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Picking mechanical keyboards

• Updated Mar 24, 20252 min read

Important

I ended up buying the Keychron Q3 QMK Custom Mechanical Keyboard with brown switches. TBD on how this works out for me. Because it’s a TKL board, I’m gunna have to find a numpad, which I’ll be keeping track of in a different doc.

Preference considerations

  • Feel
  • Weight
  • Sound
  • Layout
  • Budget
  • Ergonomics
  • Wireless

Prebuilt keyboards

When buying a prebuilt, you can consider:

  • Keycaps: always changeable. Don’t worry if you don’t like them.
  • If you buy a prebuilt that says “hot-swappable” then this is also easily changeable.

Less changeable:

  • Case

  • Colour

  • RGB capabilities (colour of the light it emits, if applicable)

  • Wireless vs cable capabilities

  • Layout mapping

Depending on your budget, you can go two routes:

  • Buy a ready built keyboard, plug and play ready to go
    • Usually lower cost, less work.
    • Less customization or you pay a bit more to replace the parts on the pre-built later.
  • Buy a kit or buy all separate parts and build your own

    • Full customization

    • More expensive

Potential options

RK ROYAL KLUDGE RK96 90% Triple Mode BT5.0/2.4G/USB-C Hot Swappable Mechanical Keyboard with Magnetic Hand Rest, 96 Keys Wireless Bluetooth Gaming Keyboard with Software, Blue Backlight, Brown Switch

RK ROYAL KLUDGE RK96 90% Triple Mode BT5.
https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B09XCGHX7X/ref=cm_sw_r_api_i_7E988PNYTXXRCD4Y9AH8_0?psc=1

Womier K87 Mechanical Gaming Keyboard Gateron Switch TKL Hot Swappable Keyboard Partitioned RGB Backlit Compact 87 Keys for PC PS4 Xbox (Red Switch,White)

Womier K87 Mechanical Gaming Keyboard Gateron Switch TKL Hot Swappable Keyboard Partitioned RGB Backlit Compact 87 Keys for PC PS4 Xbox (Red Switch,White) : Amazon.
https://www.amazon.ca/Mechanical-Keyboard-Gateron-Swappable-Partitioned/dp/B08JV41PX4/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?crid=2P6SLAR2Q1EBC&keywords=womier+k87+hot+swappable&qid=1660675006&sprefix=wormier+k87+hot+swappabl%2Caps%2C86&sr=8-4

Keychron K4 Wireless Mechanical Gaming Keyboard with White LED Backlight/Gateron G Pro Brown Switch/Wired USB C/96% Layout, 100 Keys Bluetooth Computer Keyboard for Mac Windows PC Gamer - Version 2

Keychron K4 Wireless Mechanical Gaming Keyboard with White LED Backlight/Gateron G Pro Brown Switch/Wired USB C/96% Layout, 100 Keys Bluetooth Computer Keyboard for Mac Windows PC Gamer - Version 2 : Amazon.
https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B09NKQCHVR/ref=cm_sw_r_api_i_GD9JCYHYA29XYFS0N3SJ_0

Where I’m at

After the keyboard meetup at Recess, I’ve listed out a few things that I am pretty content about:

  • 75%

  • Aluminum

  • Hot swappable

  • Used

  • tactile

  • Portal

  • 68g

Some options I’m thinking about

Eighty

https://modedesigns.com/products/eighty

Build code E1F2D3G4A5B7A8A

Sonnet

The Sonnet is a 75% form factor highly customizable mechanical keyboard.
https://modedesigns.com/products/sonnet

Build code V0G1G2H3F4B5A6A7A9A

Keychron Q3 QMK Custom Mechanical Keyboard

Keychron Q3 is a fully customized 80% TKL layout mechanical keyboard packed with all premium features and endless possibilities.
https://www.keychron.com/collections/custom-keyboards/products/keychron-q3-qmk-custom-mechanical-keyboard?variant=40036130324569

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