Keychron Q6 Max keyboard review
Does this high-end hot-swappable wireless keyboard earn its asking price?
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Keychron is a strong challenger brand in the mechanical keyboard space, offering hot-swappable boards with high build quality and a great line of Gateron Jupiter switches that come with the keyboard.
We’ve already reviewed the more affordable (but still high quality) Keychron V5 Max, but today we’ve got the full-size model of their most premium line. The Keychron Q Max series is the updated version of their previous Q Pro range: a premium set of keyboards of different sizes with a full metal chassis that are available in different sizes (Q1-Q6). Read below to see what we thought of the Keychron Q6 Max.
- Form-factor: 100%
- Key-switches: Gateron Jupiter Red / Brown / Banana (hotswappable with South Facing switches)
- Actuation Force / Travel: variable depending on switch (Gateron Jupiter Red: 45±15 gf /4mm)
- Dimensions: 446 x 137 x 32.6mm
- Connection: 2.4GHz WiFi / Bluetooth / USB Type-C (180cm braided Cord with silicone cable tie), USB-C to A adapter included
- Weight: 2184g -2194g
- Keycaps: OSA PBT Doubleshot
- Memory: 256K Flash
The Keychron Q6 Max is one of the best keyboards we’ve ever had the pleasure of using hands down. Although we would have liked the addition of height-adjustable legs, the typing experience on this keyboard was exceptional, even with the linear Gateron Jupiter Red switches installed that are generally more suited to gaming. It looks great, particularly with the side printed keys, has excellent build quality, great customization on its straightforward software, and just feels great to use.
It’s certainly not a cheap piece of kit, but it’s in line with competitors at this level of quality, so we wouldn’t say it’s overpriced either.
- An excellent typing and gaming experience
- Durable PBT Doubleshot keycaps with superb OSA shape
- User-friendly onboard software
- Hot swappable
- Excellent build quality
- Great battery life
- Wired & wireless Windows/Mac/Linux functionality
- Looks great
- Side-printed keycap option
- No height adjustment
- Very heavy weight means less portable
Price
Q6 Max ($219.00 fully assembled or $199.00 barebone) is only slightly more money than the older Q6 Pro ($209.00 fully assembled or $189.00 barebone). Compared to the all-plastic V6 Max though ($99.00 fully assembled or $79.00 barebone) it is considerably pricier.
If you’re looking for the same board but in a different size/layout then the MSRP of each of the different Q-Max variants ranges between $209-$219 fully assembled/$189-$199 barebone.
Design & Features
The Keychron Q6 Max is full-size (100%) wireless capable keyboard that can use either a 2.4GHz WiFi signal, Bluetooth, or USB-C braided cord connection, which you can change between using the switch on the reverse of the board, behind the escape key. This contrasts with the Q Pro series which only comes with Bluetooth and wired connections. The battery duration on the Q6 Max is rated for 180 hours of 2.4GHz wireless or around the 300 hour mark for Bluetooth: although we didn’t test the veracity of these claims, if in practice it gets anywhere near these then this is very long indeed. Some users
Also located in this same area is the switch that lets you change between Windows or Mac compatibility and keyboard functions. Included in the box are alternative keycaps for Mac or Windows users, including ‘Windows/option’ and ‘alt/Mac’ keys. The keyboard is fully compatible with Windows, macOS, and Linux, has QMK/VIA programmability and uses open-source firmware. Also included in the box is a good quality braided USB-C to USB-C cable, a USB-C (female) to USB-A (male) adapter, a USB-C (female) to USB-A (female) adapter, a USB-A dongle for wireless connection, additional rubber feet for the bottom of the keyboard, a small screwdriver, keycap/switch removal tool, and instruction booklet.
