Utilizing the Hall effect, the Keychron Q1 HE can set the actuation point of its switches anywhere between 0.2mm and 3.8mm. The fully assembled version comes with lubricated switches rated for 150 million clicks, but you can also buy the keyboard without switches, and lighter or heavier switches separately.
The keycaps are made of high-quality PBT plastic, so they won’t get that infamous greasy look after you’ve used them for a while. The case is made of aluminum, so it won’t slide on the desk as you type, and also includes acoustic foam. The Keychron is only available in the 75% form factor.
The keyboard offers RGB backlight, but the keycaps themselves are opaque, so it’s not ideal for using in the dark. You can use Keychron’s web app to save up to three setting profiles to the keyboard’s on-board storage, without the need to install it on your computer.
The Q1 HE supports Windows and macOS, and can be connected either via USB or wirelessly, either with a 2.4GHz dongle or Bluetooth (90Hz). In wireless mode, its battery is rated for up to 100 hours.
Keychron Q12 Max
The right-side numpad is a relic from before the mouse era. It forces a distance between your two hands when playing games, and isn’t convenient to use alongside the mouse.
Keychron offers several “southpaw” boards with the numpad on the left, and the best of which is the Q12 Max, which offers everything the Q1 HE does except the magnetic switches for the same $219. It comes with red, brown or “banana” switches, which are similar to brown, but with the tactile bump higher within the key. A bigger keyboard also means a bigger battery, or up to 180 hours between charges.
If you are left-handed (we also have mice for you) or are just used to a right-side numpad, you can get the Keychron Q6 Max for the same price.
Logitech MX Mechanical
If you don’t need an all-metal case, you can also find more affordable keyboards. For example, the Logitech MX Mechanical is selling for about $150 for the full-size version and $140 for the gapless 75% Mini version, with red, brown or blue switches.
The keyboard uses low-profile keycaps, which can improve typing speed but hurt accuracy. The white backlight can be automatically activated thanks to hand-proximity and ambient light sensors. The top plate is made of aluminum for structural integrity, but the rest of the case is plastic, so the keyboard weights about half as much as the Keychron.
The USB cable is only used for charging. The keyboard’s effective polling rate is 125Hz with either Bluetooth or the included USB dongle. On the other hand, its rated battery life is 15 days with backlight, or 10 months (!) without it. If you have a mouse that supports Logitech Flow, you can use it for switching between devices by moving the mouse.
If you want to save more (in price and keycap height), the Logitech MX Keys S is basically the same keyboard, but with a membrane and scissor keys, for $110.
Wireless mechanical keyboards aren’t cheap unless they compromise material quality, but if you don’t mind that, you can get the full-size Keychron V6 Max for $99. On the other hand, if you don’t need a wireless board, the Logitech K845 can be had for just $60 with an aluminum top plate.
