Keychron Q3 Max review

Keychron seems to have become a bit of a byword in the mechanical keyboard community as a real benchmark-setter for its products. Not many brands have been able to match its previous efforts with regard to value for money, build quality and feature set, and its new Q3 Max aims to keep that trend going.

This is a TKL keyboard, or tenkeyless, which is a layout that chops off the numpad from the right side of the keyboard in the name of providing more desk space. While layouts such as the 65 percent and 75 percent have become more popular in recent years, the TKL layout was one of the first real small form factor layouts available. It’s functional, while not sacrificing too much in terms of additional features, apart from the numpad. 

TKL is a more standard layout than some, which is good for peeps who may just be getting into mechanical keyboards and don’t want to go all-in on an odd-looking layout at first.

That’s usually where Keychron has been best—in offering a practical entry point for people as their first mechanical keyboards, especially with their pre-built solutions. It’s a case in point that one of their more affordable keyboards, the K2, has been one of the constants of our ranking of the best wireless gaming keyboards out there for several years. To this end, as well as offering a sensible layout, the Q3 Max is also incredibly well-built with a thick, machined aluminium case that tips the scales at 2.045 kg—that’s rather hefty for a keyboard of its size.

Switch type: Gateron Jupiter Red
Keycaps: PBT, double-shot
Lighting: RGB, dimmable on keyboard and controllable in software
Onboard storage: None
Extra ports: USB-C for charging
Connection type: Wireless — Bluetooth/2.4 GHz receiver
Cable: USB Type-C/USB Type-A, detachable
Weight: 2.045 kg/4.499 lbs
Price: $214/£209

Elsewhere, the all-black look makes the Q3 Max a little mean, although the red accent keys for the Escape and Return keys elevate its aesthetic, as do the rounded keycaps. The keycaps are made from