Same. I don't need a compact layout but I prefer the cleaner look. And while I have gotten used to my regular mechanical I still think I prefer low profile keys. This has pretty much everything I need; wired and wireless for switching between work and home systems and the F keys for work.
To each his own! I have a lot of muscle memory for a TKL layout, and the size of the K1 is just fine for me- making it a tiny bit smaller wouldn't improve my life at all.
There's obviously a market for all of these form factors, which is fantastic.
I recently bought a Keychron K8 (standard tenkeyless with separate cursors) for the work Mac, and it's been very good so far. They're also good for international layouts.
As it turns out, they just launched their Kickstarter for the K7, which is basically the same thing with the function keys removed. I’ll take the lighter weight and bulk over the minor inconvenience of pressing a Fn key to access th F-keys (I don’t do that often anyway). And no way you can accidentally hit the screen shot key of the K3 any more and put yourself in a modal screen selection state where your key presses are discarded.
BTW. The Caps Lock key looks stuck in the pressed state in most of the pictures. I suspect that the author could have tried to pull that key and replace the switch but that getting the stabilisers back in position isn't that easy.
Meh I wanted a little more (both functional and programming) with regular wireless (WiFi) and small input lagg and I got it for less money. Bought Redragon Vishnu for some 75$ and all do macros functionality is limited wireless so far I am satisfied with it.
Whosent a comparison to start with. I am sure that you know how lo profile switches are absolutely a gimmick (with possible exception of HyperX Silver's) and not a very handy. Othemus are cheap (not that this ones are any better) but at least it comes with PBT key caps and you get couple of spare switches (wrist rest, bigger battery...). Wireless RGB mechanical TKM are still a rare fruit (especially with additional keys not to mention dedicated macro one's) to make a direct comparison anyway.
Bought this and the K1 a couple months ago. I just wish BT disconnect time could be adjusted. Both have issues connecting back to both my work mac and home PC after turning off.
Based on the photos of the controller, I believe this is nearly the same internally as the Royal Kludge branded combo USB+Bluetooth keyboards. Looks nice.
That's actually how Keychron itself describes the layout on its own website (on the K3 firmware upgrade page).
This is clearly a design that takes the main characteristics of the US-ANSI standard: large left shift key (ISO has two keys there), "Alt" key on the right of the spacebar (instead of Alt Gr.), "small horizontal" Enter key. Even though *strictly speaking*, the position of the cursor keys don't make it an exact ANSI layout.
But that was not my main point. What was is that the only available language layout is English/US, so that's actually useless in many countries.
Moreover, many non-US layouts are based on ISO, not ANSI, so it is not possible to simply replace the keycaps to adapt to a non-US language.
Been using one as my work keyboard for a few months, its pretty good. Only issue I have is the USB light shines thru the keycap above it.
Hoping for a 96% layout in the low profile, that'd be perfect for me personally for home usage where I play a few games that require a keypad but I hate full size keyboards for ergonomic reasons.
Useful timing of the article, I've been keeping my eye on Keychron for a while. Like some of the above comments, the key thing stopping me hitting buy is the lack of ISO/UK layouts, particularly on their low profile options like the K3 (which would be my first pick) - please pay attention Keychron! ;)
One other thing this article raises - you mention 'advanced' and gaming features... I'd like an article exploring that! Just how genuinely useful/impactful are some of those features? Or are they just marketing hype? Anti Ghosting, NKRO, Macros, etc - Are they more marketing than anything else? Does a genuinely well engineered keyboard mitigate much of the value of those features? (vs a basic membrane) Can any be done in software? (e.g. macros) Will a wired low profile/fast actuation keyboard have lower latency than a wireless keyboard despite its 'advanced' features? ... This is an article I would love to see written, and to show empirical test data to prove the points, from a reputable source like Anandtech. ;)
I switched from a colicky DAS Keyboard to a browns K2 a few months ago and have been very pleased. I miss the tenkeys at times as I use software that has them mapped uniquely but I can get around that with a tenkey pad and/or my stream deck mini. My main gripe is I got the rgb version hoping I could customize the colour layout but you can’t at all. You can cycle through about 20 presents and that’s about it most are flashy, and there doesn’t seem to be a brightness setting.
I just wanted to chime in. At home I have the Havit, low profile, blue mechanical, cabled keyboard with fancy lights.
It's an incredible, if noisy keyboard, I love it, however I can't endure cables anymore. I'd gladly forgo the lights for battery life. It's nice to see more mechanical cordless keyboards get made.
I won't go near a tenkeyless myself, but this is a start. (I emailed Havit, multiple times, begging for a cordless version)
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<a href="https://www.jqueenwatchwinders.de/best-jqueen-watc... rolex</a>Same. I don't need a compact layout but I prefer the cleaner look. And while I have gotten used to my regular mechanical I still think I prefer low profile keys. This has pretty much everything I need; wired and wireless for switching between work and home systems and the F keys for work.