There are five other size variants in the Q Max range, besides the Q6. The full range is as follows:
- Keychron Q1 Max: compact (75%)
- Keychron Q2 Max: compact (65%)
- Keychron Q3 Max: TKL (80%)
- Keychron Q4 Max: compact (60%), no knob
- Keychron Q5 Max: (96%)
- Keychron Q6 Max: full-size (100%) & 4 dedicated macro keys
Form-factor
100%
Key-switches
Gateron Jupiter Red / Brown / Banana (hotswappable with South Facing switches)
Actuation Force / Travel
variable depending on switch (Gateron Jupiter Red: 45±15 gf /4mm)
Dimensions
446 x 137 x 32.6mm
Connection
2.4GHz WiFi / Bluetooth / USB Type-C (180cm braided Cord with silicone cable tie), USB-C to A adapter included
Weight
2184g -2194g
Keycaps
OSA PBT Doubleshot
Memory
256K Flash
Unlike the V Max series which is made of ABS plastic, the case of the Q Series (whether it be Max or Pro) is made of 6063 aluminum that has been CNC machined, making it extremely durable and tough but also very heavy by comparison. It uses a double gasket design with silicone pads between the plates to muffle noise, which we found to be very effective; essentially all the keys and switches are isolated from the surrounding case.
As with the V-series you get double-shot OSA PBT keycaps, which are durable and have improved oil-resistance over cheaper materials. We opted for the side-printed variants because this is a feature unique to the Q Max series and we think they make for a more interesting looking keyboard. As with the V-series you get alternative keycaps for Mac and Windows users (‘Windows/option’ and ‘alt/Mac’) in the box.
Color options are more limited than with the Keychron Q Pro series, which is a bit annoying, though both the carbon black and shell white options look great in our opinion. The side-printed keycap variants of both differing in color and shade from the two options on the standard variant (despite having the same name), but we’re fans of all four colors, and you can always customize them further with buying separate keycaps if you like.
As standard the assembled boards come with one of the following three Gateron Jupiter switches: Red, Brown, or Banana. Our test unit came with the linear Jupiter Reds pre-installed, though we’ve had the pleasure of trying out the tactile Browns and Banana options with the V5 Max and these were very good. The Reds come with an operating force of 45±15 gf, a pre-travel of 2±0.6mm, and a total travel distance of 4mm, which is nearly identical to the standard Cherry MX Red (though these have a total travel distance of 4±0.6mm).
The board is hot-swappable with any other South-facing switches. You get the standard keycap and switch removing tools included in the box, so swapping these out is straightforward. The stabilizers are screw-in so can also be replaced if needed. Both switches and stabilizers are pre-lubed.
Performance
The keycaps have a nice soft feel and I found the OSA shape to be perfect: as tall as OEM keycaps but with the rounded edges and angled design more typical of SA keycaps. For me personally they’re the nicest keycaps I’ve had the pleasure to type on. The action of the switches was also excellent for typing, which is surprising considering we opted for the Gateron Jupiter Reds and their linear, non-tactile action; with these equipped the experience when typing and gaming was equally excellent.
Compared to the Keychron V-series keyboard we reviewed, the V5 Max, the Q6 Max does feel a slightly more quality board: the stabilization of the keys feels better, the action of the keys slightly silkier, and the ‘thock’ is more muffled and bassy compared to the higher-pitched, louder, and more plasticky sounding K5 Max: the one exception being the knob/dial, which sounds louder on the Q6, and a bit more loose in its fitting. It’s important to note that we rated the K5 Max quite highly in these areas, particularly given its price, so this is not a critique of that keyboard by any means but rather a fairly glowing recommendation for the quality of the Q-Max series, though as a pricier option, this is what you’d expect.
That being said, we did find ourselves missing the height adjustment options of the V-series in this model, plus the much heavier weight does make it a great deal less easily portable (it really does weigh a lot). The plus side of the heavier board is of course that it’s not going to be slipping a great deal on your desk.
As mentioned we opted for the side-printed keycaps and these looked great, with the lettering shine-through nice and clear when the RGB was turned on, and the lettering very legible even with it turned off.
The VIA software/Keychron (web) Launcher you can use to customize the keyboard is has a nice stripped-back design that’s easy to navigate, and lets you assign macros to the keyboard, change basic key assignment, customize backlighting, and set up your own profiles. Thanks to the onboard 256K Flash memory, you can save at least six of these on the keyboard itself.
Keychron Q6 Max wireless keyboard
