As more and more gamers, developers, writers, and enthusiasts reject the thinner-is-better aesthetic of contemporary computer design, they are turning to mechanical keyboards for a typing experience that is louder, bigger, and easier on the fingers. Mechanical keyboards use individual physical switches rather than activating contacts on membranes as in a modern laptop keyboard.
We put 50 (yeah, it’s too many) popular and less-popular mechanical keyboards through their paces over the course of the past year of workdays by typing, navigating, and doing other tasks (we also wrote this very article using the relevant products under review). Regardless of your preferred typing style, we’ve chosen the best mechanical keyboard for you from a wide selection of excellent models.
K1 Pro Keychron
We really don’t see any reason to pay more on a mechanical keyboard unless you’re an enthusiast looking for something particular from a custom build. Keychrons’s Q-series keyboards are so comfortable and quiet to type on, so easy to adjust to taste, and so well built. In fact, after testing more than 50 keyboards, we found that the 75%-layout Q1 was the one we kept going back to because it was just the most enjoyable to use overall.
The Q1 Pro, the most recent model in the Keychron Q-series line, improves upon the already outstanding Q1 — our go-to pick for mechanical keyboards — by maintaining its solid construction, high-quality switches and keycaps, and QMK customizability without making any compromises while going wireless. It’s a winning mix.
The Keychron Q1 Pro is built around a heavy anodized aluminum housing, similar to its predecessors, and features a gasket-mounted switch plate (neoprene pads isolate the plate from the housing itself; in this Q1 Pro, the plate itself is plastic rather than metal as in the earlier model). The Q-series keyboards are also significantly quieter than any other Cherry keyboard, making them feel opulent and certain to stay put on your desk. As the previous Q1, the keyboard is also so well-dampened that even if you enjoy clicky switches, you won’t irritate your family or coworkers.
You’ll notice a few tiny variations from the rest of the Q-series. The addition of a wireless/wired switch on the back panel is the most noticeable change. There is also a small plastic window in the back of the casing, which houses the BT antenna. Manufacturers have found it difficult to create large aluminum enclosures like this wireless, and a little plastic here and there provides transparency.
Keychron says that battery life without backlighting is 300 hours and with backlighting is 90 hours. We got a full week of workdays with the backlighting turned down low, which is competitive with most of the excellent keyboards we tested, and implies in actual use you’re unlikely to run into problems. If you plug in the Q1 Pro, it will still function wirelessly; alternatively, you can choose a cable connection.
The freshly enhanced Q1 Pro is without a doubt the best value we’ve seen, and since wireless connectivity is so convenient to have, it quickly unseats its predecessor to become our favorite keyboard overall. It’s an unbeatable combo, even though it isn’t a “cheap” keyboard. It’s difficult to see how investing more would bring you a better mechanical keyboard experience unless you have special needs that can only be met by ultra-high-end or custom versions. Of course, the regular Keychron Q1 is a good option if you truly don’t think you’ll ever wish to connect wirelessly, but we believe having the alternative is worthwhile.
K8 Pro by Keychron
The K-series keyboards from Keychron strike the best combination between typing comfort, practical productivity and convenience features, affordability, and wireless connection of any mechanical keyboard we evaluated, while not being nearly as opulent as the Q series. The most convenient option for those who are interested in mechanical keyboards to learn more about them is to purchase them directly or via well-known internet merchants.
With the K8 Pro, Keychron has brought some of the high-end features first seen in the Q-series semi-custom keyboards back to the company’s more reasonably priced core products. These features include comfortable PBT keycaps, dense damping foam for quieter performance, south-facing RGB lighting for wider keycap customizability, and full programmability via the open source QMK firmware and VIA software tool. With this new setup, the K-series, which was previously a hard-to-beat value option, becomes not only a fantastic first mechanical keyboard but also possibly the only one you’ll ever genuinely need. Simply said, the K8 Pro is the greatest wireless keyboard we’ve discovered under $100 so far.
From the entry-level (white backlighting, plastic case) to the fully equipped (RGB illumination, metal outer housing), we tested a number of additional K-series models and discovered that they were all a pleasure to type on. The illuminated doubleshot ABS keycaps that come with most models feel sturdy in the hands and have easily readable legends that are both lit and unlit. The smooth Gateron G Pro switches are smooth and tactile. (The PBT keycaps on the K8 Pro are not shine-through, but we still preferred them because they are considerably more comfortable to type on.)
Throughout the months we’ve used the keyboard, connectivity (with an iPad, Surface, and a MacBook Pro) have been reliable and connections (via Bluetooth 5.1, it supports up to three) were quick to establish. You can toggle Bluetooth on and off and select between Mac and Windows modifier key layouts, just as with all Keychron boards, using a pair of hardware switches, so you can work with whatever device on your desk with the least amount of hassle.
Version 2 of Keychron K3
This tiny, low-profile keyboard from Keychron is yet another superb, adaptable model. With Keychron keyboards, as is customary, you essentially get everything you could possibly want in terms of everyday usability: straightforward, switchable cross-platform support; your choice of smooth hot-swappable switches; multi-host Bluetooth; backlighting in your choice of white or RGB; and extremely legible, comfortable shine-through keycaps, all for a very reasonable price.
This is not this time, then this time, then this time, then this time, then this time, then this time, then this time, then this time, then this time, then this time, then this time, then this time, then However it’s difficult to surpass Keychron’s low-profile variants at their affordable pricing if you want a substantially more comfortable typing experience but prefer a keyboard that has a profile more similar to an Apple Magic Keyboard or other chiclet-keyed membrane device.
The slightly rounded chiclet keycaps, which are used on all of Keychron’s low-profile models, have a flat profile, but they are quieter and more comfortable than the low-profile PBT keycaps used on NuPhy’s low-profile models or the flatter models used by Epomaker on the NT68 low-profile or Hexgears on the X-1. We looked for quieter variants because a low-profile keyboard like this is far more portable than a typical mechanical keyboard and is more likely to be used near other people.
70 NuPhy Air
With USB-C, Bluetooth, and 2.4GHz dongle-based connectivity, PBT keycaps, and a case that serves as a mobile device stand for usage on the road, the NuPhy Air 75 is a fashionable and feature-rich gadget. More appealing than the Keychron low-profile keyboards, it is an attractive bundle. For the majority of folks, it won’t be $50 more expensive than the similar Keychron K3, but if you want a low-profile model with superior typing experience and want something stylish for your desk arrangement, it’s a good option.
Although NuPhy is a relatively new business, they have shown excellent customer service and frequently released firmware updates simplifying function key performance and improving battery life. The company sells additional sets of low-profile keycaps, which is convenient because high-quality low-profile keycaps are more difficult to find than their full-size counterparts.
The stand/case wasn’t all that great to us, so we advise against buying it. The Epomaker NT68 is a better option if you need something portable to use with an iPad and want a case/stand similar to the Smart Cover. In our testing, the NT68 also performed better when sat atop a laptop keyboard; the NuPhy’s larger footprint made it more awkward in that use. In our opinion, the loud PBT keycaps are also a touch too loud for use in a café.
Conclusion
The above article was introduced to everyone Top Mechanical Keyboards. Hope you will choose the right keyboard for you