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Spunjji - Tuesday, July 13, 2021 - link
This looks like exactly what I've been looking for - I really like the style, and that price with white backlighting is particularly attractive.Operandi - Tuesday, July 13, 2021 - link
Same. I don't need a compact layout but I prefer the cleaner look. And while I have gotten used to my regular mechanical I still think I prefer low profile keys. This has pretty much everything I need; wired and wireless for switching between work and home systems and the F keys for work.grant3 - Tuesday, July 13, 2021 - link
Look at the K1 model: it's a tenkeyless low profile option.Wereweeb - Tuesday, July 13, 2021 - link
With a 75% you lose practically none of the features of a TKL, and still get a very compact keyboard. I don't see why stick to TKL.meacupla - Tuesday, July 13, 2021 - link
I am using a 75% right now, and I think I prefer having the full sized right shift and separated F keys.grant3 - Wednesday, July 28, 2021 - link
To each his own! I have a lot of muscle memory for a TKL layout, and the size of the K1 is just fine for me- making it a tiny bit smaller wouldn't improve my life at all.There's obviously a market for all of these form factors, which is fantastic.
psychobriggsy - Tuesday, July 13, 2021 - link
I recently bought a Keychron K8 (standard tenkeyless with separate cursors) for the work Mac, and it's been very good so far. They're also good for international layouts.meacupla - Tuesday, July 13, 2021 - link
I can't wait for Keychron to update their K1 with the switch options on the K3grant3 - Tuesday, July 13, 2021 - link
If you can't wait you could desolder the switches and install mill-max sockets. I did that and only destroyed 2 keyboards during my learning curve ;)meacupla - Tuesday, July 13, 2021 - link
That sounds extremely expensive.You could probably buy a Logitech G915 TKL for that price.
grant3 - Wednesday, July 28, 2021 - link
You're right that you can easily outspend a G915 if your experimental surgery on a keychron wrecks the motherboard once or twice.but if you're not satisfied with the Gaterons on a K1, would you really be satisfied with the Kailhs on a G915 anyways? :D
i have both, and both are good with flaws. But ultimately the G915 I could make a lot quieter.
fazalmajid - Tuesday, July 13, 2021 - link
As it turns out, they just launched their Kickstarter for the K7, which is basically the same thing with the function keys removed. I’ll take the lighter weight and bulk over the minor inconvenience of pressing a Fn key to access th F-keys (I don’t do that often anyway). And no way you can accidentally hit the screen shot key of the K3 any more and put yourself in a modal screen selection state where your key presses are discarded.Findecanor - Tuesday, July 13, 2021 - link
BTW. The Caps Lock key looks stuck in the pressed state in most of the pictures.I suspect that the author could have tried to pull that key and replace the switch but that getting the stabilisers back in position isn't that easy.
INCSlayer - Tuesday, July 13, 2021 - link
i have a nordic layout K2 which is the same size but with "normal" size switches and i love it.ZolaIII - Tuesday, July 13, 2021 - link
Meh I wanted a little more (both functional and programming) with regular wireless (WiFi) and small input lagg and I got it for less money. Bought Redragon Vishnu for some 75$ and all do macros functionality is limited wireless so far I am satisfied with it.Wereweeb - Tuesday, July 13, 2021 - link
Not low profile. Apples to oranges comparison.Plus, Redragon uses the old Outemu switches, and those are known for bad QC.
ZolaIII - Wednesday, July 14, 2021 - link
Whosent a comparison to start with. I am sure that you know how lo profile switches are absolutely a gimmick (with possible exception of HyperX Silver's) and not a very handy. Othemus are cheap (not that this ones are any better) but at least it comes with PBT key caps and you get couple of spare switches (wrist rest, bigger battery...).Wireless RGB mechanical TKM are still a rare fruit (especially with additional keys not to mention dedicated macro one's) to make a direct comparison anyway.
Lord of the Bored - Wednesday, July 14, 2021 - link
WiFi keyboard? You MUST be joking.ZolaIII - Wednesday, July 14, 2021 - link
RF 2.4 GHz dongle, not Wi-Fi...R3Z3N - Tuesday, July 13, 2021 - link
Bought this and the K1 a couple months ago. I just wish BT disconnect time could be adjusted. Both have issues connecting back to both my work mac and home PC after turning off.brockhold - Tuesday, July 13, 2021 - link
Based on the photos of the controller, I believe this is nearly the same internally as the Royal Kludge branded combo USB+Bluetooth keyboards. Looks nice.kkilobyte - Wednesday, July 14, 2021 - link
Wake me up when they offer something else than the US-ANSI layout.Tyler_Durden_83 - Wednesday, July 14, 2021 - link
When they do, wake me up too :-)Lord of the Bored - Wednesday, July 14, 2021 - link
I mean, THIS isn't an ANSI layout.It isn't a GOOD layout, but it isn't ANSI.
kkilobyte - Wednesday, July 14, 2021 - link
That's actually how Keychron itself describes the layout on its own website (on the K3 firmware upgrade page).This is clearly a design that takes the main characteristics of the US-ANSI standard: large left shift key (ISO has two keys there), "Alt" key on the right of the spacebar (instead of Alt Gr.), "small horizontal" Enter key. Even though *strictly speaking*, the position of the cursor keys don't make it an exact ANSI layout.
