Keychron Q Max review: The best keyboard gets better

Price When Reviewed

$214

Best Prices Today: Keychron Q3 Max keyboard

Keychron introduced its Q series in 2021. These premium keyboards used standard parts extra generally seen in boutique, limited-batch keyboards made by members of the mechanical neighborhood, like hot-swap change sockets, gasket mounting, full aluminum our bodies, and assist for open-source programming instruments like VIA. Keychron shortly rose to the highest of recommendation lists (like ours!) and made about 1,000,000 completely different fashions in numerous kind elements, then gave ’em all Bluetooth with the Q Pro series.

So what’s left to do? Not an entire lot, frankly — I nonetheless advocate Keychron Q boards to simply about anybody who needs a premium design. But Keychron simply retains iterating, and the most recent addition to its top-of-the-line collection is dual-mode wi-fi. Frequently seen in high-end typical keyboards from firms like Logitech, this method permits a direct USB dongle connection over the two.4GHz band, or triple-device Bluetooth. Of course you may at all times simply plug in a USB-C cable if you wish to skip wi-fi otherwise you want a fast recharge.

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With these new wi-fi choices, the Q Max series turns into extra dependable as a board that switches between normal PCs and cellular units, and may even do satisfactory service as gaming keyboards. They’re a simple selection for somebody who needs a implausible board with tons of high-end options and customization choices. And simply to sweeten the pot, Keychron has enhanced a few of its inside design and change choices.

I’m reviewing the Q3 Max mannequin, however you may apply a lot of the conclusions right here to its stablemates, the Q1 Max, Q2 Max, Q5 Max, and Q6 Max, that are merely completely different sizes of the identical design. The Q60, Q65, Q10, and Q8 fashions are all pretty distinctive layouts, and would require a bit extra analysis in your half to find out whether or not they’re an excellent match.

Keychron Q Max design

The Q3 Max is a tenkeyless design, which means it foregoes the quantity pad on the far proper of a full-sized keyboard. In phrases of format it has one additional trick up its sleeve, a quantity knob (press down for mute by default) between F12 and Print Screen. Thanks to a bit inventive spacing on the operate row, this doesn’t make the keyboard incompatible with third-party keycap layouts and doesn’t enhance the keyboard’s dimension.

Michael Crider/Foundry

Which is nice, as a result of it’s a giant, huge board. While the TKL format saves you a little bit of horizontal area in your desk, this factor continues to be fairly giant for its format at 14.5 inches huge and 5.5 inches deep. That chunky, all-aluminum physique ideas my kitchen scale at 62.8 ounces, practically 4 full kilos (1.78 kilograms) of keyboard. I suppose you might journey with this factor, however you might need additional prices to your baggage when you’re flying.

In phrases of technical options, the Q Max collection has principally every part Keychron can throw at it. To prevent some studying time I’m simply going to listing them out:

• Full aluminum physique
• Hot-swap change sockets
• Gasket mount PCB
• Multiple inside layers of froth and padding
• PBT keycaps
• RGB lighting
• QMK and VIA programming
• Triple-device Bluetooth
• 2.4GHz wi-fi dongle with 1000Hz polling mode
• Gateron “Jupiter” switches in Red, Brown, or Banana Yellow
• Screw-in stabilizers

If you don’t communicate keyboard geek, simply know that that’s a crap-ton of options, just about every part you might need in a high-end design. The solely notable exception when it comes to performance is adjustable actuation switches, a well-liked gaming function that’s coming in Keychron’s HE collection. But including that might additionally minimize off compatibility with the overwhelming majority of MX-style key switches and the universe of customization that they symbolize. Oh, there’s additionally no embedded display screen, which is not any nice loss in my e book.

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I’ll level out that the keyboard’s gigantic aluminum physique doesn’t have deployable toes on the underside. That means you may have any typing angle you need, as long as you solely need one. This is a holdover from the earlier Q collection, and a curious hole in options, contemplating how a lot stuff Keychron provides you within the field — wouldn’t it actually be an excessive amount of to ask for some screw-on toes?

I’m a giant fan of Keychron’s easy and utilitarian design aesthetic. In the black model of the board you get tall, chunky keycaps on white and navy, with a splash of teal coloring on the Escape and Enter keys. The field consists of each Windows and Mac modifier keys as standard, complementing the Win/Mac {hardware} change that continues to be part of the model identification. Next to it’s a three-way operation change: wired, dongle, or Bluetooth.

How’s the Keychron Q Max for typing and gaming?

I’m shocked it’s attainable, but when something, typing on a Q Max is much more strong than on earlier Q collection designs. I’m placing that down to some enhancements talked about on the promotional web page: You get 4 layers of froth and latex padding, plus a double gasket construction. I’m a fan of the extra strong construct and fewer flex within the switches, however in order for you a bit extra wiggle within the circuit board and rather less stiffness, you may at all times open up the case and take away some or all of these layers.

