Keychron Q3 Max overview | PC Gamer

Keychron appears to have turn into a little bit of a byword within the mechanical keyboard neighborhood as an actual benchmark-setter for its merchandise. Not many manufacturers have been in a position to match its earlier efforts with regard to worth for cash, construct high quality and have set, and its new Q3 Max goals to maintain that pattern going.

This can be a TKL keyboard, or tenkeyless, which is a format that chops off the numpad from the appropriate aspect of the keyboard within the identify of offering extra desk area. Whereas layouts such because the 65 p.c and 75 p.c have turn into extra well-liked lately, the TKL format was one of many first actual small type issue layouts obtainable. It’s useful, whereas not sacrificing an excessive amount of when it comes to extra options, aside from the numpad. 

TKL is a extra normal format than some, which is sweet for peeps who may be moving into mechanical keyboards and don’t wish to go all-in on an odd-looking format at first.

That’s often the place Keychron has been greatest—in providing a sensible entry level for individuals as their first mechanical keyboards, particularly with their pre-built options. It’s a working example that certainly one of their extra inexpensive keyboards, the K2, has been one of many constants of our rating of the very best wi-fi gaming keyboards on the market for a number of years. To this finish, in addition to providing a wise format, the Q3 Max can also be extremely well-built with a thick, machined aluminium case that ideas the scales at 2.045 kg—that’s moderately hefty for a keyboard of its measurement.

Elsewhere, the all-black look makes the Q3 Max just a little imply, though the purple accent keys for the Escape and Return keys elevate its aesthetic, as do the rounded keycaps. The keycaps are made out of doubleshot PBT plastics for optimum sturdiness and go a good distance in serving to the Q3 Max’s premium match and end. 

The attention-grabbing factor about these keycaps is the place of their legends. Versus being on high, the Q3 Max opts to have side-mounted legends for some additional aptitude. I don’t know what it’s about them, however I’ve at all times needed a keyboard with legends on the aspect of the keycaps. It simply appears to be like naffing cool, though has the draw back of creating the tops of the keycaps clean. Should you aren’t a eager contact typist, the aspect legends will not be for you.

It accommodates some considerate bodily options, such because the customary knob, which is contained between the F12 key and a handy set of three perform keys within the high proper nook. By default, this keyboard is available in Mac format, however may work on Home windows—the three perform keys are for opening the snipping software, Highlight Search and voice dictation. There are  additionally two switches across the again for selecting between macOS and Home windows modes, in addition to Bluetooth, 2.4GHz or wired connectivity. It appears the Q3 Max actually has considered the whole lot.

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Inside, my pattern got here with Gateron Jupiter Pink switches, though can also be obtainable with tactile Jupiter Banana or Brown switches if you happen to’d choose some suggestions below finger. The Jupiter Reds are a forty five g linear change in the identical vein as Cherry’s MX Reds, coming with a standard-issue 4 mm journey distance and a couple of mm actuation level. They’re pre-lubed, so really feel tremendous clean with no scratchiness below finger, and work effectively for each gaming workloads in testing with CS:2, and for normal workloads when typing up opinions and different articles. My job anyway lends itself to writing plenty of phrases in a day, so having responsive switches is vital for that.

In addition to providing a clean really feel below finger, the lubrication of those switches additionally has the consequence of creating the Q3 Max sound chic, With the mix of a number of layers of froth inside, in addition to these lubed switches, the one means I can describe the Q3 Max’s sound profile is creamy. This can be a well-liked time period amongst a sure portion of mechanical keyboard fanatics for a sure means a mechanical keyboard can sound. It presents a fairly excessive pitched noise, though whenever you get your typing rhythm proper, it simply sounds pretty.

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That is additionally gasket-mounted, as with different Keychron keyboards, lending the Q3 Max to have a barely bouncier typing really feel if you happen to push down onerous sufficient. It arguably helps to maintain you engaged just a little extra. Should you don’t just like the switches inside, then they’ll at all times be swapped out without having for soldering or desoldering because the Q3 Max is hot-swappable. That is at all times a helpful characteristic—I had some spare Cherry MX Purple switches from my very own Q1 Professional and swapping them in was easy.

Connectivity is a doddle over wi-fi or wired means, with the Q3 Max providing three Bluetooth channels, in addition to the two.4 GHz USB-A receiver bundled within the field. That technically means you possibly can use this keyboard with as much as 4 gadgets wirelessly without delay, if you happen to’re a real energy consumer. Having used it with each my Home windows gaming PC and my 16-inch MacBook Professional for work use, the Q3 Max labored a deal with with plug and play connectivity over the receiver, and handy pairing over Bluetooth. To take action, merely maintain the perform key down with both 1, 2 or 3 on the quantity row relying on which Bluetooth channel you want to use till the small blue mild beneath the important thing flashes rapidly. The keyboard ought to then present up within the pairing settings on the machine you wish to connect with—press ‘join’ and try to be off to the races in a matter of moments.

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As for battery life, the Q3 Max is rated to final for as much as 180 hours with no backlighting on, or as much as 100 hours when its on its lowest setting. This implies you’ll have the ability to get a great couple of weeks out of the Q3 Max earlier than even needing to consider charging it again up once more. In my couple of weeks with the keyboard, I solely needed to cost it as soon as.

There’s RGB lighting, if you happen to’re into that kind of factor, and it really works effectively with the Q3 Max’s side-mounted legends. The LEDs are additionally south-facing for higher protection, whereas the switches’ clear housings additionally assist to dissipate the sunshine effectively. As for software program, the Q3 Max comes with the tried-and-tested help for QMK firmware. You may as well use Keychron’s personal web-based answer for a extra visible interface, which works in an analogous option to the VIA system, with a key tester, perform assigning and RGB lighting management, too.

All of this is available in at $214/£209, which is sort of costly for a keyboard of its measurement. That comes particularly contemplating that Keychron’s personal ‘Professional’ branded fashions supply a lot of the identical characteristic set, solely sacrificing on some aesthetic decisions and a couple of.4GHz wi-fi connectivity. The likes of the Drop Shift V2 additionally supply as beauty in addition to a bigger format and a few incredible tactile switches, however sacrifices on wi-fi connectivity.

Nonetheless, there aren’t many keyboards on the market which provide as wealthy of a characteristic set within the enthusiast-level area for the value because the Q3 Max. You merely can’t get a keyboard that provides as a lot in the way in which of class-leading construct high quality, clean switches, wonderful acoustics and helpful creature comforts reminiscent of twin technique of wi-fi connectivity, versatile software program choices and respectable battery life as this one. Should you’re trying to make the bounce to a mechanical board with numerous options for the value, the Keychron Q3 Max is really chic.

Keychron Q3 Max: Worth Comparability