But that was not my main point. What was is that the only available language layout is English/US, so that's actually useless in many countries.
Moreover, many non-US layouts are based on ISO, not ANSI, so it is not possible to simply replace the keycaps to adapt to a non-US language.
C@mM! - Wednesday, July 14, 2021 - link
Been using one as my work keyboard for a few months, its pretty good. Only issue I have is the USB light shines thru the keycap above it.Hoping for a 96% layout in the low profile, that'd be perfect for me personally for home usage where I play a few games that require a keypad but I hate full size keyboards for ergonomic reasons.
zepi - Wednesday, July 14, 2021 - link
I wish they did ISO-layout as well.isthisavailable - Wednesday, July 14, 2021 - link
Does this support n key rollover?Frazombie - Thursday, July 15, 2021 - link
Useful timing of the article, I've been keeping my eye on Keychron for a while. Like some of the above comments, the key thing stopping me hitting buy is the lack of ISO/UK layouts, particularly on their low profile options like the K3 (which would be my first pick) - please pay attention Keychron! ;)One other thing this article raises - you mention 'advanced' and gaming features... I'd like an article exploring that! Just how genuinely useful/impactful are some of those features? Or are they just marketing hype? Anti Ghosting, NKRO, Macros, etc - Are they more marketing than anything else? Does a genuinely well engineered keyboard mitigate much of the value of those features? (vs a basic membrane) Can any be done in software? (e.g. macros) Will a wired low profile/fast actuation keyboard have lower latency than a wireless keyboard despite its 'advanced' features? ... This is an article I would love to see written, and to show empirical test data to prove the points, from a reputable source like Anandtech. ;)
Hresna - Saturday, July 17, 2021 - link
I switched from a colicky DAS Keyboard to a browns K2 a few months ago and have been very pleased. I miss the tenkeys at times as I use software that has them mapped uniquely but I can get around that with a tenkey pad and/or my stream deck mini. My main gripe is I got the rgb version hoping I could customize the colour layout but you can’t at all. You can cycle through about 20 presents and that’s about it most are flashy, and there doesn’t seem to be a brightness setting.Lilja - Saturday, July 17, 2021 - link
Is there an ISO (Nordic) layout version of this coming? Possibly also in full size?AbRASiON - Sunday, July 18, 2021 - link
I just wanted to chime in.At home I have the Havit, low profile, blue mechanical, cabled keyboard with fancy lights.
It's an incredible, if noisy keyboard, I love it, however I can't endure cables anymore. I'd gladly forgo the lights for battery life. It's nice to see more mechanical cordless keyboards get made.
I won't go near a tenkeyless myself, but this is a start. (I emailed Havit, multiple times, begging for a cordless version)
appsquadzllc - Monday, July 19, 2021 - link
Very nice write-up!! The level of engagement in your content made me stick to your blog post. Exploration and looking for the opportunity can be a way toward growth, reach the top now. Will be waiting for your next post!!! You have mentioned very useful points in the blog. Reach a renowned Android App development Company USA for trending ideas and strategies.Dug - Tuesday, July 20, 2021 - link
Finally a decent low profile wireless keyboard.So tired of those stupidly thick mechanicals. Those are so bad for ergonomics, it's not even funny.
Zingam - Thursday, July 22, 2021 - link
How do you make a review of a keyboard while failing to show the most important feature: how the USB cable connects to the keyboard????!Dug - Thursday, July 22, 2021 - link
Most important feature? It plugs into it like any keyboard. The most important feature is this is a wireless, low profile, mechanical.alaudbrother - Friday, July 23, 2021 - link
Good observation - if you check the photo of the PCB/Battery at https://images.anandtech.com/doci/16813/KEYCHRON_K... - you'll see the USB-C port at the centre-rear of the keyboard.It's a nice improvement, as previous Keychron keyboards were on the left hand side.
Kipii45 - Friday, July 23, 2021 - link
I can't wait for Keychron to update their K1 with the switch options on the K3m16 - Saturday, July 31, 2021 - link
Wow, this is a bad ass little keyboard and this company has a bunch more including Mac options, and what’s even better: they work without software.I may be giving me of these a go.
johnfour - Saturday, August 7, 2021 - link
<a href="https://www.jqueenwatchwinders.de/best-jqueen-watc... rolex</a>Same. I don't need a compact layout but I prefer the cleaner look. And while I have gotten used to my regular mechanical I still think I prefer low profile keys. This has pretty much everything I need; wired and wireless for switching between work and home systems and the F keys for work.Portcasace - Monday, August 9, 2021 - link
I want to change my keyboard....https://www.jqueenwatchwinders.com/6-pieces-watch-...