So I am fairly new to mechanical keyboards and am looking to purchase/build my first custom board. I am currently using a Keychron K4 that I picked up for $30. On my new board, I am looking for a few certain things.
1800 to Full sized board (need numpad for work)
2u zero key on numpad (hate the 1u design of the K4)
Some spacing around arrow keys and numpad
Wireless (at least bluetooth, 2.4 ghz a plus)
Budget-wise I’d like to be no more than about $250-300 all in
After doing some research, I have narrowed it down to the QK100, Zoom98, Keychron V6 Max, Monsgeek M5W. Between all of these I am more leaning toward the QK100 as I love the look of it, however, I also love the price of the Keychron V6 Max.
What are everyone’s thoughts on these options? Did I miss any other options? Have you used them? What do you like or not like about them? If you could do it over again, what board would you choose instead?
I think you’ve done a good job with your research; outside of a few obscure customs I think you’ve just about got it covered. There are a few other options out there but not with the quality / price value that any of those four have, and missing at least one of your bullet points (DROP SHIFT, for example - no wireless, un-nuanced mounting compared to the other 4)
I haven’t personally used any of those, but I’ve heard good things about all of them. I’d probably pick the QK100 myself, as I have the Neo65 designed by the same folks and I love it for the sound and feel - but I hear Monsgeeks are pretty good about that, too. The Keychron is the go-to recommendation for a large-format hot-swap and is a great value - hard to go wrong with it. I know the Zoom series has also gotten a warm reception.
I think any one of them would be a solid choice, but again I’d go for the QK100, myself, based on my experience with the Neo65.
I own a Keychron V6 (wired only) and I have to say it is a very solid board. The included plate is steel but brass and poly plates are available through Keychron depending on your preference. The PCB accepts 3 and 5 pin switches from most manufacturers, but I will say I’ve had the best experience using MX clones. It’s easy to open, easy to mod, sounds great with a little extra padding in the case and perhaps a tape mod.
I also have a Monsgeek M5 and I really really like it. The weight is fantastic! It’s also super simple to open and mod, comes with extra foam and tape for the pcb, force-break tapes and the plate is a nice springy poly. My favorite thing about the M5 is the deep sound of that aluminum case.
I agree with you, a 2u zero numpad is an ABSOLUTE must and Keychron’s V5 just doesn’t work for me at all. Otherwise, to echo Deadeye, the QK100 looks very good and you can’t beat that price.
Yeah, what other people said is entirely correct. Those top three choices are all good choices.
Regarding the Keychron, the V-series is pretty decent. In these kinds of threads, we usually hype the Q-series. The latter has a metal case, and is gasket-mount.
However, in practice, the Q-series doesn’t have much of an advantage over the V-series. The Q-series gasket-mount is barely perceptible, as it is hardly softer than the V-series. Plus, I don’t think that metal-cased boards necessarily sound better than plastic cases [sometimes they do, but plastic is a classic case for a reason.]
So the V-series should be perfectly serviceable, and there is a lot written on-line about how to mod or optimize them. Also, I like the look of the Monsgeek, and there was once an AliExpress sale where they were $150 CAD, shipped.
Thank you all for the replies. My question now is that is it worth the extra money? I see both the Keychron V6 Max and the QK100 as essentially having the same features but after being fully built out the QK100 is about 3x the cost of the Keychron. I don’t necessarily believe that the QK will provide 3x the benefit, but more so why? Is it truly just because you/I want a nicer board? Is there anything else that I am missing in this?
Diminishing returns is very much a thing with keyboards, and just how diminished they are along the scale is ultimately up to you and your priorities.
Indeed, I think anyone would be hard-pressed to say that the QK100 is 3X the keyboard that the V6 Max is in any circumstance, but there still may be reasons that some buyers would find the higher price worth it for them.
I like my QK product for its specific sound and accompanying feel and that’s something I’m willing to pay a bit more for (I also like building my boards) - but if I’m not trying to be a connoisseur about it and just need a generally excellent keyboard without spending any more than it takes to do that, Keychron is going to be the clear winner for me there.
I think those V-series boards get the job done, if you don’t want to spend more at this point. The fanciness of the design and finish are the main distinguishing factors. With the QK100, you also have the option to build it with different mounting styles and/or switch plate materials, while the Keychron is more locked in. The QK100 probably sounds better as well, though this is subjective. Plastic vs. anodized aluminum is a big contributor to the price difference.
I’d personally go the the QK100 unless you aren’t sure whether this mechanical keyboard thing is going to stick for you at all. It may terrify you, but it’s considered a great value in this hobby. Prices have come down a lot for great quality, but it’s not uncommon to spend $300-400 and up for something that’s fundamentally similar. I don’t think they will be in stock forever, also, though I could be wrong. They didn’t used to work that way. They always could make a successor, but 1800s are less common than some other form factors.
I built one for a friend and was very happy with the result (top mount using 8 of the 12 mounting points). If you’re more just dipping your toe in the water and/or simply don’t want to spend that much, or if you’re happy to get second board later and keep the V-series as a lighter travel/work board, the V-series may be a better choice at this point. Despite the good value, you’re absolutely right that it’s still a chunk of change.
Don’t mean to flog a dead horse, but I’ll echo basically what everyone else had said: the Keychron is a solid entry point into the mechanical keyboard space and will get you the features needed, albeit in the form of a mass-produced comparatively lower-quality board. Of the others you listed, I would recommend the QK100 as well.
I have a QK80 and Neo65 from Qwertykeys, and have built a QK100 for a friend (price was actually within that $250-300 pricepoint you were looking for). I’ve built a Zoom75 as well, and while not apples to apples since we’re talking about the Zoom98, I personally found that QK’s finishing was better in my opinion - the e-coat for the white QK100 I built was a lot smoother and less grainy than that of the milky green e-coat on the Zoom75. Maybe you’d be looking at anodized boards and that detail is moot, but just thought I’d share.
None of us are going to be able to decide whether that price difference is worth it for you though. If you want something that will get the job done and spend the least amount of money, the V6 Max is the way to go. But if you want to explore something higher quality and aren’t against spending more money, the QK100 is a fine choice.