An improved handheld electronic device includes an improved keypad with keys that impart a plurality of different instances of a given physical property. In one embodiment, each key imparts of plurality of different instances of the given physical property, such as by forming each key of a plurality of materials. In another embodiment, each key includes only a single instance of a given physical property, but different keys posses different instances of the same physical property, i.e., certain keys may be formed of a first material, and other keys may be formed of a second, different material.