primary drawback of a north-facing orientation is potential physical interference with certain keycaps. With some taller keycaps—such as certain spherical (SA/MT3-style) or custom-profile keycaps—the internal structural ribs may collide with the north-facing LED or the top housing of the switch. Forcing these keycaps onto the switches can damage the LEDs or prevent the keys from bottoming out.
IV. How to Choose
The choice of LED orientation depends on your primary requirements:
Choose South-Facing (LEDs at the bottom) if:
– You use shine-through keycaps (especially those with Cherry or OEM profiles) and want the legends to be bright and evenly illuminated.
– You prefer not to see the glaring LED bulbs when looking at the keyboard from the side or above.
– You plan to use keycaps of various profiles or from different brands; south-facing orientation offers better physical compatibility.
– You intend to purchase a magnetic-switch keyboard. Most mainstream magnetic-switch solutions (such as those from Wooting, Razer, and various domestic Chinese manufacturers) utilize a south-facing design, as the magnet located at the base of the switch necessitates placing the LED at the bottom.
Choose North-Facing (LEDs at the top) if:
– You use specific switches designed for north-facing orientation—featuring built-in light-focusing lenses—and prioritize the uniform lighting effect they provide.
– You do not mind if the legends appear slightly dimmer, and you do not plan to frequently swap in keycaps with non-standard profiles.
– You are purchasing an older model or a keyboard from a brand that still adheres to the traditional north-facing design (common in some conventional mechanical keyboards).
