I perceive why it took Goldilocks a number of tries prior to she discovered her porridge excellent. I’m having a an identical revel in with Keychron’s Q sequence of mechanical keyboards. I’ve been switching off between the compact 65% Keychron Q2 with a knob and the newest liberate, the Tenkeyless Keychron Q3. It’s the most recent keyboard that works excellent with my daily wishes.
The Keychron Q3 is the 3rd to be had structure from the corporate’s Q-series lineup of totally customizable DIY keyboards, and I’m discovering it to be a great measurement. (There are six layouts in all, together with this full-size version.) The six further buttons at the appropriate aspect be offering a bit of room for expandability with out tacking on a ton of additional house at the board. What’s necessary to me is that my table isn’t overtaken by means of keys that I’m now not the use of at all times. I additionally choose a keyboard that I will totally provider myself.
Knob-on or off?
First issues first: Do you want a knob? The Keychron Q3 is to be had with an optional knob within the upper-right a part of the board. That appears to be the type getting dinged essentially the most by means of consumers, for the reason that knob has a humorous placement that’s stuffed between buttons. I asked the knobless model for my evaluate unit, as a result of Keychron made the knob too delicate at the Q2. I wasn’t about to have track blasting in my ears whilst looking for my writing zen.
The primary distinction between the Q3 and its siblings is the keyboard structure. I already discussed that the Q2 is a 65% board. The Q3 is an 80% tenkeyless, this means that it has the entirety however the quantity pad. (There’s additionally a 100% version if you wish to have the quantity pad.) You get the Insert, House, and Finish buttons, at the side of Web page Up, Web page Down, and Delete. There also are 3 further buttons on the height of the ones six which might be programmed to take a screenshot, fan the flames of a virtual assistant, and shuffle via RGB backlight settings.
The excellent news is that those keys are fully programmable the use of the indie VIA app, which fits on PC, Mac, and Linux. Granted, you’ll have to purchase a brand new keycap to make its image fit its new serve as, however the skill is there. I’ll communicate concerning the VIA revel in and adjusting the RGB lighting fixtures later.
Keychron despatched me the Carbon Black totally assembled model of the Q3 with inventory OSA profile PBT keycaps, that have a bit of of a dip within the center. It’s additionally to be had in Silver Gray, Military Blue, Shell White, and a Unfashionable taste, which looks as if a grey hue scraped off your favourite library catalog keyboard. I used to be now not too keen on the inventory keycaps at the Q1 and Q2, which can be additionally OSA profiles, so I swapped them out for a collection of Keychron’s OEM profile Dye-Sub PBT Keycaps in Unicorn. I choose the flat-top and delicate texture at the red, crimson, and white PBT keycaps I’ve now.
Swapping keycaps remains to be a very simple feat
Swapping out the keycaps at the Keychron Q3 supposed I were given to take aside the board and notice the way it fares for DIYers. It’s simple to do, however it may possibly really feel intimidating for those who’ve by no means accomplished this kind of factor prior to. Even I paused prior to getting in, and that is the fourth Keychron board I’ve tinkered with. Whilst you’ll switch out a cap or two with the usual removing device, tackling the entire board calls for a screwdriver and spudger to take off the aluminum plate.
If you happen to’ve learn my Keychron Q1 review, it’s the similar drill: the keyboard comes with a magnetized screwdriver and Allen wrench within the equipment. There’s even a transfer puller, despite the fact that I by no means used it.
You get started by means of taking away the ground case, which calls for you to turn over the board and take away the screws in each and every nook. I hate that I’ve to try this each time I need to switch keycaps, however on the very least, it encourages me to wash between swaps.
Then, you turn it again over to take away the highest aluminum body, exposing all of the mechanical portions beneath. As with the Keychron Q1, there’s a daughter PCB below the aluminum body, which serves because the transfer controller between Mac and PC mode. You’ll need to unhook it prior to you’ll totally disclose the primary PCB and get to swapping.
I mentioned it in my remaining evaluate, and I’ll repeat it for you and myself: regardless of your revel in with mechanical keyboards, watch Keychron’s YouTube channel prior to doing anything. I had an in depth name with the Q3 as a result of I used a too harsh device at the daughter PCB cable. It’s a rookie transfer from me, however I’m additionally an individual who suffers from having no persistence.