This assessment unit got here with Gateron’s “Jupiter Banana” yellow switches, that are tactile (mild bump with no click on) with a bit extra drive required for registering than standard. Fanciful identify apart, they’re super-smooth because of lubing completed on the manufacturing unit. It’s a more durable, extra forceful typing expertise than you is perhaps used to, however not so stiff as, say, one thing like a Kailh Box Navy.

Michael Crider/Foundry

Combined with the very high-profile rounded keycaps that include the board, it’s accommodating to somebody who likes extra old style, high-pressure typing…or who simply has heavy fingers, I suppose. I wasn’t as thrilled with the stabilizers — the one on the Backspace key had some severe rattle to it, although the remainder had been higher and quieter.

If you need one thing lighter when it comes to really feel, I’d go along with the Jupiter Red change possibility. You also can skip the switches and keycaps fully and provide your individual by choosing the “Barebone” configuration on Keychron’s web site, however since that solely saves you $20, I wouldn’t advocate it.

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Despite Keychron making a giant splash with the Lemokey L3 as its first dedicated “gaming” board, the Max collection has a functionally an identical wi-fi setup. That means it’s simply pretty much as good for gaming when you stick with the two.4GHz dongle or hold it wired, because of 1,000Hz polling that may sustain with all however essentially the most superhuman of twitchy players. Bluetooth drops issues down to simply 90Hz polling, which can work, however is way from splendid.

Michael Crider/Foundry

That stated, this configuration with its high-profile keycaps and heavy tactile switches isn’t splendid for gaming. Stiff presses and lengthy journey imply you’ll be at an obstacle versus somebody with lighter, sooner springs. The programming choices additionally lack per-game profile settings obtainable on devoted gaming boards. You can actually construct the Q Max collection out to be a strong gaming keyboard by supplying lighter, sooner switches and lower-profile keycaps, like DSA. But when you’re spending this a lot on a keyboard and also you need to sport on it, you may as properly go all the way in which with one of the best dedicated gaming keyboards obtainable.

How are you able to customise the Keychron Q Max?

There’s so much you are able to do with this board when it comes to customization. Switches and keycaps are apparent, and with an ordinary ANSI format, just about each keycap set obtainable will match up right here. On prime of you can customise with two completely different layouts (Windows and Mac on the {hardware} change) and their operate layers in VIA, which additionally provides you entry to RGB lighting changes and macro programming.

Michael Crider/Foundry

Want to go greater than pores and skin deep? You can utterly disassemble the keyboard utilizing the instruments within the field: a mix keycap and change puller, Allen wrench, and screwdriver. Without something additional you may change out the stabilizers, take away 4 layers of froth and plastic insulation layers, and add or take away additional foam gaskets (additionally within the field). And in contrast to another keyboard makers with aspirations towards the “custom” label, none of this may void the guarantee.

Michael Crider/Foundry

Basically, Keychron stays unbeaten by any main keyboard suppliers when it comes to its out-of-the-box customization choices.

Is the Keychron Q Max value it?

Our assessment unit is the Q3 Max, which prices $194 for a model with none switches or keycaps and goes as much as $214 for the “fully assembled” version. That’s corresponding to different high-end boards with customized options, although once more I’d wish to see keyboard toes and a wrist relaxation on something on this class, even with all of the extras within the field.

The worth proposition for different members of the Q Max line is a bit unusual. For instance, the far larger Q6 Max with its full-sized, 108-key format plus quantity knob is simply $5 greater than the Q3 Max, whereas the relatively teeny Q2 Max is just $5 much less. If you’re on the lookout for the perfect deal on a Q Max keyboard key-for-key and pound-for-pound, it is smart to go larger.

Michael Crider/Foundry

What about different manufacturers? I don’t assume Keychron has fairly bested the much more niche Keydous NJ80-AP when it comes to pure typing excellence, though it’s darn shut because of factory-lubed switches and improved inside padding. And at practically $70 much less, the plastic Keydous board nonetheless has so much to advocate it.

But with a way more strong all-aluminum construct, simple VIA programming, higher customization, and wi-fi choices that at the moment are as much as scratch, the Q3 Max and its stablemates hold Keychron’s spot on the prime of our best picks list. Other decisions on this class both lack any form of wi-fi (like Drop’s CTRL V2 or the Glorious GMMK Pro) or value far, much more from a boutique provider.

Despite 2.4GHz wi-fi upping its pace and latency, the Q Max collection nonetheless isn’t splendid for gaming as a consequence of limitations in programming. And you’ll have to speculate quite a bit into this already-expensive board to make it splendid for twitchy motion video games or shooters. But for just about everybody else who needs a keyboard with an enormous quantity of options, implausible out-of-the-box typing, and unimaginable customization, the Q Max collection stays the board to beat.