Keychron Q3 QMK Custom Keyboard Review
When the world was virtually closed down, I had to find a pastime to keep myself occupied because Disneyland ran out the picture. In 2020, I began dabbling in the world of mechanical keyboards, starting with the Keychron K2, and also I have actually built up a nice collection since.
While the K2 is a wonderful newbie’s mechanical keyboard, I’ve maintained wanting an increasing number of. So when Keychron began releasing brand-new keyboards in its premium as well as superior Q-series lineup, I had to get my hands on them.
The Keychron Q3 is the most up to date in the Q-series, and also it’s an 80% tenkeyless (TKL) layout. This indicates it virtually has everything other than the number pad, as well as you can get it in a version with or without the knob. If you are the sort of individual that doesn’t need one of the most small keyboard yet doesn’t do a lot of number entrance, after that the Keychron Q3 is an excellent mechanical keyboard to consider.
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The Keychron Q3 is presently only readily available straight from Keychron’s internet site. The barebone versions will need your own separate buttons and also keycaps, yet the completely put together variations include your option of Gateron G Pro Red, Brown, or Blue switches and come with OSA PBT keycaps.
Like the Q1 as well as Q2 that came before it, the Q3 is made with 6063 aluminum, which goes through a whole machined, sleek, anodized, and sandblasted. Because this is an 80% TKL design, it’s larger than my daily driver, the Keychron Q1, and also it most definitely considers extra.
The Keychron Q3 has a double-gasket design with silicone padding in between the top and lower casing. Integrated with the default Gateron G Pro Brown changes I have and also OSA PBT keycaps, I obtain a good thocky noise as I kind. There isn’t much metal resonance or ping, and also the bounce that it provides feels quite wonderful. Given that the keycaps that come with the totally set up variation are PBT, they’re better than ABS keycaps– they won’t wear out as a lot, as well as they don’t obtain shiny from every one of your finger oils. The OSA keycaps from Keychron are a combination of OEM accounts with SA-like spherical shapes. While I typically like the uniform DSA account, I discover Keychron’s OSA caps rather comfortable to type on.
Keychron offers customers three choices of buttons when going the completely assembled route: Gateron G Pro Reds, Browns, or Blues. My unit included Browns by default, which is my preference considering that I such as responsive buttons. Reds are quieter, and also blues are loud as well as clicky. Again, the Keychron Q3 is hot-swappable, so you can replace these Gateron switches with something else later on down the road if you like. Having the totally put together alternatives is excellent if you just want to get a keyboard as well as utilize it promptly.
An usual attribute with the Q-series boards are south-facing RGB lights, and also the Q3 has them, similar to its precursors. South-facing RGB lights suggest that the LEDs are in the direction of the typist instead of the top of each trick. This brightens it better when using non-shine with caps, which is what a lot of the mechanical keyboard neighborhood makes use of. However, if you’re a fan of shine-through keycaps, after that the south-facing LEDs might not be the most effective choice. However, for most of suitable keycap lays out there, specifically in group acquires, they usually are not beam through.
The finest component regarding the Q3, aside from the fact that it is an 80% TKL board, is that you can obtain an optional rotary knob, and also the entire board is adjustable with VIA/QMK software program. As well as if you go with the knob variation, you can change the rotary function, as well as the press.
And also like the other Keychron keyboards, everything you require is consisted of in the box. You’ll get keycaps as well as switch pullers, extra keycaps for Windows customers, a screwdriver, a hex key, a Type-C to Type-C USB cable television, as well as a Type-A to Type-C adapter. The cable television itself will certainly match the shade of Q3 you acquire.
It’s an issue of personal preference, yet the TKL design of the Q3 might not be for everybody. Those that require a number pad will be missing out on a necessary feature. Those that prefer even more portable sizes (like 65% or 75%) might not such as the Q3 dimension. Nonetheless, for those who enjoy TKL boards, the Q3 is an outstanding premium alternative from Keychron.
An additional negative is the reality that there is no cordless connection on the Q3. Because the Q3 has an all-metal body, it would certainly be tough to have an excellent cordless signal. Fortunately, Keychron has a terrific choice in the K8 Pro if wireless connectivity is a need.
While Keychron is a mechanical keyboard brand name that I usually recommend for beginners because of the economical price, the Q3 (and the other Q-series boards) are not as inexpensive. Most of Keychron’s offerings are under $100, so the starting price of the Q3 at $154 can be a downside for some.
When it involves the most effective mechanical keyboards, Keychron is just one of the better brands that we advise, particularly for Mac individuals. Keychron is likewise its own biggest competitor because it provides a wide variety of various board collection, so it cannibalizes right into its very own sales.
I mentioned that the Q3 is a TKL, however it lacks wireless connectivity. If you require that, you’ll desire to inspect the Keychron K8 Pro.
If you have an interest in the Q-series from Keychron, but do not such as the TKL layout, then there are Q1 or Q2 boards, which are 75% and also 65%, specifically. These both have the whole steel body, dual installed gasket design, are hot-swappable, can be found in either barebones do it yourself or totally set up versions, have optional knobs, and also are personalized via QMK/VIA. It really simply comes down to your preference of format and dimension. And also, Keychron supplies numerous color choices for these boards, so select the one that goes with your configuration the best.