As soon as the keyboard is unfastened from its aluminum body, swapping out keycaps is usual follow. It took me lower than part an hour to switch out 88 keys with my remover tool, which I choose over what Keychron bundles with this board (despite the fact that the only they come with isn’t unhealthy!).
That daughter PCB board that allows you to transfer between Mac and PC is a bit of difficult to tuck again into the case. I did have a second the place I’d screwed in combination part the aluminum body, best to appreciate the opposite part wouldn’t seal as a result of I didn’t layer items as it should be. Once more, because of this you watch the YouTube video prior to diving in.
I’m so proud of the overall glance of Keychron’s red and crimson keycaps paired with the Q3’s black body. All that used to be left to do used to be determine find out how to program the RGB to finish the classy.
VIA is best than bloatware
I’m nonetheless a bit of intimidated by means of VIA, the indie instrument to be had for QMK-supported keyboards, together with Keychron’s boards. VIA is lovely user-friendly for those who persist with the fundamentals, however it may possibly get complicated for those who attempt to do the rest greater than reprogram a key.
Adjusting the south-facing RGB lighting for the Keychron Q3 isn’t like doing so on a Razer or SteelSeries mechanical gaming keyboard. There’s no massive piece of instrument in your Home windows system that does the bidding for you, neither is there a responsive interface that allows you to see per-key lighting fixtures. As a substitute, it’s a must to consider your instincts and remember to’re urgent down the precise buttons as you program.
After a bit of of YouTube sleuthing—God bless the mechanical keyboard neighborhood—I in the end realized that Keychron’s keyboards use layers inside of VIA. So I flipped over to the RGB possibility throughout the instrument and positioned the right instructions to get crimson backlighting throughout the entire board. It took me a bit of trial and blunder prior to I spotted what used to be taking place, however it made sense when I figured it out. I do choose a real-time graphic interface after I’m doing this, so possibly it’s time Keychron figures one thing out for keyboard customers who don’t need to undergo this sort of puzzle-solving.
The way it sorts
The Keychron Q3 is a hot-swap keyboard, this means that you’ll switch in 3-pin and 5-pin suitable MX mechanical switches. The Q3 is to be had with Gateron G Professional Pink Linear, Blue Clicky, or Brown Tactile switches. They’re all nonetheless co-created with Gateron, which makes the finest Cherry MX knock-offs. All switches come pre-lubed aside from for the Blue switches. My evaluate unit is provided with Brown switches tuned for workplace paintings and the occasional recreation. They’re a bit of louder and slower than the Pink ones, however I’ve at all times most well-liked Brown for running a blog.
As with each mechanical keyboard I evaluate, I put it during the paces in Monkeytype, a web based typing take a look at I exploit to get a generalized overview of ways rapid I will sort on a board. At the Keychron Q3, I controlled as much as 123 phrases consistent with minute (WPM) with round 80% accuracy, which is set how I sort after I’m dashing via my notes. At 98% accuracy, I controlled as much as 119 WPM.
I won that mark a number of occasions via trying out the keyboard, so it used to be great to look consistency. And there’s evidence within the pudding: I controlled all my WWDC 2022 protection with the Keychron Q3, which used to be comfy to make use of all over!
A very simple approach to DIY
I’m a bit of past due to evaluate this actual keyboard, however it supposed I may revel in the Keychron Q3 as a real day-to-day driving force. The Q3’s comfy typing revel in and to be had keys for my line of labor make it just about the easiest keyboard for running a blog on-line. Despite the fact that in case you are into the speculation of the DIY, take heed that you just should take aside the board any time you need to switch out an entire set of keycaps.
VIA is the one different caveat when selecting a Keychron mechanical keyboard over the opposite mainstream choices. Then again, there may be sufficient documentation round this particular keyboard line and its instrument to assist any newcomer to the passion determine it out as they move alongside. For this reason, Keychron remains to be the keyboard emblem I recommend to these taking a look to put money into one thing user-serviceable.
You’ll be able to buy the Q3 barebones for $164, sans keycaps and switches. If making a decision you need the knob, it prices $174 for the barebones model and $194 for the totally assembled model. Or you’ll pay an additional $200, for a total of $184, to have Keychron package deal in keycaps and switches for you. I nonetheless suppose the fee is well worth the set of keycaps and switches that may inevitably turn into backup whilst you order your subsequent crew purchase.
