Keychron seems to have become somewhat of a household name in the mechanical keyboard community as a true benchmark-setter for its products. Not many brands have been able to match its previous efforts in terms of value for money, build quality, and feature set, and its new Q3 Max aims to continue that trend.
This is a TKL, or tenkeyless, keyboard, a layout where the numeric keypad is chopped off from the right side of the keyboard to free up more desk space. While layouts like the 65 percent and 75 percent have become more popular in recent years, the TKL layout was one of the first truly small form factor layouts available. It’s functional, but doesn’t sacrifice too much in the way of extra functionality, beyond the numeric keypad.
TKL has a more standard layout than other keyboards, which is useful for people who are just getting started with mechanical keyboards and don’t want to go for an odd-looking layout right away.
That’s usually what Keychron has been best at: providing a practical entry point for people looking for their first mechanical keyboards, especially with their pre-built solutions. Case in point, one of their more affordable keyboards, the K2, has been a consistent factor in our rankings of the best wireless gaming keyboards out there for years now. To that end, the Q3 Max not only offers a sensible layout, but it’s also incredibly well-built, with a thick, machined aluminum chassis that tips the scales at 2.045kg – that’s pretty hefty for a keyboard of this size.
Q3 Max Specs
Switch type: Gateron Jupiter Red
Tests: PBT, double shot
Relief: RGB, dimmable on keyboard and controllable in software
On-board storage: No
Additional ports: USB-C for charging
Connection type: Wireless – Bluetooth/2.4GHz 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 feel a little mean, though the red accent keys for the Escape and Return keys enhance its aesthetic, as do the rounded keycaps. The keycaps are made from doubleshot PBT plastic for maximum durability, and contribute greatly to the Q3 Max’s premium fit and finish.
The interesting thing about these keys is the position of their legends. Instead of having them on top, the Q3 Max opts for side-mounted legends for a bit of extra flair. I don’t know what it is about them, but I’ve always wanted a keyboard with legends on the sides of the keys. It just looks stupid cool, but the downside is that the tops of the keys are blank. If you’re not that good at touch typing, side legends might not be for you.
It features some thoughtful physical features, such as the usual key, which is located between the F12 key, and a handy set of three function keys in the top-right corner. By default, this keyboard comes in a Mac layout, but it can also work on Windows: the three function keys are for opening the snipping tool, Spotlight search and voice dictation. There are also two toggles on the back for switching between macOS and Windows modes, as well as Bluetooth, 2.4GHz or wired connectivity. It seems like the Q3 Max really has thought of everything.
Inside, my sample came with Gateron Jupiter Red switches, though it’s also available with tactile Jupiter Banana or Brown switches if you prefer a bit of feedback under your finger. The Jupiter Reds are a 45g linear switch in the same style as Cherry’s MX Reds, with a standard 4mm of travel distance and a 2mm actuation point. They’re pre-lubed, so they feel super smooth without being scratchy under your finger, and work well for both gaming workloads when testing with CS:2, and general workloads when typing up reviews and other articles. My job lends itself to writing a lot of words in a day anyway, so responsive switches are essential for that.
Besides the fact that the switches feel smooth under your fingers, the lubrication also makes the Q3 Max sound sublime. With the combination of several layers of foam on the inside and those lubricated switches, I can only describe the sound profile of the Q3 Max as: creamy. This is a popular term among a certain segment of mechanical keyboard enthusiasts for a certain way a mechanical keyboard can sound. It offers a fairly high-pitched sound, although it sounds simply wonderful once you get into the swing of things.
It’s also gasket-mounted, like other Keychron keyboards, which gives the Q3 Max a slightly bouncier typing feel if you press down hard enough. It’ll probably help keep you a little more engaged. If you don’t like the switches inside, you can always swap them out without any soldering or desoldering involved, as the Q3 Max is hot-swappable. It’s always a useful feature – I had some Cherry MX Purple switches left over from my own Q1 Pro , and it was a breeze to swap them out.
Connectivity is a breeze via either wired or wireless means, with the Q3 Max offering three Bluetooth channels as well as the 2.4GHz USB-A receiver that’s included in the box. That technically means you can use this keyboard wirelessly with up to four devices at once, if you’re a real power user. Having used it with both my Windows gaming PC and my 16-inch MacBook Pro for work, the Q3 Max worked brilliantly, with plug-and-play connectivity via the receiver, and convenient pairing via Bluetooth. To do this, simply press and hold the function key marked 1, 2, or 3 on the number row – depending on which Bluetooth channel you want to use – until the little blue light beneath the key starts flashing rapidly. The keyboard should then appear in the pairing settings on the device you want to connect to. Hit ‘connect’ and you should be up and running in a few moments.
Buy as…
✅ You want a complete mechanical keyboard: Leaving no doubt about its feature-packed nature, Keychron’s Q3 Max ticks all the boxes in terms of fantastic build quality, a top-notch typing experience, and versatile software and connectivity.
Do not buy if…
❌ You want a more affordable choice: The only thing that doesn’t work in the Q3 Max’s favour is its higher price tag. If you’re looking for a keyboard that doesn’t cost £200/$200+, there are other options.
As for battery life, the Q3 Max is rated to last up to 180 hours without the backlight on, or up to 100 hours on the lowest setting. This means you can get a few weeks out of the Q3 Max before you even have to think about charging it again. In the few weeks that I used the keyboard, I only had to charge it once.
There’s RGB lighting, if you’re into that sort of thing, and it works well with the Q3 Max’s side-mounted legends. The LEDs are also angled south for better coverage, while the clear switch housings also help to diffuse the light nicely. As for software, the Q3 Max comes with the tried-and-tested QMK firmware support. You can also use Keychron’s own web-based solution for a more visual interface, which works in a similar way to the VIA system, offering a key tester, function mapping, and RGB lighting control.
All of this costs $214/£209, which is a pretty hefty price to pay for a keyboard of this size. That’s largely because Keychron’s own ‘Pro’-branded models offer much of the same feature set, albeit at the expense of some aesthetic choices and 2.4GHz wireless connectivity. The Drop Shift V2 looks similarly good, has a larger layout and some fantastic tactile switches, but compromises on wireless connectivity.
However, there aren’t many keyboards out there that offer such a rich feature set for enthusiasts at this price point as the Q3 Max. You simply can’t get a keyboard that delivers so much in the way of class-leading build quality, slick switches, excellent acoustics, and handy conveniences like dual wireless, versatile software options, and decent battery life as this one. If you’re looking to step up to a feature-packed mechanical board for the price, the Keychron Q3 Max truly is sublime.