A Better Budget Mechanical Keyboard

Many mechanical keyboards value upwards of $100, and whereas they’re well worth the cash, not everybody desires to pay that worth. The Keychron C3 Professional is a mechanical keyboard that’s far more reasonably priced than a lot of the competitors, with only some minor drawbacks.

Keychron C3 Professional

If you happen to do not want fancy RGB lighting or a keyboard constructed like a tank, the Keychron C3 Professional is the proper finances mechanical keyboard. The texture of the keyboard is nice, it really works with each PCs and Macs, and it even handles gaming nicely.

Execs

• Typing expertise feels nice
• QMK firmware with customization by means of VIA
• Works seamlessly with each Home windows and macOS
• Per-key lighting and shine-through keycaps
• Cable administration channels on the underside of the keyboard

Cons

• Plastic constructed is not as powerful as higher-end fashions
• Crimson-only lighting will not be for everybody

Pricing and Availability

The Keychron C3 Professional is totally mechanical, 75% keyboard. This can be a TKL or “TenKeyLess” keyboard, that means you received’t discover the everyday quantity pad on the precise facet. Regardless of being a mechanical keyboard, it retails for $36.99.

The model I’m taking a look at for this evaluate makes use of Keychron Mechanical Crimson switches, nevertheless it’s additionally accessible with Keychron Mechanical Brown switches. Whatever the switches you select, the keyboard is just accessible with pink backlighting.

Fundamental Construct, However a Hanging Design

Whereas higher-end mechanical keyboards are sometimes constructed principally out of aluminum or different heavier supplies, the C3 Professional is made virtually totally out of plastic. The switches are mounted to a metal prime plate, however apart from that, the construct is plastic.

That metal prime plate makes for a barely heavier keyboard than it’s possible you’ll count on, with the C3 Professional weighing in at round two kilos. This, mixed with the adjustable ft on the underside of the keyboard, ought to preserve it from transferring round in your desk too regularly.

Out of the field, the Keychron C3 Professional options principally black keycaps, with pink Escape, House, and Enter keys. These add a splash of colour, even when the keyboard isn’t lively, however the colour received’t be for everybody. The excellent news is that alternative black caps for the pink keys are included within the field should you want an all-black look.

The keyboard contains gaskets and sound absorbing foam for a quiet typing expertise. Whilst you might hear a little bit of a spring sound, doubtless from the metal plate, it shouldn’t be loud sufficient to trouble you.

As it’s possible you’ll count on from the low worth, this can be a wired-only keyboard. That stated, Keychron has made some sensible selections. The cable is detachable, which is beneficial for each the general longevity of the keyboard and for basic portability. The keyboard additionally options channels for the USB-C cable on the underside to allow you to route the cable by means of the highest of the keyboard or both facet.

You’ll discover a key/change puller within the field, which is useful for utilizing with the included further keycaps. On the draw back, this might provide the impression that you could swap out the switches on the C3 Professional, which isn’t the case.

Easy Lighting Results and Deep Software program

One of many methods Keychron helped the C3 Professional are available in on the worth level it’s at was to chop again on lighting options. The C3 Professional solely options pink lighting, no matter change alternative. That stated, it’s nonetheless per-key lighting, so it appears to be like higher in individual than it’s possible you’ll count on.

The keyboard options varied built-in lighting results with varied patterns. The excellent news is that you just don’t want any third-party software program to change between these. There are built-in keyboard shortcuts that allow you to cycle between lighting results by urgent the Fn + Q key mixture.

As a substitute of choosing a proprietary firmware, Keychron went with the open-source QMK firmware for the C3 Professional. This, mixed with the VIA configuration software program, means that you could go deep into customization settings, remapping keys and creating macros as you see match.

It’s value stating that, for many individuals, you’ll by no means even must trouble with the VIA software program. A lot of the features you may need to modify are adjustable from the keyboard itself, and gaming customizations are sometimes higher completed within the recreation settings moderately than a third-party instrument.

Typing on the Keychron C3 Professional

Not like many producers of mechanical keyboards, the Keychron identify could also be acquainted to Apple followers. Certainly, the C3 Professional options keys labeled for each Home windows and PC use, and you’ll simply change between Home windows and macOS layouts utilizing the Fn + Caps Lock key mixture.

I’ve used different Keychron keyboards up to now and have all the time preferred their switches. The pink switches on this mannequin felt nice for typing, although the marginally extra tactile suggestions of the brown switches could also be higher should you’re solely planning on utilizing the keyboard for typing. That stated, this relies by yourself preferences.

Contemplating the worth, I used to be shocked at how nicely the gaskets and foam dampened the ring of the switches and prime plate. Whereas the C3 Professional wasn’t utterly silent, it has much less ring than my first-generation Razer Huntsman keyboard.

Whereas the TKL design isn’t for everybody—particularly should you regularly take care of numbers—the sort of design is far simpler to take care of coming from a standard keyboard than a 65% mannequin. You shouldn’t discover any lacking keys the best way you may on smaller keyboards.

Gaming With the Keychron C3 Professional

Keychron doesn’t actually market the C3 Professional as a gaming keyboard, however the look definitely says in any other case. Between the pink keycaps and the pink backlighting, it undoubtedly has the look. It additionally offers the options to again that lookup.

The keyboard includes a 1000Hz polling price for lightning-quick response occasions. It additionally options N-Key Rollover, that means you received’t encounter any ghosting. In my case, the extra linear response of the pink switches meant this leans slightly extra towards gaming than the brown switches, however each ought to work effective.

I wished to check the C3 Professional with a recreation I’m comparatively aware of, so I fired up Borderlands 3. The keyboard was as responsive as I might ask for—not a lot of a shock contemplating it’s a wired keyboard. When issues acquired hectic, the keyboard moved beneath my hand barely, however in the long run, if this was my solely gaming keyboard, I’d haven’t any issues.

Ought to You Purchase the Keychron C3 Professional?

The switches, damping, and general really feel of the Keychron C3 Professional are spectacular, making for a mechanical keyboard that looks as if it ought to value greater than it does. Including the power to immediately swap between Home windows and macOS layouts makes it a good higher worth.

The only-color pink lighting received’t be for everybody, however this doubtless received’t be a difficulty for most individuals. An even bigger situation is the shortage of swappable switches, that means you’re restricted by way of customizability. The plastic construct, whereas extra strong than many, will likely be one other downside for these searching for a extra premium product.

Even with the above tradeoffs, the Keychron C3 Professional would nonetheless be a superb keyboard at twice the worth it sells for. Contemplating the precise worth, it’s a incredible cut price.

Keychron C3 Professional

If you happen to do not want fancy RGB lighting or a keyboard constructed like a tank, the Keychron C3 Professional is the proper finances mechanical keyboard. The texture of the keyboard is nice, it really works with each PCs and Macs, and it even handles gaming nicely.