"YOUR KEYBOARD IS the most direct line of communication between yourself and your computer —whether gaming, working from home, or doing anything else in front of a screen. Why not invest in one that's reliable, fun, and enjoyable? I love mechanical keyboards—I even open up boards and tinker with them. Over the past few years, I have tested dozens, ranging from the fastest gaming keyboards to those offering elevated typing experiences. These are the best mechanical keyboards of the hundreds you can find online."
"The Q1 HE, on its own, is fantastic. I simply haven’t encountered another readily available keyboard that matches its levels of typing feel and sound, customization, and build quality."
"The Nebula Double Rail Magnetic switches, made by Gateron, are a proprietary design currently exclusive to the Q1 HE. With both factory lubing and a new slider design, I’m impressed by how smooth they are. However, this kind of smoothness should be expected from Hall effect switches; the magnet-based system means there’s no need for any physical contact to happen between the components of the switch."
"The Keychron K11 Max is a wireless ergonomic keyboard that offers a comfortable typing experience thanks to its Alice layout, plus it’s hot-swappable with a premium construction which make it a winner. "
"Make no mistake, the Keychron Q6 is a seriously good keyboard. It utilizes the same chunky-sided, old school design philosophy as other Keychron boards — an aesthetic I think looks great — and it’s built like a brick privy. Typing is pleasant thanks to its doubleshot PBT keycaps, while its 1,000Hz polling rate suits it well to competitive gaming. As you’d expect from a Keychron mech’, customization options are a-plenty. "
"You can customize the Q1 HE with Keychron Launcher, Keychron's new web-based tool that supports all of its keyboards. It's Keychron's in-house answer to VIA and it's very similar — it only works in WebHID-enabled browsers and you'll need to connect the keyboard via USB-C to use it. It has several sections: HE Mode, keymapping, lighting, macros, firmware updates, key testing, and bug reports. In the HE Mode tab, you can set switch actuation, turn on and customize Rapid Trigger, program multiple inputs on individual keys, and set up gamepad emulation. "
"The Q1 HE is the world's first 75% layout wireless QMK custom keyboard equipped with Hall Effect Gateron 2.0 magnetic switches. These switches provide a distinct advantage due to their unique mechanism, offering faster feedback, dynamic rapid triggering, and adjustable actuation points, resulting in epic enhancements for the gaming experience tailored to your individual preferences."
"I've gotten really used to typing on mechanical keyboards, but testing laptops has kept me humble enough to be able to tell a bad membrane keyboard from a good one. And Keychron is definitely on to something with its first attempt, because the feeling of typing on the B1 Pro is about as good as it gets for a membrane keyboard, especially one with such a slim profile and lightweight design. The keys all have a satisfying amount of travel and the typing feedback is just right, with no key feeling too harsh when it bottoms out."
"You're really getting a whole lot here with the Keychron C3 Pro. For one, it's dirt cheap at just $27, but best of all, it's made by a company that really knows mechanical keyboards. As far as the exterior, you're going to get something that's durable, with plastic construction and a gasket mount design, and two types of foam that's meant to minimize sound and bounce that might occur when you're typing."
"The Lemokey X1 is quintessential gaming on a dime. For $36, this keyboard offers awesome typing and gaming performance. It’s also built really well, akin to a premium keyboard, and has backlighting that can be customized via user-friendly software."
"The Keychron K3 Max is a compact and reasonably priced wireless (or wired USB-C) keyboard that should be on your radar if you’re shopping for an upgrade. It has a minimalist design and a low profile, mechanical keys with exceptional tactility, and onboard illumination. You can choose between two types of keys, ranging from quiet to clicky."